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

[Trucken]

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

Yes, yes, yes. This, exactly this. As a kid the songs felt like a drag, but now that I'm older I can appreciate them, especially since Disney are great at them.

 

[AliasBot]

It's art, not science. Sometimes musical numbers work, sometimes they don't, and I don't see how you can make a definitive statement on them. Used properly, they can become the best part of a movie, and used poorly, they can drag it all down

Seconded. In kids' movies especially, musical numbers have the potential to work without throwing off the tone of the movie - because the logic at play is already a bit more whimsical, I guess? - but it's not 100%. With (animated, main-studio) Disney especially, songs are mostly the norm: at worst, they do an effective job of making necessary exposition entertaining, and when the songs are actually good in addition to being entertaining (I'll Make a Man Out of You, Go the Distance, Let it Go, basically everything from The Lion King), they add something to the movie that it wouldn't have without music. But most non-Disney animated kids' films have a tendency not to take themselves seriously enough (or to knowingly not take themselves seriously, to the point of being kind of cynical) for musical numbers to feel like something that would naturally occur in the progression of things. Disney movies are trademarked by a certain type of earnestness that lends itself to songs being believable. Wreck-It-Ralph fit more in the Pixar-Dreamworks frame of mind than that of a typical Disney film, so, though there was music (and some good music, at that), it was mostly your standard background stuff, and it was never coming out of characters' mouths.

...long story short, it works when the movie has a specific tone (which Disney has largely cornered the market on) and when the music is good. Without good music, it will still work but won't be memorable (see: anything from Frozen besides Let It Go and maybe Do You Wanna Build a Snowman?), and without the right tone, it will just leave people saying "hey, that song was awesome, but what was it doing in that movie?"

 

[Jadak]

Nay. And not just kids films, never. If you want musical numbers, watch a musical.

 

[Dalisclock]

My answer is this: Are the musical numbers good? Are they singable? Do I enjoy them? If so, I don't care if it's a kid's or an adults movie, I'm good with it. Now, if the musical numbers aren't good, then they shouldn't be there at all.

A bad musical number is kind of like half a puppy. It's not half as fun as a whole puppy, it's just an awful mess.

 

[Vausch]

If the song benefits the story, is good and catchy, and the characters seem to acknowledge what happened during it rather than just brush it off the instant it ends (Lookin' at you, Quest for Camelot), then yes. Gimme a musical number.

Now excuse me, I'm gonna go listen to Whole New World followed by Be Prepared and see if I can spot when Jim Cummings takes over for Jeremy Irons.

 

[Grimh]

I usually don't mind them.

But in Tangled for example it just felt like they were in there because that's what was expected of them.

 

[suitepee7]

yes if it fits, and the song is actually good. Madagascar was ruined for me by that fucking 'move it' song.

 

[Mikeyfell]

I like musical numbers in all their forms.

I love the show stoppers I love it when the exposition is done in song, I love all that shit.

The problem with Frozen is that the movie is very front loaded with musical numbers.
Correct me if I'm wrong but there are 6 in the first third and 2 in the rest of the film.
They were all great songs and they all worked well in the context of the narrative, but the balance was all wacky.

 

[Akytalusia]

can't vote. it's situational. songs for songs sake suck, but songs in lieu of montages are better than montages. if the song advances time, space, and plot then great. if none of these things advance, then they're better off without.

 

[Drummodino]

If you'd asked me fiv years ago I'd have said hell no. Now that I've grown out of my "too cool for school" teenage years I saw hell yea! There are tons of great musical numbers in Disney films and they're part of the appeal to me.

I should watch a Disney movie today...

 

[Sarge034]

It depends on the song and the movie. Not gonna lie "Be A Man", "Girl Worth Fighting For", and several others are simply awesome but there are also quite a few songs that drive me to rage. I would say that this applies to all films and not just Disney or children's films. Also, Anastasia anyone?

Spoiler

 

[Redlin5_v1legacy]

Quality is the determining factor. If the song is shoved in a moment that seems really weird or is just terribad I'll of course groan and wait for it to be over. If its well written and sung by someone who sounds nice with a great score, I have no complaints. I notice the length of songs when its mediocre. If its a good song, I'll enjoy it as a break from the plot.

 

[Jingle Fett]

I used to absolutely despise them as a kid (especially in the disney movies) but now I'm much more tolerant of them and even like them.
I think probably my favorite recent-ish kids movie with musical numbers was the Johnny Depp Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. This one in particular...

Spoiler

 

[Dragonbums]

It has nothing to do with the demographic the film is catering to. It has all to do with how good the music is.

Frozen somehow managed to shove more music into the film than any other Disney movie, and most of them were forgettable as fuck.

Kids can and do appreciate good music in a film. I know I enjoyed them.

 

[Little Woodsman]

I voted yes, but it *is* conditional.
Songs are one tool in the visual storytelling medium. Sometimes they are the best tool for a purpose, sometimes not.
To take some examples from Frozen,

Spoiler: Let's Build a Snowman

Worked great to show how deeply the separation of the two sisters was affecting Anna, while providing a glimpse of how it was impacting Elsa. Effectively showed the passage of time & Elsa's determination to stay away from Anna for Anna's safety.

while

Spoiler: Love is an Open Door

Felt forced, almost as if they were trying too hard...OTOH.. given events later in the movie that may have been intentional....

Now try to imagine if Let it Go or rather the storytelling that takes place through the song had been attempted without the song

Spoiler: it would have been

Elsa walks out on the mountainside, looks back at the town and takes off her remaining glove. She then does some minor feats of ice magic, then builds the bridge. She crosses the bridge, and creates the ice palace. She then takes off and discards her crown, lets down her hair and transforms her dress. Finally she walks to the balcony and looks out for a moment before turning back in to the palace with a smirk.
It doesn't convey the emotion in anywhere near the same fashion as the musical number did. Let it Go leaves the audience with feelings of empathy for Elsa, while still wondering if she's going to turn full-on villain. Plus it's just a glorious treat to watch and hear (never-mind the parallels to Defying Gravity from Wicked but that's a conversation for another time...).
The visual without the song would still let the audience speculate on Elsa becoming a villain, but wouldn't really help them empathize with her.

BTW- I thought Frozen was *amazing* and the more I think about/analyze it the better it gets.

 

[Branindain]

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!

I was gonna say nay, but okay, you win. That was the best cartoon song ever imo.

 

[skywolfblue]

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

So very true! I didn't much like the singing when I was younger. But now I see the charm in it that I missed before.

Not all Disney songs are good, and songs needn't be in all films. But when the songs ARE good? It's glorious!

The main component I like is whimsy. It's ok for characters to stop whatever they're doing and burst into song when the song is silly and the situation is equally funny. It's boring if they interrupt something for a serious song.

 

[Fox12]

I'm almost universally against them. The music is usually terrible, and the songs often interrupt the plot instead of adding to it. There are times where it works and times it doesn't.

Compare this:

To this:

The first is about a snowman who like summer. I found it annoying because it interrupted the otherwise okay story for a poor laugh. It didn't develop the story or characters in any way, and on top of that the music was poor. The Hunchback, on the other hand, was perfect. Quasi Modo sings about desiring a love he can never have, and it's heart breaking. Frollo sings about his fear of damnation as a result of lust. The songs develop both characters. Furthermore it's important to remember that both characters are singing about the same person. Quasi represent pure christian love because he helps esmerelda even though he knows he won't ever be with her. Frollo represents lust and greed. He wants esmerelda as well, but if he can't have her then no one can. The two characters are foils of one another. As a result the film makes a statement about what true christian love and charity really is. It's similar to the relationship shared by Jean Valjean and Inspector Javert.

 

[Hawk eye1466]

As long as it's done well and fits the story in some way.