Descendants (soundtrack)

Descendants is a soundtrack album by the cast of the film of the same name, released on July 31, 2015 by Walt Disney Records.^[1] The soundtrack peaked at number 1 on the US Billboard 200, number one on the US Top Digital Albums and topped the US Top Soundtracks.^[2]

Descendants
Soundtrack album by Descendants cast
Released	July 31, 2015
Genre	Pop
Length	39:43
Label	Walt Disney Records
Descendants soundtracks chronology
Descendants (2015) Descendants 2 (2017)
Singles from Descendants
"If Only" Released: July 31, 2015 "Rotten to the Core" Released: December 18, 2015

Background

Initially, the film was not envisioned as a musical. It was not until director/choreographer Kenny Ortega came on board that songs were added.^[3] The film itself contains seven musical numbers, plus a song by Shawn Mendes during the end credits, which was released as a single. In addition, the soundtrack album includes four bonus tracks as well as a suite of the David Lawrence's orchestral score. Not included on the soundtrack is the Vancouver Children's Choir Choral Society's interpretation of "Laudamus te" from Antonio Vivaldi's Gloria, which was heard at Prince Ben's coronation ceremony and the Overture of the orchestral suite Music for the Royal Fireworks composed by George Handel, which is heard at the entrance of the temple.

Commercial performance

The soundtrack debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 with 42,000 album-equivalent units earned during its first week of release, dethroning R&B singer Jill Scott's Woman. It is the smallest weekly total for a number one album since the chart began ranking albums by equivalent units in December 2014.^[4] It is the first Disney Channel Original Movie since High School Musical 2 to have a soundtrack hit number one on the Billboard 200.

Singles

"If Only", performed by Dove Cameron, was released as single on July 31, 2015.^[5] The song was written by Adam Anders, Nikki Hassman and Peer Astrom. It debuted at number 99 in the Billboard Hot 100 and peaked at 94.^[6] The second version of "Rotten to the Core", (written by Shelly Peiken, Joacim Persson and Johann Alkenas,) and performed by Sofia Carson was released as second single on December 18.^[7] The decision to release the song was made to promote the animated short-form series Descendants: Wicked World, for which Carson's version is the opening theme.^[8] The song did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number five on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart.^[9]

Promotional singles

"Believe", performed by Shawn Mendes, was released as promotional single on June 26, 2015.^[10] The song received a nomination for Choice Music: Song from a Movie at the 2015 Teen Choice Awards.^[11]

Other charted songs

The original version of "Rotten to the Core", performed by Dove Cameron, Cameron Boyce, Booboo Stewart and Sofia Carson, debuted at number 38 on the US Billboard Hot 100.^[6] "Did I Mention", performed by Mitchell Hope and Jeff Lewis, peaked at number 2 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart.^[12] "Evil Like Me", performed by Kristin Chenoweth and Dove Cameron, debuted at number 14 and peaked at number 12 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart.^[12] "Set It Off", performed by Dove Cameron, Sofia Carson, Cameron Boyce, Booboo Stewart, Mitchell Hope, Sarah Jeffery and Jeff Lewis, debuted at number 17 and peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart.^[12]

Accolades

Year	Award	Category	Recipients and nominees	Result	Ref.
2015	Teen Choice Awards	Choice Movie TV Song	"Believe" by Shawn Mendes	Nominated	[13]

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Artist(s)	Length
1.	"Rotten to the Core"	Joacim Persson Shelly Peiken Johan Alkenäs	Dove Cameron Cameron Boyce Booboo Stewart Sofia Carson	2:42
2.	"Evil Like Me"	Andrew Lippa	Kristin Chenoweth Dove Cameron	3:44
3.	"Did I Mention"	Adam Schlesinger	Mitchell Hope Jeff Lewis	2:33
4.	"If Only"	Adam Anders Nikki Hassman Peer Åström	Dove Cameron	3:49
5.	"Be Our Guest"	Alan Menken Howard Ashman	Mitchell Hope Spencer Lee Kala Balch Marco Marinangeli	1:55
6.	"If Only (Reprise)"	Anders Hassman Åström	Dove Cameron	0:41
7.	"Set it Off"	Sam Hollander Josh Edmondson Grant Michaels Craig Lashley Charity Daw	Dove Cameron Sofia Carson Cameron Boyce Booboo Stewart Mitchell Hope Sarah Jeffery Jeff Lewis	2:54
8.	"Believe"	Shawn Mendes Geoffrey Warburton Glen Scott Martin Terefe	Shawn Mendes	3:28
9.	"Rotten to the Core" (single version)	Persson Peiken Alkenas	Sofia Carson	2:54
10.	"Night Is Young" (from Descendants: Wicked World)	Augie Ray Jintae Ko Lindy Robbins	China Anne McClain	3:02
11.	"Good Is the New Bad" (from Descendants: Wicked World)	Aris Archontis Chen Neeman Jeannie Lurie	Dove Cameron Sofia Carson China Anne McClain	2:34
12.	"I'm Your Girl" (from Descendants: Wicked World)	Dustin Burnett Stephanie Lewis Paula Winger	Felicia Barton	2:38
13.	"Descendants Score Suite"	David Lawrence	David Lawrence	6:49
Total length:				39:43

