A Girl Worth Fighting For

Last updated
"A Girl Worth Fighting For"
Song by Matthew Wilder, Harvey Fierstein, Jerry Tondo, Lea Salonga and James Hong
from the album Mulan: An Original Walt Disney Records Soundtrack
ReleasedJune 2, 1998 (1998-06-02)
Length2:25
Label Walt Disney
Composer(s) Matthew Wilder
Lyricist(s) David Zippel
Producer(s) Matthew Wilder

"A Girl Worth Fighting For" is a song written by composer Matthew Wilder and lyricist David Zippel from the 1998 Disney film Mulan . It is performed by Harvey Fierstein, Jerry Tondo, and James Hong, along with Wilder and Lea Salonga, who provide the singing voices of Ling and Mulan, respectively.

Contents

Production

Lyricist David Zippel and composer Matthew Wilder were hired by Disney to write songs for Mulan, based on the belief that the pair could "give kind of different sound to each of the songs". [1] Based on its ironic lyrics, the song is described by Wilder as "a comedy song". [2]

"A Girl Worth Fighting For" ends suddenly when the military reinforcements discover an encampment burned to the ground. Zippel described the abrupt end of the song as "a really powerful moment"; Wilder noted that the song's ending "directly inspired and informed the narrative and how the animators would bring that moment to life". [2]

During the recording process, Wilder provided the singing voice for the character Ling, when Gedde Watanabe was not able to provide adequate vocals for the song. [2] Wilder cites his experience being the stand-in vocalist as "just so much fun and so unexpected". [2]

Synopsis

It is performed by the members of the army as they wonder what sort of woman they will marry after their service is complete, and the role they will have in the family.

Composition

"A Girl Worth Fighting For" is described as a "delightfully ironic comic number". [3] It starts in the key of E major, and is written in alla breve with the tempo of a "walking march". [4]

Critical reception

Arthur Hu for Asian Focus (Seattle) wrote "A Girl Worth Fighting For" sounds a bit like South Pacific 's "There is Nothing Like a Dame" another hit musical comedy about war between Asian powers. Still, the songs stick with stereotypical gender themes, and they still promote the idea that guys have all the fun fighting and killing". [5] Taestful Reviews wrote "A Girl Worth Fighting For" is as funny as Disney songs get, second to only "Gaston." [6] Filmtracks.com wrote "the comical piece performed by Harvey Fierstein ("A Girl Worth Fighting For") proves that people with annoying speaking voices don't sound any better when they sing". [7]

Related Research Articles

Mulan is a fictional character, inspired by a legendary figure, who appears in Walt Disney Pictures' 36th animated feature film Mulan (1998). Her speaking voice is provided by actress Ming-Na Wen, while singer Lea Salonga provides the character's singing voice. Created by author Robert D. San Souci, Mulan is based on the legendary Chinese warrior Hua Mulan from the poem the Ballad of Mulan. The only child of an aging war veteran, Mulan disregards both tradition and the law by disguising herself as a man in order to enlist herself in the army in lieu of her feeble father.

<i>Mulan</i> (1998 film) 1998 film directed by Barry Cook and Tony Bancroft

Mulan is a 1998 American animated musical adventure film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation for Walt Disney Pictures. It is based on the Chinese legend of Hua Mulan, and was Disney's 36th animated feature and the ninth animated film produced and released during the Disney Renaissance. It was directed by Tony Bancroft and Barry Cook, with story by Robert D. San Souci and screenplay by Rita Hsiao, Philip LaZebnik, Chris Sanders, Eugenia Bostwick-Singer, and Raymond Singer. Ming-Na Wen, Eddie Murphy, Miguel Ferrer and BD Wong star in the English version, while Jackie Chan provided the voice of Captain Li Shang for the Chinese dubs of the film. The film's plot takes place in China during the Han dynasty, where Fa Mulan, daughter of aged warrior Fa Zhou, impersonates a man to take her father's place during a general conscription to counter a Hun invasion.

