"Trolls" Soundtrack Lyrics

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“Trolls (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)” – Album Guide to Tracks and Key Scenes

Review

What does “weaponized happiness” sound like? DreamWorks’ Trolls answers with disco-pop rockets, candy-coated covers, and a score that sprints between gags and feels. The plot is a rescue quest — Princess Poppy drags grumpy survivalist Branch into Bergen country to save their kidnapped friends — and the soundtrack turns that quest into a neon parade: originals for character beats, nostalgic earworms for comedy, and a climactic power ballad that earns its glow.

Justin Timberlake, doubling as executive music producer and voice of Branch, anchors the album with “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” while the cast (Anna Kendrick, Zooey Deschanel, Gwen Stefani and more) sings in character. Genre phases map cleanly to the story: glitter-pop pep to frame Troll Village; jukebox melancholy for lonely Bergens; dance-pop catharsis once worlds reconcile. Meanwhile, Christophe Beck’s compact orchestral score (with Jeff Morrow) stitches action and heart, giving buoyant songs a cinematic spine.

How It Was Made

DreamWorks brought in Timberlake early as Executive Music Producer to curate new songs and shape the album’s through-line, with heavyweight pop collaborators (Max Martin, Shellback, Oscar Holter, Nile Rodgers, Timbaland) and featured artists from the voice cast. RCA Records released the song album on September 23, 2016; the separate Original Motion Picture Score by Christophe Beck (with Jeff Morrow) arrived shortly after, collecting 17 brisk cues built for chase, charm, and Bergen peril.

Key production choices: cast-led vocals recorded like pop records (Serban Ghenea mixing), a re-recorded “September” with the film’s leads, and a restraint in the score album’s runtime — keep the sugar high, skip the filler.

Tracks & Scenes

Here’s when the biggest numbers land, with concise scene context. “Diegetic” = the characters hear it on screen.

“Hair Up” (Justin Timberlake, Gwen Stefani, Ron Funches)

Where it plays:

Opening and early Trollstice beats. A rubbery, sample-stacked party opener scores village life before the Bergen threat barges in (diegetic/performance energy). ~00:00–00:04.

Why it matters:

Establishes the candy-rush vibe and the film’s “music = community” thesis.

“Get Back Up Again” (Anna Kendrick)

Where it plays:

Poppy’s solo quest song as she head-firsts into the wilderness. She dodges spiders, snacks on scrapbook optimism, and literally bounces through setbacks. ~00:23.

Why it matters:

Defines Poppy’s resilience; a character I-want song in pop clothing.

“The Sound of Silence” (as performed by Anna Kendrick)

Where it plays:

First camp night with Branch. Poppy softly croons the opening as an awkward peace offering; Branch rejects the cheer. ~00:31.

Why it matters:

A wry needle-drop — the joke lands, the loneliness lingers.

“Hello” (Zooey Deschanel)

Where it plays:

Bridget, the Bergen scullery maid, sigh-sings to herself about King Gristle during prep — a lovelorn whisper in a greasy kitchen. ~00:42.

Why it matters:

Introduces Bridget’s yearning and flips Lionel Richie’s schmaltz into sympathy.

“Theme from A Summer Place” (Percy Faith & His Orchestra)

Where it plays:

During “Lady Glittersparkles” makeover/date, a retro, swoony interlude underscores shy first contact between Bridget and King Gristle. ~00:53.

Why it matters:

Golden-age romance gloss that sells the sincerity beneath the wig and skates.

“They Don’t Know” (Ariana Grande)

Where it plays:

Skating date sequence — Bridget and Gristle glide while Branch and Poppy run the rescue plan in the background. ~00:56.

Why it matters:

Modern pop sheen for Bergen butterflies; cross-cuts romance and heist.

“I Feel Love” (Donna Summer)

Where it plays:

Cutaway to Gristle’s cardio routine; glitter-disco arpeggios pulse while the Trolls sneak through corridors. ~01:00.

Why it matters:

Classic synth euphoria as comic counterpoint — stealth with a side of sweatband.

“True Colors” (Anna Kendrick & Justin Timberlake)

Where it plays:

Climactic low point: captured, de-sparkled, and hopeless. Branch finally sings, color returns, and the group re-kindles. ~01:08.

Why it matters:

Emotional fulcrum — vulnerability as power; the film’s thesis in harmony.

“Can’t Stop the Feeling!” (Justin Timberlake)

Where it plays:

Resolution celebration as Trolls teach Bergens that joy isn’t food — it’s found. Big ensemble dance lights up the hall. ~01:18.

Why it matters:

Signature hit and communal release valve; the franchise’s calling card.

“September” (Earth, Wind & Fire with cast)

Where it plays:

Epilogue party — narration and dance coda as friendships reset. ~01:22.

Why it matters:

Old-school joy, newly threaded into the film’s pop patchwork.

“What U Workin’ With?” (Gwen Stefani & Justin Timberlake)

Where it plays:

Late film dance burst/credits energy — a final flex of Troll Village swagger. ~01:24.

Why it matters:

Caps the album’s collaborative spirit with a playful back-and-forth.

“Dream a Little Dream of Me” (source cue)

Where it plays:

Pre-Bergen camp setup for Poppy and Branch — a lull before the risky sneak-in. ~01:01–01:02 (brief).

Why it matters:

Lilting comfort in a story about chosen family.

