It’s been two years since the Disney film Moana came out and yet its theme song How Far I’ll Go is still stuck in many people’s heads — and this new viral video featuring the University of the Philippines’ (UP) choir won’t help with that one bit.
In a video posted on the UP Singing Ambassadors (UPSA) Facebook page on Friday, the choral group can be seen at the Piazza Duomo in Aviano, Italy just before they start to serenade the unsuspecting public with the Disney hit.
The video starts with low “oohs” from the choir right before two unnamed female singers step into the middle where they sing the song’s famous first lines: “I’ve been staring at the edge of the water ‘long as I can remember, never really knowing why.”
While the cover kept a similar tempo, its overall feel and treatment were quite different from the original.
The original, written and produced by Hamilton‘s Lin-Manuel Miranda, had elements of soul and traditional Pacific Islander music, while UPSA’s rendition was an acapella performance akin to church choir arrangements.
In the 3-minute video, locals can be seen loving and recording the performance. Netizens have also taken notice; as of this article’s posting, the video has gotten 38,000 views, 1,000 reactions, and close to 300 shares.
According to the Manila Bulletin, the UPSA has been traveling around Europe for about a month while joining various singing competitions. It recently won two awards at the 64th Certamen Internacional de Habaneras y Polifonia late last month.
Earlier in July, the group also won the grand prize at the Sing! Berlin International Choir Competition and Festival.
Like most millennials, Filipinos love singing Disney songs. Apart from choirs, the animation studio’s hits are also favorites of avid karaoke singers. Earlier this year, two people even went viral for their flawless version of Beauty and the Beast.
What’s your favorite Disney cover? Let us know in the comments below or tweet us @CoconutsManila
