Brother Bear Soundtrack (2003)


 

  1. Look Through My Eyes
  2. Great Spirits
  3. Welcome
  4. No Way Out
  5. Transformation
  6. On My Way
  7. Welcome
  8. No Way Out (Theme from Brother Bear)
  9. Transformation
  10.Three Brothers (Score)
  11.Awakes as a Bear (Score)
  12.Wilderness of Danger and Beauty (Score)

 

Following the commercial and critical success of Tarzan, it was no great surprise that Disney decided to call Phil Collins back for another round. If something works once, Disney tends to run with it—especially when it involves a proven formula like a major pop star penning heartfelt songs for an animated feature. In many ways, Brother Bear is a spiritual sequel to Tarzan, musically speaking. Or, more bluntly, it’s a carbon copy of a blueprint that Disney has been using with only slight variations for the better part of two decades.

As is standard for this kind of release, not everything on the album is performed by Collins, but he certainly dominates the soundtrack. There’s also a contribution from Tina Turner (Great Spirits), as well as a few instrumental score pieces to fill out the runtime. The overall tone remains firmly in the Disney comfort zone—warm, inoffensive, and emotionally direct. Collins stays in his wheelhouse here, and while there’s nothing groundbreaking, there’s nothing particularly wrong with that either.

Much like its predecessor, the music’s impact is closely tied to the success of the film itself. Brother Bear never reached the same level of popularity as Tarzan, which means the songs here aren’t nearly as recognizable, even if the quality is largely consistent. A track like On My Way or Look Through My Eyes might have found greater footing had the movie been more prominent. Still, fans of Collins—or Disney fans in general—will likely find plenty to enjoy.

It’s a pleasant listen, and in some ways, that’s the most accurate thing to say about it. The songs do exactly what they’re meant to do: support the movie, tug on the appropriate heartstrings, and keep the mood light and accessible. But no one’s going to accuse Brother Bear of pushing boundaries. This is Collins in cruise control, which, for a Disney soundtrack, is probably just fine.

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