"I was able to help shape a type of heroine that I wanted to see."
April 4, 2014 10:33 AM Subscribe
"To Celebrate the Phenomenal Music of Disney's Frozen, Cast Members took to the Stage to Treat a Small Audience to a Live Performance." Kristen Bell took it one step further, by performing her song, Do You Want to Build a Snowman with each stanza done as the main character Anna at a different age.
All right, bean plating time.
First, I love Bell and her performance here is genuinely strong and with watching.
The song itself, however, remains almost entirely unsatisfying out of context of the film (except for in the video of the little girl having a splinter removed and singing it). It has a dramatic function but it sounds unfinished and is almost nonsensical without the knowledge of what occurs on screen between the second and the final verse.
A larger problem for me with Frozen is that the lyrics generally read like they were written by somebody with a passing knowledge of English at best. I may be over judge-y because I watched the film back to back with Beauty and the Beast , but comparing the lyrics is painful. It's like Disney assumes its audience isn't very smart and picks only the most obvious clauses and jokes. There's virtually no subtlety.
Ugh. The overbearing forced metaphor of "Love is an Open Door," The absolute most obvious joke possible at the heart of "In Summer" (which could have still been clever in other hands), and the "we put zero thought into this" throw away opening tune.
But despite all this, hang me if I don't find myself singing along and having a good time when I watch it. I hate myself after.
posted by Joey Michaels at 10:47 AM on April 4, 2014 [3 favorites]
First, I love Bell and her performance here is genuinely strong and with watching.
The song itself, however, remains almost entirely unsatisfying out of context of the film (except for in the video of the little girl having a splinter removed and singing it). It has a dramatic function but it sounds unfinished and is almost nonsensical without the knowledge of what occurs on screen between the second and the final verse.
A larger problem for me with Frozen is that the lyrics generally read like they were written by somebody with a passing knowledge of English at best. I may be over judge-y because I watched the film back to back with Beauty and the Beast , but comparing the lyrics is painful. It's like Disney assumes its audience isn't very smart and picks only the most obvious clauses and jokes. There's virtually no subtlety.
Ugh. The overbearing forced metaphor of "Love is an Open Door," The absolute most obvious joke possible at the heart of "In Summer" (which could have still been clever in other hands), and the "we put zero thought into this" throw away opening tune.
But despite all this, hang me if I don't find myself singing along and having a good time when I watch it. I hate myself after.
posted by Joey Michaels at 10:47 AM on April 4, 2014 [3 favorites]
I'm sure if you gave her a sloth to sing to on stage it could be a slight be more adorable
posted by vuron at 10:47 AM on April 4, 2014 [9 favorites]
posted by vuron at 10:47 AM on April 4, 2014 [9 favorites]
Due to an unfortunate misreading of the title of this post, for a second I thought it was going to be about designer drugs.
posted by Rock Steady at 10:48 AM on April 4, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by Rock Steady at 10:48 AM on April 4, 2014 [3 favorites]
I think Kristen Bell is fantastic, and I am very impressed with her singing voice, but I think her pretending to be a kid and a teen sound creepy, not awesome.
If you haven't seen it, the Honest Trailer for Frozen (the feature-length music video for 'Let it Go') is clever. Spoils the entire movie, as per usual.
posted by jeather at 10:51 AM on April 4, 2014 [10 favorites]
If you haven't seen it, the Honest Trailer for Frozen (the feature-length music video for 'Let it Go') is clever. Spoils the entire movie, as per usual.
posted by jeather at 10:51 AM on April 4, 2014 [10 favorites]
biffa's rule: any sentence that starts "To celebrate the" is probably going to end up flogging a load of old shite.
posted by biffa at 10:52 AM on April 4, 2014
posted by biffa at 10:52 AM on April 4, 2014
Joey Michaels: " It's like Disney assumes its audience isn't very smart and picks only the most obvious clauses and jokes. There's virtually no subtlety. "
I had to explain the fart joke in The Lion King's "Hakuna Matata" to my six year-olds this morning. When they first heard the "In Summer" song from Frozen, I had to explain the puddle joke to them. In both cases they thought the joke was hilarious, but the context completely eluded them until it was explained.
I'm sure there are outliers, but most Disney movies, songs / lyrics aren't about subtlety.
posted by zarq at 10:53 AM on April 4, 2014
I had to explain the fart joke in The Lion King's "Hakuna Matata" to my six year-olds this morning. When they first heard the "In Summer" song from Frozen, I had to explain the puddle joke to them. In both cases they thought the joke was hilarious, but the context completely eluded them until it was explained.
I'm sure there are outliers, but most Disney movies, songs / lyrics aren't about subtlety.
posted by zarq at 10:53 AM on April 4, 2014
Oh and quin, thanks for posting this. It was fun watching her play all three parts.
posted by zarq at 10:54 AM on April 4, 2014
posted by zarq at 10:54 AM on April 4, 2014
I'm not sure why this is "one step further", as it's the way the song is sung in the film.
posted by chavenet at 10:55 AM on April 4, 2014
posted by chavenet at 10:55 AM on April 4, 2014
I'm not sure why this is "one step further", as it's the way the song is sung in the film.
Because in the film, it wasn't Kristen Bell singing all three parts?
posted by kafziel at 10:56 AM on April 4, 2014 [2 favorites]
Because in the film, it wasn't Kristen Bell singing all three parts?
posted by kafziel at 10:56 AM on April 4, 2014 [2 favorites]
I'm sure if you gave her a sloth to sing to on stage it could be a slight be more adorable
Well, it would certainly be adorable, but there's no way she could sing between the wracking sobs of cute overload.
posted by yoink at 10:56 AM on April 4, 2014 [5 favorites]
Well, it would certainly be adorable, but there's no way she could sing between the wracking sobs of cute overload.
posted by yoink at 10:56 AM on April 4, 2014 [5 favorites]
I absolutely love her dress. (Also this is cute.)
posted by likeatoaster at 10:57 AM on April 4, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by likeatoaster at 10:57 AM on April 4, 2014 [1 favorite]
kafziel: "I'm not sure why this is "one step further", as it's the way the song is sung in the film.
Because in the film, it wasn't Kristen Bell singing all three parts?"
