"Moana 2" Soundtrack Lyrics

"Moana 2 (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)" – Album Guide to Tracks and Key Scenes

Overview

What happens when a wayfinder outgrows her map? Moana 2 answers with a compact, chorus-forward soundtrack that sets village voices against the pull of open water. The album returns the percussion-and-choir palette of the first film, but frames it with new writers and a darker “I want” sequel that pushes the lead beyond comfort.

Arrival → adaptation → rebellion → collapse: the musical arc tracks the plot. “We’re Back” reopens Motunui with bustle and pride; “Beyond” names the itch to leave again; mid-album set pieces flex comic swagger and crew-building; and a closing run of reprises and wayfinding anthems carries Moana toward a farther horizon.

Stylistically it’s a braid: Te Vaka rhythms and languages carry the communal spine; radio-clean melodies handle the character turns; Mark Mancina’s score cues stitch action geography to emotion. As per album notes and press, Opetaia Foaʻi and Mancina return from the 2016 film on songs/score, with Abigail Barlow & Emily Bear joining as principal songwriters.

How It Was Made

Walt Disney Records released the song album on November 22, 2024 (deluxe with full score on November 25). Songs are by Opetaia Foaʻi, Mark Mancina, and — replacing Lin-Manuel Miranda this time — Abigail Barlow & Emily Bear. Principal vocal performances come from Auliʻi Cravalho (Moana), Dwayne Johnson (Maui), Te Vaka members, and new cast including Rose Matafeo, Awhimai Fraser, Hualālai Chung and David Fane. Recording spanned Burbank (Eastwood), Sydney (Trackdown), and Te Vaka’s home studio network.

The single “Beyond” led the rollout on November 7, 2024; the full track list arrived the same day. A deluxe edition adds nearly 90 minutes of Mancina/Foaʻi score, plus instrumental versions of the headline songs. According to industry previews, critics focused on the contrast between familiar percussive identity and a new, more Broadway-pop lyric voice.

Tracks & Scenes

Scene notes reflect the wide-release cut; micro-timings vary slightly by version.

"Tulou Tagaloa (Sei e Vaʻai Mai)" — Olivia Foaʻi & Te Vaka
Where it plays: Invocation over ocean imagery and logo cues. The chorus frames the story as a request and a blessing; ambient surf and hand percussion bloom, then cut to island bustle.
Why it matters: Re-anchors language and reverence before plot mechanics start.

"We’re Back" — Auliʻi Cravalho & Villagers of Motunui
Where it plays: Opening Motunui sequence. New docks, new sails, elders and children in call-and-response; the staging shows a village that learned from voyaging.
Why it matters: Establishes community progress and Moana’s leadership stakes.

"Beyond" — Auliʻi Cravalho feat. Rachel House
Where it plays: Shoreline and night water after council debate; grandmother’s counsel floats in. The melody sits lower than “How Far I’ll Go,” and the arrangement keeps drums in reserve until the second verse.
Why it matters: A spiritual sequel to the 2016 anthem — older voice, bigger horizon.

"Tuputupu (The Feast)" — Te Vaka
Where it plays: Quick, rhythmic montage of preparation before departure — garlands, gourds, gear. Nearly diegetic in feel.
Why it matters: Pure propulsion; teaches the trip’s gait.

"What Could Be Better Than This?" — Auliʻi Cravalho, Hualālai Chung, Rose Matafeo & David Fane
Where it plays: Crew-building on the beach and first night at sea; a teasing debate about staying vs. seeking. Comic asides mask nerves.
Why it matters: Turns a philosophical argument into a foot-tapping rope-tying rhythm.

"Get Lost" — Awhimai Fraser
Where it plays: Adversary/obstacle number in a liminal sea-space; lantern light, sudden currents, and a voice that charms and misleads.
Why it matters: The sequel’s glam/menace showcase — a cousin to “Shiny,” but sly instead of brash.

"Can I Get a Chee Hoo?" — Dwayne Johnson (Maui)
Where it plays: Maui’s re-entry and rally — sparring turns to mentoring; a call-and-response that primes courage in the crew.
Why it matters: Confidence trick flipped to empowerment. The chant hooks audiences instantly.

"Mana Vavau" — Dwayne Johnson, Opetaia Foaʻi & Rachel House
Where it plays: Tied to lore and oath-taking before a risky crossing; low drums and men’s chorus under a storytelling verse.
Why it matters: Gives Maui gravitas and braids him back into Pacific cosmology.

"Finding the Way" — Olivia Foaʻi & Te Vaka
Where it plays: Mid-journey course correction under clouded skies; the drum pattern clicks to the stars when the clouds break; later reprised near the end.
Why it matters: The navigation brain of the album — a true wayfinding lesson in song.

"Nuku O Kaiga" — Te Vaka
Where it plays: Island-arrival sequence — surf-spray, cliff calls, kids running the shore while outriggers come in.
Why it matters: Celebratory but grounded; lets the location feel lived-in.

