If you’ve spent any time around kids—or if you’re just a sucker for a solid animated pop-rock banger—you’ve definitely heard the Set It All Free song. It’s the emotional climax of Sing, the 2016 Illumination film that basically took the American Idol formula and turned it into a zoo. But here’s the thing. While most movie soundtracks are filled with forgettable filler, this track actually stuck. It didn’t just disappear after the credits rolled.
People are still streaming it. Why?
Part of it is the voice. Scarlett Johansson isn't just "doing a voice" here. She’s leaning into this raspy, garage-band energy that feels surprisingly authentic for a movie about a teenage porcupine. It’s a song about dumping a toxic boyfriend and finally finding your own lane. Honestly, we’ve all been there. Maybe not as a porcupine, but the vibe is universal.
The Story Behind the Set It All Free Song
Most people assume these movie songs are just cranked out by a computer in some basement in Burbank. Not this one. The Set It All Free song was written by Dave Bassett. If that name sounds familiar, it’s because he’s the same guy behind Rachel Platten’s "Fight Song." He knows how to write an anthem.
The track was specifically designed for the character Ash. In the movie, Ash starts off as the "plus one" in her boyfriend’s band. He’s a jerk. He cheats on her. He belittles her songwriting. When she finally hits the stage alone to perform "Set It All Free," it’s not just a musical performance; it’s a narrative pivot. It’s the moment she stops being an accessory and starts being an artist.
Why Scarlett Johansson was the right choice
You might remember Scarlett tried her hand at music years ago with a Tom Waits cover album. It was weird. It was moody. It showed she actually has a real, textured alto voice. When she sings the Set It All Free song, she isn't trying to sound like a polished pop star like Ariana Grande (who was also on the soundtrack). She sounds like someone who just finished a pack of cigarettes and a long cry.
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That grit makes the lyrics work. When she screams about "this is my heartbeat," you kinda believe her. It’s rare for an animated film to nail that specific "indie-rock-turning-mainstream" sound without it feeling cheesy.
Breaking Down the Impact of the Lyrics
The song opens with this driving drum beat. It’s simple. 4/4 time. It feels like a pulse.
- "I followed my fears into the fire"
- "Got burned and I am the survivor"
These aren't groundbreaking lyrics, but they are effective. The Set It All Free song works because it doesn't overthink the metaphor. It’s about shedding skin. It’s about the relief of walking away from something that was never yours to begin with.
Interestingly, the song has found a massive second life on platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels. It’s become a go-to background track for "glow-up" videos or people quitting their jobs. It’s funny how a song written for a kid’s movie about singing animals became a legitimate anthem for adult burnout and recovery.
Technical Production and Why it Ranks
If you look at the production credits, you see a lot of care went into the mixing. They didn't over-process Johansson’s voice. They kept the guitars slightly messy. This is key. In the context of the film, Ash is supposed to be a "punk" rocker. If the song sounded too much like a Katy Perry track, the character's internal logic would fall apart.
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Comparing the Set It All Free song to other tracks on the Sing soundtrack:
- I'm Still Standing (Taron Egerton): Pure showmanship, very Elton John.
- Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing (Tori Kelly): Incredible vocal gymnastics.
- Faith (Stevie Wonder & Ariana Grande): A commercial powerhouse.
But "Set It All Free" is the one people hum when they're angry. It’s the one that feels the most like a "real" song you’d hear on the radio in 2005 during the Paramore era. It fills a very specific nostalgia gap for Millennial parents while being catchy enough for Gen Alpha.
Misconceptions About the Song’s Origins
A common myth is that the Set It All Free song was a cover. It isn't. While Sing is mostly comprised of covers (everything from Queen to Taylor Swift), this was one of the few original pieces written specifically for the film.
Another misconception? That it was autotuned to death. While every modern pop song uses pitch correction, director Garth Jennings has talked in interviews about how he wanted Johansson’s natural "cracks" and "breaks" in the vocal to stay in the final mix. He wanted it to sound raw.
The Legacy of the Song in Sing 2 and Beyond
When the sequel came out, everyone expected another "Set It All Free." Instead, we got "Your Song Saved My Life" by U2 and more covers. While those were fine, they didn't have the same punch. The Set It All Free song remains the definitive original track of the franchise.
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It’s currently sitting at hundreds of millions of plays across Spotify and YouTube. That’s not just "movie hype." That’s staying power. It has outlasted the movie’s theatrical run by a decade.
Actionable Takeaways for Music Fans and Creators
If you’re looking to add this to a playlist or analyze why it works, consider these points:
- Playlist Context: It fits perfectly between early 2000s pop-punk and modern "empowerment" pop.
- Vocal Texture: Pay attention to the bridge. The way the music drops out and lets the vocals breathe is a classic production trick to build tension before the final chorus.
- The "Ash" Effect: If you’re a songwriter, notice how the lyrics are tied to the character’s specific struggle (independence) rather than just being generic "I'm happy" lyrics.
To get the most out of the track, listen to the "Sing: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack" version rather than the radio edits, as the soundtrack version maintains the cinematic dynamic range that makes the ending feel so explosive. You should also check out the live-style music video produced by Illumination, which uses different camera angles than the movie to emphasize the "concert" feel of the performance.
The song is a masterclass in how to write for a specific character while keeping the appeal broad enough for the general public. It’s the rare "kid movie song" that you don't have to feel embarrassed about having on your gym playlist.
Next Steps for Listeners:
- Compare the Vocals: Listen to Scarlett Johansson’s album Anywhere I Lay My Head to see how her natural singing style influenced the "Ash" persona.
- Check the Credits: Look up Dave Bassett’s other work to see the common threads in his "empowerment pop" songwriting style.
- Watch the Sequence: Re-watch the scene in the first Sing movie to see how the animation (the quills shooting out) syncs with the musical cues—it’s a great example of visual-audio synergy.