"Shiny" is a song of the Disney animated feature Moana. It is sung by Tamatoa as he arrogantly flaunts what he believes to be his most beautiful qualities, particularly his shiny shell.
Lyrics
Well, Tamatoa hasn't always been this glam
I was a drab little crab once
Now I know I can be happy as a clam
Because I'm beautiful, baby
Did your granny say listen to your heart?
Be who you are on the inside?
I need three words to tear her argument apart
Your granny lied
I'd rather be shiny
Like a treasure from a sunken pirate wreck
Scrub the deck and make it look
Shiny
I will sparkle like a wealthy woman's neck
Just a sec
Don't you know
Fish are dumb, dumb, dumb
They chase anything that glitters
Beginners
Oh, and here they come, come, come
To the brightest thing that glitters
Mmm, fish dinners
I just love free food
And you look like seafood
Well, well, well
Little Maui's having trouble with his look
You little semi-demi-mini-god
Ouch! What a terrible performance
Get the hook! (Get it?)
You don't swing it like you used to, man
Yet I have to give you credit for my start
And your tattoos on the outside
For just like you I made myself a work of art
I'll never hide, I can't, I'm too
Shiny
Watch me dazzle like a diamond in the rough
Strut my stuff, my stuff is so
Shiny
Send your armies but they'll never be enough
My shell's too tough, Maui man
You could try, try, try
But you can't expect a demigod
To beat a decapod (look it up)
You will die, die, die
Now it's time for me to take apart
Your aching heart
Far from the ones who abandoned you
Chasing the love of
These humans who made you feel wanted
You tried to be tough
But your armor's just not hard enough
Maui!
Now it's time to kick your heinie
Ever seen someone so
Shiny
Soak it in, cause it's the last you'll ever see
C'est la vie mon ami, I'm so
Shiny
Now I'll eat you so prepare your final plea
Just for me
You'll never be quite as shiny
You wish you were nice and shiny
Trivia
- Artist David Bowie served as inspiration for the song, specifically in Jemaine's theatrical performance and vocals.[1]
- C'est la vie mon ami means "That's Life, my friend." in French.
- In the demo version of the song, Tui was the relative that Tamatoa mocked, instead of Gramma Tala.
- Lin-Manuel Miranda jokingly dubbed the song "Sebastian's Revenge", referencing how "Shiny" is the opposite of The Little Mermaid's song "Les Poissons" as the latter song features a human trying to eat a crab, while the former features a crab trying to eat a human.[2]
- In the demo, this was closer to a rock song.
- "Beginners...oh." was just "beginners."
- "I just love free food...you look like seafood" was "You fall too hasty....and you look tasty."
- "Well, well, well" was just "wow."
- "Shiny watch me dazzle like a diamond in the rough, strut my stuff my stuff is so Shiny! Send your armies but they'll never be enough. My shell's too tough, Maui man!" was "Shiny! I'm a sunrise on the surface of the sea! Can't you see I'm so Shiny! I wanna see my work and let it free! C'est la vie, don't cha know?"
- "You can try try try but you can't expect a demigod to beat a decapod. You will die die die now it's time for me to take apart your achin heart." was "I will shine shine shine like a rainbow after showers, your powers will be mine mine mine april showers, bring flowers. Call me selfish...call me shellfish..."
- "Far from the ones" was "Far from the gods."
- "You try to be tough" was "It's never enough."
- The second Shiny repeat was used for the last one.
References
- ↑ Clement, Jemaine (November 12, 2016). ""It was written by @Lin_Manuel and definitely a Bowie influence."" (Tweet). Twitter.
- ↑ Snetiker, Marc (January 11, 2017). "10 fun facts about Moana that will make you say ‘Wow, what a fun Moana fact'" (Article). Entertainment Weekly.
