How Far I'll Go Explained

How Far I'll Go
Artist:Auliʻi Cravalho
Album:Moana: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Released:November 18, 2016
Label:Walt Disney
Producer:

"How Far I'll Go" and its reprise are two musical numbers from Disney's 2016 animated musical feature film Moana. It was written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, with additional music and co-produced by Mark Mancina on its reprise. The song was performed in the film by American actress and singer Auliʻi Cravalho in her role as Moana. It was released along with the album on November 18, 2016. Canadian singer Alessia Cara also recorded the song for the Moana soundtrack. The song was nominated for Best Original Song at the 89th Academy Awards and Best Original Song at the 74th Golden Globe Awards and won the Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards.

Composition

"How Far I'll Go" was composed as Moana's "I Want" song, following in the long tradition of "I Want" songs in 1990s Disney animated musicals.[1] [2] It replaced an earlier attempt called "More", for which the demo version recorded by Marcy Harriell was released as an outtake on the deluxe version of the soundtrack album. Although Miranda has stressed that he is still "very proud of" the song as a first draft, "More" was not good enough in retrospect because it merely expressed Moana's vague desire to see more since she had already figured out everything about the island. In contrast, Miranda feels that "How Far I'll Go" expresses a deeper, richer message: Moana's struggle with the irresistible impulse to explore beyond the reef notwithstanding her genuine love for her island, her family, and her people. As Miranda explained to People: "To me that's much more complicated than, 'I hate it here and I want to get out,' ... To say, 'I love it here, I love my parents, but why can't I stop walking to the ocean and fantasizing about getting out of here?' And questioning that instinct? It's even more confusing. And that's a valid story too."

To make himself write a song more compelling than "More", Miranda "went method". According to Miranda, he locked himself in his childhood bedroom at his parents' residence for an entire weekend in order to force his mind back to age 16 (the same age as Moana in the film), a time when he was facing what seemed like an "impossible distance" between the reality of his pleasant middle-class childhood which had no connection to show business whatsoever, and his dreams of a career in show business. He was well aware that he was composing the next Disney "I Want" song after "Let It Go" and that whatever he wrote had to be different from it.

According to the sheet music published at Sheetmusicdirect.com by Disney Music Company, "How Far I'll Go" is a moderate tempo of 82 beats per minute. Written in common time, the song is in the key of E major with a key change to F major for the final 10 measures. Auliʻi Cravalho's vocal range spans from B3 to D5 during the song.[3]

International versions

When the movie had its first theater release worldwide, the song numbered 44 versions, including a special Tahitian-language adaptation created specifically for the movie.[4] For promotional purposes, South African singer Lira[5] and Filipino singer and actress Janella Salvador recorded their own English-language versions of the song, while Indonesian singer Maudy Ayunda and Malaysian singer Ayda Jebat recorded their own versions of the song respectively in Indonesian and Malay language.

On December 15, a 5-languages mash-up was released online, featuring singers from Southeast Asian countries: Janella Salvador from the Philippines, Maudy Ayunda from Indonesia, Myra Molloy from Thailand, Ayda Jebat from Malaysia and Trần Minh Như from Vietnam. Shortly thereafter, a 24-languages video was released on Disney's Vevo channel.

In June 2017, a Māori-language version of the movie, featuring four voice-actors from the original English cast, was announced. Three weeks later, New Zealander Jaedyn Randell was introduced as Moana's voice. The movie was released in September 2017.In the same year, Shruti Rane (Hindi) reprised her role in the Bengali-language version of the movie.

