Try Everything - From "Zootropolis"

"Try Everything" is a powerful anthem about resilience, perseverance, and the importance of embracing failure as a part of life and learning. The song's central message is to never give up on one's dreams, regardless of the obstacles or how many times one might stumble. It directly challenges the fear of failure by reframing mistakes as necessary steps toward growth and success. The lyrics, "I wanna try even though I could fail," encapsulate this core idea, promoting courage and a willingness to take risks. The song is deeply connected to the narrative of the movie Zootopia (known as Zootropolis in some regions), mirroring the journey of the protagonist, Judy Hopps, a small rabbit determined to become a police officer in a world that believes only large, predator animals can do the job. The song's optimistic and determined spirit serves as Judy's personal anthem, encouraging her and the audience to push past stereotypes and self-doubt. Ultimately, it's a celebration of the journey, encouraging listeners to get back up after falling, learn from their errors, and bravely face new challenges with a positive outlook.

The narrative begins with an admission of recent failure and struggle, acknowledging a lost fight and a misstep. However, this acknowledgment is not a point of despair but a stepping stone. There's an immediate pivot to a resilient mindset, a declaration that despite messing up, the protagonist will simply start over. This cycle of falling and rising is presented as a natural and continuous process. The lyrics emphasize that hitting the ground is not the end, but rather a recurring event that is always followed by getting up to see what comes next. The journey is not about avoiding falls, but about the relentless spirit of recovery.

The song then broadens this personal experience into a universal truth, using the metaphor of birds learning to fly. It posits that learning and growth are impossible without making mistakes. Flight isn't an innate, perfect ability; it's acquired through a process of falling and trying again. This imagery reinforces the core message that getting things wrong is an integral part of mastering any skill or achieving any goal. This leads to the powerful central resolution: a refusal to give up or give in. The commitment is to persevere until the very end, and even then, to be ready to start anew. This isn't just about finishing a single task, but about adopting a life philosophy of continuous effort.

The chorus is a vibrant and exultant explosion of this philosophy, a repeated desire to “try everything.” It's a declaration of an open and fearless approach to life, an eagerness to embrace new experiences even with the full knowledge that failure is a distinct possibility. This isn't a naive pursuit of success, but a courageous acceptance of the entire process, including its potential pitfalls. The lyrics articulate a conscious choice to engage with challenges, not out of a guarantee of victory, but for the value of the attempt itself. The momentum continues as the song describes running at full speed, with every new day presenting another opportunity to make new mistakes—framing them not as dreaded outcomes but as part of an active, engaged life. The core drive is to keep trying, regardless of the daily results. The journey itself, filled with attempts and even failures, is what brings fulfillment and progress. It’s a celebration of the process over the outcome, recognizing how far one has come and the love and experience gained along the way.

"Try Everything" was written by Australian singer-songwriter Sia Furler in collaboration with the Norwegian production duo Stargate, which consists of Tor Hermansen and Mikkel Eriksen. The song was created specifically for the Walt Disney Animation Studios film Zootopia (2016). The directors of the film had only one artist in mind to perform the song and voice the character of Gazelle, Zootopia's biggest pop star: Shakira. Fortunately, she accepted the role and the song. The recording process took place between 2013 and 2015 at Westlake Recording Studios. Interestingly, the song was first recorded in 2013 by the American girl group Fifth Harmony for their debut EP, but it was ultimately scrapped and later given to Shakira for the film. The track was officially released as a single in January 2016, ahead of the movie's soundtrack release in March of the same year.

The song's rhythm and rhyme scheme are fundamental to its infectious and uplifting quality. It is set in a 4/4 time signature with a fast, danceable tempo (allegro), creating a feeling of forward momentum and energy. The rhythm features syncopation (eighth-quarter-eighth patterns), which gives it a modern pop feel and makes it more rhythmically engaging. The song's structure follows a conventional and effective verse-chorus form, which makes it easy to follow and sing along to. The rhyme scheme is generally simple, often using couplets (AABB), such as in the first verse with "fight" and "tonight," and "ground" and "down." This straightforward rhyme pattern enhances the song's catchiness and lyrical clarity. The most prominent rhythmic element is the hook in the chorus, where the staccato "Oh, oh, oh, oh" chant creates a strong, memorable motif that is both melodic and percussive, perfectly capturing the song's joyful and defiant spirit.

