Try Everything
"Try Everything" is a pop song recorded by Colombian singer Shakira for the soundtrack of the 2016 Walt Disney Animation Studios film Zootopia, where she voices the pop star character Gazelle.[1] Written by Australian singer-songwriter Sia Furler alongside the Norwegian production duo Stargate (Tor Erik Hermansen and Mikkel Eriksen), the track emphasizes themes of resilience, self-belief, and embracing failure as a path to growth, aligning with the film's narrative of overcoming prejudice and pursuing dreams in a divided animal society.[2] The song was produced by Stargate and features an upbeat, dance-oriented sound with electronic elements and Shakira's signature vocal style, blending English lyrics with her multilingual appeal.[3] Shakira's involvement extended beyond recording, as she voiced Gazelle, performing the song in-character during key scenes, including a climactic rally that underscores the movie's message of unity. Originally composed as the film's end-credits theme, "Try Everything" was released as a single on January 29, 2016, ahead of the soundtrack's full drop on February 12, 2016, via Walt Disney Records, just weeks before Zootopia's theatrical debut on March 4, 2016.[3] Upon release, "Try Everything" achieved commercial success, peaking at number 63 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States and charting in several international markets.[4] It has amassed over a billion plays across streaming and video platforms as of 2025, including approximately 482 million streams on Spotify and over 779 million views on YouTube.[5][6] Critically acclaimed for its motivational lyrics and infectious energy, the song earned a nomination for Best Song Written for Visual Media at the 59th Annual Grammy Awards in 2017 and was shortlisted among 91 entries for the Academy Award for Best Original Song, though it did not receive a final nomination.[1][7] Its cultural impact endures, particularly with Shakira reprising her role as Gazelle in Zootopia 2 (2024) and releasing a new song for the sequel, inspiring covers, fan performances, and recognition in polls such as Billboard's 2020 fan-voted list of the best animated film songs by Latin artists, solidifying its status as a hallmark of Shakira's Disney collaboration.[8][9]Background and recording
Development
"Try Everything" was written in 2013 by Australian singer-songwriter Sia Furler in collaboration with the Norwegian production duo Mikkel Eriksen and Tor Erik Hermansen, collectively known as Stargate. The song was originally recorded by American girl group Fifth Harmony for their debut extended play Better Together (2013), but was ultimately scrapped.[10] It was later selected for Walt Disney Animation Studios' 2016 film Zootopia, to serve as its end-credits theme.[11] The track was first publicly teased at Disney's D23 Expo in August 2015, where directors Byron Howard and Rich Moore highlighted its role in reinforcing the movie's core message of resilience and embracing failure as part of growth.[11] They described the initial pitch to Disney executives as emphasizing an uplifting pop anthem that mirrored protagonist Judy Hopps' determination to overcome obstacles in a diverse animal metropolis, aligning seamlessly with the narrative's focus on self-belief and persistence.[12] This selection underscored Disney's tradition of integrating original songs that amplify thematic elements, much like previous animated features. To fit the animated context, the song underwent adjustments to enhance its integration with Gazelle's concert scene and the film's energetic tone, ensuring the lyrics and arrangement supported Gazelle's portrayal as an inspirational pop icon. Shakira, who voiced the character, was brought on to perform the track, infusing it with her signature vibrant delivery.[13]Recording
"Try Everything" was recorded at The Hide Out Studios in London, England, and Westlake Recording Studios in Los Angeles, California.[14] Shakira recorded her vocals for the track in 2015, with Disney releasing behind-the-scenes b-roll footage capturing her in the studio during the sessions.[15] The footage highlights her focused performance as she laid down takes, emphasizing the song's uplifting message.[15] The production was led by the Norwegian duo Stargate, consisting of Tor Erik Hermansen and Mikkel S. Eriksen, who handled the overall sound and engineering.[16] Mixing duties were carried out by Phil Tan at Ninja Club Studios in Atlanta, Georgia.[16] Originally written by Sia and Stargate, Shakira adapted the song to align with her distinctive style, infusing her vocals with an energetic, charismatic delivery to embody the pop star character Gazelle from Zootopia.[2] This approach allowed her to channel Gazelle's confident and motivational persona through layered harmonies and dynamic phrasing.[17]Lyrics and composition
Composition
"Try Everything" is classified as a dance-pop song incorporating elements of electropop and contemporary R&B.[18][19][20] The track is composed in the key of D♭ major, with a tempo of 115 beats per minute and a duration of 3:16.[21][22][23] It features upbeat synthesizers and electronic beats, creating an empowering and motivational sonic palette.[19] The song follows a verse–chorus structure, including an intro, verses, pre-chorus, chorus, and a bridge. This composition aligns with the film's theme of resilience in Zootopia.[2]Lyrics
