What's the Best Song in "Frozen II"?
Monday, December 9, 2019 at 1:00PM by Cláudio Alves
Back in 2013, when the first Frozen had just opened and "Let It Go" was on everyone's ear, Disney made an astute decision when it came to its Oscar campaign. Despite the movie having around 10 original songs, only one was submitted for awards consideration. It was, of course, Elsa's world-famous anthem. The decision paid off and the songwriting couple of Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez took home their first well-deserved Academy Award.
With Elsa and Anna back in theatres for another musical adventure, Disney is trying to repeat the same scheme. The only problem is that this time around it's not clear what the best song is...
The marketing teams of the House of Mouse have been pushing "Into the Unknown" as this year's "Let It Go", but I'd argue they're placing their hopes on the wrong song. That's unlikely to affect their Oscar chances, but it'd be a pity if Frozen II's very best numbers got overshadowed by a least deserving tune.
To make matters clearer, please indulge us in a ranking of Frozen II's original songs. We start with...
7. SOME THINGS NEVER CHANGE sung by the cast of Frozen II
This place-setting number does its expository job well but it's hardly revelatory work. It's the epic sequel's least interesting song doing what "For the First Time in Forever" did with a catchier melody and overall better lyrics (apart from the "gassy" verse).
6. WHEN I AM OLDER sung by Josh Gad
Olaf's obligatory number features some interesting orchestrations and canny use of sound effects mixed in with kid-friendly existentialism. However, it's a bit out of place in the film's narrative and feels tacked on for marketing purposes rather than artistic ones.
5. INTO THE UNKNOWN sung by Idina Menzel and Aurora
The problem with inspirational crescendos is that they need time and gradually developing intonation. Pardon the crudeness, but "Into the Unknow" shoots its load way too early and then has no space to grow further. It becomes repetitive until its final belt. The vocal performance is wonderful, of course, the instrumental part is lush and the tune is catchy but I confess myself disappointed.
4. THE NEXT RIGHT THING sung by Kristen Bell
Now, this is how you do a character-building crescendo. It's not as spectacular as "Into the Unknown", but "The Next Right Thing" is musically perfect for the moment in the story when it occurs. Listening to it is like feeling someone climbing out of a pit, each step weighted down by an emotional burden that's slowly overcome, though never forgotten. It helps that Kristen Bell performs the hell out of the song.
3. LOST IN THE WOODS sung by Jonathan Groff
Sure, in terms of aesthetics and musical style, Groff's big number is somewhat incoherent with the rest of the movie. However, it's laugh-out-loud funny and the Broadway chanteur sells it like hotcakes. Who doesn't love a good 80s style power ballad with reindeer back-up singers?
2. ALL IS FOUND sung by Evan Rachel Wood
For all its kid-friendly Disney magic, Frozen II is a surprisingly morbid movie. It's obsessed with Death and the sins of the past infecting the present, the decay of centuries and the beauty of ruined landscapes. No song better embodies these thematic interests than this eerie lullaby. It's a mother's song of love for her daughters, a promise and a warning. It's beautiful and the film's best leitmotiv.
1. SHOW YOURSELF sung by Idina Menzel, Evan Rachel Wood, and Aurora
If "All Is Found" is a mother's promise to her daughters, "Show Yourself" is the answer to its message of love. This is Frozen II's "Let It Go", an anthem of self-acceptance and powerful personal growth. Better yet, its crescendo sounds organic, both at the level of musical structure and emotional evolution. It all flows beautifully and explodes into sonic ambrosia when it reaches its climax. Give it the Oscar already!
Which song from Frozen II would you single out for awards recognition?
Reader Comments (15)
Yesssss!!! Team Show Yourself all the way (But I would have Lost In The Woods 2nd)
It's The Morning After/We May Never Love Like This Again once more. Retread done as well as the first winning song. Also like C. Waltz if you consider this much diminished returns.
