Imagine Dragons and Disney revealed today the end-credit song for Walt Disney Animation Studios'
Ralph Breaks the Internet. The song, titled "
Zero," was written and recorded by the GRAMMY-winning band for the upcoming film, and you can actually listen to it online already.
Accompanying the song's release is a lyric video that perfectly encapsulates what the internet is all about - cats, memes, and lots of spam pop-ups. Like
Ralph Breaks the Internet, the lyric video for "
Zero" features a ton of references to 21st-century internet culture. Check it out below.
Ralph Breaks the Internet is a sequel to 2012's animated adventure and sees video game bad guy Ralph and fellow misfit Vanellope von Schweetz leave Litwak's video arcade and journey into the world wide web in search for a replacement part to save Vanellope's video game,
Sugar Rush. Overwhelmed by everything on the internet, Ralph and Vanellope must rely on the citizens of the internet - the netizens - to help navigate their way.
But while
Ralph Breaks the Internet is filled with all sorts of hilarious references to today's internet, there's a deeper story that involves Ralph struggling with his evolving friendship with Vanellope. According to Imagine Dragon's lead singer Dan Reynolds, the film's emotional themes are reflected in the song. Despite the fact that today's generation is more connected than ever before, they face unique issues of identity and loneliness, which this song expresses. It sounds like the film will also address this in some way.
“It's a pretty timely movie in a lot of ways in that it addresses some of the issues of identity and loneliness unique to this internet generation,” Reynolds explained.
“Ralph's internal struggle for self-acceptance really resonated with us, and this song speaks to that.”
“The song is a dichotomy in some ways, with sometimes heavy lyrics over pretty upbeat instrumentation. The result is a tone that is somewhat bittersweet, which felt appropriate given the complexity of Ralph as a character," Reynolds added.
Ralph Breaks the Internet director Rich Moore also chimed in:
“It’s a bold choice for an end-credit song because it’s about someone who feels like a zero, someone who hasn’t always felt worthy, someone who’s allowed his entire sense of self to rely on a single friendship. When that friendship is threatened, there’s a lot of insecurity.”
Ralph Breaks the Internet is due out in theaters November 21. The song "
Zero" is available to listen to online today, but the film's entire soundtrack will be available from Walt Disney Records on November 16.