Well, that makes sense then. I just assumed it was. Sorry!
posted by chavenet at 11:05 AM on April 4, 2014 [1 favorite]
Because in the film, it wasn't Kristen Bell singing all three parts?"
Well, that makes sense then. I just assumed it was. Sorry!
posted by chavenet at 11:05 AM on April 4, 2014 [1 favorite]
I did think the music was the worst part of Frozen which is kind of unfortunate for a Disney animated musical. Apart from Let it Go it's all mediocre at best. Compare to, like, The Little Mermaid which has half a dozen songs as good or better than the one good song in Frozen.
posted by Justinian at 11:05 AM on April 4, 2014 [4 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 11:05 AM on April 4, 2014 [4 favorites]
Love is an open door is also amazing from this show. Is there a YouTube playlist of the entire night anywhere?
posted by mathowie at 11:13 AM on April 4, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by mathowie at 11:13 AM on April 4, 2014 [1 favorite]
Ha! Frozen backlash! Sorry, not buying it.
Every 4y.o. at daycare has all the songs memorized by heart, boy and girls both, and half of 'em haven't even seen the movie. Hate if you must, ain't nobody gonna believe a word of it at this point. I mean, they have sing-a-long showings of the movie, where the audience belts it out in time with the movie - and in unironic, unapologetically sincere glee. When's the last time that happened? The follow-the-bouncing-ball cartoon shorts of the '40s?
posted by Slap*Happy at 11:14 AM on April 4, 2014 [16 favorites]
Every 4y.o. at daycare has all the songs memorized by heart, boy and girls both, and half of 'em haven't even seen the movie. Hate if you must, ain't nobody gonna believe a word of it at this point. I mean, they have sing-a-long showings of the movie, where the audience belts it out in time with the movie - and in unironic, unapologetically sincere glee. When's the last time that happened? The follow-the-bouncing-ball cartoon shorts of the '40s?
posted by Slap*Happy at 11:14 AM on April 4, 2014 [16 favorites]
Like many other parents, I have severely drowned in Frozen for the last 4 months by my 4 year old daughter. She incessantly talks about it to me and with her friends. She wants to listen to the music all day long. She wants to watch the movie every day. She wants to be called Elsa and dress up in her various costumes. It is all fairly disturbing to me.
That being said, although I haven't actually watched it attentively and only know it through background repetition, the movie has grown on me, as has the music. It seems to me like a movie and soundtrack that was made with an eye towards the sure-to-be-forthcoming Broadway musical. I can already envision what the stage pieces will look like. And now when hear the music every night when I get home (or even when I am in the shower) I find myself singing along. If you would have told me 5 years ago that I would be signing a disney princess song to myself, I would have laughed at you. But Frozen is the first of the Disney movies that has really sunk in to my life at this level.
This video of Kristin Bell is adorable, and I am quite impressed with her effort to sing the three ages. It somehow makes me like her even more than I already did.
(As an aside, one thing that I don't quite grasp is Anna's ability to remember the snowman/Olaf... I thought the trolls wiped all memory of Elsa's powers? As such, it seems odd to me that this desire to build a snowman is the stand-in for a happier times or that she recognizes Olaf. There may be a nuance I am missing.)
posted by dios at 11:15 AM on April 4, 2014 [2 favorites]
That being said, although I haven't actually watched it attentively and only know it through background repetition, the movie has grown on me, as has the music. It seems to me like a movie and soundtrack that was made with an eye towards the sure-to-be-forthcoming Broadway musical. I can already envision what the stage pieces will look like. And now when hear the music every night when I get home (or even when I am in the shower) I find myself singing along. If you would have told me 5 years ago that I would be signing a disney princess song to myself, I would have laughed at you. But Frozen is the first of the Disney movies that has really sunk in to my life at this level.
This video of Kristin Bell is adorable, and I am quite impressed with her effort to sing the three ages. It somehow makes me like her even more than I already did.
(As an aside, one thing that I don't quite grasp is Anna's ability to remember the snowman/Olaf... I thought the trolls wiped all memory of Elsa's powers? As such, it seems odd to me that this desire to build a snowman is the stand-in for a happier times or that she recognizes Olaf. There may be a nuance I am missing.)
posted by dios at 11:15 AM on April 4, 2014 [2 favorites]
Since I'm not a 4 year old I hope my musical discernment is slightly better than theirs. 4 year olds liked Pixar's Cars too.
I think Frozen is great. But are you arguing that the music is as strong as in most of Disney's recent stuff? The Little Mermaid? Beauty and the Beast?
posted by Justinian at 11:15 AM on April 4, 2014
I think Frozen is great. But are you arguing that the music is as strong as in most of Disney's recent stuff? The Little Mermaid? Beauty and the Beast?
posted by Justinian at 11:15 AM on April 4, 2014
(As an aside, one thing that I don't quite grasp is Anna's ability to remember the snowman/Olaf... I thought the trolls wiped all memory of Elsa's powers? As such, it seems odd to me that this desire to build a snowman is the stand-in for a happier times or that she recognizes Olaf. There may be a nuance I am missing.)
They changed the memories, not wiped them out. There's a still of Elsa and Anna sitting together outside in front of Olaf.
posted by jeather at 11:18 AM on April 4, 2014 [2 favorites]
They changed the memories, not wiped them out. There's a still of Elsa and Anna sitting together outside in front of Olaf.
posted by jeather at 11:18 AM on April 4, 2014 [2 favorites]
Slap*Happy: I mean, they have sing-a-long showings of the movie, where the audience belts it out in time with the movie - and in unironic, unapologetically sincere glee. When's the last time that happened? The follow-the-bouncing-ball cartoon shorts of the '40s?
