Poll: Let's settle this once and for all: Musical numbers in kids' films, yay or nay?

[bartholen_v1legacy]

Just got back from seeing Frozen (short review: It's good, but not the masterpiece MovieBob makes it out to be. Really good 3D and a wonderful short film at the start). Since Wreck-it Ralph didn't feature them and I haven't seen a Disney film with songs in it for a long time, I had to finally ask: Do you like musical numbers in kids' films or no?

To me they never worked. As a kid they just felt cheesy and seemed to always pop out of nowhere. This might be in part because I always watched the movies dubbed, so the translations were sometimes a bit wonky, but after watching them as an adult many of the translations are actually really good. Too bad I didn't realize that as a kid. In Frozen I tolerated them a lot better, and Let It Go was actually a really impressive song. But even then I wouldn't have been bothered if they hadn't been there at all. Oddly enough, the film where I probably found them most fitting was Disney's Tarzan, where the songs felt more like a musical narration than numbers. I just thought it worked best.

So what do you think? Please elaborate on whichever option you choose.

 

[Queen Michael]

I like musical numbers, but they shouldn't be slow-paced. I never liked it when a slow song came on and you had to wait until it was finally over. A Whole New World is as slow as I can stand.

 

[JoshGod]

As long as they're not there just to have songs as were used to them, but because they fit in.

Spoiler: make a man out of you

I mean how can you say no to this!

 

[Ldude893]

Spoiler: make a man out of you

I mean how can you say no to this!

Damn it, I just had "Let it Go" from Frozen drilled out of my head after two weeks, and now I'm infected by another ear worm. Are you happy now?

 

[JoshGod]

snip
Damn it, I just had "Let it Go" from Frozen drilled out of my head after two weeks, and now I'm infected by another ear worm. Are you happy now?

No, I'm mysterious as the dark side of the moooon!
but really Yes, because We are MEN!!

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

I usually whince when they show up. I like them in the old Disney movies though. Beauty and the Beast, Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Lion King. Frollo's "Hellfire" is amazing.

 

[StriderShinryu]

I like them for the most part. Yes, they often come out of nowhere and, yes, they can definitely get grating at times, but when done well they can really elevate a movie.

 

[DementedSheep]

I like them sometimes. There a a lot of kids movies I couldn't imagine without the musical numbers. Bad music sequences can completely kill a movie but done right they can be great. Yes it's really cheesy and doesn't make sense but I don't care.

 

[FalloutJack]

It's fine for kids movies, here and there, because they are kids. They don't all have to, but it's not wrong that some of them do.

 

[Plinglebob]

I say why just kids films? WE NEED MORE MUSICALS DAMMIT!!! Done right, songs (either sung in character or over the top) are a fantastic way to move the plot along (pretty much any montage sequence), give us an insight into a character without blunt exposition (When She Loved Me from Toy Story or any of the "I Want" songs in Disney) or express emotions without it feeling massively cheesy (pretty much all of West Side Story). They are also good for lightening the mood (Hakuna Matata).

I'm not saying that every film needs songs nor that everything should be a musical. I just think there should be more. Thank goodness for Theater!

 

[Scarim Coral]

It depend on the film itself really. I mean the op already pointed out that Wreck-it Ralph didn't had one (although if I had to picked another example I guess that would be some Dreamwork films). Some are fine are without them while other are memorable for having the musical numbers.

 

[omega 616]

Musical numbers are always bad, unless it is set up to be a song and dance bit ... such as a ball or prom.

It's so jarring to me to be sweeping up and then burst out into song or walking down the street then an entire entourage of backing dancers just springs into action, rubbish men turn into dancers, shop owners leap out of stores to join in and random passers by just know the routine and when they all stop wailing, they return to normal life.

What kind of fucked up universe is that? Just put yourself in that position, one second you're walking home from the office and you hear a person singing along to the radio, without warning you're compelled to join in, you can't stop it ... your feet just whisk you over to dance and you only stop when the song is over! Left to wonder what the fuck just happened and where do you buy ear plugs from so you never have to endure that occurrence again!

 

[Casual Shinji]

Depends on the movie.

Most of the Disney movies with musical numbers tend to be fairy tales, which make for a good fit.

Also, a musical number needs to either advance the plot or reveal something. It needs to add to the story or characters by way of a powerful expression (song), not just be there for the sake of a song or to eat up time.

'Be Prepared' from The Lion King worked as a great musical number because it showed Scar and the hyenas planning to kill Mufasa. The song added to the emotion of the moment and worked to psych you up. 'Mother Knows Best' from Tangled is another example of a great storytelling song, since it encapsulates the passive agressive hold Gothel has over Rapunzel. And it has a very good reprise later on in the movie.

A movie like The Hunchback of the Notre Dame wouldn't be as good if not for the great songs, and I'm not just talking about 'Hell Fire'.

Now I haven't seen Frozen yet, so I probably don't have any right to say anything about it. But I have seen the 'Let it Go' scene, with the accompanying song, and it just seemed a bit too... pop-y. It just seems like they put a popsong in there which kinda feels like an ill fit. Maybe when I see the whole movie it'll come together.

 

[AldUK]

I think this picture illustrates how I feel about this better than I could do with words;

 

[Dirty Hipsters]

As long as they're not there just to have songs as were used to them, but because they fit in.

Spoiler: make a man out of you

I mean how can you say no to this!

Pretty much this.

If the song is there for a reason I don't mind at all. In the case of Mulan the songs were mostly used during montage sequences and it really fit.

Also, I totally sing "make a man out of you" under my breath when I go running.

 

[fix-the-spade]

So what do you think? Please elaborate on whichever option you choose.

The poll is stupid, but I don't want you to die, especially not in a fire, so I haven't clicked an option.

I have no for/against opinion on musical numbers, my enjoyment (lack of) hinges on their quality and fitment within the film.

Much like QTEs and cutscenes in games, the quality and attention to detail of the product far outweighs the feature. QTE's work great in Gears of War and Metro, but elsewhere are horrible, musical numbers are similar, be prepared in the Lion King is ace, any of those horrible pop culture laced numbers from eighties Disney (and any Dreamworks with singing seemingly ever) not so much.

 

[JoshGod]

snip
Also, I totally sing "make a man out of you" under my breath when I go running.

Thats a kick ass idea! Unfortunately whenever I try to sing it always ends up like this. :/

Spoiler

 

[soren7550]

I don't think I enjoyed musical numbers since the Disney Renaissance. :/

For me, they almost always seem forced in and pointless. Also, I tend to forget the song before its even over.

 

[WhiteFangofWhoa]

When they're sung well and they're about something, they work. Maybe not outside of Disney, but that's practically their trademark. Villains like Judge Claude Frollo, Scar, and Professor Ratigan wouldn't be half as memorable without their songs. If there is one song I'd like to sing before a live audience (and I am very shy), it would be Jack's Lament.

Spoiler: A good more recent example.

Keith David FTW

Not just about the villain- it gives you a handle on Naveen and Lawrence's characters as well, a much better way to give exposition than just talking about it. Also good for montages where something develops gradually, as seen in Tarzan, Mulan and Hercules.

Never mandatory, but when done well they add quite a bit.