Forgotten Island lines up Journey, INXS and new H.E.R. song
Universal's animated adventure Forgotten Island will lean on big 1980s singalongs and one brand-new send-off.
DreamWorks Animation detailed the music on 25 September, with three licensed hits — known in the industry as needle-drops, older songs placed into scenes — sitting alongside an original song written for the film's credits, according to details reported by Deadline.
Three classics. One new single. The licensed tracks are "Don't Stop Believin' (2024 Remastered)" by Journey, "Never Tear Us Apart" by INXS and "Don't You (Forget About Me)" by Simple Minds.
The new song is "BRB". It was written by H.E.R. with Ryan Tedder, and it plays over the end credits. It is performed by H.E.R. and Liza Soberano as a duet, credited to writers Ryan Tedder and Gabriella Wilson, Wilson being the singer-songwriter's legal name.
That pairing mirrors the film itself. H.E.R. voices Jo and Soberano voices Raissa, two high school graduates who have been best friends since grade school. Their trip takes them to Nakali, the fictional island at the centre of the story.
The film was written and directed by Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado and produced by Mark Swift, the team behind Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, according to DreamWorks. It is distributed by Universal Pictures, which handles the release of DreamWorks Animation titles in cinemas.
The wider voice cast brings together familiar screen and stage names. Dave Franco voices Raww, a weredog character, while Lea Salonga voices The Dreaded Manananggal. Jenny Slate, Manny Jacinto, Dolly de Leon, Jo Koy and Ronny Chieng also feature.
The four tracks form part of a larger soundtrack. An earlier report noted that H.E.R., Filipino pop group Bini, Salonga and Katseye member Sophia Laforteza lead the music line-up, according to Variety. A customised version of the Simple Minds song, reworked by Phoenician Order Music, was also used in the trailer.
For fans, this means a clear mix. Familiar radio hits for the adventure, and a new duet to close it out.
