Crafting a hit song for a Disney movie might seem like a fairytale process, but the reality is filled with hard work, creativity, and a few unexpected twists. The journey of creating songs for Disney’s “Descendants,” particularly the iconic “Rotten to the Core,” is a perfect example of this. It’s a story of seizing inspiration in unusual places and overcoming creative challenges to deliver music that resonates with audiences worldwide.
An Unexpected Call and a College Tour
Imagine being on a college tour with your daughter, trying to stay focused on her future, when your phone buzzes. For many, it might be a distraction, but for a songwriter, it could be the call that sparks the beginning of a musical adventure. That’s exactly what happened when Steven Vincent from Disney contacted the author with a backing track for the opening scene of “Descendants.” The film, directed by Kenny Ortega, promised a fresh take on classic Disney stories, focusing on the teenage children of infamous villains like Maleficent, Cruella de Vil, Jafar, and the Evil Queen. This unique premise – exploring whether these descendants would follow in their parents’ wicked footsteps or forge their own path toward good – was instantly appealing.
Bathtub Inspiration: Recording “Rotten to the Core”
The initial excitement of the project was quickly met with a logistical hurdle. Trapped on a college tour, a proper recording studio was out of reach. However, the provided backing track, produced by Joacim Perrson, was undeniably captivating. It sparked immediate inspiration, demanding to be turned into a song. Despite a preference for collaborative songwriting sessions, the track’s unique energy pushed for a solo creative burst. Necessity, as they say, is the mother of invention. Transforming a hotel bathroom into a makeshift studio, the bathtub became an unlikely vocal booth. Armed with just a laptop and GarageBand, the first raw version of “Rotten to the Core” was recorded, vocals sung directly into the computer screen – microphone-less and far from professional, yet capturing the raw essence of the song.
This unconventional recording, despite its technical imperfections, resonated deeply. The isolated vocal stems were sent to Joacim, who skillfully mixed them with the music. The result, an mp3 submission, landed in Steven Vincent’s hands and quickly reached Kenny Ortega. The feedback was immediate and enthusiastic: Kenny loved it. A few minor tweaks to the lyrics were requested to align with Disney’s family-friendly standards, but the core of “Rotten to the Core” was a hit.
Refining the Vibe and Recording with the Descendants Cast
Back in Los Angeles, with access to a home studio and proper equipment, a new, technically superior lead vocal was recorded. However, something was missing. Joacim noticed it immediately – the raw energy and unique vibe of the bathtub recording were gone. The polished studio version lacked the initial spark. To recapture that magic, the author returned to the makeshift studio, the bathtub, to re-record, proving that sometimes, creative constraints can lead to unexpected brilliance.
Months later, the song reached its final stage, with studio sessions alongside the talented young cast of “Descendants” – Booboo Stewart, Dove Cameron, Sofia Carson, and Cameron Boyce. These sessions brought “Rotten to the Core” to life, transforming it from a bathtub-recorded demo into a polished, high-energy anthem that perfectly captured the spirit of the film and became a fan favorite among Disney Descendants Songs. The journey of “Rotten to the Core” showcases the unpredictable yet exciting path of songwriting, proving that inspiration can strike anywhere, even in a bathtub, and that the rawest ideas can sometimes become the most successful.
