Loyal Brave True
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Loyal Brave True
| border = yes
| type = single
| artist = Christina Aguilera
| album = Mulan (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
| released = March 6, 2020
| genre = Pop
| length = 2:46
| label = Walt Disney Records
| writer = * Billy Crabtree
| producer = Jamie Hartman
| chronology = Christina Aguilera
| prev_title = Fall on Me
| prev_year = 2019
| next_title = Reflection
| next_year = 2020
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|G6PZm8vhm6I|"Loyal Brave True"}}}}
}}
"Loyal Brave True" is a song recorded by American singer Christina Aguilera, taken from the soundtrack to the 2020 action drama film Mulan. The song was written by Billy Crabtree, Harry Gregson-Williams, Rosi Golan, and producer Jamie Hartman. It was released as a single on March 6, 2020, by Walt Disney Records.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/9329638/christina-aguilera-mulan-song-loyal-brave-true|title=Christina Aguilera Returns to Her Disney Roots With 'Loyal Brave True' From New 'Mulan' Soundtrack|magazine=Billboard|first=Bianca|last=Gracie|date=March 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200309193842/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/9329638/christina-aguilera-mulan-song-loyal-brave-true|access-date=October 8, 2020|archive-date=March 9, 2020}} "Loyal Brave True" received a nomination for the Soundtrack Song of 2020 at the 46th People's Choice Awards.{{cite web|url=https://pca.eonline.com/music/the-soundtrack-song-of-2020|title=E! People's Choice Awards 2020 – The Soundtrack Song of 2020|publisher=People's Choice Awards|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201002072350/https://pca.eonline.com/music/the-soundtrack-song-of-2020|access-date=October 8, 2020|archive-date=October 2, 2020}} It was also shortlisted as one of fifteen potential nominees for the Academy Award for Best Original Song.{{cite web|url=https://www.oscars.org/oscars/93rd-oscars-shortlists|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210210100136/https://www.oscars.org/oscars/93rd-oscars-shortlists|title=93rd Oscars Shortlists|date=February 5, 2021 |publisher=The Academy Awards|access-date=February 10, 2021|archive-date=February 10, 2021}}
Background and composition
The song is a pop ballad,{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/movies/christina-aguilera-new-song-loyal-brave-true-mulan/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200316093812/https://ew.com/movies/christina-aguilera-new-song-loyal-brave-true-mulan/|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 16, 2020|title=Hear Christina Aguilera's warrior spirit on new Mulan ballad 'Loyal Brave True'|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|publisher=Meredith Corporation|first=Joey|last=Nolfi|date=March 6, 2020|access-date=October 8, 2020}} written by Billy Crabtree, Harry Gregson-Williams, Jamie Hartman and Rosi Golan.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2020/music/news/christina-aguilera-mulan-songs-reflection-loyal-brave-true-1203525917/|title=Christina Aguilera Releases New 'Mulan' Song, Has 'Reflection' Reboot on Deck|first=Chris|last=Willman|work=Variety|publisher=Penske Media Corporation|date=March 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200307222324/https://variety.com/2020/music/news/christina-aguilera-mulan-songs-reflection-loyal-brave-true-1203525917/|access-date=October 8, 2020|archive-date=March 7, 2020}} Hartman, who also produced "Loyal Brave True", has previously worked with Aguilera on her seventh studio album Lotus (2012), writing and co-producing a dance-pop song "Army of Me".{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/es/Christina-Aguilera-Lotus/release/4020732|title=Christina Aguilera – Lotus (CD, Album, Deluxe Edition) – Discogs|date=November 9, 2012 |publisher=Discogs. Zink Media, Inc.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190624133721/https://www.discogs.com/es/Christina-Aguilera-Lotus/release/4020732|language=Spanish|access-date=October 8, 2020|archive-date=June 24, 2019}}
It was Mitchell Leib, the president of music and soundtracks for the Walt Disney Studios, who opted Aguilera for the project, as she already recorded a song, the pop version of "Reflection" for the original 1998 Mulan; another version recorded by her for 2020 film would be released her next single.{{cite web|url=https://www.thewrap.com/loyal-brave-true-mulan-soundtrack-christina-aguilera-harry-gregson-williams-jamie-hartman/|title=Inside Christina Aguilera's Accidental Hit Song From 'Mulan'|work=TheWrap|publisher=The Wrap News Inc.|first=Steve|last=Pond|date=January 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120142522/https://www.thewrap.com/loyal-brave-true-mulan-soundtrack-christina-aguilera-harry-gregson-williams-jamie-hartman/|access-date=March 22, 2021|archive-date=January 20, 2021}} As Gregson-Williams disclosed, "From the demo to the final song, there was a massive leap in the intensity of the song, mainly due to the fact that Christina was going to sing it."