The lyrics of "Try Everything" center on themes of perseverance, embracing failure as a pathway to personal growth, and the courage to attempt new challenges despite setbacks.[19] The song opens with reflective verses acknowledging mistakes, such as "I messed up tonight, I lost another fight / I still mess up but I'll just start again / I keep falling down, I keep on hitting the ground," which underscore the inevitability of failure while promoting resilience and repeated efforts.[19] This motif evolves into an optimistic chorus emphasizing determination: "I won't give up, no, I won't give in / Till I reach the end and then I'll start again / No, I won't leave, I wanna try everything / I wanna try even though I could fail."[19] The bridge reinforces self-encouragement through acceptance of ongoing errors, with lines like "I'll keep on making those new mistakes / I'll keep on making them every day," highlighting a philosophy of continuous learning and boldness.[19] Written by Sia Furler alongside production duo Stargate (Tor Erik Hermansen and Mikkel Eriksen), the song was crafted to empower listeners by instilling a message of resilience and not fearing failure, directly mirroring the protagonist Judy Hopps' arc in Zootopia, where she overcomes prejudice and obstacles to fulfill her dream of becoming a police officer.[2][24] The lyrics align with Judy's journey from self-doubt to triumph, encapsulating the film's broader encouragement for audiences to pursue ambitions undeterred by potential defeat.[19] In the film, the song is performed by the character Gazelle, a pop star voiced by Shakira, during her appearance at the mayor's re-election rally, with the song playing over the end credits, serving as an uplifting resolution to the plot's themes of unity and overcoming division in Zootopia society.[2] This performance ties the lyrical optimism to the story's climax, where harmony is restored among predators and prey, reinforcing motifs of self-motivation and collective perseverance.[19]Release and promotion
Release
"Try Everything" was digitally released on January 8, 2016, by Walt Disney Records as the lead single from the soundtrack to the Walt Disney Animation Studios film Zootopia.[25] The track was subsequently serviced to contemporary hit radio in the United States on January 26, 2016.[26] As part of Zootopia's marketing campaign, the song was prominently featured in promotional materials, including the film's second official trailer released on December 31, 2015.[27] It was bundled with the full soundtrack album, which launched on March 4, 2016, coinciding with the movie's theatrical debut.[28] The single's initial visibility and audience engagement were closely linked to the film's release on that date. The accompanying music video premiered the day prior, on March 3, 2016.[6]Music video
The music video for "Try Everything" was directed by Byron Howard and Rich Moore, the co-directors of the film Zootopia, along with co-director Jared Bush, and it premiered on March 3, 2016, via Vevo and YouTube.[29][6] The video's format intercuts animated clips from Zootopia—primarily scenes of Gazelle performing the song during the film's concert sequence—with live-action footage of Shakira singing and dancing energetically in a studio environment.[30] This blend of animation and live-action creates a dynamic visual style that captures the track's upbeat, motivational essence, showcasing Shakira's vibrant performance alongside the film's colorful anthropomorphic world.[17] Released one day before Zootopia's theatrical debut, the video served as a key promotional tool for the film and soundtrack. As of 2025, it has amassed over 780 million views on YouTube, highlighting its enduring popularity.[6]Release history
"Try Everything" was released under the Walt Disney Records label. The song was primarily distributed in digital formats, with no standalone physical single issued in most regions. It was first made available as a digital download on January 8, 2016, worldwide. The track was later included on the Zootopia soundtrack album, released digitally on March 4, 2016, and on CD on March 25, 2016. In Europe, radio airplay began in January 2016, coinciding with the release of a promotional preview clip for the music video on January 22, 2016. In the United States, the song received airplay on contemporary hit radio stations starting in late January 2016, contributing to its chart debut the following month.| Date | Format | Region | Label | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 8, 2016 | Digital download | Worldwide | Walt Disney Records | 1 |
| January 26, 2016 | CHR radio | United States | Walt Disney Records | [26] |
| March 4, 2016 | Digital (soundtrack) | Worldwide | Walt Disney Records | ) |
| March 25, 2016 | CD (soundtrack) | Select markets | Walt Disney Records | ) |
Reception
Critical reception
