Warning: This article contains MAJOR SPOILERS for Moana 2!
Disney’s Moana 2 is packed with new songs composed by the musical duo Barlow and Bear alongside returning composers Mark Mancina and Opetaia Foaʻi, but not every addition to the soundtrack has the same level of impact and appeal. Eight years after the release of Disney’s box office sensation, Moana, the sequel hit the big screen, bringing glee to moviegoers. The movie takes the audience back to the world of Moana, set on the fictional Polynesian island of Motunui, around 2000 years ago.
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Expectations for Moana 2 were high because of the original movie’s success, and one of the most discussed elements is the music. Composer Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote most of the songs for the previous film, but he didn’t return for the sequel. Instead, Disney named Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear the composers for Moana 2. Despite being the youngest composers to work on an animated Disney film, the Grammy-winning duo brought skills and experience to the table. While some of their songs thrived, others didn’t fare as well, leaving audiences wanting.
11 “Can I Get A Chee Hoo?” By Dwayne Johnson
Composers: Abigail Barlow And Emily Bear
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By far, the worst song in the Moana 2 soundtrack is “Can I Get A Chee Hoo?” by Dwayne Johnson, which is sad considering the success of his original Moana song. The song felt like Barlow and Bear trying to borrow the sound and style of former Moana composure.
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Much as Miranda can feel very one-note with his music theory, he’s mastered his style to the point that he executes it well each time. Consequently, Moana 2’s knock-off song feels especially frustrating because it lacks the finesse and lyrical wit of Miranda’s songs.
There are a few positive elements of the song and the accompanying Moana 2 scene that must be recognized, though, even if they aren’t enough to save the song. The filmmakers authentically integrated the phrase “Chee Hoo” and the siva afi, also called the ailao afi or the fire knife dance – two beautiful elements of the Samoan culture. It’s also easy to appreciate the passion and energy that Dwayne Johnson lends to the song.
10 “What Could Be Better Than This?” By Auli’i Cravalho, Hualālai Chung, Rose Matafeo, & David Fane
Composers: Abigail Barlow And Emily Bear
Image via Disney
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Like “Can I Get A Chee Hoo?,” the song “What Could Be Better Than This?” feels like the composers trying to be Lin-Manuel Miranda. Though there needs to be stylistic cohesion between the first movie and the sequel, Bear and Barlow thrive when they aren’t trying to be someone else. They didn’t need to make a catchy pop song fused with a hip-hop interlude.
Though the harmonies are enjoyable, the music in “What Could Be Better Than This?” is highly repetitive. The lyrics also feel surface-level, unlike those from songs in the first Moana movie. They aren’t interesting to listen to because the slant rhymes are simple.
The Moana 2 song does deserve a little bit of credit, though, since the music is easy to listen to, and the chorus has a melody that will get stuck in people’s heads. It might not rise to the level of the other songs, but it’s not terrible, either.
9 “Finding The Way” By Olivia Foa’i & Te Vaka
Composers: Opataia Foaʻi And Mark Mancina
Image via Disney
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“Find the Way” plays in Moana 2 when Moana, Kele, Loto, and Moni leave on the boat to embark on their journey. The song is beautiful and connects the audience to the setting of Motunui, which is fictional but inspired by many Polynesian cultures. The lyrics are written in Tokelauan – a close relative to the Samoan language – and even without the translated words, the song feels like a warm hug from loved ones.
The Moana 2 songs written in Tokelauan and Samoan are some of the most powerful parts of the Disney sequel, elevating the storyline. Ultimately, “Find The Way” ranks lower on the list not because it’s lacking as a song but because other songs feel more re-listenable. The music is slow to build from two voices to the whole group with instrumentation which may not appeal to as many audience members.
8 “Finding The Way (Reprise)” By Te Vaka
Composers: Opataia Foaʻi And Mark Mancina
Image via Disney
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“Finding the Way (Reprise)” plays when Moana is reunited with Simea and her parents, and it continues as the boats from all the islands sail into Motunui. This reunion is a significant milestone for Moana, who is now a demigod at the end of Moana 2, because she left on her journey unsure whether she would return home. With the song arriving at such an uplifting moment, the music of the reprise conveys this excitement and joy.