I would like, if I may, to take you on a strange journey.
posted by Rock Steady at 11:22 AM on April 4, 2014 [5 favorites]
I would like, if I may, to take you on a strange journey.
posted by Rock Steady at 11:22 AM on April 4, 2014 [5 favorites]
But are you arguing that the music is as strong as in most of Disney's recent stuff? The Little Mermaid? Beauty and the Beast?
posted by Justinian at 1:15 PM on April 4
(I can't believe I have an opinion on that)
To me the difference is that several of the Frozen songs seem to advance the narrative of the story, as a replacement for dialoge. "Do You Want to Build a Snowman" explains the growing up apart and frustration of that for both girls. "Let it Go" explains Elsa's motivation to release. The two "For the First Time in Forever" explain motivations and what is happening. (This is not the case with the opening number or Olaf's song)
Though I am less familiar with Little Mermaid or Beauty and the Beast, I don't remember them doing that as much. I remember them as unnecessary set pieces. They may be lyrically better or have better scores, but I don't remember them being essential to the narrative. And here I am thinking of the Beauty and the Beast song while the two are dancing, the Be Our Guest song, the Kiss the Girl and Under the Sea songs. Those all seem like show pieces, whereas the Frozen songs are sung by the people as a replacement for dialogue. That to me is more interesting and compelling, even if they are inferior songs.
posted by dios at 11:28 AM on April 4, 2014 [7 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 1:15 PM on April 4
(I can't believe I have an opinion on that)
To me the difference is that several of the Frozen songs seem to advance the narrative of the story, as a replacement for dialoge. "Do You Want to Build a Snowman" explains the growing up apart and frustration of that for both girls. "Let it Go" explains Elsa's motivation to release. The two "For the First Time in Forever" explain motivations and what is happening. (This is not the case with the opening number or Olaf's song)
Though I am less familiar with Little Mermaid or Beauty and the Beast, I don't remember them doing that as much. I remember them as unnecessary set pieces. They may be lyrically better or have better scores, but I don't remember them being essential to the narrative. And here I am thinking of the Beauty and the Beast song while the two are dancing, the Be Our Guest song, the Kiss the Girl and Under the Sea songs. Those all seem like show pieces, whereas the Frozen songs are sung by the people as a replacement for dialogue. That to me is more interesting and compelling, even if they are inferior songs.
posted by dios at 11:28 AM on April 4, 2014 [7 favorites]
My daughter has been watching this movie endlessly, and thanks to Spotify, I have listened to this album, specifically this song, non-stop for the last month.
In a fit of childish frustration, I randomly googled "Do You Want to Fuck a Snowman" yesterday, and was surprised and oddly delighted to find this (NSFW in lyrics only)
Also this from a Korean game show (SFW)
posted by Debaser626 at 11:28 AM on April 4, 2014 [3 favorites]
In a fit of childish frustration, I randomly googled "Do You Want to Fuck a Snowman" yesterday, and was surprised and oddly delighted to find this (NSFW in lyrics only)
Also this from a Korean game show (SFW)
posted by Debaser626 at 11:28 AM on April 4, 2014 [3 favorites]
Is this from a DVD extras or pay-per-view event or something? It looks professionally filmed, but the only youtube clips are on random people's personal feeds. I can't find anything aside from generic promos about the event. I'd love to see the whole thing somewhere, I'd happily pay for it.
posted by mathowie at 11:29 AM on April 4, 2014
posted by mathowie at 11:29 AM on April 4, 2014
I think Frozen is great. But are you arguing that the music is as strong as in most of Disney's recent stuff? The Little Mermaid? Beauty and the Beast?
The kids born after those movies came out are graduating college. After this year Mary Poppins will have a release closer to The Little Mermaid than The Little Mermaid to present day.
posted by sideshow at 11:34 AM on April 4, 2014 [9 favorites]
The kids born after those movies came out are graduating college. After this year Mary Poppins will have a release closer to The Little Mermaid than The Little Mermaid to present day.
posted by sideshow at 11:34 AM on April 4, 2014 [9 favorites]
Dammit, sideshow beat me to it. My other example was going to be that The Lion King was old enough to vote for Obama the second time.
posted by Etrigan at 11:37 AM on April 4, 2014
posted by Etrigan at 11:37 AM on April 4, 2014
Luckily we can take a longer view and recognize that modern disney animation started with The Little Mermaid, regardless of the fact that it was 25 years ago.
posted by Justinian at 11:39 AM on April 4, 2014
posted by Justinian at 11:39 AM on April 4, 2014
Justinian: "4 year olds liked Pixar's Cars too."
No they didn't. They liked the cars, maybe. But the movie? Had nothing in "Finding Nemo" in the 4-year-olds-liked-it sweepstakes.
posted by chavenet at 11:39 AM on April 4, 2014 [1 favorite]
No they didn't. They liked the cars, maybe. But the movie? Had nothing in "Finding Nemo" in the 4-year-olds-liked-it sweepstakes.
posted by chavenet at 11:39 AM on April 4, 2014 [1 favorite]
After this year Mary Poppins will have a release closer to The Little Mermaid than The Little Mermaid to present day.
oh my god I'm old
posted by Austenite at 11:40 AM on April 4, 2014 [6 favorites]
oh my god I'm old
posted by Austenite at 11:40 AM on April 4, 2014 [6 favorites]
The kids born after those movies came out are graduating college. After this year Mary Poppins will have a release closer to The Little Mermaid than The Little Mermaid to present day.
Always someone with that rotten, no good timeline stuff to make me fill teh old... you supercalifragilisticexpialidocious! Whoah, that didn't trip the spellcheck...
More to the point, there's a lens of nostalgia - Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast and the Lion King were the defining movies of their time, and it can feel unfaithful to acknowledge recent films designed to fill the same role and succeeding brilliantly. Tangled and Frozen are different - more contemporary, with a different feel and different goals. Comparing and contrasting them to rank them in order of awesome is an exercise in frustration and futility - they're all amazing.
Now. If you really want to impress with your contrarian cred - put up a defense of Emperor's New Groove and Lilo and Stitch as under-appreciated and brilliant films who were each three musical numbers shy of greatness.
posted by Slap*Happy at 11:43 AM on April 4, 2014 [6 favorites]
Always someone with that rotten, no good timeline stuff to make me fill teh old... you supercalifragilisticexpialidocious! Whoah, that didn't trip the spellcheck...
More to the point, there's a lens of nostalgia - Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast and the Lion King were the defining movies of their time, and it can feel unfaithful to acknowledge recent films designed to fill the same role and succeeding brilliantly. Tangled and Frozen are different - more contemporary, with a different feel and different goals. Comparing and contrasting them to rank them in order of awesome is an exercise in frustration and futility - they're all amazing.
