Music and the Fictive Dream – Moana

Music and the Fictive Dream – Moana’s "How Far I’ll Go"

 

Biographical Information:

 

Disney’s 12^th Princess, Moana, depicts a young and courageous daughter of the Chief of Motunui. In the thriving island, rich with culture and values, Moana’s home becomes threatened by a menacing force (Disney Fandom, n.d, Official Description). The heroine princess sails out into a treacherous journey to save the village and her people. 

 

 

“How Far I’ll Go,” composed by Lin-Manuel Miranda. Originated from America, released on November 18, 2016. 

 

“How Far I’ll Go,” is written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, famously known for his role in the Hamilton and an astounding composer. Once he was tasked to create the music for Disney’s Moana, it became a pivotal moment since The Little Mermaid’s “Under the Sea,” was his inspiration to work in musicals (Atkins, 2024, para. 4). Miranda’s role was to produce the famous, “I want” song, where the audience understands the character’s incentive (Atkins, 2024, para. 5). Though, Miranda had taken an unusual but certainly unique approach to produce the song: Miranda had locked himself in his childhood bedroom to provide an angst environment to complement the challenging aspect that Moana was experiencing (Atkins, 2024, para. 8). Miranda’s “How Far I’ll Go,” became so successful, its attainment achieved a nomination at the Oscars and Golden Globes, and won the Grammy category for Best Song Written for Visual Media.

 

What Role does this Specific Work Serve?

“How Far I’ll Go,” is Moana’s “I want” song, a reoccurring musical theme present in numerous classic Disney films where it demonstrates the protagonist’s desires and motivations. The “I want” song, is a crucial and significant element in the basis of storytelling because the audience is able to understand: the character’s persona, desire, motivations, and conflicts. 

 

“I want” song introduces and expresses these aspects – 

 

A conflict within their environment: 

The main character exhibits discord with their surroundings, where they must challenge societal norms and their profound desire to change for the better (Disney Everything, 2025, Differences between Wish Songs and I Want Songs). 

In the film, Moana continues to express a multitude of crisis where she is training to become the next Chief of her village, however, her dream is to explore and transgress her boundaries to voyage and explore the ocean, where she experiences the utmost passion (Disney Fandom, n.d, Personality).

 

Introduces the story’s progression:

This element is significant, as we are introduced the turning point of the story and how it changes the character’s persona (Disney Everything, 2025, Differences between Wish Songs and I Want Songs). 

Moana gives in to her desire, where she becomes committed to save her people and home. It is her destiny. 

 

Experiencing a multitude of expressions and dimensions: 

This aspect is integral because the character desires to take initiative, and is also ready to challenge the obstacles and face their conflicting thoughts (Disney Everything, 2025, Differences between Wish Songs and I Want Songs). 

Moana is guilty to leave home, but it is her duty and obligation towards her ancestors to continue their traditions as a wayfinder (Disney Fandom, n.d, Personality). 

This was innovative for Disney’s filmmaking. We could see the progression from early movies to present. Where past movies portrayed fate as their “happily ever-after,” Disney transformed the role where the character pursues their desires to stimulate change and overcomes the challenges they face (Disney Everything, 2025, Differences between Wish Songs and I Want Songs).

 

“How Far I’ll Go,” provides us an understanding of Moana’s internal struggles and emotions. 

 

Social Commentary:

 

Moana hails from the island of Motunui, where she’ll become the next Chief in line. The people of the village and her parents expect Moana in a high regard manner to continue the traditions that kept their culture alive. Rich with cultural values and merit, communities such as Moana’s disdain change because of fear. It’s the idea to resist change and maintain tradition. 

 

Though, Moana challenges the supposed idea. The courageous, headstrong, and intelligent girl desires to transgress the boundary. Where she seeks to voyage the ocean, her passion. To unveil the truth, to save her community and village. 

