This week, I’ve had “Lava (From the Pixar short, Lava)”, sung by Kuana Torres Kahele and Napua Greig. I came across this song randomly on Pandora and is the perfect soundtrack right now with the weather gradually heating up.
The song, “Lava,” is from the animated musical short film of the same name: Lava. It was produced by Pixar and released at the Hiroshima International Animation Festival in 2014, later being released with the Pixar movie, Inside Out, in 2015. The short film is a love story that spans millions of years, focusing on a lonely volcano named Uku who wishes for a mate of his own. He sings this song to the ocean each day, unaware of an underwater volcano named Lele who has fallen in love with him and his song.
The lyrics, which were written by the director, James Ford Murphy, are simple yet full of meaning. I’ve always been a fan of Polynesian music (both traditional and non-traditional), and while “Lava” wasn’t written by someone of Polynesian descent, the influence and intent is still there. The choice to use only guitar for the instrumentation is not only an indicator of Polynesian musical influence, but it also creates an intimacy with the viewers and listeners who are hearing the story, making it more personal. I truly appreciated how Murphy brought the full storyline into the song, letting you see how the love story progresses over (literally) thousands of years. It is also endearing to hear the volcanoes sing to each other, giving the impression that volcanoes are like humans, searching their entire lives for a companion and someone to love.
Take a listen below:
Do you have a song or singer you can’t stop listening to? Leave a comment below!