Now. If you really want to impress with your contrarian cred - put up a defense of Emperor's New Groove and Lilo and Stitch as under-appreciated and brilliant films who were each three musical numbers shy of greatness.
posted by Slap*Happy at 11:43 AM on April 4, 2014 [6 favorites]
Here's Jimmy Fallon, the Roots, and Idina Menzel doing Let It Go. Let It Go, I thought, was the strongest of the songs, but then maybe that's because it's basically Defying Gravity minus Kristen Chenowith.
posted by ChuraChura at 11:46 AM on April 4, 2014
posted by ChuraChura at 11:46 AM on April 4, 2014
I was just discussing with my wife this week how Frozen is for our kids likely the defining Disney production of their early childhood, much like certain films were for us. I'm not usually one to dry hump the Disney leg (in fact, you don't have to nudge me much to get me cussing about them) but they pulled off something pretty special with this film. The music was so apropos (noting that we all agree the troll song was bad) that it only occurred to me hours later that it was in fact a musical.
Maybe I'm a little dense like that, but almost all seemed topical and well executed.
posted by dgran at 11:54 AM on April 4, 2014 [1 favorite]
Maybe I'm a little dense like that, but almost all seemed topical and well executed.
posted by dgran at 11:54 AM on April 4, 2014 [1 favorite]
To me the difference is that several of the Frozen songs seem to advance the narrative of the story, as a replacement for dialoge.
"Something There" from Beauty and the Beast basically reinvented the genre of the animated musical by doing this. Belle and the Beast begin the song barely tolerating each other and are in love three minutes later. The intro songs for Gaston and Belle take you from knowing next to nothing about their characters and situations, to understanding them through and through.
Before Beauty and the Beast, there are very few examples of animated musicals that *consistently* use songs this way, as far as I know. Afterwards, this was the standard that musical numbers were held to...which probably partly explains why Disney kind of gave up on animated musicals for a while.
posted by town of cats at 11:57 AM on April 4, 2014 [5 favorites]
"Something There" from Beauty and the Beast basically reinvented the genre of the animated musical by doing this. Belle and the Beast begin the song barely tolerating each other and are in love three minutes later. The intro songs for Gaston and Belle take you from knowing next to nothing about their characters and situations, to understanding them through and through.
Before Beauty and the Beast, there are very few examples of animated musicals that *consistently* use songs this way, as far as I know. Afterwards, this was the standard that musical numbers were held to...which probably partly explains why Disney kind of gave up on animated musicals for a while.
posted by town of cats at 11:57 AM on April 4, 2014 [5 favorites]
-After this year, the release of The Marriage of Figaro will be closer to the release of Tosca than Tosca's release to the present day.
-The children born the year Manon came out are all dead.
posted by Iridic at 11:59 AM on April 4, 2014 [1 favorite]
-The children born the year Manon came out are all dead.
posted by Iridic at 11:59 AM on April 4, 2014 [1 favorite]
Every 4y.o. at daycare has all the songs memorized by heart
Yup. The pre-kindergarden informational meeting for parents last night kept getting interrupted by the sound of all our kids in the playground belting out LET IT GOOOO
several of the Frozen songs seem to advance the narrative of the story
Case in point
posted by ook at 11:59 AM on April 4, 2014 [1 favorite]
Yup. The pre-kindergarden informational meeting for parents last night kept getting interrupted by the sound of all our kids in the playground belting out LET IT GOOOO
several of the Frozen songs seem to advance the narrative of the story
Case in point
posted by ook at 11:59 AM on April 4, 2014 [1 favorite]
I'll just toss this in here: Help, I'm a Fish is a Danish movie from 2000 that features some catchy tunes and a pretty good plot, plus Alan Rickman and Terry Jones.
posted by chavenet at 12:09 PM on April 4, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by chavenet at 12:09 PM on April 4, 2014 [3 favorites]
The lyricist Howard Ashman and composer Alan Menken were responsible for the songs in The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast. Ashman passed away due to AIDS complications (at 40 years old!) so he wrote only two songs for Aladdin, the only really good songs in the film. That's why Frozen has such tough competition. Howard Ashman was a genius.
Bringing up my nephews, they loved watching these movies over and over--along with The Lion King--and hearing them stirs up fond memories. I just saw Frozen this weekend and liked it a great deal. The world needs more musicals.
posted by Tacodog at 12:16 PM on April 4, 2014 [7 favorites]
Bringing up my nephews, they loved watching these movies over and over--along with The Lion King--and hearing them stirs up fond memories. I just saw Frozen this weekend and liked it a great deal. The world needs more musicals.
posted by Tacodog at 12:16 PM on April 4, 2014 [7 favorites]
God, that sucks Tacodog. I didn't know about Ashman. Screw AIDS.
posted by Justinian at 12:18 PM on April 4, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by Justinian at 12:18 PM on April 4, 2014 [1 favorite]
Now. If you really want to impress with your contrarian cred - put up a defense of Emperor's New Groove and Lilo and Stitch as under-appreciated and brilliant films who were each three musical numbers shy of greatness.
Cramming musical numbers into those movies would have ruined them. They're perfect as they are.
"Something There" from Beauty and the Beast basically reinvented the genre of the animated musical by doing this. Belle and the Beast begin the song barely tolerating each other and are in love three minutes later. The intro songs for Gaston and Belle take you from knowing next to nothing about their characters and situations, to understanding them through and through.
Before Beauty and the Beast, there are very few examples of animated musicals that *consistently* use songs this way, as far as I know. Afterwards, this was the standard that musical numbers were held to...which probably partly explains why Disney kind of gave up on animated musicals for a while.
Ahem! Poor Unfortunate Souls, please, it's the crux of the movie and one of the very best songs in the entire Disney songbook. Really, Little Mermaid throughout - Part Of Your World basically lays out Ariel's entire character and motivation, and Under The Sea the exact kind of repression that she's fighting against. And Kiss the Girl is everything Something There was.
Okay sure Les Poissons adds nothing to the movie but some physical comedy and a mildly offensive stereotype but aside from that.
posted by kafziel at 12:21 PM on April 4, 2014 [7 favorites]
Cramming musical numbers into those movies would have ruined them. They're perfect as they are.
