Movies - TV
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever's Soundtrack Puts the Rest of the MCU to Shame
By VALERIE ETTENHOFER
Whether or not you think “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” is one of the best movies of all time, we can all agree that it certainly features one of the best soundtracks of the MCU. Aside from bringing Rihanna out of retirement, the soundtrack features an array of talented musicians including several Nigerian and Mexican artists alongside a distinctive and excellent score.
The strength of the “Wakanda Forever” soundtrack can be credited to its talented array of musicians. However, thanks to the creativity of the film’s composer, Ludwig Göransson, who created “film versions” of the soundtrack, the liveliness and energy of these songs to are intertwined into the film, making the soundtrack a more prevalent part of the experience.
Aside from merging the score and the soundtrack, Göransson got creative and did his research to make sure the score was authentic. After learning that director Ryan Coogler’s take on Namor was inspired by Mesoamerican culture, Göransson worked with music archaeologists to craft music that genuinely represented these cultural inspirations.
Of course, “Black Panther” would not be the same without Chadwick Boseman, and his influence can be felt in the music. As Göransson recalls, when Rihanna delivered her tracks, “… she said straight-up, ‘I did this for Chad,’” and in terms of the Black Panther theme, Göransson was careful to create something new while intertwining Boseman’s original theme.