In November 2017, a Hawaiian-language dubbing was announced to be under way, with Auliʻi Cravalho reprising her role as Moana.[6] The movie premiered on June 10, 2018.[7]

Charts

Chart (2016–17)Peak
position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[8] 53
New Zealand Heatseekers (Recorded Music NZ)1
US Billboard Hot 100[9] 41

Year-end charts

Alessia Cara version

How Far I'll Go
Cover:How Far I'll Go (Official Cover Art) by Alessia Cara.png
Type:single
Artist:Alessia Cara
Album:Moana: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Know-It-All
Label:
Producer:
Prev Title:Scars to Your Beautiful
Prev Year:2016
Next Title:Stay
Next Year:2017

Canadian singer and songwriter Alessia Cara recorded "How Far I'll Go" for the Moana soundtrack, with the song being released ahead of the soundtrack on October 28, 2016.[11] It was included in the deluxe edition of Know-It-All released in Asia.

Critical reception

Rolling Stones Brittany Spanos called the song "inspirational and sweet" and went on to say "the uplifting song is a perfect fit into the Disney canon, with Cara belting lyrics about persevering to achieve her dreams in spite of her imperfections or detractors."[12] US magazine Rap-Up said "the empowering anthem allows the Canadian songstress to deliver outstanding vocals about overcoming adversity to reach for goals" and labeled it "a song with a message" and an "emotionally-charged track."[13] Taylor Weatherby of Billboard dubbed it a "bouncy, uplifting tune."[14] Idolator's Mike Wass said "the inspiring anthem is the perfect antidote to the general ugliness of 2016" and called it "a soaring ballad."[15]

Music video

The official music video for the song, directed by Aya Tanimura, was released on November 3, 2016.[16] Derek Lawrence of Entertainment Weekly described the video: "The video finds Cara roaming an empty beach as she belts out lyrics that reflect the film's plot about a young Polynesian girl setting sail for an epic adventure."[17] The video was filmed at El Matador Beach in Malibu, California.[18]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2016–17)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Denmark (Tracklisten)[19] 29
Italy (FIMI)[20] 51
Malaysia (RIM)[21] 13
Netherlands (Dutch Tipparade 40)[22] 4
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[23] 3
Norway (VG-lista)[24] 10
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[25] 7

Year-end charts

Chart (2017)! scope="col"
Position
Australia (ARIA)[26] 76
Denmark (Tracklisten)[27] 70
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[28] 22
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[29] 23

International versions

In many versions of Moana, Alessia Cara's version of the song played during the end credits. However, several localized adaptations of Cara's version of the song were recorded for the end credits of the film as released in certain markets around the world.

Vajèn van den Bosch (Dutch), Laura Tesoro (Flemish) and Cerise Calixte (French) sang the song both for the end credits and the movie.[30] [31] [32] Yulianna Karaulova (Russian) took also part in the movie voicing Sina, Moana's mother, in the Russian version.[33]

Cover versions

Accolades

See main article: List of accolades received by Moana (2016 film).

Awards
AwardCategoryResult
Critics' Choice Awards
(22nd)
Best Song[42]
St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association
(13th)
Best Song[43]
Houston Film Critics Society
(10th)
Best Original Song[44]
Golden Globe Awards
(74th)
Best Original Song[45]
Grammy Awards
(60th)
Best Song Written for Visual Media[46]
Academy Awards
(89th)
Best Original Song[47]