"Something There" from Beauty and the Beast basically reinvented the genre of the animated musical by doing this. Belle and the Beast begin the song barely tolerating each other and are in love three minutes later. The intro songs for Gaston and Belle take you from knowing next to nothing about their characters and situations, to understanding them through and through.
Before Beauty and the Beast, there are very few examples of animated musicals that *consistently* use songs this way, as far as I know. Afterwards, this was the standard that musical numbers were held to...which probably partly explains why Disney kind of gave up on animated musicals for a while.
Ahem! Poor Unfortunate Souls, please, it's the crux of the movie and one of the very best songs in the entire Disney songbook. Really, Little Mermaid throughout - Part Of Your World basically lays out Ariel's entire character and motivation, and Under The Sea the exact kind of repression that she's fighting against. And Kiss the Girl is everything Something There was.
Okay sure Les Poissons adds nothing to the movie but some physical comedy and a mildly offensive stereotype but aside from that.
posted by kafziel at 12:21 PM on April 4, 2014 [7 favorites]
chavenet: " No they didn't. They liked the cars, maybe. But the movie? Had nothing in "Finding Nemo" in the 4-year-olds-liked-it sweepstakes."
3 years ago, my 3 year-old son dressed up as Lightning McQueen for Halloween. He had a Cars comforter set. Cars plush, plastic and metal toys. A cars plate, bowl and placemat. Cars towels. And of course, the movies. Including one called "Mater's Tall Tales." Which he watched incessantly until he could quote the dialogue.
He loved the first movie. And was only slightly less obsessed with the second. Not just for the cars, but for the characters, the story, the music, the slapstick and other forms of humor.
posted by zarq at 12:24 PM on April 4, 2014 [5 favorites]
3 years ago, my 3 year-old son dressed up as Lightning McQueen for Halloween. He had a Cars comforter set. Cars plush, plastic and metal toys. A cars plate, bowl and placemat. Cars towels. And of course, the movies. Including one called "Mater's Tall Tales." Which he watched incessantly until he could quote the dialogue.
He loved the first movie. And was only slightly less obsessed with the second. Not just for the cars, but for the characters, the story, the music, the slapstick and other forms of humor.
posted by zarq at 12:24 PM on April 4, 2014 [5 favorites]
kafziel: " Okay sure Les Poissons adds nothing to the movie but some physical comedy and a mildly offensive stereotype but aside from that."
It was sung by Rene Auberjonois! Now when the song shows up on a playlist in the car, I imagine it being sung by Odo from Deep Space Nine.
posted by zarq at 12:26 PM on April 4, 2014 [4 favorites]
It was sung by Rene Auberjonois! Now when the song shows up on a playlist in the car, I imagine it being sung by Odo from Deep Space Nine.
posted by zarq at 12:26 PM on April 4, 2014 [4 favorites]
zarq: "Not just for the cars, but for the characters, the story, the music, the slapstick and other forms of humor."
Well, I was talking about 4-year-olds! ;-)
posted by chavenet at 12:27 PM on April 4, 2014
Well, I was talking about 4-year-olds! ;-)
posted by chavenet at 12:27 PM on April 4, 2014
Oh I was wrong, Ashman wrote three songs for Aladdin. Tim Rice picked up the rest. Rice did One Jump which, I forgot, is actually very good.
posted by Tacodog at 12:41 PM on April 4, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by Tacodog at 12:41 PM on April 4, 2014 [2 favorites]
I'm a huge fan of the work that Menken and Ashman--especially Ashman--did for Disney Feature animation, but I do think Lopez and Anderson-Lopez uphold their gold standard admirably.
And yes, I think all musicals should aspire to use the diegetic mode shift as an opportunity to advance the narrative with an efficiency not available to traditional dramatics. I recently watched Jacques Demy's The Young Girls of Rochefort and--although I'm fond of it (Yay Michel Legrand!)--the plot is essentially paused every time a song starts up.
In defence of "Love is an Open Door", Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez intended the song to be banal within the context of the story.
posted by whittaker at 1:05 PM on April 4, 2014 [1 favorite]
And yes, I think all musicals should aspire to use the diegetic mode shift as an opportunity to advance the narrative with an efficiency not available to traditional dramatics. I recently watched Jacques Demy's The Young Girls of Rochefort and--although I'm fond of it (Yay Michel Legrand!)--the plot is essentially paused every time a song starts up.
In defence of "Love is an Open Door", Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez intended the song to be banal within the context of the story.
posted by whittaker at 1:05 PM on April 4, 2014 [1 favorite]
The "I want" song is usually the most crucial number in the genre and they usually end up being the best song in the film.
e.g. "A Part of Your World", "Belle", "One Jump Ahead", "For the First Time in Forever"
Elsa is a sort of unintentional co-protagonist in Frozen. It was relatively late in pre-production when she stopped being the villain. You can make the case that "Let It Go" is her real "I want" song.
posted by whittaker at 1:11 PM on April 4, 2014 [5 favorites]
e.g. "A Part of Your World", "Belle", "One Jump Ahead", "For the First Time in Forever"
Elsa is a sort of unintentional co-protagonist in Frozen. It was relatively late in pre-production when she stopped being the villain. You can make the case that "Let It Go" is her real "I want" song.
posted by whittaker at 1:11 PM on April 4, 2014 [5 favorites]
In defence of "Love is an Open Door", Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez intended the song to be banal within the context of the story.
"Love is an Open Door" takes on a very, very different connotation when you realize that it is the Villain Song.
posted by kafziel at 1:21 PM on April 4, 2014 [17 favorites]
"Love is an Open Door" takes on a very, very different connotation when you realize that it is the Villain Song.
posted by kafziel at 1:21 PM on April 4, 2014 [17 favorites]
My kids have been on a Frozen jag for a couple of weeks now. The fact that it's spring break means they've watched it about a dozen times this week.
The other day I happened to be passing through the room when the "Let it Go" scene was just starting. I'd already seen the whole movie twice, but that scene ... it just transfixes me every single time. It's such a well-done scene, and I love the song. So well done.
It is also, to my knowledge, the only Disney song (or for that matter, song in any kids' movie) to contain the word "fractals" in the lyrics. And that totally turns me on for some reason.
posted by jbickers at 1:22 PM on April 4, 2014 [11 favorites]
The other day I happened to be passing through the room when the "Let it Go" scene was just starting. I'd already seen the whole movie twice, but that scene ... it just transfixes me every single time. It's such a well-done scene, and I love the song. So well done.
It is also, to my knowledge, the only Disney song (or for that matter, song in any kids' movie) to contain the word "fractals" in the lyrics. And that totally turns me on for some reason.
posted by jbickers at 1:22 PM on April 4, 2014 [11 favorites]
Not only is Bell a great singer, she's also a great mimic. She completely nailed all the sections of that song.
posted by urbanwhaleshark at 1:50 PM on April 4, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by urbanwhaleshark at 1:50 PM on April 4, 2014 [1 favorite]
It is also, to my knowledge, the only Disney song (or for that matter, song in any kids' movie) to contain the word "fractals" in the lyrics. And that totally turns me on for some reason.
My 3.5 year old daughter has told me "fractals" is her favorite word each and every one of the (many, many) times we have heard that song together.
posted by sideshow at 1:55 PM on April 4, 2014 [3 favorites]
My 3.5 year old daughter has told me "fractals" is her favorite word each and every one of the (many, many) times we have heard that song together.
posted by sideshow at 1:55 PM on April 4, 2014 [3 favorites]
That Honest Trailers was cathartic for me. I can watch the movie again now and feel good about it.
posted by Joey Michaels at 2:29 PM on April 4, 2014
posted by Joey Michaels at 2:29 PM on April 4, 2014
Huh, Bell's performance was more impressive than I was expecting.
Proof of Frozen's reach: overheard on my college campus yesterday afternoon, one frat-bro in a white baseball cap to another:
"Dude, do you wanna build a snowman?
[pause]
"I mean, it doesn't have to be a snowman."
Even the frat-bros love it.
Am I the only person who hates Menzel's voice? Ok then.
posted by TwoStride at 3:03 PM on April 4, 2014 [10 favorites]
Proof of Frozen's reach: overheard on my college campus yesterday afternoon, one frat-bro in a white baseball cap to another:
"Dude, do you wanna build a snowman?
[pause]
"I mean, it doesn't have to be a snowman."
Even the frat-bros love it.
Am I the only person who hates Menzel's voice? Ok then.
posted by TwoStride at 3:03 PM on April 4, 2014 [10 favorites]
How serendipitous. I'm watching Elementary and Holmes is carrying a ball gown. He say he is "meant to record himself performing songs from something called 'Frozen'" in payment for a favour he received.
posted by urbanwhaleshark at 3:03 PM on April 4, 2014
posted by urbanwhaleshark at 3:03 PM on April 4, 2014
Am I the only person who hates Menzel's voice? Ok then.
Nope. From what little I've heard* , she can sing very loud but her voice has an unpleasant quality to it. And when she tries to sing less powerfully, like in that Jimmy Fallon clip, she kind of seems all over the place.
* Have not seen Frozen
posted by Atom Eyes at 3:20 PM on April 4, 2014 [3 favorites]
Nope. From what little I've heard
posted by Atom Eyes at 3:20 PM on April 4, 2014 [3 favorites]
I may be over judge-y because I watched the film back to back with Beauty and the Beast
To be fair, Ashman was literally one of the greatest lyricists of all time (of all time!). Almost anyone would struggle to meet his ability, let alone when paired with Mencken.
posted by smoke at 5:20 PM on April 4, 2014
To be fair, Ashman was literally one of the greatest lyricists of all time (of all time!). Almost anyone would struggle to meet his ability, let alone when paired with Mencken.
posted by smoke at 5:20 PM on April 4, 2014
Now I feel bad about comparing the music to TLM and BatB. I had no idea it was one super genius lyricist guy who then died at age 40.
posted by Justinian at 5:44 PM on April 4, 2014
posted by Justinian at 5:44 PM on April 4, 2014
Also, the Little Mermaid was a thunderbolt from the blue - up until then Disney seemed to have devolved into a hack producer of third-rate family entertainment and a premier amusement park builder who took malicious joy in never, ever releasing the original Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck shorts that made their fortune. All of a sudden, here's something that can go toe-to-toe with Cinderella or Snow White.
Beauty and the Beast came three years later, of course it was more refined - and then came Aladdin who took it in a saucy, bawdy broadway direction, and then the Lion King which took so many chances...
And then...
...Disney seemed to have devolved into a hack producer of third-rate family entertainment* and a premier amusement park builder who took malicious joy in never, ever releasing the original Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck shorts that made their fortune. All of a sudden, here's something that can go toe-to-toe with The Little Mermaid or Beauty and the Beast!
(*With two exceptions. Lilo and Stitch got Obama elected, and David Spade proved that so long as he had a physically enormous co-star to have a platonic-tho-I-wish-It-wasn't relationship with, he could really, really act... also Patrick Warburton. Actually, mostly Patrick Warburton.)
posted by Slap*Happy at 6:10 PM on April 4, 2014 [3 favorites]
Beauty and the Beast came three years later, of course it was more refined - and then came Aladdin who took it in a saucy, bawdy broadway direction, and then the Lion King which took so many chances...
And then...
...Disney seemed to have devolved into a hack producer of third-rate family entertainment* and a premier amusement park builder who took malicious joy in never, ever releasing the original Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck shorts that made their fortune. All of a sudden, here's something that can go toe-to-toe with The Little Mermaid or Beauty and the Beast!
(*With two exceptions. Lilo and Stitch got Obama elected, and David Spade proved that so long as he had a physically enormous co-star to have a platonic-tho-I-wish-It-wasn't relationship with, he could really, really act... also Patrick Warburton. Actually, mostly Patrick Warburton.)
posted by Slap*Happy at 6:10 PM on April 4, 2014 [3 favorites]
Now. If you really want to impress with your contrarian cred - put up a defense of Emperor's New Groove and Lilo and Stitch as under-appreciated and brilliant films who were each three musical numbers shy of greatness.
WHY DO WE EVEN HAVE THAT LEVER!!!!
(Lilo & Stitch was a better movie. But don't knock TENG or I will teach you to speak squirrel.)
posted by eriko at 6:13 PM on April 4, 2014 [6 favorites]
WHY DO WE EVEN HAVE THAT LEVER!!!!
(Lilo & Stitch was a better movie. But don't knock TENG or I will teach you to speak squirrel.)
posted by eriko at 6:13 PM on April 4, 2014 [6 favorites]
And, you know. Tangled was good, and Wreck-it Ralph was brilliant. As was Frozen. Plus, Elsa can destroy your entire nation. Don't piss off Elsa.
posted by eriko at 6:18 PM on April 4, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by eriko at 6:18 PM on April 4, 2014 [1 favorite]
(Tangled was the new bolt from the blue I was referring to - and Wreck It Ralph could have done completely without the "Aliens/Brood/Zerg" tangent it went off on. Seriously, re-edit it to take out almost all of it, save for some villain monologuing, and it's a much better movie. MUCH. Also, shorter, 'cuz the kid's gotta pee.)
posted by Slap*Happy at 6:23 PM on April 4, 2014
posted by Slap*Happy at 6:23 PM on April 4, 2014
Oh, and Frozen won me over completely with "I can't sleep, the sky is awake!"
Because, yeah.
Oh, and "You hesitated. "
posted by eriko at 6:31 PM on April 4, 2014 [1 favorite]
Because, yeah.
Oh, and "You hesitated. "
posted by eriko at 6:31 PM on April 4, 2014 [1 favorite]
May as well chuck this here: Harley Quinn sings "Do You Want To Kill The Batman?"
posted by Mezentian at 6:35 PM on April 4, 2014
posted by Mezentian at 6:35 PM on April 4, 2014
I like Frozen fine. I could have done without the troll musical number that stops the plot dead in its tracks though. After my wife and I saw it we tried to figure out where it would rank with all the other Disney features and it didn't quite make it into the top ten for either if us. Tangled, on the other hand, I would put pretty close to the top of my list.
posted by wabbittwax at 6:40 PM on April 4, 2014
posted by wabbittwax at 6:40 PM on April 4, 2014
The Troll scene is redeemed by a gnarled-faced "Hey! It's That Guy!" character actor belting out a folk-gospel hit about being utterly unable to change a man just because he's attractive and people like him. An unreliable narrator got its own song in this movie, I don't even...
posted by Slap*Happy at 7:01 PM on April 4, 2014
posted by Slap*Happy at 7:01 PM on April 4, 2014
Oh, man, the video disappeared due to copyright restrictions. I guess I shouldn't be surprised, but I am disappointed.
On the other hand, this seems the right place to share my two favorite versions of "Let It Go":
- Idina Menzel with Jimmy Fallon and his band on kids' instruments
- Christina Bianco as Idina, Demi, Adele, Celine, and a bunch of others
posted by booksherpa at 7:31 PM on April 4, 2014 [1 favorite]
On the other hand, this seems the right place to share my two favorite versions of "Let It Go":
- Idina Menzel with Jimmy Fallon and his band on kids' instruments
- Christina Bianco as Idina, Demi, Adele, Celine, and a bunch of others
posted by booksherpa at 7:31 PM on April 4, 2014 [1 favorite]
Okay, so one of those has been posted twice already in thread but the Christina Bianco version is a lot of fun...
posted by booksherpa at 7:42 PM on April 4, 2014
posted by booksherpa at 7:42 PM on April 4, 2014
Upon listening to the soundtrack over the weekend, I thought the following stuff:
(a) You may think the opening song doesn't really make sense or is boring or whatever, but if you listen to the lyrics sans visuals, it's a stealth preview for the the issues of the movie.
(b) "Do You Wanna Build A Snowman" is still utterly heart-wrenching even without visuals. "For The First Time In Forever" as well.
(c) The trolls...they are cute, but they make NO sense. Their solution to the original problem was terrible, and they just immediately go to trying to spontaneously marry Kristoff and Anna off, with no respect to her fiance. Creepy, you guys.
(d) Olaf's song....I don't even know what to say about that.
(e) Still think "Love Is An Open Door" is adorable even if it's a villain song. Go figure.
(f) I don't know why they did a Demi Lovato version of "Let It Go," but to be honest, hers is very good as well.
(g) "Reindeers Are Better Than People" is probably the most random Disney song I can think of.
Continuing with the random: did anyone else wonder if Kristoff was going to be Elsa's love interest? He does say that ice is his life at one point...plus she totally would boost his business. (And doesn't he become the official ice salesman for Arundelle or something at the end?)
posted by jenfullmoon at 7:45 PM on April 4, 2014 [5 favorites]
(a) You may think the opening song doesn't really make sense or is boring or whatever, but if you listen to the lyrics sans visuals, it's a stealth preview for the the issues of the movie.
(b) "Do You Wanna Build A Snowman" is still utterly heart-wrenching even without visuals. "For The First Time In Forever" as well.
(c) The trolls...they are cute, but they make NO sense. Their solution to the original problem was terrible, and they just immediately go to trying to spontaneously marry Kristoff and Anna off, with no respect to her fiance. Creepy, you guys.
(d) Olaf's song....I don't even know what to say about that.
(e) Still think "Love Is An Open Door" is adorable even if it's a villain song. Go figure.
(f) I don't know why they did a Demi Lovato version of "Let It Go," but to be honest, hers is very good as well.
(g) "Reindeers Are Better Than People" is probably the most random Disney song I can think of.
Continuing with the random: did anyone else wonder if Kristoff was going to be Elsa's love interest? He does say that ice is his life at one point...plus she totally would boost his business. (And doesn't he become the official ice salesman for Arundelle or something at the end?)
posted by jenfullmoon at 7:45 PM on April 4, 2014 [5 favorites]
I do not see how Tangled could come anywhere near the top Disney movies. Frozen makes it into my top 10, but somewhat idiosyncratically.