 

Her desire to become a wayfinder challenges the cultural and societal norms in Motunui. The everlasting cycle that communities avoid resisting change, is how Moana challenges the belief. That she believes the ocean is her calling, and to honor her ancestors and Indigenous practice of wayfinding (Disney Fandom, n.d, Personality). 

 

Aside of finding her voice and resisting to conform to her communities’ expectations, it is also truly deep as we are delved into Moana’s cultural, Indigenous roots. How Moana feels immense guilt to leave home, but she felt it is her duty to honor her ancestors and Indigenous practices of wayfinding. 

 

Opinion, Musical Elements, Personal Reaction and Conclusion 

 

Opinion and Musical Elements–

 

Dynamics

An outstanding element when listening to the song is the dynamics. Within the first part of the song, it is soft to demonstrate the internal struggles Moana face. How she isn’t the perfect daughter, and the guilt she inhibits because of her passion of the ocean. As the song progresses, her voice gradually becomes deeper and louder to convey willingness and determination to sail out to sea. That she is confident and ready to explore. 

 

Tempo

With the ever-increasing intensity of her voice, the tempo is surprisingly moderate. It is not fast, nor slow. I rather see it as a balanced harmony, where it is not too fast that exhibits her determination, but not too slow to showcase the plethora of inflicting emotions. 

 

Form and Lyrics

I have mentioned how this song was an “I want” song, that expresses the character’s desire. In numerous “I want” songs in Disney, their form is simple: expressing conflicts then gradually changes into something emotional that exhibits power and determination. We could see this in Moana’s “How Far I’ll Go,” 

 

In the beginning of the song, Moana sings her internal conflicts: 

“I've been staring at the edge of the water. Long as I can remember. Never really knowing why. I wish I could be the perfect daughter, but I come back to the water. No matter how hard I try.”

 

Then at the end, she is determined to set the oceanic path:

“The line where the sky meets the sea, it calls me. And no one knows. How far it goes

If the wind in my sail on the sea stays behind me. One day, I'll know. How far I'll go.”

 

Personal Reaction/Opinion - 

I believe the lyrics and the dynamics are the most outstanding factor when I have watched Moana for the first time. The song's lyrics perfectly encapsulates the internal struggles and dilemmas Moana was facing. The dynamics had complemented the power she exhibited once she became determined to set her voyage into the ocean. The part that I adore the most was her soft voice in the beginning of the song, where she struggled to take in her emotions and possibly not being a great daughter. 

Conclusion – 

Moana had become one of my favorite Disney films. I have always been a Disney Princess fanatic as a child, but Moana is distinct from the rest. It may be because of the lack of romance pursuits, and we are shown how a girl overcomes barriers and challenges herself as a leader. It provides a voice for young children to explore and resist to conform. 

 

 

References

Atkins, Jamie. “‘How Far I’ll Go’: How Lin-Manuel Miranda Wrote a Disney Classic.” uDiscover Music, 18 Nov. 2024, www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/how-far-ill-go-moana-lin-manuel-miranda-disney-feature/. 

“Auli’i Cravalho - How Far I’ll Go (from Moana/Official Video).” YouTube, DisneyMusicVEVO, 11 Dec. 2016, www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPAbx5kgCJo. 

“Auli’i Cravalho – How Far I’ll Go Lyrics.” Genius, genius.com/Aulii-cravalho-how-far-ill-go-lyrics. Accessed 17 Nov. 2025. 

“I Want Song.” Disney Everything, 12 Mar. 2025, disneyeverything-th.com/en/content-en/i-want-songs/. 

Mackelden, Amy. “The Latest ‘Moana’ Track Will Inspire You.” Bustle, 3 Nov. 2016, www.bustle.com/articles/193162-the-how-far-ill-go-lyrics-from-disneys-moana-are-about-finding-strength-in-yourself. 

“Moana .” Disney Wiki, Fandom, Inc., disney.fandom.com/wiki/Moana_(character)#:~:text=Background-,Official%20Description,searching%20for%20her%20whole%20life. Accessed 16 Nov. 2025.