Which songs are featured in Luca, and how are they used? The 2021 Disney/Pixar movie takes place in Northern Italy and follows two young sea monsters who pretend to be humans in the port town of Portorosso. The Luca soundtrack includes retro pop songs and funky interpretations of Italian classics.
Luca tells a fish-out-of-water story about a 13-year-old sea monster named Luca Paguro (Jacob Tremblay). He spends his whole life believing that the mysterious land above his aquatic home is extremely dangerous but then changes his mind after befriending Alberto Scorfano (Jack Dylan Grazer), a fellow sea monster who teaches him how to act and walk like a human, as their species organically morphs into human form after leaving the water. The Luca main cast includes Maya Rudolph and Jim Gaffigan as Luca's parents, Daniela and Lorenzo, Emma Berman as the boys' new friend Giulia Marcovaldo, Marco Barricelli as her fisherman father Massimo Marcovaldo, Saverio Raimondo as antagonist Ercole Visconti, along with an appearance by Sacha Baron Cohen as the title character's Uncle Ugo.
Luca's official score was composed by Dan Romer, who is best known for his work in Beasts of the Southern Wild and Beasts of No Nation. Disney dedicated the 2021 movie to the late Ennio Morricone, an iconic Italian musician who passed away in 2020 at age 91. As a whole, the featured music will please audiences who enjoy throwback Italian pop songs. Here's every track in Pixar's latest movie, Luca.
"Un Baccio a Mezzanotte" - Quartetto Cetra
"O Mio Babbino Caro" - Maria Callas
"Il Gatto e La Volpe" - Edoardo Bennato
"Andavo a Cento All'Ora" - Gianni Morandi
"Tintarella di Luna" - Mina
"Fatti Mandara Della Mamma a Prendere Il Latte" - Gianni Morandi
"Viva La Pappa col Pomodoro" - Rita Pavone
"Cavatina: Una Voce Poco Fa" - Budapest Failoni Chamber Orchestra (from 'The Barber of Seville)
"Città Vuota" - Mina
Luca begins with "Un Baccio a Mezzanotte," an old-school Italian pop song that translates to "A Kiss at Midnight." The upbeat rhythm plays over the opening credits and establishes the overall tone for Luca, now available on Disney+. Thematically, various references to stars link to Luca's belief that he sees fishes in the sky. As Tommaso and Giacomo speak in the opening sequence, the former plays an Italian classic, "O Mio Babbino Caro," written by composer Giacomo Puccini. The record player later sinks into the sea, which connects to the lyrics about a woman who would rather drown in a river than be without the man she loves.
At the 18-minute mark in Luca, "Il Gatto e La Volpe" plays as the title character and Alberto bond while having fun on land. Lyrically, the song tells a tongue-in-cheek story about a cat and fox who work as businessmen, which is ultimately what the Disney movie's leads do, at least in spirit, as they try to sell themselves as actual humans. Approximately 12 minutes later in Disney's Luca, "Tintarella di Luna" scores a moment when Luca and Alberto admire Ercole Visconti's Vespa, with the lyrics capturing the charming nature of the Italian community. A few minutes later, "Fatti Mandara Della Mamma a Prendere Il Latte" underscores Luca's excitement when he dreams about owning a Vespa, even if it's an old clunker. Specifically, the lyrics complement the concept that the Disney protagonist absolutely needs to own his own vehicle. Musically, the song has a road trip quality that aligns with the premise of two sea monsters who want to travel throughout Italy together.
"Viva La Pappa col Pomodoro" plays over an extended montage sequence as Luca begins acclimating to the Italian Rivera community of Portorosso. Once again, there's a spunky old-school sound, and lyrics about revolution and the value of good tomatoes. Both Luca and Alberto rebel against societal norms, at least as they know them, and thus celebrate the little things above land. When the Disney movie ends, "Città Vuota" functions as a bittersweet close, as the song tells a story about someone who hopes for a loved one to return to the city, which feels empty without them. Given the overall themes in Luca, it's the residents of Portorosso who may be longing for their sea monster pal to return, especially his best friend, Alberto.