An all-star team of composers, music supervisors, and songwriters (including the duo behind Frozen’s most famous tune “Let It Go”) has come together to bring musical life to the forthcoming Día de los Muertos-themed Pixar movie Coco. Among the collaborators is Camilo Lara of Mexican Institute of Sound fame, who is consulting on the project.
But in an exciting and unexpected turn of events, R&B singer Miguel and Mexican icon Natalia Lafourcade have teamed up to record “Remember Me,” an original song for the Coco soundtrack. “Remember Me” is the signature song of the film, interpolated throughout Coco in different versions. Written by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, the song will be reprised by Lafourcade and Miguel in the end credits.
On paper, it might seem like Miguel and Natalia Lafourcade have little in common; one is famous for his sleek sarape looks and tortured, soulful R&B, while the other’s bubbly pop rock has revolutionized the Mexican music industry. But each artist will no doubt bring fresh perspective to the table; Miguel recently reconnected with his Mexican roots by visiting his family in Zamora, Michoacán in a Viceland documentary series called Earthworks. Lafourcade, on her part, was nominated for four Latin Grammys for her latest album, Musas, an ode to Latin America’s folk traditions. It’s not clear whether the song will be recorded in Spanish, English or both, but given Miguel’s recent collabs with Latin American artists, cross your fingers for a bilingual number.
Coco tells the story of a 12-year-old kid’s quest to become a musician despite his family’s generational ban on music. In a press release, Miguel explains his motivation for participating in the soundtrack.“The song is special because it is about family and remembering where we come from. It’s a reminder to be appreciative of the love and sacrifice that those before us had to make in order for us to be who we are. I think the message in the song is powerful enough to connect with everyone, but we’re adding another layer of depth and soul to the emotion of the song in this version.” Natalia adds, “I feel very excited to be part of a Pixar movie because I have loved those films ever since I was little. I really enjoyed singing a song that gives life, color, and joy to our Mexican traditions, as the Day of the Dead is one of my favorite traditions and celebrations of our culture.”
The Coco score and soundtrack is set for release on November 10 via Walt Disney Records, but you can pre-order the physical CD now. Coco opens in U.S. theaters on November 22, 2017.