Which musician wrote the “Tarzan” soundtrack?

Disney films, both modern and classic, are defined by their soundtracks. I dare you to watch any of the ‘90s films and not find yourself grooving with at least a couple of the songs. Disney was such a powerhouse that it could call on basically any musician in the world to compose a film’s soundtrack, which it did on many occasions. But who was tasked with writing the music for “Tarzan”?

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The answer is: Phil Collins

Phil Collins wasn't the obvious choice for Disney's "Tarzan" soundtrack - and at first, he wasn't even sure he wanted the job. But when Disney cold-called one of the biggest rock stars of the era, they knew exactly what they were doing.

What he churned out was so good that Disney broke tradition and asked Collins to perform the songs personally for the soundtrack. Many of the songs were inspired by the mental state and perspectives of the characters they were meant to be about. “You’ll Be In My Heart,” for example, represents the bond between Kala and Tarzan and how bonds can be formed between two very different characters.

Collins got his start in music at the ripe age of five when he was given a drum set and started beating alongside songs he heard on the radio. His expertise would eventually grow to include singing and acting. Fun fact: Collins even played a part in 1964’s “A Hard Day’s Night” starring the Beatles.

Collins played in several bands over the course of the ‘60s but nothing really took off until 1970 when he joined the band Genesis as the drummer. However, it wasn’t until the lead singer left the group that Collins was able to become a frontman and take over singing duties. Genesis was a popular group, but apparently, that wasn’t enough for Collins since he double-dipped and started a solo career in 1981. That was a good call since he ended up releasing "In the Air Tonight" and became a worldwide phenomenon.

“Tarzan” marked the first Disney film to have a soundtrack recorded in 35 languages, with Collins personally performing it in Spanish, Italian, French, and German. As if this guy wasn’t talented enough, right? The soundtrack also set some impressive numbers. It sold over two million copies and earned Collins an Academy Award and a Golden Globe.