Ask any ‘90s kid what makes a Disney movie a true Disney movie and they’ll say one word: singing.
Whether you’re just around the riverbend, whistling while you work, or trying to make a man out of someone, classic Disney films were all about the songs.
Personally, I was not the biggest fan of the songs in Disney movies. There were a few, though, that are just plain awesome (see “Hercules” muses).
Sometimes the songs felt as though they took away from the overall plot, which got annoying. However, the worst thing about Disney songs was that one friend who felt they had to belt every word to every song.
In the early 2000s, it seemed that the musical aspect petered out almost completely. In its place we were given more live action movies that had more adult themes (for Disney, that is) and more animated films that focused on plot instead.
For about 10 years, I felt safe watching Disney again.
I did not have to worry about anyone singing terribly along with any of the movies I wanted to watch. From then on, it was only movie quotes that interrupted my viewing experience.
This year my happy place was disrupted by a movie called “Frozen.”
I will never again be able to tell someone to “let it go” without the constant fear that they will break out into song at any moment. And when it comes to snow, I know I’ll be asked time and time again if I want to build a snowman.
Yes, the revival of the semi-musical is upon us.
Musicals are fun, but only when I know ahead of time that they’re musicals. There’s nothing worse than being caught off-guard with songs you didn’t expect or particularly want to hear.
“Frozen” had a great message. Family is one of the most important things, and it reminded me that I’m an independent woman and I don’t need no man to fall in love with as long as I have my family.
I can dig a message like that. Just keep the singing to a minimum.