Harvey Fierstein American actor and playwright

Harvey Forbes Fierstein is an American actor and playwright. He is best known for his theater work in Torch Song Trilogy and Hairspray and movie roles in Mrs. Doubtfire, Independence Day, and as the voice of Yao in Mulan and Mulan II. Fierstein won two Tony Awards, Best Actor in a Play and Best Play, for Torch Song Trilogy. He received his third Tony Award, Best Book of a Musical, for the musical La Cage aux Folles and his fourth, the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical, for playing Edna Turnblad in Hairspray. Fierstein also wrote the book for the Tony Award-winning musical Kinky Boots, Newsies, and A Catered Affair. He was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame in 2007.

David Joel Zippel is an American musical theatre lyricist, director and producer.

"Reflection" is a song written and produced by Matthew Wilder and David Zippel for the soundtrack of Disney's 1998 animated film Mulan. In the film, the song is performed by Tony Award winner, Filipina singer and actress Lea Salonga as Fa Mulan. An accompanying music video for "Reflection" was included as a bonus to the Disney Gold Classic Collection DVD release of the film in February 2000. Reflection has received highly positive reviews, with critics highlighting its emotional writing and Salonga's vocals.

Matthew Wilder American singer and musician

Matthew Wilder is an American singer, musician, and record producer. In early 1984, his single "Break My Stride" hit No. 2 on the Cash Box chart and No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. He also did the singing voice for Ling in the Disney animated feature film Mulan.

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Mulan II is a 2004 American direct-to-video animated musical adventure film directed by Darrell Rooney and Lynne Southerland. It is a sequel to the 1998 theatrically-released Disney animated film Mulan, featuring songs by Jeanine Tesori and Alexa Junge. Much of the cast from the first film returned, excluding Eddie Murphy (Mushu), Miriam Margolyes, James Hong (Chi-Fu), Chris Sanders, and Matthew Wilder. Murphy and Margolyes were replaced by Mark Moseley and April Winchell, respectively; Little Brother was voiced by Frank Welker, and Gedde Watanabe does his own singing for the sequel. Mulan II features Mulan and her new fiancé, General Li Shang on a special mission: escorting the Emperor's three daughters across the country to meet their soon-to-be fiancés. The film deals with arranged marriages, loyalty, relationships, making choices, trust, and finding true love. Unlike its predecessor, which gained critical acclaim, Mulan II was panned by critics.

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"I'll Make a Man Out of You" is a song written by composer Matthew Wilder and lyricist David Zippel for Walt Disney Pictures' 36th animated feature film Mulan (1998). Appearing on the film's soundtrack Mulan: An Original Walt Disney Records Soundtrack, "I'll Make a Man Out of You" is performed by American singer Donny Osmond as the singing voice of Captain Li Shang in lieu of American actor BD Wong, who provides the character's speaking voice. The song also features contributions from Lea Salonga as the singing voice of Mulan, Eddie Murphy as Mushu, and Harvey Fierstein, Jerry Tondo and Wilder himself as Yao, Chien-Po and Ling, respectively. In addition, Mushu has a speaking line unlike the other characters in the song.

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<i>Hercules</i> (soundtrack) 1997 soundtrack album by Various artists

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References

  1. Noyer, Jérémie (2008-08-14). "Tony Bancroft balances the yin and the yang in directing Mulan – Animated Views". Animated Views. Retrieved 2019-06-03.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Lenker, Maureen Lee (2018-06-19). "'Mulan': The story behind 'I'll Make a Man Out of You' and its other hit songs". EW.com. Retrieved 2019-06-03.
  3. Hischak, Thomas S.; Robinson, Mark A. (2009). The Disney song encyclopedia. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press. pp. 64–65. ISBN   9780810869370. OCLC   317068086.
  4. "A Girl Worth Fighting For - Digital Sheet Music". Musicnotes.com. Retrieved 2019-06-03.
  5. "Review for Mulan (1998)". imdb.com. Retrieved 2014-08-03.
  6. "Mulan (1998): Co-Review | taestful reviews". taestfulreviews.wordpress.com. Archived from the original on 2014-08-14. Retrieved 2014-08-03.
  7. "Filmtracks: Mulan (Jerry Goldsmith)". filmtracks.com. Retrieved 2014-08-03.