Notes and References

  1. News: Gagliano. Rico. Miranda. Lin-Manuel. Lin-Manuel Miranda on 'I Want' Songs, Going Method for 'Moana' and Fearing David Bowie. 14 February 2017. The Dinner Party Download American Public Radio. 10 February 2017. Transcript. February 14, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170214175952/http://www.dinnerpartydownload.org/lin-manuel-miranda/. live.
  2. News: Quinn. Dave. How Lin-Manuel Miranda's Oscar-nominated Moana Track Evolved into Disney's Most Unique Ballad. 27 February 2017. People. Time Inc.. 24 February 2017. New York. February 26, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170226233055/http://people.com/awards/lin-manuel-miranda-story-behind-writing-moana-how-far-ill-go/. live.
  3. Web site: How Far I'll Go sheet music by Lin-Manuel Miranda (Piano, Vocal & Guitar (Right-Hand Melody) – 177358) . www.sheetmusicdirect.com . October 18, 2018 . April 5, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190405081132/https://www.sheetmusicdirect.com/se/ID_No/177358/Product.aspx . live .
  4. News: 'Moana' to be First Disney Film Translated Into Tahitian Language. 2016-10-25. EW.com. en-US. 2017-01-11. January 10, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170110153955/http://ew.com/article/2016/10/25/moana-tahitian-language-translation/. live.
  5. El Broide, "Lira Lends Her Voice To Disney's Moana Soundtrack", People, November 28, 2016.
  6. Web site: Instagram post by Auli'i • Nov 2, 2017 at 7:00pm UTC. https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/BbAOujigpkd . 2021-12-24 . limited. Instagram. en. 2017-11-04.
  7. News: Disney's Moana to make World Premiere in ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi at Ko Olina's World Oceans Day, June 10. Ko Olina. May 1, 2018. 2018-05-19. en-US. February 24, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190224072904/http://koolina.com/press/disneys-moana-make-world-premiere-%CA%BBolelo-hawai%CA%BBi-ko-olinas-world-oceans-day-june-10/. live.
  8. Auli'i Cravalho - Chart history (Billboard Canadian Hot 100). Billboard. March 21, 2017. December 25, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161225035828/http://www.billboard.com/artist/7593101/aulii-cravalho/chart?f=793. live.
  9. Auli'i Cravalho - Chart history (Billboard Hot 100). Billboard. January 10, 2017. May 5, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180505033341/https://www.billboard.com/artist/7593101/aulii-cravalho/chart?f=379. live.
  10. https://web.archive.org/web/20211019103025/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2017/digital-songs. October 19, 2021. Digital Song Sales. Billboard. May 9, 2022.
  11. Web site: Alessia Cara's How Far I'll Go From Moana Is Your New Anthem - E! News. Francesca Bacardi. January 10, 2017. October 28, 2016. E! News. October 11, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211011154735/https://www.eonline.com/news/805426/alessia-cara-s-how-far-i-ll-go-from-moana-is-your-new-anthem. live.
  12. Hear Alessia Cara's Lin-Manuel Miranda-Penned 'How Far I'll Go' - Rolling Stone. Brittany . Spanos . Brittany Spanos . January 10, 2017. October 28, 2016. Rolling Stone. September 21, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170921144324/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/hear-alessia-caras-lin-manuel-miranda-penned-how-far-ill-go-w447289. dead.
  13. Web site: New Music: Alessia Cara - 'How Far I'll Go' - Rap-Up. January 10, 2017. October 28, 2016. Rap-Up. January 22, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210122163541/https://www.rap-up.com/2016/10/28/new-music-alessia-cara-how-far-ill-go/. live.
  14. Alessia Cara's 'How Far I'll Go,' Written By Lin-Manuel Miranda for Disney's Upcoming Film 'Moana': Listen - Billboard. Taylor Weatherby. January 10, 2017. October 28, 2016. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. October 30, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161030230644/http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/7557734/alessia-cara-lin-manuel-miranda-how-far-ill-go-moana. live.
  15. Web site: Alessia Cara's 'How Far I'll Go' Video - Idolator. Mike Wass. January 10, 2017. November 3, 2016. Idolator. October 11, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211011154734/https://www.idolator.com/7650198/alessia-cara-how-far-ill-go-video. live.
