"Loyal Brave True"
Single by Christina Aguilera
from the album Mulan (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
ReleasedMarch 6, 2020 (2020-03-06)
GenrePop
Length2:46
LabelWalt Disney Records
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Jamie Hartman
Christina Aguilera singles chronology
"Fall on Me"
(2019)		 "Loyal Brave True"
(2020)		 "Reflection"
(2020)
Music video
"Loyal Brave True" on YouTube

"Loyal Brave True" is a song recorded by American singer and songwriter Christina Aguilera, taken from the soundtrack to the 2020 action drama film Mulan. The song was written by Billy Crabtree, Harry Gregson-Williams, Jamie Hartman, and Rosi Golan, and produced by Hartman. It was released as a single on March 6, 2020 by Walt Disney Records.[1] "Loyal Brave True" received a nomination for the Soundtrack Song of 2020 at the 46th People's Choice Awards.[2] It was also shortlisted as one of fifteen potential nominees for the Academy Award for Best Original Song.[3]

Background and composition

The song is a pop ballad,[4] co-written by Billy Crabtree, Harry Gregson-Williams, Jamie Hartman and Rosi Golan.[5] Hartman, who also produced "Loyal Brave True",[5] has previously worked with Aguilera on her seventh studio album Lotus (2012), writing and co-producing a dance-pop song "Army of Me".[6] It was Mitchell Leib, the president of music and soundtracks for the Walt Disney Studios, who opted Aguilera for the project, as she already recorded a song for the 1998's Mulan.[7] As Gregson-Williams disclosed, "From the demo to the final song, there was a massive leap in the intensity of the song, mainly due to the fact that Christina was going to sing it."[7]

Hartman and Gregson-Williams incorporated classic Chinese musice influences in the song—one of the instruments used during the recording sessions was guzheng.[7][1]

Critical reception

In April 2020, Entertainment Focus named "Loyal Brave True" one of the best pop songs of the year so far.[8] Entertainment Weekly editor Joey Nolfi praised Aguilera for her "powerhouse vocals",[4] while Bianca Gracie of Billboard believed that the song is "filled with the undeniable warrior spirit we've all come to love Mulan for, but also updates the lead character's story for the 21st century".[1] Bleeding Cool's Jeremy Konrad stated that Aguilera's strong voice "matches what is increasingly looking like an epic, powerful film".[9] In December 2020, the Idolator editor Mike Wass named "Loyal Brave True" one of the best pop songs of the year,[10] as well as one of the most underrated songs of the year.[11] After the nominations for the 93rd Academy Awards were announced, Kory Grow of Rolling Stone wrote that the song was "surprisingly snubbed" for Best Original Song.[12] In a separate article Idolator also noted the song was Oscar-worthy and placed it on its list of the forty best songs ever recorded by Aguilera.[13]

Music videos

Lyric videos for both "Loyal Brave True" and "El Mejor Guerrero" premiered on YouTube on March 6, 2020, along with the single.[14][15] A short teaser of the music video for "Loyal Brave True" was publicized on August 13,[16] and the next day the video was released in its full form.[17] A Spanish-language video for "El Mejor Guerrero" premiered on YouTube's DisneyMusicVEVO channel simultaneously.[17][18]

Cover versions

In November 2021, Pamela Yuri covered the song on the tenth season of a reality talent show The Voice Brasil.[19] The same year it was performed by Gabriela Marszał during the blind auditions of The Voice Kids Poland.[20]

Accolades

Year Ceremony Category Result Ref.
2020 People's Choice Awards The Soundtrack Song of 2020 Nominated [2]
2021 Academy Awards Best Original Song Shortlisted [3]
2021 Chicago Indie Critics Awards Best Original Song Nominated [21][22]

Credits and personnel

Personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.[23]