Japanese bonus tracks – karaoke instrumentals

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
14.	"Rotten to the Core"	Persson Peiken Alkenäs	2:42
15.	"Evil Like Me"	Lippa	3:44
16.	"Did I Mention"	Schlesinger	2:33
17.	"If Only"	Anders Hassman Åström	3:49
18.	"Set it Off"	Hollander Edmondson Michaels Lashley Daw	2:54

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2015) Peak position Australian Albums (ARIA)[14] 57 Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[15] 179 Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[16] 177 Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[17] 50 French Albums (SNEP)[18] 102 Italian Compilation Albums (FIMI)[19] 19 Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[20] (Los descendientes) 36 UK Soundtrack Albums (OCC)[21] 2 US Billboard 200[22] 1 US Kid Albums (Billboard)[2] 1 US Digital Albums (Billboard)[23] 2 US Soundtrack Albums (Billboard)[24] 1

Year-end charts Chart (2015) Position US Billboard 200[25] 153 US Soundtrack Albums (Billboard)[26] 11

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[27]	Silver	60,000‡
United States (RIAA)[28]	Gold	500,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

1. "Descendants (Original TV Movie Soundtrack)". iTunes. July 31, 2015. Retrieved July 31, 2015.
2. "Various Artists - Chart history". Billboard. Retrieved August 13, 2015.
3. Hinckley, David (July 26, 2015). "'Descendants' brings together the children of some of Disney's most famous villains". The Daily News. Retrieved July 26, 2015.
4. Caulfield, Keith (August 9, 2015). "'Descendants' Soundtrack Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved August 10, 2015.
5. "Dove Cameron - If Only". Discogs. 31 July 2015. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
6. List of Cameron's albums and singles on Billboard: "Rotten to the Core" and "If Only": "Billboard Hot 100 - August 22, 2015". Billboard. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
7. "Rotten to the Core (Spanish / English Version)". iTunes. 18 December 2015. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
8. "Disney Launches 'Descendants' Short-Form Series". AWN. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
9. "Sofia Carson debut on Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles - September 1, 2015". Headline Planet. September 2015. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
10. "Shawn Mendes' "Believe": Listen To The 'Descendants' Soundtrack Cut". Idolator. 15 June 2015. Retrieved November 15, 2015.
11. "2015 Teen Choice Award Winners – Full List". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. August 16, 2015. Retrieved August 17, 2015.
12. "Hot 100: Descendants' "Rotten to the Core" Stays in Top 50; "If Only" Rises - August 19, 2015". headlineplanet. 19 August 2015.
13. "Teen Choice Awards 2015 Winners: Full List". Variety. 16 August 2015. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
14. Ryan, Gavin (August 8, 2015). "ARIA Albums: Meghan Trainor 'Title' Is No 1". Noise11. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
15. "Ultratop.be – Soundtrack – Descendants" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
16. "Ultratop.be – Soundtrack – Descendants" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
17. "Dutchcharts.nl – Soundtrack – Descendants" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
18. "Lescharts.com – Soundtrack – Descendants". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 5, 2015.
19. "FIMI Compilation Albums - WK 40". Retrieved October 9, 2015.
20. "Spanishcharts.com – Soundtrack – Los descendientes". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 15, 2015.
21. "Official Soundtrack Albums Chart Top 50 | October 9 - October 16, 2015". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
22. "Various Artists Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
23. "Digital Albums - August 22, 2015". Billboard. August 22, 2015.
24. "Various Artists Chart History (Soundtrack Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 13, 2015.
25. "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2015". Billboard. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
26. "Soundtracks – Year-End 2015". Billboard. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
27. "British album certifications – Original Soundtrack – Descendants". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved August 27, 2022.
28. "American album certifications – Various Artists – Descendants". Recording Industry Association of America.