The actress and singer is the latest addition to the growing list of Filipino artists recording for Disney
After the history-making track “Gabay” sang by KZ Tandingan for “Raya and the Last Dragon,” Disney is gifting Filipinos again with another Tagalog song this time with the voice of Maris Racal.
As part of the Ultimate Princess Celebration initiative, a year-long event launched last April, Disney released “Starting Now,” “spotlighting the courage and kindness Disney heroines inspire in fans around the world.” The US version of the song features Grammy-winning singer Brandy, who is best remembered as the star of the 1997 film “Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella.” Giving a more local flair to the princess pop song is Maris in the song’s Filipino version titled “Simulan.”
“It’s not every day you’re asked to record a song for Disney. My heart is so full, I still can’t believe it,” she says. “With this song, I hope young Filipinas would feel empowered to do the things that they have always wanted to do and not to forget about the hearts of gold that they have, to chase their dreams while being compassionate to other people.
This Filipino rendition of the anthem is made possible by Disney Studios Philippines and Globe Telecom.
Watch the sneak preview here: