Jerry Goldsmith - Mulan (1998)

Music is an integral part to any animated Disney film. From Snow White & the Seven Dwarves to Beauty & the Beast, the songs were as enchanting as the animation itself, adding to the magic of the film itself. Shortly after Beauty & the Beast's massive success, the studio set up a succession of "classy" animated films, spending tons of money to get admittedly gorgeous pictures, star voices and big-name music composers. The films were all high-quality, but a little homogenous, and by the time they got to Mulan -- the story of a Chinese princess -- they knew it was time for a change, investing the film with an original look and story. Too bad that didn't extend to the music, as well. While the music for Mulan is far from terrible, it isn't particularly inspired. Jerry Goldsmith's score is fine and occasionally moving, but Matthew Wilder and David Zippel's full-fledged songs are flat and unmemorable. Unfortunately, they provide the bulk of the album and the overall result is a pleasant, forgettable listen -- and that's a disappointment, but it's not surprising considering that Pocahontas and The Hunchback of Notre Dame suffered from the same flaw.~Mulan [Original Disney Soundtrack] Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine