Songfacts®:

• This is the most famous song from the 1998 Disney movie Mulan. In the film, Mulan is a young Chinese girl who disguises herself as a boy and joins the Chinese army. She sings "Reflection" after trying, and failing, to impress a matchmaker, feeling that she has disgraced her family. But Mulan isn't a fragile flower looking for man; as she sings the song, she starts to gain confidence and accept herself for who she is, even if it bucks tradition.
• In the movie, "Reflection" is performed by Lea Salonga, the singing voice of Mulan. The version released as a single is by Christina Aguilera (both versions appear on the soundtrack).
  
  Aguilera's version has more generic lyrics, with the line, "I will never pass for a perfect bride" swapped out for "You may think you see who I really am." Both versions are about showing your true self, but the movie version is specific to the story.
• Christina Aguilera was just 17 when "Reflection" was released as her first single; she was a Mouseketeer on the revived version of The Mickey Mouse Club from 1993–1994, so she had an in with Disney. She did not, however, have a record deal, but soon landed one, signing with RCA and releasing her first single, "Genie In A Bottle," a year later. It was a #1 hit and made her a star alongside two of her Mickey Mouse Club castmates: Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake.
• This was written by Matthew Wilder and David Zippel. Wilder, who is known for his 1983 hit "Break My Stride," sang in Mulan as Ling. Zippel is a lyricist who also wrote words to songs in Disney's movies Hercules and Tarzan.
• Aguilera practiced Whitney Houston's "Run To You" to prove she could handle the vocal range for this song.
• The Mulan DVD contains Aguilera's music video and a Spanish translation.
• Christina Aguilera recorded an updated rendition, "Reflection (2020)," for Disney's 2020 live action Mulan movie, directed by New Zealander Niki Caro. Aguilera's video for the new version was also directed by Caro.
• In addition to the Mulan soundtrack, "Reflection" was included on Aguilera's self-titled debut album in 1999. Looking back on the album in 2024, she cited it as the track from the set that still resonates with her the most.
  
  "People love that song so much because it's about not being seen," she explained. "That's been a part of my career so much - trying to find yourself and listen to the inner you. That's what I think 'Reflection' is about."