Mulan: A Girl Worth Fighting For

 One of my all-time favorite childhood movies is Mulan. I have always liked the image that it portrays for women and the sense of humor that comes along with this movie. This song specifically I think portrays the time that it was mad and how men felt about women. The expectations that were had on women and that they were worth fighting for if they can cook, clean, and they're pretty. While the men are saying these things Mulan is saying what if she speaks her mind or has a brain to think for herself and the men that she is preparing to go to battle with all say "nah". At this time she is pretending to be a man because she took her father's space to go to war so the men that she is out there with don't know that she is a woman but with the way that they were talking in the song, she definitely disagrees with their perspective.



This song was written in 1998 with the movie and was sung by Harvey Fierstein, James Hong, Lea Salonga, Jerry Tondo, and Matthew Wilder. They all voice characters in Mulan. Matthew Wilder was the composer while David Zippel was the lyricist for this song. It is a representation of the time and the ideal woman. These men were preparing for war and looking for something to get their minds off the hardships that were to come so to get their minds off of the situation they started to talk about what they thought was the perfect woman. 

This piece was written for the middle of the movie and it helped Mulan keep the image of being a man so that she could stay with the army to fight in her father's place. In that moment it was bringing light to a dark situation that was to come. 

The only instrument that I could find was a piano that is played and then the vocals. I would say that it is overall fairly simple but memorable for sure. Personally, I love this movie and I think that it is a representation of it time and how women were perceived during that time. I also think that it could be looked at as men just talking to one another and stating their ideals but in reality, it was all just talk. I find it very brave of Mulan to have her standards and know who she is. Although at that time she was still pretending to be a man she still said what she was thinking even though she knew it wouldn't be a popular opinion.

 Resources:

Film Music Central, Film Music Central, 28, vinnieh J., & Film Music Central Post authorJuly 28. (2020, March 14). Mulan “A girl worth fighting for” (1998). Film Music Central. https://filmmusiccentral.com/2016/07/28/mulan-a-girl-worth-fighting-for-1998/

A girl worth fighting for (from Mulan II). Popplers Music. (2021, April 29). https://www.popplersmusic.com/item/HL-19886/

Wiki, C. to D. (n.d.). A girl worth fighting for. Disney Wiki. https://disney.fandom.com/wiki/A_Girl_Worth_Fighting_For

Comments

mercedes lindquist said…
Growing up, Mulan was one of my favorite movies. Mushu was definitely my favorite character, though. I like the way that you talk about the expectations that women had for them during this time period, and how Mulan hears about it at battle camp. I've always thought that Mulan worked harder, trained harder, and tried harder than the rest of the characters, but that might just be because she was a woman and had to make sure that no one would find out about it. This movie was such a great choice and I'm so glad that you chose to cover it.
April 15, 2024 at 12:16 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Musical Analysis #2

Image
Bohemian Rhapsody Click the link to listen to the song!     When my now husband started dating in high school we would go on these long road trips for baseball tournaments and during one of those trips this was when he introduced me to this gem. I had never heard of it but it instantly became a staple on those road trips. It brings a smile to my face to think of those trips and the fun that we would have belting this song out loud with the windows rolled down. Since then I haven't listened to it very much but doing these musical analyses' gives me a chance to reminisce on those sweet memories.  Bohemian Rhapsody - Queens - 1975 - UK - Hard Rock Linked in the source this information came from Lyrics     The lyrics are thought to be coming out song for the lead singer Freddy Mercury according to Genius.com. It is thought that the first verse of this song is a representation of the killing of his old image confirmed by Freddy's partner Jim Hutton. The song is 6 minutes long wh
Read more

Musical Analysis #1 "Don't Worry Be Happy"

Image
 Growing up my family would always turn on the speakers throughout the whole house and play all different kinds of music for our Saturday morning cleanings. After all the chores were done in the summer we would then go and swim in our pool, if I got to pick the song that day my first choice was always Don't Worry Be Happy ! It felt so effortless and nothing else mattered that day outside of having fun with my family. The song just always seemed to match the way I felt about those summer days. Click below to hear the full song! Don't Worry Be Happy  - Bobby McFerrin - 1988 Lyrics It is stated in Oldtimemusic.com that Bobby McFerrin's song quickly became a hit to people from all different walks of life. I can see how honestly because it might just be the pick-me-up you need after a long work week. The lyrics go into how life might feel really heavy with all these bills and other struggles that you might be facing but it is important sometimes to forget about all those big lif
Read more

Scottish Folk Music

Image
         When it comes to Scottish music and traditions it all fascinates me. It started when I watched the series "Outlander" on Netflix. I know I know not a great representation of the actual music but from what I did see it's so unique and the instruments like bagpipes have this beautiful sound that I have no familiarity with. I love the dancing that comes with the music and this connection between the people of this culture that is felt when listening to the music. I feel like this music holds this connection between the people who know it and who grew up with it. I also feel like it has this sense of home and comfort to it. Celtic Music     Celtic music is another name for Scottish folk music. Their music includes a variation of different musical instruments like bagpipes, tin whistles, and the accordion. Other instruments that are that are often associated with traditional Scottish music are the fiddle, guitar, and drums. Celtic music has origins that can be traced
Read more