"Beyond (Reprise)" — Auliʻi Cravalho
Where it plays: Low point to recommitment; pared-down accompaniment, then a small modulation that points to the endgame.
Why it matters: Locks the character arc without repeating the full ballad.

"We Know the Way (Te Fenua te Malie)" — Auliʻi Cravalho, Olivia Foaʻi, Opetaia Foaʻi & Te Vaka
Where it plays: Farewell/epilogue departure; the film’s last communal breath.
Why it matters: Heritage returns in a new key — an earned reprise with wider intent.

End credits
“Beyond (End Credit Version)” extends the lead song with fuller chorus and Te Vaka textures; a Te Vaka version of “We’re Back” tags the roll. Trailers leaned on “Beyond” stings and wayfinding chants; the teaser foregrounded ocean percussion and ancestor calls.

Notes & Trivia

• The standard album runs 16 songs (~33 minutes); the deluxe adds ~77 minutes of score and instrumentals.
• Barlow & Bear are the youngest, first all-female duo to write the songs for a Disney Animation feature.
• “Beyond” and “Can I Get a Chee Hoo?” received Hollywood Music in Media Awards nominations; “Beyond” later drew an SCL nomination.
• Recording spanned Burbank (Eastwood), Sydney (Trackdown), Te Vaka’s home spaces, and Los Angeles rooms used across Disney projects.
• Digital release preceded physical CD/LP; the film hit digital storefronts January 28, 2025, before streaming in March.

Music–Story Links

“We’re Back” frames community confidence; “Beyond” admits that confidence isn’t enough. “Get Lost” weaponizes allure — a musical misdirection Moana must hear through. Maui’s “Can I Get a Chee Hoo?” flips bravado into mutual courage. The reprises and closing wayfinding pieces fuse crew into chorus, so the last image can sail out on voices, not lectures.

Reception & Quotes

Reception split: several outlets found the songs less distinctive than in 2016; others praised the consistency of the percussion-choir identity and singled out “Beyond” as a keeper. Most agreed the expanded score plays with real propulsion.

“One bona fide banger, a warm throwback, and a handful of serviceable set-pieces.”
— Polygon capsule

“Perky, appealing… but searching for the indelible hook.”
— Variety review

“Packed with emotional callbacks; the melodies stuck.”
— CinemaBlend note

Interesting Facts

• The deluxe score includes cue titles that map the action cleanly (“Meet Matangi,” “Sea Snake Attack,” “Waves Like Mountains”).
• Mancina/Foaʻi weave Te Vaka textures through many orchestral cues, not just the songs.
• “We’re Back” exists in two forms: cast-led and Te Vaka version — both on the standard album.
• Olivia Foaʻi’s leads appear across five tracks, effectively co-narrating alongside Moana.
• The end-credit “Beyond” folds the choir in more prominently than the in-film solo.

Technical Info

• Title: Moana 2 (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
• Year/Label: 2024 — Walt Disney Records (standard & deluxe editions)
• Songwriters: Abigail Barlow; Emily Bear; Opetaia Foaʻi; Mark Mancina
• Score: Mark Mancina & Opetaia Foaʻi (deluxe edition)
• Key placements (selection): “Tulou Tagaloa (Sei e Vaʻai Mai)” (invocation/logo); “We’re Back” (Motonui opener); “Beyond” (shoreline vow); “What Could Be Better Than This?” (crew debate); “Get Lost” (lure/obstacle); “Can I Get a Chee Hoo?” (Maui rally); “Finding the Way” (+ reprise) (navigation beats); “Nuku O Kaiga” (arrival); “We Know the Way (Te Fenua te Malie)” (epilogue reprise)
• Cast voices (songs): Auliʻi Cravalho; Dwayne Johnson; Rose Matafeo; Awhimai Fraser; Hualālai Chung; David Fane; Te Vaka ensemble
• Formats/dates: Digital Nov 22, 2024; deluxe Nov 25; physical Jan 10, 2025; film digital Jan 28, 2025; streaming Mar 12, 2025

Questions & Answers

Who wrote the new songs for Moana 2?

Abigail Barlow & Emily Bear co-wrote with Opetaia Foaʻi and Mark Mancina. Mancina & Foaʻi also composed the score.

Is “Beyond” just a repeat of “How Far I’ll Go”?

No. It’s a deliberate “older voice” sequel — lower tessitura, darker harmony, and a bigger decision point.

Does the album include reprises of classic material?

Yes. “We Know the Way (Te Fenua te Malie)” returns as a finale, and navigation motifs are threaded through new songs and score.

Is there a deluxe release with the score?

Yes. The deluxe edition adds an hour-plus of Mancina/Foaʻi cues and instrumental versions of the headline songs.

Where can I hear it?

All major platforms carry the 16-track standard album; the deluxe (with score) is also available digitally. Physical CD/LP followed in early 2025.

Canonical Entities & Relations

Sources: Disney/YouTube trailers; Wikipedia (film & soundtrack); Spotify album listing; Classic FM overview on the new songwriting team; IMDb soundtrack/tracklist snapshots; release-window coverage (digital/physical dates).

November, 16th 2025