is opening up about recording his “very challenging” song in . Moana 2 is now playing in United States theaters. Directed by David Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, and Dana Ladoux Miller, the sequel sees Johnson return to voice the character of Maui, while Auli’i Cravalho also reprises her vocal role as Moana.
The first Moana movie included a song, “You’re Welcome,” performed by Johnson which quickly became very popular. Johnson also sings another song in Moana 2, called “Can I Get a Chee-Hoo?” Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, Johnson discussed why recording “Can I Get a Chee-Hoo?” was a challenging experience. “Not to get too technical, but [songwriters Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear], they are forces when they write,” he explains. “Abigail and Emily came in with something that was very challenging and I loved it.
That was multiple sessions to get that song down because it goes into a lot of different places. Their words, not mine, it’s ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ and all the places that it goes.
So it was a challenge, but I loved every second of it.” Johnson wasn’t, however, taken aback when it came to having to rap for the song. “I got bars,” he said. “I grew up loving hip-hop music.
My love is hip-hop music and traditional country — put them together. That’s how I grew up.” The synopsis for Moana 2 reads, “Walt Disney Animation Studios’ epic animated musical “Moana 2” reunites Moana (voice of Cravalho) and Maui (voice of Johnson) three years later for an expansive new voyage alongside a crew of unlikely seafarers,” the synopsis reads. “After receiving an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors, Moana must journey to the far seas of Oceania and into dangerous, long-lost waters for an adventure unlike anything she’s ever faced.”