"Show Yourself" followed by "Into the Unknown". They chose right. It might become annoying and ubiquitous but "Unknown" is a beast of a song. The Panic! At the the Disco version is so different and lovely in it's own right. It's too far down this list. Especially when "Lost in the Woods" is basically a camp number.
First of all i have to admit that I´m not a fan of the Broadway-style music, for that reason, "When I Am Older" is easily my favorite song from the movie but in terms of award recognition i think that "Into the Unkown" is perfect because stands out better the "Ah ah-ah ah" jingle
The "Lost in the Woods" moment is like a parody of 80´s videoclips but for some reason i found it cringe instead of funny (probably because i watched the latinamerican version in the cinema)
'Into The Unknown' may not be the best song in the movie, but it is the catchiest one. It's also super difficult to sing, which makes it really tempting for singers to give it a try. And the fact that it doesn't spoil any of the plot is another factor.
What's crazy is that this year is so weak for Original Song that if Disney just submitted 'Show Yourself', they would win in a heartbeat. But for reasons listed above, 'Into The Unknown' is the one they're pushing. And the sad part is, they'll probably end up winning for it anyway, because there's barely any competition.
I actually really dislike "all is found" which is your #2 choice, Claudio. I think INTO THE UNKNOWN is really good and dont understand why people are so against it.
but all that said there's nothing as good as "glasgow" from WILD ROSE this year so i hope that catches on.
Connor -- Your reasoning is sound and I hadn't even considered the issue of plot spoilers. In that regard, Into the Unknown is much preferable to Show Yourself, I guess. At least, as an awards submission.
NATHANIEL R -- I didn't dislike "Into the Unknown", I just think it's being overpraised and celebrated in comparison to the film's other (IMO) better songs. That said, I don't really have the musical knowledge to debate such matters in more detailed manners. Why did you dislike "All Is found" by the way? Sorry if I sound pushy, I'm just curious.
Also, "Glasgow" certainly gets my vote too :)
Musically, I definitely agree Show Yourself is the best. I love the combination of Evan and Idina. I think Evan was a major asset to the cast this time around. Lyrically, I really like The Next Right Thing and Kristen Bell's acting was great, but melody wise, it wasn't as catchy.
SHOW YOURSELF is the best and its erasure from awards conversation has pissed me off. I actually REALLY like INTO THE UNKNOWN, but SHOW YOURSELF should be getting way more notices. I very much love Groff's LOST IN THE WOODS too.
I actually prefer The Next Right Thing, but I love an emotional character song. Like, I shook my head when La La Land went for City of Stars over Audition. And I get it. I do. A catchier song has a better chance in the category. It's why Dancer in the Dark pushed I've Seen It All over the rest of the superior score and countless other examples over the years.
There's also the comfort level, which is why absolutely bops like Hollywood Ending from Anna and the Apocalypse and other songs from straight up horror movies (even musicals) never make the cut. So, yeah, Anna singing that song about that moment in that film is kind of a downer.
Into the Unknown is the right choice that will garner the most votes. It's very well written and that soprano line from Aurora turning into the bridge belted by Idina Menzel gets it stuck in your head. I don't know if they'll win (it might be too Let It Go Part II), but the nomination is going to happen fo rit.
Lost in the Woods by far.
The others are just generic motivational song, especially the horrid Anna song.
Now that you’ve reminded me. If Glasgow can get the nomination it will be too tempting not to give Steenburgen another statue in such a weak year for this category.
'Lost in the woods' It's so Reo-Speedwagon, Chicago-esque song, and the whole scene is like a video-clip of the 80's. And above all, the amazing Jonathan Groff deserves to be in the Oscar ceremony soon.
Show Yourself is the better song, but Into the Unknown is the one that overwhelms the viewers and wiggles inside their ears so that it was all they can think about.
I do like the message for The New Right Thing. It may be kind of cheesy but I think it's the sort of message that people nowadays need to internalize.
I absolutely love 'All is Found" and don't understand why it wasn't nominated for an Academy Award or Grammy. It's a beautiful, haunting, and magical song that is my favorite from Frozen 2 - and one of my favorite songs ever!