Tyla has had a hell of a run since “Water” swept across the globe. Now, the South African star finds herself in even bluer waters — literally — with “Everything Goes With Blue,” her contribution to the Smurfs movie soundtrack. It’s bold, bouncy, and borderline bizarre, but oddly enough, it works — mostly.
Let’s be clear: this track isn’t a chart-thirsty club hit. It’s a movie song — a tie-in, a thematic companion to a kid-friendly universe built on mushrooms, mischief, and a color palette with only one setting. But while the premise may be absurd (do you believe everything goes with blue?), Tyla’s global pop sensibility keeps the track from sinking under the weight of its own whimsy.
There’s an unmistakable international flavor here. Drawing on Afropop rhythms, playful harmonies, and shimmering synths, “Everything Goes With Blue” falls right in line with the rest of the soundtrack’s mosaic of global sounds. There are echoes of Desi Trill’s “Higher Love” and Rihanna’s tropical-tinged “Friend of Mine,” both of which also appear on the soundtrack. It’s almost like Roc Nation designed this soundtrack not for children, but for the parents who used to party to Loud and Grateful.
Still, there’s something slightly off in the execution. Where Tyla’s best work breathes cool confidence, this track sometimes trips over its own choreography. It feels engineered for a montage — think Smurfs doing a synchronized dance number in a marketplace — more than it does for personal replay value. The hook is sticky, sure, but it borders on gimmick when taken out of context.
That said, the Smurfs soundtrack as a whole is impressively global and ambitious. With names like James Fauntleroy, Congolese-Belgian powerhouse Lous and the Yakuza, and a heavy presence from Indian pop singer Natania, there’s a deliberate move toward a more inclusive, cross-cultural soundscape. Even James Corden shows up (as he tends to do), lending his voice to “Always On The Outside.” Is it overkill? Maybe. But it’s also a signal of how children’s media — and its musical companions — are evolving.
“Everything Goes With Blue” won’t be Tyla’s legacy track. But it shows she can slip into a new role without losing her sense of fun — or her distinct sonic fingerprint. In the world of the Smurfs, that’s a win.