Hartman and Gregson-Williams incorporated classic Chinese music influences in the song—one of the instruments used during the recording sessions was guzheng.
Critical reception
In April 2020, Entertainment Focus named "Loyal Brave True" one of the best pop songs of the year so far.{{cite web|url=https://www.entertainment-focus.com/music-section/music-news/efs-top-10-pop-songs-of-2020-so-far/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200609175453/https://www.entertainment-focus.com/music-section/music-news/efs-top-10-pop-songs-of-2020-so-far/|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 9, 2020|title=EF's Top 10 Pop Songs of 2020 so far|first=Gary|last=James|date=April 5, 2020|work=Entertainment Focus|publisher=Piñata Media Limited|access-date=October 8, 2020}} Entertainment Weekly editor Joey Nolfi praised Aguilera for her "powerhouse vocals", while Bianca Gracie of Billboard believed that the song is "filled with the undeniable warrior spirit we've all come to love Mulan for, but also updates the lead character's story for the 21st century". Bleeding Cool's Jeremy Konrad stated that Aguilera's strong voice "matches what is increasingly looking like an epic, powerful film".{{cite web|url=https://www.bleedingcool.com/2020/03/06/mulan-listen-to-christina-aguileras-new-song-loyal-brave-true/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200316093243/https://www.bleedingcool.com/2020/03/06/mulan-listen-to-christina-aguileras-new-song-loyal-brave-true/|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 16, 2020|title='Mulan': Listen to Christina Aguilera's New Song 'Loyal Brave True'|work=Bleeding Cool|publisher=Bleeding Cool USA|date=March 6, 2020|first=Jeremy|last=Konrad|access-date=October 8, 2020}} In December 2020, the Idolator editor Mike Wass named "Loyal Brave True" one of the best pop songs of the year,{{cite web|url=https://www.idolator.com/7917021/the-100-best-pop-songs-of-2020?chrome=1&Exc_D_LessThanPoint002_p1=1&edg-c=1|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210102130733/https://www.idolator.com/7917021/the-100-best-pop-songs-of-2020?chrome=1&Exc_D_LessThanPoint002_p1=1&edg-c=1|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 2, 2021|title=The 100 Best Pop Songs Of 2020|work=Idolator|publisher=Hive Media|first=Mike|last=Wass|date=December 26, 2020|access-date=January 2, 2021}} as well as one of the most underrated songs of the year.{{cite web|url=https://www.idolator.com/7916694/the-most-underrated-pop-songs-of-2020?chrome=1&Exc_D_LessThanPoint002_p1=1&edg-c=1|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210102130436/https://www.idolator.com/7916694/the-most-underrated-pop-songs-of-2020?chrome=1&Exc_D_LessThanPoint002_p1=1&edg-c=1|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 2, 2021|title=The Most Underrated Pop Songs Of 2020|work=Idolator|first=Mike|last=Wass|date=December 16, 2020|publisher=Hive Media|access-date=January 2, 2021}} After the nominations for the 93rd Academy Awards were announced, Kory Grow of Rolling Stone wrote that the song was "surprisingly snubbed" for Best Original Song.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/oscars-2021-best-original-song-nominees-1141919/|title=Oscars 2021: Hear the Nominees for Best Original Song|magazine=Rolling Stone|publisher=Penske Media Corporation|first=Kory|last=Grow|date=March 15, 2021|access-date=March 16, 2021}} In a separate article Idolator also noted the song was Oscar-worthy and placed it on its list of the forty best songs ever recorded by Aguilera.{{cite web|url=https://www.idolator.com/7916756/christina-aguileras-40-best-songs|title=Christina Aguilera's 40 Best Songs|work=Idolator|first=Mike|last=Wass|date=December 18, 2020|access-date=August 22, 2023}}
Music videos
Lyric videos for both "Loyal Brave True" and its Spanish-language version, "El Mejor Guerrero", premiered on YouTube on March 6, 2020, along with the single.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qo8gX1Evay8|title=Christina Aguilera – Loyal Brave True (From 'Mulan'/Official Lyric Video)|work=YouTube. Alphabet Inc.|date=March 6, 2020|access-date=October 8, 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvQESMKmcyw|title=Christina Aguilera – El Mejor Guerrero (From 'Mulán'/Spanish Version/Official Lyric Video)|work=YouTube. Alphabet Inc.