  16. Web site: Alessia Cara - How Far I'll Go (Official Video) - YouTube. January 10, 2017. November 3, 2016. YouTube. October 9, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211009135608/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNra8eK0K6k. live.
  17. Alessia Cara debuts beauty music video for 'Moana' song 'How Far I'll Go' - EW.com. Derek Lawrence. January 10, 2017. November 3, 2016. Entertainment Weekly. January 26, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210126054347/https://ew.com/article/2016/11/03/moana-lin-manuel-miranda-alessia-cara-video/. live.
  18. Web site: Aya Tanimura directs Alessia Cara in "How Far I'll Go", music video to accompany Disney's Moana. Black Dog. March 15, 2017. March 11, 2016. www.blackdogfilms.com. October 6, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201006063544/http://www.blackdogfilms.com/16968/aya-tanimura-directs-alessia-cara-in-how-far-ill-go-music-video-to-accompany-disneys-moana/. live.
  19. Web site: Track Top-40 Uge 13, 2017 . . April 5, 2017 . April 5, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170405074839/http://www.hitlisten.nu/default.asp?w=14&y=2017&list=t40 . live .
  20. Web site: Classifica settimanale WK 8. Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. it. February 25, 2017. January 25, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180125015143/http://www.fimi.it/classifiche#/category:digital/id:2429/page:1. live.
  21. Web site: Top 20 Most Streamed International & Domestic Singles in Malaysia. Recording Industry Association of Malaysia. June 13, 2017. March 13, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170313140839/http://www.rim.org.my/main/images/stories/RIM/chart/6_i_dm.pdf. live.
  22. Web site: Alessia Cara - How far I'll go. nl. Dutch Top 40. June 27, 2022. June 27, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220627231116/https://www.top40.nl/bastille-alessia-cara/another-place-33228. live.
  23. Web site: NZ Top 40 Singles Chart. Recorded Music NZ. January 30, 2017. January 27, 2017. February 2, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170202112810/http://nztop40.co.nz/chart/singles?chart=4329. live.
  24. Web site: VG-lista – Topp 20 Single uke 7, 2017. VG-lista. February 18, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170917124436/http://lista.vg.no/liste/topp-20-single/1/dato/2017/uke/7. 2017-09-17. dead.
  25. Web site: Sverigetopplistan - Sveriges Officiella Topplista. Sverigetopplistan. February 18, 2017. July 20, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170720033503/http://www.sverigetopplistan.se/. live.
  26. Web site: ARIA End of Year Singles 2017. Australian Recording Industry Association. January 5, 2018. January 5, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180105012055/https://www.ariacharts.com.au/annual-charts/2017/singles-chart/. live.
  27. Web site: Track Top-100 2017. Hitlisten. January 11, 2018. March 28, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190328065442/http://hitlisten.nu/top2017.asp?list=Track%20100. live.
  28. Web site: Top Selling Singles of 2017. Recorded Music NZ. December 22, 2017. December 22, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171222105343/https://nztop40.co.nz/chart/singles?chart=4435. live.
  29. Web site: Årslista Singlar – År 2017. Sverigetopplistan. sv. January 16, 2018. March 21, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190321170440/http://www.sverigetopplistan.se/netdata/ghl002.mbr/lista?liid=43&dfom=20170001. live.
  30. Disney+ . 2020 . Vaiana : La Légende du bout du monde . Moana . Motion picture . France . Disney . fr.
  31. Disney+ . 2020 . Vaiana . Moana . Motion picture . Belgium . Disney . nl.
  32. Disney+ . 2019 . Vaiana . Moana . Motion picture . Netherlands . Disney . nl.
  33. 2017 . Моана . Moana . DVD . Russia . Disney . ru.
  34. Web site: 'Vaiana (Originele Nederlandstalige Soundtrack)' van Various Artists op Apple Music. iTunes. 18 November 2016. 2017-01-11. January 13, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170113155833/https://itunes.apple.com/nl/album/vaiana-originele-nederlandstalige/id1176095533. live.
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  36. Web site: How Far I'll Go (From "Moana") [Kazakh Version] - Single by Gulsim Myrzabekova on Apple Music]. iTunes. 9 December 2016. 2017-01-11. January 13, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170113162502/https://itunes.apple.com/kz/album/how-far-ill-go-from-moana/id1180870347. live.
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