If there's one thing Disney feature films are known for, it's a rocking soundtrack. Animated classics and live-action movies have included beloved iconic songs, which are passed down across the generations. This includes 1964's Mary Poppins, which has beloved musical numbers like "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious", "Let's Go Fly A Kite" and "A Spoonful of Sugar."
Mary is returning to Cherry Tree Lane in Rob Marshall's Mary Poppins Returns, which will be a direct sequel to the beloved original movie. Hairspray composer Marc Shaiman is writing new music for the sequel, and I recently had the chance to speak with the cast about the upcoming movie, including the music. I asked the Banks family and Mary herself which song from the original they'd like to sing, and their answers didn't disappoint. Check it out below.
There's some solid choices here, with the cast's answers no doubt exciting the hardcore fans of the original Mary Poppins. Like Hamilton and Greatest Showman have release cover albums, perhaps the new Mary Poppins actors will one day get a chance to sing covers from the first movie. Fingers crossed.
During my conversations with the cast of Mary Poppins Returns, I opened by asking each of them which song from the original would be their choice. Without a doubt, the most popular answer was the ballad "Feed the Birds (Tuppence a Bag)". The haunting melody takes place at the start of Mary Poppins' third act, and teaches Jane and Michael Banks about charity and the power of money.
Both Emily Blunt and Ben Whishaw chose "Feed the Birds" as their favorite song, and one they would love to have reprised in Mary Poppins Returns. Luckily, both of those actors get their own ballads in Mary Poppins Returns. Michael's song "A Conversation" is one of the first songs from the movie, and sets up the grief that he and his children are feeling in the wake of his wife's death.
Meanwhile, Emily Blunt gets to sing a ballad of her own with "The Place Where The Lost Things Go." Once again focused on the subject of loss, Mary comforts the Banks children, and reminds them that their mother is still all around them, despite her passing. So while they didn't get to sing "Feed The Birds" both Ben and Emily will have their own opportunities to make the audience cry.
Emily Mortimer and Hamilton writer/singer Lin-Manuel Miranda have their own choices for which song from Mary Poppins they'd like to do. Mortimer chose the "Sister Suffragette", the track sung by Mrs. Banks actress Glynis Johns in the original film. A Mary Poppins underrated bop, the song found Mrs. Banks belting out lyrics about the fight for the right to vote in England. Jane ends up in a similar vocation in Mary Poppins Returns, making her choice all the more exciting.
Meanwhile, Lin-Manuel Miranda seems the most attached to Dick Van Dyke's songs from the original. He mentioned both "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" and "Jolly Holiday" as being the tracks he's enjoyed from the comfort of his home. His character Jack actually fills a similar role to the one filled by Van Dyke's Bert, accompanying Mary in her adventures and even dancing with penguins in the process.
Mary Poppins Returns will arrive in theaters, complete with new songs, on December 19th. In the meantime, check out our 2019 release list to plan your trips to the movies in the New Year.