|date=March 6, 2020|access-date=October 8, 2020}} A short teaser of the music video for "Loyal Brave True" was publicized on August 13,{{cite web|url=https://thatgrapejuice.net/2020/08/preview-christina-aguileras-loyal-brave-true-music-video-from-the-mulan-soundtrack/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200814144234/https://thatgrapejuice.net/2020/08/preview-christina-aguileras-loyal-brave-true-music-video-from-the-mulan-soundtrack/|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 14, 2020|title=Preview: Christina Aguilera's 'Loyal Brave True' Music Video (from the Live Action 'Mulan' Soundtrack)|date=August 14, 2020|work=Grape Juice|publisher=Townsquare Music|access-date=October 8, 2020}} and the next day the video was released in its full form.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/9434446/christina-aguilera-loyal-brave-true-video|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200814154700/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/9434446/christina-aguilera-loyal-brave-true-video|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 14, 2020|title=Christina Aguilera Unleashes Triumphant Video For 'Loyal Brave True' From Disney's 'Mulan': Watch|magazine=Billboard|first=Glenn|last=Rowley|date=August 14, 2020|access-date=October 8, 2020}} A Spanish-language video for "El Mejor Guerrero" premiered on YouTube's DisneyMusicVEVO channel simultaneously.{{cite web|url=https://creativedisc.com/2020/08/christina-aguilera-rilis-video-musik-loyal-brave-true/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200817151743/https://creativedisc.com/2020/08/christina-aguilera-rilis-video-musik-loyal-brave-true/|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 17, 2020|title=Christina Aguilera Rilis Video Musik 'Loyal Brave True'|work=Creative Disc|date=August 16, 2020|language=Indonesian|access-date=October 8, 2020}}
Cover versions
In November 2021, Pamela Yuri covered the song on the tenth season of a reality talent show The Voice Brasil.{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/TheVoiceBrasil/status/1455712961482444802|title=Fãs de Mulan por aí? Pamela Yuri soltou a voz na versão brasileira da música 'Lealdade, coragem, verdade' e arrasou no palco!|publisher=Twitter. Twitter, Inc.|date=November 3, 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20211103131339/https://twitter.com/TheVoiceBrasil/status/1455712961482444802|archive-date=November 3, 2021|language=Portuguese|access-date=November 3, 2021}} The same year it was performed by Gabriela Marszał during the blind auditions of The Voice Kids Poland.{{cite web|url=https://www.eska.pl/news/gabriela-marszal-kim-jest-uczestniczka-the-voice-kids-4-hitem-aguilery-podbila-serca-trenerow-aa-NSTJ-bLNr-8W84.html|title=Gabriela Marszał – kim jest uczestniczka The Voice Kids 4? Hitem Aguilery podbiła serca trenerów|publisher=Radio Eska. ZPR Media Group|date=March 13, 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20211103131944/https://www.eska.pl/news/gabriela-marszal-kim-jest-uczestniczka-the-voice-kids-4-hitem-aguilery-podbila-serca-trenerow-aa-NSTJ-bLNr-8W84.html|archive-date=November 3, 2021|language=Polish|access-date=November 3, 2021}}
Accolades
Credits and personnel
;Personnel
| width="45%" |
*Christina Aguilera – vocals
|
|
Credits adapted from Tidal.{{cite web|url=https://listen.tidal.com/album/133175569/credits|title=Loyal Brave True (From 'Mulan') / Christina Aguilera − TIDAL|date=March 6, 2020 |publisher=Tidal. Aspiro|access-date=October 8, 2020}}
Charts
{{col-start}}
{{col-2}}
= Weekly charts =
{{col-2}}
= Year-end charts =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col"| Chart (2020)
! scope="col"| Position |
|---|
| scope="row"| US Adult Contemporary (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2020/adult-contemporary-songs|title=Adult Contemporary Songs – Year-End 2020|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 4, 2020}}
| 41 |
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col"| Chart (2021)
! scope="col"| Position |
|---|
| scope="row"| US Adult Contemporary (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2021/adult-contemporary-songs/|title=Adult Contemporary Songs – Year-End 2021|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 3, 2021}}
| 43 |
{{col-end}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{YouTube|G6PZm8vhm6I|Christina Aguilera - Loyal Brave True (From "Mulan"/Official Video)}}
- {{YouTube|4jHw4qXfUlA|Christina Aguilera - El Mejor Guerrero (From "Mulán"/Official Video)}}
- {{YouTube|Qo8gX1Evay8|Christina Aguilera - Loyal Brave True (From "Mulan"/Official Lyric Video)}}
- {{YouTube|lvQESMKmcyw|Christina Aguilera - El Mejor Guerrero (De "Mulán"/Spanish Version/Official Lyric Video)}}
{{Christina Aguilera singles}}
{{Disney's Mulan}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Christina Aguilera songs
Category:Songs from Mulan (franchise)
Category:Songs written by Jamie Hartman