(I am one of the few people who rather enjoyed the troll song.)
posted by jeather at 7:58 PM on April 4, 2014
(I am one of the few people who rather enjoyed the troll song.)
posted by jeather at 7:58 PM on April 4, 2014
i discussed the singalong version with someone the other day, and we agreed it reminded us of a curer Rocky Horror. She said that in her town there was a long-running midnight singalong showing of The Sound of music which blew my mind.
posted by wenestvedt at 8:04 PM on April 4, 2014
posted by wenestvedt at 8:04 PM on April 4, 2014
So, we finally watched Frozen last weekend with my 5 year old and 8 year old girls. They've watched it ... way too many times since then.
But man, the first 15 minutes or so (basically, until the party starts) just makes me cry. It still makes me want to cry just thinking about it. Maybe it's because I'm an older sister. But golly, I just feel so awful for Elsa. (Ok, and Anna too.)
posted by leahwrenn at 8:09 PM on April 4, 2014 [2 favorites]
But man, the first 15 minutes or so (basically, until the party starts) just makes me cry. It still makes me want to cry just thinking about it. Maybe it's because I'm an older sister. But golly, I just feel so awful for Elsa. (Ok, and Anna too.)
posted by leahwrenn at 8:09 PM on April 4, 2014 [2 favorites]
Ok so the trolls are a bit random. I'm betting there were more scenes with the trolls raising Kristoff but they got cut for time.
...and I also like the troll song. It's quite dorky and clueless but ultimately sweet and well intentioned. Exactly the kind of song that overbearing parents would sing.
posted by Doleful Creature at 8:30 PM on April 4, 2014
...and I also like the troll song. It's quite dorky and clueless but ultimately sweet and well intentioned. Exactly the kind of song that overbearing parents would sing.
posted by Doleful Creature at 8:30 PM on April 4, 2014
I can't make it through "Do You Want To Build A Snowman" without crying. I just can't. I loved "Frozen," but I basically cried my way through the whole thing.
posted by Aquifer at 9:45 PM on April 4, 2014 [4 favorites]
posted by Aquifer at 9:45 PM on April 4, 2014 [4 favorites]
Grrr, blocked, grr. There's some jumpiness in this version but at least you can get the idea.
posted by desuetude at 10:42 PM on April 4, 2014
posted by desuetude at 10:42 PM on April 4, 2014
As a repeat Tangled viewer thanks to small child, it is delightful that you can spot Rapunzel and Finn among the guests in Tangled in the early scenes - her adorable cute pixie haircut!
posted by viggorlijah at 10:59 PM on April 4, 2014
posted by viggorlijah at 10:59 PM on April 4, 2014
My 3.5 year old daughter has told me "fractals" is her favorite word each and every one of the (many, many) times we have heard that song together.
Yup. Me and one of the mini-mice have had so many conversations sparked off by that song. Including but not limited to:
1. What's a fractal?
2. Why is she singing about pasties?
3. Oh, well what does "the past is in the past" mean, then?
3. Why is it that Elsa can sing "I doesn't care what they're going to say", but a 4 year old can't reply with "I don't care" when an adult wants her to put her coat and shoes on?
4. But what if I really don't care?
We also have Do You Wanna Build A Snowman conversations but those are mostly limited to:
N. Stop singing along with me. This is my song! You're only supposed to say "Go away, Anna."
posted by the latin mouse at 11:49 PM on April 4, 2014 [9 favorites]
Yup. Me and one of the mini-mice have had so many conversations sparked off by that song. Including but not limited to:
1. What's a fractal?
2. Why is she singing about pasties?
3. Oh, well what does "the past is in the past" mean, then?
3. Why is it that Elsa can sing "I doesn't care what they're going to say", but a 4 year old can't reply with "I don't care" when an adult wants her to put her coat and shoes on?
4. But what if I really don't care?
We also have Do You Wanna Build A Snowman conversations but those are mostly limited to:
N. Stop singing along with me. This is my song! You're only supposed to say "Go away, Anna."
posted by the latin mouse at 11:49 PM on April 4, 2014 [9 favorites]
they have sing-a-long showings of the movie, where the audience belts it out in time with the movie - and in unironic, unapologetically sincere glee. When's the last time that happened?
High School Musical.
posted by colie at 7:57 AM on April 5, 2014
High School Musical.
posted by colie at 7:57 AM on April 5, 2014
The only redeeming part of that random "fixer-upper" troll song is this verse:
We're not sayin' you can change him,
'Cause people don't really change.
We're only saying that love's a force
That's powerful and strange.
People make bad choices if they're mad,
Or scared, or stressed.
Throw a little love their way.
And you'll bring out their best.
posted by Solon and Thanks at 8:01 AM on April 5, 2014 [6 favorites]
We're not sayin' you can change him,
'Cause people don't really change.
We're only saying that love's a force
That's powerful and strange.
People make bad choices if they're mad,
Or scared, or stressed.
Throw a little love their way.
And you'll bring out their best.
posted by Solon and Thanks at 8:01 AM on April 5, 2014 [6 favorites]
I don't get all the hate for the troll song. I think it's one of the most mature songs ever included in a Disney movie. The whole message is love isn't meeting someone perfect and living happily ever after, it's meeting someone as flawed and human as you are and together becoming more than the sum of your parts. It's a very un-disney depiction of love and one that cannot be understated.
posted by Mr.Encyclopedia at 8:25 AM on April 5, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by Mr.Encyclopedia at 8:25 AM on April 5, 2014 [2 favorites]
Last night at the school auction, all the kids, boys and girls (including my 5 year old boy) were begging to bid on an Elsa doll.
And my kid and all his friends are constantly singing Frozen songs.
I can't recall another movie like this.
posted by k8t at 9:44 AM on April 5, 2014
And my kid and all his friends are constantly singing Frozen songs.
I can't recall another movie like this.
posted by k8t at 9:44 AM on April 5, 2014
I love the troll song, if only for getting that "not exactly within nature's laws" joke in a verse.
posted by mathowie at 11:32 AM on April 5, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by mathowie at 11:32 AM on April 5, 2014 [2 favorites]
"This video contains content from Walt Disney Music Company (Publishing) and Disney, one or more of whom have blocked it on copyright grounds. "
dammit.
posted by merelyglib at 12:15 PM on April 5, 2014
dammit.
posted by merelyglib at 12:15 PM on April 5, 2014
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posted by Justinian at 10:41 AM on April 4, 2014 [7 favorites]