Charts

References

  1. 1 2 3 Gracie, Bianca (March 6, 2020). "Christina Aguilera Returns to Her Disney Roots With 'Loyal Brave True' From New 'Mulan' Soundtrack". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2020-03-09. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  2. 1 2 "E! People's Choice Awards 2020 – The Soundtrack Song of 2020". People's Choice Awards. Archived from the original on 2020-10-02. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  3. 1 2 "93rd Oscars Shortlists". The Academy Awards. 5 February 2021. Archived from the original on February 10, 2021. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  4. 1 2 Nolfi, Joey (March 6, 2020). "Hear Christina Aguilera's warrior spirit on new Mulan ballad 'Loyal Brave True'". Entertainment Weekly. Meredith Corporation. Archived from the original on 2020-03-16. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  5. 1 2 Willman, Chris (March 6, 2020). "Christina Aguilera Releases New 'Mulan' Song, Has 'Reflection' Reboot on Deck". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on 2020-03-07. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  6. ↑ "Christina Aguilera – Lotus (CD, Album, Deluxe Edition) – Discogs" (in Spanish). Discogs. Zink Media, Inc. Archived from the original on 2019-06-24. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  7. 1 2 3 Pond, Steve (January 13, 2021). "Inside Christina Aguilera's Accidental Hit Song From 'Mulan'". TheWrap. The Wrap News Inc. Archived from the original on 2021-01-20. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  8. ↑ James, Gary (April 5, 2020). "EF's Top 10 Pop Songs of 2020 so far". Entertainment Focus. Piñata Media Limited. Archived from the original on 2020-06-09. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  9. ↑ Konrad, Jeremy (March 6, 2020). "'Mulan': Listen to Christina Aguilera's New Song 'Loyal Brave True'". Bleeding Cool. Bleeding Cool USA. Archived from the original on 2020-03-16. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  10. ↑ Wass, Mike (December 26, 2020). "The 100 Best Pop Songs Of 2020". Idolator. Hive Media. Archived from the original on 2021-01-02. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
  11. ↑ Wass, Mike (December 16, 2020). "The Most Underrated Pop Songs Of 2020". Idolator. Hive Media. Archived from the original on 2021-01-02. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
  12. ↑ Grow, Kory (March 15, 2021). "Oscars 2021: Hear the Nominees for Best Original Song". Rolling Stone. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  13. ↑ Wass, Mike (December 18, 2020). "Christina Aguilera's 40 Best Songs". Idolator. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
  14. ↑ "Christina Aguilera – Loyal Brave True (From 'Mulan'/Official Lyric Video)". YouTube. Alphabet Inc. March 6, 2020. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  15. ↑ "Christina Aguilera – El Mejor Guerrero (From 'Mulán'/Spanish Version/Official Lyric Video)". YouTube. Alphabet Inc. March 6, 2020. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  16. ↑ "Preview: Christina Aguilera's 'Loyal Brave True' Music Video (from the Live Action 'Mulan' Soundtrack)". Grape Juice. Townsquare Music. August 14, 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-08-14. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  17. 1 2 Rowley, Glenn (August 14, 2020). "Christina Aguilera Unleashes Triumphant Video For 'Loyal Brave True' From Disney's 'Mulan': Watch". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2020-08-14. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  18. ↑ "Christina Aguilera Rilis Video Musik 'Loyal Brave True'". Creative Disc (in Indonesian). August 16, 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-08-17. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  19. ↑ "Fãs de Mulan por aí? Pamela Yuri soltou a voz na versão brasileira da música 'Lealdade, coragem, verdade' e arrasou no palco!" (in Portuguese). Twitter. Twitter, Inc. November 3, 2021. Archived from the original on November 3, 2021. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
  20. ↑ "Gabriela Marszał – kim jest uczestniczka The Voice Kids 4? Hitem Aguilery podbiła serca trenerów" (in Polish). Radio Eska. ZPR Media Group. March 13, 2021. Archived from the original on November 3, 2021. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
  21. ↑ "2020 CIC Awards". CIC Awards – Chicago Indie Critics Awards. January 3, 2021. Archived from the original on 2021-01-18. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  22. ↑ "SPECIAL: Nominations for the fifth annual Chicago Indie Critics Awards". Every Movie Has a Lesson. December 28, 2020. Archived from the original on 2021-01-18. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  23. ↑ "Loyal Brave True (From 'Mulan') / Christina Aguilera − TIDAL". Tidal. Aspiro. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  24. ↑ "CANADIAN DIGITAL SONG SALES – The week of September 19, 2020". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2020-11-13. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  25. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100: 11 September 2020 – 17 September 2020". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 2020-09-16. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  26. ↑ "Official Singles Downloads Chart Top 100: 11 September 2020 – 17 September 2020". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 2020-09-16. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  27. ↑ "Christina Aguilera Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  28. ↑ "DIGITAL SONG SALES – The week of September 19, 2020". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2020-09-15. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  29. ↑ "Adult Contemporary Songs – Year-End 2020". Billboard. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
  30. ↑ "Adult Contemporary Songs – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
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