I'll Make a Man Out of You facts for kids

"I'll Make a Man Out of You" is a popular song from the 1998 Disney animated movie Mulan. It was written by Matthew Wilder and David Zippel.

The song is featured on the film's soundtrack, Mulan: An Original Walt Disney Records Soundtrack. American singer Donny Osmond performs the song as the singing voice for Captain Li Shang. The actor B. D. Wong provides Shang's speaking voice. Other characters like Mulan, Mushu, Yao, Chien-Po, and Ling also contribute to the song.

About the Song's Creation

How the Song Was Chosen

"I'll Make a Man Out of You" was created to replace an earlier song called "We'll Make a Man of You." The original songwriter, Stephen Schwartz, left the Mulan project. He went to work on another animated movie, The Prince of Egypt.

Matthew Wilder and David Zippel then took over. They came up with the idea for the song after thinking of its interesting title. Disney liked their first version of the song right away.

Donny Osmond's Role

Before Mulan, Donny Osmond tried out for the role of Hercules in Disney's Hercules (1997). However, the directors felt he sounded too old for that part.

Later, Disney chose Osmond to be the singing voice for Captain Shang. This was because his singing voice sounded similar to B. D. Wong's speaking voice.

What the Song Is About

Song Style and Meaning

"I'll Make a Man Out of You" is a fast-paced, military-style song. It mixes both Eastern and Western music sounds. Captain Shang sings it during a tough training scene in the movie. In this scene, his young and inexperienced soldiers try to prove they are strong and capable.

The song's title is quite ironic. This means it has a surprising or opposite meaning. Mulan, who uses her intelligence and cleverness, ends up being more skilled than her male comrades. This includes Captain Li Shang himself. The song's words talk about what it means to be very masculine. However, Mulan's actions show that strength can come from more than just physical power.

How People Liked the Song

Critical Reception

"I'll Make a Man Out of You" received mostly positive reviews from critics. Many called it the best song in the movie. They also praised Donny Osmond's singing.

Critics have also compared the song to others from Disney's Hercules. Some have also linked Mulan's journey and transformation to actress Demi Moore's role in the movie G. I. Jane.

Popularity and Covers

The song has appeared on many "best of" Disney song lists. These include lists from magazines like Total Film and newspapers like the New York Post.

"I'll Make a Man Out of You" has been recorded and sung in many different languages. These include Mandarin, Cantonese, and Spanish. Famous entertainers like Jackie Chan and Cristian Castro have performed their own versions.

Images for kids

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  Hong Kong actor Jackie Chan dubbed the song in Mandarin and Cantonese for the film's editions released in Taiwan, Hong Kong and China; Chan's rendition has been met with generally positive reviews.