"Try Everything" employs a combination of musical and literary techniques to create its upbeat and motivational feel.

• Musical Style: The song is a carefully crafted piece of pop and dance-pop, with elements of synth-pop. It features a driving, optimistic beat and a memorable melody, making it accessible and catchy. The tempo is allegro (fast), contributing to its energetic atmosphere. The instrumentation begins with a soft synthesizer and vocal effects before building with drums and a tambourine in the chorus, creating a sense of uplift and climax.
• Vocal Delivery: Shakira's vocal performance is key to the song's impact. Her delivery is bright, powerful, and filled with an optimism that perfectly matches the lyrics' message.
• Lyrical Repetition: The song uses repetition effectively, particularly in the chorus with the phrase "Oh, oh, oh, oh, Try everything." This not only serves as a powerful hook but also drills the central message into the listener's mind, turning it into a mantra.
• Direct Address and Simple Language: The lyrics use straightforward and direct language, avoiding complex metaphors in favor of clear, encouraging statements. This makes the song's message universally understandable and relatable to audiences of all ages, which is fitting for a Disney movie theme.

"Try Everything" achieved significant cultural impact, primarily through its association with the critically and commercially successful Disney film Zootopia. The song debuted at number 63 on the Billboard Hot 100 and has been certified 3x Platinum in the United States and Platinum in the United Kingdom, indicating widespread popularity. It received a nomination for Best Song Written For Visual Media at the 59th Grammy Awards. Critics have recognized its staying power; Billboard named it one of the 12 best Disney songs of the 21st century. The song's message of perseverance and overcoming prejudice resonated strongly with the film's themes, making it an inspirational anthem for audiences of all ages. Its music video, which intercuts scenes from Zootopia with clips of Shakira in a recording studio, has amassed hundreds of millions of views online. The song has also inspired numerous covers by artists such as the a cappella group Home Free and K-pop group Purple Kiss.

The song is rich with symbolism that reinforces its inspirational message. The central metaphor is the act of trying as a journey of discovery and growth.

• Falling and Getting Up: The recurring imagery of "falling down" and "hitting the ground" serves as a direct metaphor for making mistakes and facing setbacks. The subsequent action, "I always get up now to see what's next," symbolizes resilience and the refusal to be defeated by failure. It frames failure not as an end but as a learning opportunity.
• Birds Learning to Fly: The line, "Birds don't just fly, they fall down and get up," is a powerful and accessible metaphor for the learning process. It illustrates that mastery is not instantaneous but is achieved through trial and error, making the concept of perseverance feel natural and universal.
• The Journey of Judy Hopps: The song itself is a symbol of the movie's main theme. It directly mirrors the story of Judy Hopps, who leaves her comfortable home to pursue a seemingly impossible dream. Her struggles, mistakes, and ultimate triumphs are encapsulated in the song's lyrics, making it an anthem for anyone challenging stereotypes or chasing a lofty goal.

The most significant recurring motif in "Try Everything" is the theme of resilience, expressed through several key phrases and ideas.

• "Try Everything": This title phrase is the song's central mantra. Repeated frequently, especially in the chorus, it functions as the core message and a powerful, memorable hook that summarizes the song's entire philosophy of embracing challenges without fear of failure.
• Falling and Rising: The lyrical motif of falling and getting back up is repeated in various forms throughout the song. Lines like "I keep falling down, I keep on hitting the ground / I always get up now to see what's next" and "Birds don't just fly, they fall down and get up" reinforce the idea that setbacks are a normal and necessary part of any journey.
• Starting Again: The concept of renewal is another recurring idea. The line "I still mess up but I'll just start again" appears early on and is echoed in the pre-chorus: "'Til I reach the end and then I'll start again." This motif emphasizes that every failure is simply a prelude to a new attempt, promoting a mindset of endless perseverance.
• The "Oh, oh, oh, oh" Chant: This musical motif is as important as any lyrical phrase. It's a wordless expression of joy, determination, and energy that is instantly recognizable and contributes significantly to the song's anthemic quality.