If you close your eyes and think of the Shrek soundtrack, your brain probably screams "All Star" by Smash Mouth. Maybe you think of Dana Glover’s "It Is You (I Have Loved)" during the romantic swamp scenes. But there’s a specific, fizzy brand of early-2000s energy that hits right as the credits start to roll, and that’s Like Wow by Leslie Carter. It’s a song that defines a very specific era of bubblegum pop, yet the story behind it—and the artist who sang it—is way more complicated than the upbeat melody suggests.
Leslie Carter wasn't just another teen singer. She was part of the Carter dynasty, the sister of Backstreet Boy Nick Carter and pop sensation Aaron Carter. In 2001, Like Wow was everywhere. It was the lead single of her debut album, and its inclusion in the Shrek universe felt like a guaranteed ticket to superstardom. But if you look for that album today, you won’t find it on a shelf.
The Shrek Connection: Why Like Wow Fit So Well
DreamWorks didn't just pick songs at random for Shrek. They wanted a mix of counter-culture grit and mainstream sparkle. Like Wow provided the latter. It’s a track that feels like a sugar rush.
The song plays as the third track in the end credits. It follows the high-energy "I'm a Believer" cover and sets the tone for the post-movie vibe. Leslie’s vocals are pure "Y2K pop"—bright, slightly processed, and incredibly catchy. At the time, she was only 14 or 15 years old. She was being positioned as the next Britney Spears or Mandy Moore, and having a track on a movie that eventually grossed nearly $500 million was the ultimate launching pad.
📖 Related: Why American Beauty by the Grateful Dead is Still the Gold Standard of Americana
What made the song stand out?
- The Production: It was produced by David Gamson and Oliver Leiber. These guys knew how to craft a hook that stuck in your head for days.
- The Vibe: It bridged the gap between the "cool" alternative music in the film and the "pop" sensibilities of the target audience.
- The Lyrics: "Everything looks bright standing in your light / Everything feels right what's left is out of sight." It’s simple, effective, and perfectly suited for a movie about finding happiness in a swamp.
The Mystery of the Cancelled Album
Despite the success of Like Wow on the Shrek soundtrack, things started to get weird behind the scenes at DreamWorks Records. The song actually hit #99 on the Billboard Hot 100—not a massive smash, but a solid start for a debut. The full album, also titled Like Wow, was scheduled for release in April 2001.
Then, it just... vanished.
Record labels in the early 2000s were notoriously brutal. Rumor has it that DreamWorks was worried Leslie couldn't compete with the heavy hitters of the time. There were also whispers about "issues on the set" of her music video. Whatever the real reason, the label pulled the plug. The album was never officially released to the public, though promo copies leaked online years later, becoming a sort of holy grail for pop music collectors.
👉 See also: Why October London Make Me Wanna Is the Soul Revival We Actually Needed
A Legacy Cut Short
It’s hard to talk about Like Wow without acknowledging the tragedy that followed. Leslie Carter’s life wasn't the fairy tale the Shrek soundtrack might suggest. She spent years trying to find her footing in the industry, eventually moving away from bubblegum pop toward a more mature, pop-rock sound with her band, The OtherHalf, around 2006.
She appeared on the family reality show House of Carters, which gave fans a glimpse into the intense pressure the siblings faced. Sadly, Leslie passed away in January 2012 at the age of 25. For many fans, Like Wow remains her most vibrant legacy—a three-minute window into a moment when anything seemed possible.
Why Like Wow Still Matters to Fans
Go to any "2000s Pop" playlist on Spotify or YouTube today, and you’ll see the comments flooded with Shrek nostalgia. People don't just remember the song; they remember how it felt to watch that green ogre find his "happily ever after" while Leslie Carter’s voice soared in the background.
✨ Don't miss: How to Watch The Wolf and the Lion Without Getting Lost in the Wild
It’s a "needle drop" that works because it doesn't take itself too seriously. It’s unapologetically fun. In an era where pop music can sometimes feel overly curated or dark, Like Wow is a reminder of a time when pop was just about the "rush" mentioned in the lyrics.
If you want to dive deeper into this era of music, here are a few things you can do:
- Check out the leaked album tracks: You can find most of the unreleased Like Wow album on YouTube. Songs like "I Need to Hear from You" show a different side of Leslie's vocal range.
- Watch the end credits again: Pay attention to how the song is sequenced. It follows the Baha Men and Smash Mouth, acting as the "pop" bridge before the more orchestral Dana Glover track.
- Explore the producers' work: If you like the sound of Like Wow, look up other tracks produced by Oliver Leiber (who worked with Paula Abdul and The Corrs) to see how that specific 2000s sound was built.
The story of Leslie Carter and Shrek is a snapshot of a very specific moment in entertainment history. It’s a mix of massive commercial success and a career that was never allowed to fully bloom. But every time that chorus hits, it’s still "Like Wow."