REVIEW: A Celebration of the Music of Coco
REVIEW: A Celebration of the Music of Coco - A Stunning, Soul-Filling Tribute to One of Pixar’s Greatest Masterpieces
There are Disney musical specials… and then there is A Celebration of the Music of Coco - a radiant, emotional, heart-drenched love letter to the film, its culture, and the music that made Coco not just a Pixar triumph but a cultural milestone.
If Disney Pixar's Coco is already one of the most beautiful films ever created (and it absolutely is), this special feels like being invited into the living, breathing heart that beats at the center of it. It takes everything that made the movie unforgettable - the songs, the themes, the traditions, the emotional resonance - and it brings them all to life onstage with a vibrancy and authenticity that hits you right in the chest. You don’t watch this special. You feel it.
A Live Celebration That Honors Culture First, Disney Second
What immediately stands out about the show is how deeply it respects the culture that inspired Coco. There’s no corporate sheen here, no performative production that treats Mexican culture like it's just an aesthetic. This special feels lived-in, loving, and genuine. Like a spotlight on the traditions, artistry and humanity that shaped the film’s soul.
From the dancers in stunning Día de Muertos inspired costumes to the arrangements rooted in true Mexican musical heritage, the entire production radiates blessed reverence. It’s joyful without being cartoonish, heartfelt without becoming saccharine. It strikes that perfect balance of celebration and sincerity - the same exact balance the film achieved so beautifully.
You feel the love that went into every detail, and you feel the pride radiating from the stage. It’s not a tribute to culture - it’s a tribute from it.
The Music Comes Alive in Ways That Make You Fall in Love With It All Over Again
Hearing Coco’s music performed live is like rediscovering it for the first time.
“Remember Me,” a song that already carries enough emotional weight to collapse a grown adult (it's me, I'm that grown adult), somehow becomes even more powerful in this setting. Whether performed with intimate tenderness or as a sweeping showstopper, it lands like a warm hug and a heartbreak all at once.
“Un Poco Loco,” “The World Es Mi Familia,” and “Proud Corazón” burst off the stage with the energy of a celebration you wish you could physically climb into. The performers aren’t just singing the songs - they’re embodying them, pouring in vibrancy, personality, humor, and heart.
The music of Coco was already extraordinary. This special elevates it into something transcendent. (Get the Amazon exclusive Coco Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Vinyl (Marigold & Azul colored) here!)
The Performers Bring Pure, Unfiltered Joy
Every performer in this special brings something deeply human to the stage. Their voices soar, their personalities shine, and their passion is so tangible you can almost feel it through the screen.
There’s something magical about seeing songs that were originally sung by animated characters now performed by real voices, real faces, real artists honoring their culture. It adds immediacy - a sense that you’re witnessing the real magic that inspired the animated world.
You see Miguel’s bravery reflected in every young performer.
You see Héctor’s warmth and humor in every playful moment onstage.
You see Mamá Coco’s memory echoed in the quiet, poignant musical choices.
It’s a reminder that Coco resonates so deeply because it was built from real love, real culture, real emotion and the performers bring all of that to the surface - raw and shining brightly.
A Visual Feast Worthy of the Land of the Dead
The staging is gorgeous! It's vibrant, colorful and layered with details that honor the film. The set feels alive: marigold imagery, papel picado silhouettes, glowing lanterns and warm lighting that captures the celebratory intimacy of Día de Muertos.
It’s lush without being overwhelming, theatrical without being artificial. The design supports the performances, rather than overshadowing them. In the best possible way, it feels like a stage show built from the very same love, artistry and soul that makes Coco visually breathtaking.
A Celebration That Hits the Heart Every Single Time
More than anything, this Disney+ special rekindles the emotional spark that made Coco unforgettable. It reminds you of the power of family, memory and identity. It reminds you of the beauty of honoring those who came before us. It reminds you why “Remember Me” hits as hard as it does - not because of sadness, but because of connection.
And this special celebrates that connection joyfully, passionately, and unapologetically. It honors the film’s emotional core by bringing its music into the real world where we can feel it with our whole selves.
By the time the final notes ring out, you’re not just entertained - you’re moved. Deeply. That’s the real magic of this special.
The Final Verdict on A Celebration of the Music of Coco: A Joyous, Heartfelt, Cultural Triumph Worth Watching Again and Again
A Celebration of the Music of Coco is so much more than a musical tribute. It’s a living expression of everything that makes Coco beloved: its music, its culture, its emotion, its celebration of life and memory.
It’s vibrant, emotional, gorgeously performed, and overflowing with heart. It honors Coco not as a brand, but as a story that genuinely matters. And it reminds us why this film continues to mean so much to so many people. A stunning, deeply moving celebration and one of the most beautiful musical specials Disney has produced.
If you love Coco, this is essential.
If you love music, this is essential.
If you love feeling your soul get rearranged by a Pixar melody?
Also essential.
Do yourself a favor and (if you haven't yet seen Coco, do that first) watch A Celebration of the Music of Coco on Disney+.
Kyle McMahon
On Air Talent / Creator / Author / Producer
Kyle McMahon is an American television personality, radio host, journalist, actor, singer and songwriter. He is known for appearing in Oprah's Lifeclass, the Oscar winning film Selma, hosting Pop Culture Weekly with Kyle McMahon on iHeart Radio and touring with LFO and O-Town.
The Definitive Star Wars Timeline: How to Watch, Read, and Play the Entire Canon in Chronological Order