Notes & Trivia

• Justin Timberlake served as Executive Music Producer and as Branch’s voice — steering the pop roster and writing originals.
• RCA released the song album (Sept 23, 2016); the compact Beck/Morrow score album followed with 17 cues totaling ~28 minutes.
• Earth, Wind & Fire re-recorded “September” specifically for the soundtrack with cast vocals.
• “True Colors” wasn’t just on screen — Timberlake and Anna Kendrick debuted a live acoustic version at Cannes to promote the film.
• Serban Ghenea mixed the marquee songs; recording hubs included MixStar (Virginia Beach) and Henson (Hollywood).

Reception & Quotes

Critics were mixed on the movie but repeatedly singled out the pop craft and the casting-led performances. Commercially, the song album went multi-platinum across territories; “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” topped charts worldwide and won the Grammy for Best Song Written for Visual Media (and earned Oscar and Globe nominations).

“Radio-ready sugar rush, anchored by an undeniable lead single.” AllMusic (album overview)

“The film’s present-tense pop instincts… make it hard to resist.” Variety

Interesting Facts

• Two-album approach: A star-driven song album on RCA, plus a lean score album to cover action/heart beats.
• Live preview splash: Kendrick and Timberlake’s “True Colors” performance at Cannes became part of the film’s marketing myth.
• Sample-play: “Hair Up” collage-blends hooks into a single bounce track, mirroring the film’s mash-up sensibility.
• Skate-date structure: The Bridget/Gristle sequence uses three cues in quick succession to move makeover → date → heist.
• Sound of Serban: Pop-mix ace Serban Ghenea’s fingerprints help the soundtrack play like a mainstream album, not an afterthought.

Technical Info

• Title: Trolls (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
• Year: 2016
• Type: Various-artists song soundtrack; separate original score
• Executive Music Producer: Justin Timberlake
• Score: Christophe Beck (with Jeff Morrow)
• Label(s): RCA Records (songs); RCA/Sony for the score release
• Key singles: “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” (lead single, May 6, 2016); “True Colors” (duet version)
• Notable placements: “Get Back Up Again” (journey); “True Colors” (climax); “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” (finale); “They Don’t Know” (skate date)
• Awards: “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” — Grammy winner; Oscar & Golden Globe nominee
• Chart/availability: Hit Billboard 200; album streaming widely; multiple physical editions (CD, vinyl in select territories)

Questions & Answers

Who produced the Trolls song soundtrack?

RCA released it; Justin Timberlake served as Executive Music Producer with pop producers like Max Martin and Shellback contributing.

Who composed the original score?

Christophe Beck, with Jeff Morrow; a 17-track score album was issued separately.

When does “True Colors” play in the film?

At the emotional low point (~1h08m) when Branch finally sings and the Trolls regain their color.

Is “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” in the movie or just the end credits?

It’s used in the finale celebration, then carries into the end credits.

Which song underscores Bridget and King Gristle’s date?

A run that includes the makeover and skating set-piece — notably “They Don’t Know,” with retro interludes like “Theme from A Summer Place.”

Key Contributors

Entity	Relation (S–V–O)
Mike Mitchell	Director → led film production and musical tone with DreamWorks
Walt Dohrn	Co-Director/Voice → guided story & comedy timing impacting song placements
Justin Timberlake	Executive Music Producer → curated/produced songs; performed as Branch
Christophe Beck	Composer → wrote original score
Jeff Morrow	Composer/Additional Music → contributed to the score album
Serban Ghenea	Mix Engineer → mixed key songs for theatrical/album release
RCA Records	Label → released song soundtrack (2016-09-23)
DreamWorks Animation	Studio → produced film; coordinated music production
Julianne Jordan; Tori Fillat	Music Supervision → supervised music production/clearances
Earth, Wind & Fire	Artists → re-recorded “September” for soundtrack with cast
Ariana Grande	Artist → “They Don’t Know” featured in date/skate sequence

Sources: AllMusic; Variety; RCA/Spotify/Apple Music album pages; Discogs; IMDb Soundtracks; Pitchfork/Time coverage; Christophe Beck official site; Soundtrakd scene guide; YouTube official trailer.

Justin Timberlake is the only big star, besides Gwen Stefani and Zooey Deschanel, who sings the most part of the soundtrack. Can't Stop the Feeling! is his biggest dance hits of the latest years. In it, everybody dance & this feeling is about music inside – it sounds as if nothing better happens at the moment with you, so you start to dance. Extremely moody song, bright & saturated with life, as Justin always makes. First of all, this is a musical, where everybody sing. Second, it is about good trolls, not the ones you used to know from films like Hobbit or other fantasy creations. Originally, trolls were nasty race living in their world and they were called Jötunns, the positive synonym to trolls. They were bad and angry because one of gods forbade them to enter in their real world Asgard from the Earth. Originally, some of their race representatives should be defenders of Earth during the Ragnarök, to fight against god’s attack and to cease the fire end of our planet. As you can see, they are of North mythology, often Scandinavian. In this pretty animation movie, nothing left from their original destiny or fate nor even from their look (just google Jötunn and you will understand). Here they are singing-and-having fun creatures of bright fairytale world, where everybody are happy. The Sound of Silence by Anna Kendrick is maybe the only serious creation in the entire plot, and everything else is just never-ending fun. But its lyrics, you know, were written by Simon and Garfunkel in 1964 and here they sound only as a cover. The opposite is True Colors by the already mentioned Mrs. Kendrick, which is interspersed with fun lyrics to support one of the protagonists to perform something he thinks he couldn’t. Overall assessment: 2 out of 5 for constructivism and 5 out of 5 for amusement.

November, 29th 2025

Find more about Trolls on IMDb, Dreamworks

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