Intro
Quick question to you all: What are you doing after you have finished watching your favorite Disney Movie? What is stuck in your head for the rest of the day or even days after whether you want it or not? If you answered 'the songs and music', then welcome to the club! I absolutely love Disney Music. I usually listen to the album non-stop before I have even watched the newest movies.
But what makes the music so memorable? Why does it stick in our head after such a long time? Disney does not just make music, it tells a story through it. A story that I can imagine without even having watched the movie. So, let's dive into the musical journey of Disney, and why they manage to get to us so easily.
It isn't JUST a song
So yeah, Disney has a few songs that are just there for show an nothing more, but most songs, even in modern movies are not JUST songs. They tell a story. They add to the emotional weight of the story.
Take the Lion King for example. It opens up with one of the most iconic songs, where the animals come to pride rock to celebrate the birth of their new prince. But it isn't just about that. The circle of life is literally happening, even before Mufasa explains it. Simba's life has began in the circle of life. A new life has started.
Another example I can think of is Tangled with 'I see the light'. Rapunzel is watching her dream come true. She has been waiting to go outside and see the floating lights all her life and now she finally can. But the lanterns are not the light she actually sees. She found something else as well, which she is slowly realizing. A friend... Someone who she is slowly falling in love with. As she has been locked up in a tower for eighteen years, she of course never even had a real friend either. The same is with Flynn. He has been alone for a long time, just chasing treasures and staying away from the guards trying to catch him. He thought he wanted that, but seeing Rapunzel, he realizes that he has been missing something.
Writer's Note: Honestly, perfect example of want vs need right there. Rapunzel wants to see the floating lights, but what she needs is to be free. Flynn wants to be rich and free, but what he needs is companionship and love. What a character wants and what they need are two very different things, but it doesn't always need to end with them getting what they need. They can still decide to get what they want and ignore their need.
Though the music in modern movies aren't as great as they used to be, more modern movies have the same. Even remakes, if you ask me. For example with Wish, and the song 'This Wish'. Asha's whole world has just shattered. Someone she looked up to and was her idol turned out to be not who she thought he was. Not only that, but her grandfather is mad at her because she can't let his wish go. She has seen the truth. She has seen who the king really is, but she cannot convince anyone else of it. She wants something more than what they have now. To not live in a world where your deepest desire is taken and probably will never come true either way.
The music shows the character, most of the time who they are on the inside or showing what they really want. It's not simply music with fun lyrics. It tells a story.
Montages And Time Skip
Disney often uses music for montages and time skips. They train during a song. They grow up from a child into an adult during the song...
For example Tarzan. There are two examples in this movie that uses this method. 'Son Of Man' where Tarzan starts learning how to be a gorilla, or starts learning his own skills. He messes up a few times, but also succeeds. By the end of the song, he quickly transforms from a child into a man, and he shows his own developed skills (for example covering him and his mother from the rain with the tree branches, teaching Tantor how to swim...).
The second one in Tarzan is 'Strangers Like Me'. He learns from Jane how to be human. To talk and even read, and seeing things from a different world. He learns different things in each song.
Two others I can think of are Mulan and Hercules. They are both training montages. Both Mulan and Hercules are failing miserably at the beginning. But they keep going and finally succeed, ending up to be the best they ever could be.
Writer's note: Though these are movies, this is absolutely possible in books as well. You can do training montages or time skips in books if you write it out well. If someone needs to learn magic, you don't need chapters upon chapters of them learning. To they need to know everything after that montage? No, of course not! In fact there can still be a lot they need to learn. But the beginning can be done in a montage or a quick chapter, sparing the reader the boring details of the actual training.
Not Only Lyrical Songs
Lyrical songs are fun, but it's not the only thing that tells a story. The background music adds to the emotional stakes. Think about the stampede in the Lion King. Every time I think about it I can hear the epic soundtrack in my head. Same for the fight between Simba and Scar by the end of the movie. It's thrilling and keeps you emerged. And it's also what comes after it that has an impact. The score is over and then... Silence. Simba finding Mufasa's body after the stampede is completely silent besides the dialogue and sound effects. The music is there when it is needed, but it isn't always there. Disney is not afraid to use silence if needed.
Using It For Novels Instead Of Movies Or Plays
Okay, so technically speaking, you cannot implement songs and scores into a book, since the reader can't hear it. And randomly putting 'Music playing in the background' looks kinda stupid. But you CAN use music for yourself while writing.
Many people make playlists for their books or just their writing session. I do it myself too, saving songs that fit my characters and story lines. You could even include a playlist at the end of the book and tell your readers why this song belongs in this scene. It's something little extra for your readers, and it's fun for you to do. I would definitely recommend trying it. Maybe you can visualize your story like a movie in that way and make it come to life.
Conclusion
So, that was an analysis of how disney uses songs and music to get through to their audience. Do you have a playlist for your book? Do you have character's theme songs? Let me know in the comments, I would love to know more!
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