Lea Salonga is a renowned Filipino singer and actress best known for her work in musical theater. She originated the lead role of Kim in Miss Saigon and was the singing voice of two Disney princesses – Jasmine in Aladdin and Fa Mulan in Mulan. This has led some people to mistakenly believe that she also provided the singing voice for Pocahontas in the 1995 Disney film of the same name. In this article, we’ll examine Lea Salonga’s career and determine whether or not she actually sang as Pocahontas.
Lea Salonga’s Background
Lea Salonga was born in Manila, Philippines in 1971. From a very young age, she displayed exceptional singing talent and starred in her first musical Annie at just 7 years old. She had her breakthrough role at age 18 when she originated the lead role of Kim in the musical Miss Saigon in 1989, becoming the first Asian woman to win a Tony Award.
Throughout the 1990s, Lea Salonga continued to star in musicals and embark on concert tours. She also began a successful recording career, releasing several studio albums of Broadway and Disney songs. However, her most famous work remains her Disney voice acting roles.
Lea Salonga as Disney Princess Singing Voices
In 1992, Lea Salonga was cast to provide the singing voice for Princess Jasmine in Disney’s Aladdin. Critics praised her vocal performance, saying it added richness and depth to the character.
Two years later, she again lent her voice to a Disney princess when she portrayed Fa Mulan in the animated film Mulan (1998). The movie featured several musical numbers, including the songs “Reflection” and “I’ll Make a Man Out of You.” Lea Salonga recorded both of these in character as Mulan.
Given her two previous Disney princess singing roles, it’s understandable why some may assume Lea Salonga must have also voiced Pocahontas. However, that part was actually given to a different vocalist.
Irene Bedard and Judy Kuhn as Pocahontas
In the 1995 animated film Pocahontas, the titular character was voiced by two different actresses. Irene Bedard provided the speaking voice of Pocahontas, while Broadway singer and actress Judy Kuhn performed the character’s songs.
Kuhn recorded the movie’s iconic theme song “Colors of the Wind,” for which she won a Golden Globe for Best Original Song. She also sang as Pocahontas during the numbers “Just Around the Riverbend” and “Listen With Your Heart.”
So while Lea Salonga did not provide any singing vocals for Pocahontas, both Irene Bedard and Judy Kuhn contributed instrumental performances that brought the character to life.
Analysis of Singing Performances in Pocahontas
To further demonstrate that Lea Salonga did not sing as Pocahontas, let’s analyze the vocal style and technique used in Pocahontas’ songs:
| Song | Vocal Style |
|---|---|
| Colors of the Wind | Powerful belting and sustained high notes in upper register |
| Just Around the Riverbend | Smooth, lyrical voice with quick runs and embellishments |
| Listen With Your Heart | Warm, gentle tone with a breathy, floated quality |
While Lea Salonga is undoubtedly an incredibly talented vocalist, this dreamy, emotive singing style doesn’t quite match her own brighter, richer voice which is better suited for pop and Broadway songs.
Judy Kuhn’s classically trained soprano voice allowed her to fluidly switch between soft, lilting notes and strong belting as needed to convey Pocahontas’ range of emotions. The vocal agility and control she displays simply sounds nothing like Lea Salonga’s singing performances as Jasmine and Mulan.
Later Performances of Pocahontas Songs
Further proof that Lea Salonga did not originally perform the Pocahontas songs can be seen when she sings them later in her career:
In the 2000s, Lea Salonga began performing “Colors of the Wind” in some of her live concerts and releasing recordings of the song. While she sings it beautifully in her own style, it is noticeably different from the original track heard in the movie. Her voice is cleaner and brighter, lacking some of the raw, natural quality Judy Kuhn brought to the iconic ballad.
When singing live, Lea Salonga also tends to simplify some of the intricate runs and embellishments in “Just Around the Riverbend,” while Judy Kuhn handles these with precision and ease. Once again, their voices are recognizably distinct.
Conclusion
In summary, the evidence clearly shows Lea Salonga did not provide the singing voice for Pocahontas, despite being a popular Disney princess vocalist. While she portrayed Jasmine and Mulan, the character of Pocahontas was voiced by Irene Bedard (speaking) and Judy Kuhn (singing).
Lea Salonga’s musical theater style differs noticeably from Judy Kuhn’s performance of the Pocahontas songs. And when Lea Salonga sings those same songs later in her career, they sound different than the original film versions. So the next time you watch Pocahontas, you’ll know the breathtaking singing voice belongs to Broadway star Judy Kuhn and not Lea Salonga.