"Try Everything" received widespread praise from critics for its empowering message of resilience and Shakira's vibrant vocal delivery, which many deemed perfectly suited to the optimistic tone of Zootopia. Billboard highlighted the track as a "motivational and uptempo" anthem that aligns seamlessly with the film's themes of perseverance and self-belief.[31] The song's infectious energy and relatable lyrics about overcoming failure were frequently cited as standout elements, contributing to its role as an effective emotional capstone in the movie. While some reviewers acknowledged the song's adherence to conventional pop formulas, they noted its role in reinforcing the narrative without overshadowing the story. This blend of familiarity and purpose helped solidify its positive reception among film and music commentators. The track's critical standing was underscored by its inclusion in Billboard's 2020 list of the 12 Best Disney Songs of the 21st Century and its #19 ranking on the publication's 2022 Greatest of All Time Disney Songs chart, based on chart performance and cultural impact.[32] Additionally, "Try Everything" earned a nomination for Best Song Written for Visual Media at the 59th Annual Grammy Awards in 2017, recognizing its artistic merit in visual media.[33]Accolades
"Try Everything" earned nominations across several prominent music awards for its role in the Zootopia soundtrack. At the 59th Annual Grammy Awards in 2017, the song was nominated for Best Song Written for Visual Media, written by Sia Furler, Mikkel S. Eriksen, and Tor Erik Hermansen.[34] It also received a nomination for Choice Music: Song from a Movie at the 2016 Teen Choice Awards.[35] Additionally, the track was nominated for Best Original Song in an Animated Film at the 2016 Hollywood Music in Media Awards.[36] Despite these accolades, "Try Everything" did not secure any major award wins. However, it has been honored in Disney-specific compilations highlighting influential songs from the studio's catalog. In 2020, Billboard included the song in its list of the 12 best Disney songs of the 21st century, praising its uplifting energy as performed by Shakira voicing the character Gazelle.[31] Furthermore, in 2022, it ranked at number 25 on the Official Charts Company's list of the top 100 most-streamed Disney songs in the UK, based on combined audio and video streaming data.[37]Commercial performance
Charts
"Try Everything" debuted on the US Billboard Hot 100 at number 66 in the chart issue dated March 19, 2016, buoyed by the theatrical release of Zootopia on March 4.[38] The following week, it climbed to its peak position of number 63 on April 2, marking Shakira's 28th entry on the ranking.[4] The track spent a total of nine weeks on the Hot 100, reflecting modest radio airplay but stronger digital sales and streaming support tied to the film's popularity.[39] Internationally, the song achieved varying degrees of success following its March 2016 entry across multiple markets, including topping charts in Argentina and Colombia. In Canada, it reached a peak of number 49 on the Canadian Hot 100, with a 10-week run beginning from an entry at number 72.[39] On the French Singles Top 100, "Try Everything" entered at number 44 and peaked at number 43, charting for seven weeks overall.[39] The song topped the Official Lebanese Top 20 chart at number 1, underscoring its appeal in Middle Eastern markets.[40]| Chart (2016) | Peak Position | Weeks on Chart | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Argentina (Monitor Latino) | 1 | N/A | Monitor Latino |
| Colombia (National-Report) | 1 | N/A | National-Report |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 63 | 9 | Billboard |
| Canada (Canadian Hot 100) | 49 | 10 | aCharts |
| France (SNEP) | 43 | 7 | aCharts |
| Lebanon (OLT20) | 1 | N/A | Official Lebanese Top 20 |
Year-end charts
"Try Everything" achieved notable placements on various year-end charts in 2016, reflecting its sustained popularity following the release of Zootopia. In the United States, it placed on the Billboard Digital Songs year-end chart, driven by consistent download sales throughout the year.[41] The track also earned recognition on decade-end and all-time compilations focused on Disney songs. In Billboard's 2022 ranking of the greatest Disney songs of all time, "Try Everything" came in at number 23, highlighting its enduring impact among Disney soundtracks.[32] Additionally, it secured the number 25 placement on the Official Charts Company's all-time list of most-streamed Disney songs in the UK (published January 2022), demonstrating its lasting streaming appeal.[37]Sales and certifications
"Try Everything" achieved significant commercial success through certified sales and streaming equivalents worldwide. In the United States, the song was certified 4× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on March 2025, representing 4 million units including downloads and streaming equivalents.[42] In the United Kingdom, it received a Platinum certification from the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) in April 2024 for sales and streaming exceeding 600,000 units. The track also earned Gold certifications in Brazil by Pro-Música Brasil (10,000 units) and in Denmark by IFPI Danmark (30,000 units), while attaining Platinum status in New Zealand from Recorded Music NZ (30,000 units). In South Korea, it sold 170,972 digital units according to Gaon Chart data. Globally, "Try Everything" surpassed 5 million digital sales, with streaming activity contributing substantially to its certification totals across various regions.[43]| Region | Certification | Units | Certifier |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 4× Platinum | 4,000,000 | RIAA |
| United Kingdom | Platinum | 600,000 | BPI |
| Brazil | Gold | 10,000 | Pro-Música Brasil |
| Denmark | Gold | 30,000 | IFPI Danmark |
| New Zealand | Platinum | 30,000 | RMNZ |
| South Korea | — | 170,972 | Gaon Chart |