This version maintains the spirit of the original song, but it begins with music instead of vocals, a decision that gives it a broader appeal. The song still features the building singers and instrumentation, reaching a climax towards the end. This choice enhances the sense of community that’s present when the people from all the islands come together.
7 “Beyond” By Auliʻi Cravalho
Composers: Abigail Barlow, Emily Bear, and Opataia Foaʻi
Image via Disney
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The song “Beyond” from Moana 2 feels like a response to the question posed in the first movie in the song “How Far I’ll Go.” The two songs have the same placement and purpose in their respective stories, which enhances the connection between them.
Disney submitted “Beyond” and “Can I Get A Chee Hoo?” for Best Original Song at the 2025 Oscars, potentially going up against songs from
Emilia Pérez
and
Joker: Folie à Deux
.
The titular main character now knows how far she can go after Moana’s ending, so her challenge is taking the step again now that she has her little sister to think about. It’s significantly more moving and complex than songs like “Can I Get a Chee Hoo?” and “What Could Be Better Than This?”
However, the song lands in the middle of the pack comparatively because it isn’t quite as emotionally impactful when removed from the actual scene in Moana 2. The song also doesn’t possess many small musical traits that help songs get stuck in a person’s head, which means it might not be as memorable.
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6 “Beyond (Reprise)” By Auliʻi Cravalho
Composers: Abigail Barlow, Emily Bear, And Opataia Foaʻi
Image via Disney
The reprise version of “Beyond” plays in Moana 2 after Moana is revived as a demigod. Maui – with his hook – and Moana – with her oar – work together to bring the mysterious island of Motufetū to the shore. The song swells and reaches a peak as she and Maui succeed, which makes their success feel even more joyous. Though the original version showcases the strength of Auli’i Cravalho, “Beyond (Reprise)” demonstrates how powerful and nuanced her voice is, which sets it above the original in quality.
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This song from Moana 2 suffers from the same problems as the original, though. The music and lyrics are beautiful, but they don’t have nearly as much impact unless paired with the scene. If heard on its own, the ending of “Beyond (Reprise)” is really the only part with a significant emotional impact.
5 “We Know the Way (Te Fenua te Malie)” By Auli’i Cravalho, Olivia Foa’i, Opetaia Foa’i, & Te Vaka
Composers: Opataia Foaʻi And Lin Manuel-Miranda
Rather than incorporating the same exact version of “We Know the Way” from the original movie, Moana 2 includes a new version of the song that replaces Lin-Manuel Miranda’s voice with Auli’i Cravalho. This strengthens the overall quality of the song because, despite his composing abilities, Miranda’s unpolished singing voice isn’t quite strong enough to live up to the rest of the singers on the original Moana soundtrack. With Cravalho at the helm, “We Know the Way (Te Fenua te Malie)” thrives as the final number at the end of Moana 2.
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Despite this, the song isn’t at the top of the list when comparing songs in the movie for two primary reasons. Firstly, this version of “We Know the Way” could be jarring to some listeners because the previous version didn’t include Cravalho as a singer. Secondly, the four songs above this one capture the essence of Moana without taking components of the original movie, making them more original.
4 “Nuku O Kaiga” By Te Vaka
Composer: Opataia Foaʻi (Co-Produced By Matatia Foaʻi)
This Tokelauan song is easy to miss in Moana 2 because it plays softly in the background during a scene with spoken dialogue. Maui arrives at Motunui looking for Simea so he can deliver a gift to her from Moana. The song has an impact on the scene despite being subdued in the movie. The vocals and instrumentation feel at home with the original soundtrack, which makes sense because Opetaia Foaʻi wrote the song and co-composed it with Foaʻi – both of whom worked on the original movie alongside Lin-Manuel Miranda.
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Though “Nuku O Kaiga” isn’t as long as the other songs on the soundtrack, it still ranks among the best songs in Moana 2. The music and lyrics are simple enough to get stuck in listeners’ heads while being complex enough not to feel boring. When it comes to the Tokelauan songs, “Nuku O Kaiga” is only outpaced by “Mana Vavua.” Two English songs also rank above it because of their mass appeal and narrative impact.
