

I recorded the Mulan soundtrack first and then a few months later I was out in L.A. I had just turned seventeen years old, and during the same week, I just landed both. After being given the opportunity to record the theme to the 1998 film Mulan named "Reflection" it was reported she had gained a record deal with RCA Records with Aguilera saying "I landed a record deal simultaneously as I landed the Mulan soundtrack. Aguilera has performed the track on four televised performances, including at the CBS This Morning show, which saw her gain the attention of songwriter Diane Warren.Īguilera approached record label RCA, then having financial difficulties, and was told to contact Disney. An accompanying music video for the song was included on the DVD release of Mulan. The physical and radio releases of the single were limited, which resulted in the track charting only on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, at number nineteen. Aside from critical commentary, the song succeeded in funding her debut album from RCA, in addition to gaining her credibility amongst established writers and producers. After Disney representatives were impressed by her performance, they contacted Aguilera, who immediately agreed to fly to Los Angeles to spend a week recording the album.Ĭritical response for "Reflection" was mixed, with reviewers considering it a nice song, however, entirely unmemorable. In response, Aguilera recorded herself performing the Whitney Houston track, " Run to You" which featured this note. Disney at this time was looking for a performer who could perform a musical note, generally difficult for most performers, required for the track. In the months before the recording of the track, Aguilera approached RCA, which gave her the chance to record the theme song to the film Mulan.

Therefore, the film’s message is a bit contradictory." Reflection" is a song featured on the soundtrack of the 1998 animated film Mulan, and debut single by American recording artist Christina Aguilera. The film’s primary message is that a woman’s goal must be to find a husband and take care of their home. And in the scene, Mulan actually reinforces this idea, that being a woman is like being useless. Men are seen as intelligent, strong, powerful and the primary actors in life, while women are just accompanying them: they are portrayed as weak and insignificant.
REFLECTION MULAN LYRICS YOUTUBE MOVIE
One of the messages in the movie though is that femininity is the binary opposite of masculinity. It seems like she goes through similar stages. This also makes us think about coming out, and accepting homosexuality. Mulan is confused with this idea of a dual self: when she looks at herself in the mirror, it doesn’t align with her internal feelings.

REFLECTION MULAN LYRICS YOUTUBE SERIES
Butler argues that gender is performed and that it is performative, it is acted through a series of imitations. She sees marriage as a play, so not as something she truly wants and respects, she looks further than only becoming a wife. The lyrics suggest the struggle of the character to be accepted for who she truly is. The film was released in 1998, which was the third wave of feminism, and explains the primary message of the movie: you can be a girl and a hero. There are different meanings to that song. This kindly suggests a disruption is coming soon and that she is not going to accomplish her role as a ‘perfect bride’.

The scene ends with Mulan singing “Must I pretend that I am someone else for all time? When will my reflection show who I am inside?”. The following shot is her reflection on numerous mirrors, she removed her makeup, she is accepting herself step by step, and the shot highlights her rejection of normative gender roles in the Chinese society: she wants to choose who she wants to be.
