The Music of Disney Pixar’s COCO

Travel and stay was provided for me to attend the Disney Pixar COCO press event.

When I attended the Press Junket for COCO a while back I learned a lot about what went into the music for COCO. If you know anything about Pixar you know that they research every little detail from story to background and yes that included the music. Hopefully you’ve already seen the movie so you know what I’m talking about, it’s amazing right??

Think of your favorite song, imagine it in your mind, you feel the words you breathe it in and out, sometimes you belt out the words, other times you just want to dance. Depending on the song, you might cry, you might laugh, it brings back memories. Music doesn’t just provide us with entertainment it moves us, it makes us feel it guides our emotions and COCO did that with full measure. By the end of the movie you won’t feel the same about “Remember Me”. I guarantee it.

If you notice, while watching the movie you will see Miguel strum the guitar, his fingers are correct. To ensure that things were visually correct and sound genuine, they used footage of musicians as reference. They recruited a number of talented musicians from Mexico whose ability to pour their hearts into their music can be heard with every note. And it makes all the difference in the world.

The music in COCO is very performative. It was big and exciting while also having street music that while still being performative is accurate to the culture. The mariachi bands were lively and the music isn’t only from the instruments. A lot of the music is in the footwork. If you haven’t ever seen a mariachi I highly recommend taking the opportunity to see one. It’s so beautiful and the ones I’ve seen have included generations of a family from young to old. Family is so infused in every part of Mexican culture and COCO shares this with us in every way possible. Go see it!