3 “We’re Back” By Auliʻi Cravalho & Villagers of Motunui
Composers: Abigail Barlow, Emily Bear, And Opataia Foaʻi
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“We’re Back” is the first new song that plays in Moana 2, and it immediately takes the viewer back into the story. Like the music from the first movie, the song plays an essential role in establishing the narrative, enhancing the setting, and developing the characters. The lyrics are packed with exposition that fills in the gaps between the two movies without feeling overstuffed. The song starts with a mix of Samoan and Tokelauan, which reminds the audience that Motunui is a Polynesian island that takes inspiration from different cultures in the region.
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Additionally, Kele, Moni, and Loto all get a solo or a couple of lines within the song, subtly setting them up as the Moana 2 characters who join the eponymous wayfinder on her new journey. Ultimately, “We’re Back” is one of the most re-listenable songs in Moana 2 and places third among the overall soundtrack. The only lacking quality is the
2 “Get Lost” By Awhimai Fraser
Composers: Abigail Barlow And Emily Bear
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Moana 2’s bat-themed minor villain, Matangi, sings “Get Lost,” making it comparable to “Shiny” from the first movie. However, the song far outshines its predecessor. Looking at the Moana 2 soundtrack, “Get Lost” has the most mainstream appeal. It’s easy to see the song playing on the radio or popping up on a non-Disney Spotify playlist.
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However, the composers didn’t neglect the movie’s cultural roots to make a more popular song, infusing the music with Polynesian instrumentation. The lyrics also hold a significant meaning. “Get Lost” was inspired by Barlow and Bear’s conversations with the Oceanic Cultural Trust. They told The Nightly that the consultants told them “getting lost is the pathway to finding magic” – a statement which drove Moana 2’s anthem.
Ultimately, the song perfectly balances the lyrical, musical, and cultural elements. Because of this, “Get Lost” ranks as the best English song on the soundtrack and the best one written by Barlow and Bear for Moana 2.
1 “Mana Vavau” By Dwayne Johnson, Opetaia Foaʻi, & Rachel House
Composer: Opataia Foaʻi (Co-Produced By Matatia Foaʻi)
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Even though there was a 0% chance of Disney killing off Moana, the scene where she’s lifeless and not breathing has a heavy emotional impact. Part of the reason this resonates so deeply is because of the song “Mana Vavau,” which is unquestionably the best song in Moana 2. Dwayne Johnson starts off the song singing in Samoan, and his vocal tone conveys Maui’s desperation, sorrow, and fear. The little trembles of his voice are tear-jerking.
The song builds very slowly, with Tautai Vasa and other ancestors singing in Tokelauan. Opataia Foaʻi, who sings the part of the Tautai, did an incredible job conveying the somberness of the moment. The same goes for Rachel House, who sings the part of Gramma Tala, who infuses the end of the song with pure agony. Unlike other songs on the Moana 2 soundtrack, “Mana Vavau” doesn’t need the context of the scene for emotional impact. It’s executed with such perfection that the emotions and message come through even without having seen the movie or understanding the languages.
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6/10 15 7.9/10 Moana 2 PGAnimationComedyFantasyMusicalAdventure
Director David G. Derrick Jr. , Jason Hand , Dana Ledoux Miller Release Date November 27, 2024 Studio(s) Walt Disney Pictures , Walt Disney Animation Studios Distributor(s) Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Writers Dana Ledoux Miller , Jared Bush , Jason Hand , Ron Clements , John Musker Cast Auli’i Cravalho , Dwayne Johnson , Alan Tudyk , Rachel House , Temuera Morrison , Nicole Scherzinger , Hualālai Chung , David Fane , Rose Matafeo , Awhimai Fraser , Gerald Ramsey , Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda Character(s) Moana , Maui , Hei Hei , Tala , Chief Tui , Sina , Moni , Kele , Loto , Matangi , Tautai Vasa , Simea Runtime 100 Minutes Franchise(s) Disney prequel(s) Moana Main Genre Animation Where To Stream Disney+ Expand