Shiny
Lin-Manuel Miranda Lyrics

Tamatoa hasn't always been this glam
Tamatoa was not always this beautiful and shiny

I was a drab little crab once
Tamatoa was once a small, tired and old crab

Now I know I can be happy as a clown
Tamatoa discovered his true identity and is now happy with himself

Because I'm beautiful, baby
Tamatoa believes that his beauty is the reason for his success

Oh, did your daddy say to listen to your heart, be who you are on the inside!?
Tamatoa mocks the idea of following one's heart as it leads to failure

I need three words to tear his argument apart, "Your daddy lied"
Tamatoa believes that one's true identity cannot simply be found by following their heart

I'd rather be Shiny Like a treasure from a sunken pirate wreck Scrub the deck and make it look Shiny And I'll sparkle like a wealthy woman's neck
Tamatoa desires to be shiny, like a valuable treasure, as it portrays success and wealth

Just a sec, don't you know Fish are dumb, dumb, dumb? They chase anything that glitters, beginners Here they come, come, come to the brightest thing that glitters, my dinners You're far too hasty (hasty), and you look tasty (tasty)
Tamatoa mocks others who are attracted to shiny objects and likens them to unwise fish

Wow, little Maui's having trouble with his look You little semi-demi-mini god Ouch, what a terrible performance, get the hook, get it You don't swing it like you used to Mau Yet I have to give you credit for my start
Tamatoa makes fun of Maui's appearance and performance, but acknowledges Maui's contribution to Tamatoa's success

And your tattoos on the outside For just like you I made myself a work of art I'll never hide, I can't
Tamatoa appreciates Maui's tattoos as they are a form of self-expression, similar to Tamatoa's own shiny shell

I'm too shiny I'm the sunrise on the surface of the sea Look at me, you see I'm so shiny The monsters see my weaponry and flee C'est la vie, don't you know I will shine, shine, shine? Like a rainbow after showers Your powers will be mine, mine, mine They'll be mourning you for hours Bring flowers
Tamatoa boasts about his beauty and power, and relishes in taking the powers of others

Call me selfish (selfish) Call me shellfish (shellfish)
Tamatoa acknowledges his selfishness and makes a pun on 'shellfish', as he is a crustacean

Far from the gods who abandoned you Chasing the love of these humans Who made you feel wanted It's never enough Love yourself, get your armor up They can see, your heart is a vacancy
Tamatoa reflects on the abandonment he faced from the gods, and now seeks validation from humans. However, he realizes that self-love is more important than external validation

So why not be shiny? Watch me dazzle like a diamond in the rough Strut my stuff, my stuff is so shiny Send your armies but they'll never be enough My shell's a tough, Maui man
Tamatoa reaffirms his love for being shiny and tough, and boasts that no army can take him down

You could try, try, try But I hate negotiations, prostrations You will die, die, die Never test a big crustacean's impatience
Tamatoa warns others not to test his patience as he hates negotiating and will resort to violence if necessary

Unless you have something shiny Unless you have something shiny
Tamatoa is only interested in shiny objects, and demands them from others