"Colors of the Wind" is a song written by composer Alan Menken and lyricist Stephen Schwartz for Walt Disney Pictures' 33rd animated feature film, Pocahontas (1995). The film's theme song, "Colors of the Wind" was originally recorded by American singer and actress Judy Kuhn in her role as the singing voice of Pocahontas. A pop ballad, the song's lyrics are about animism and respecting nature, finding its roots in indigenous Native American culture, perspectives which have later been adopted in both transcendentalist literature and New Age spirituality.
Colors of the Wind
The song was inspired by the words of Chief Seattle.
Alan Menken's songwriting received mixed reviews.
Image: Benjamin D. Maxham Henry David Thoreau Restored greyscale straightened
Pocahontas is a 1995 American animated musical historical drama film based on the life of Powhatan woman Pocahontas and the arrival of English colonial settlers from the Virginia Company. The film romanticizes Pocahontas's encounter with John Smith and her legendary saving of his life. It was produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released by Walt Disney Pictures.
Theatrical release poster
Jeffrey Katzenberg hoped that Pocahontas would be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture.
Tom Sito served as the story supervisor.
Mel Gibson provided the singing and speaking voices of John Smith.