The Music of the Disney’s Hunchback of Notre Dame – Hellfire

by

 

Frollo singing Hellfire Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Frollo singing Hellfire Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Hellfire is Heaven’s Light’s  foil in every possible way. Heaven’s Light is a sweet hopeful ballad with some subtle humor in the visualization but Hellfire is an intense villain song that has a breaks down into insanity.

Frollo singing Hellfire Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Frollo singing Hellfire Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Esmeralda as a fire demon dancing Hellfire Disney Hunchback of Notre Damee picture image

Esmeralda as a fire demon dancing Hellfire Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Frollo singing Hellfire Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Frollo singing Hellfire Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hellfire is a villain song, but it’s not just any villain song, it’s “THE” villain song. Many people consider it the best and one of the darkest  Disney villain songs. So what makes this song so good and dark?

Frollo Hunchback of Notre Dame Hellfire Disney picture image

Frollo singing Hellfire Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Esmeralda as a fire demon dancing Hellfire Disney Hunchback of Notre Damepicture image

Esmeralda as a fire demon dancing Hellfire Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Frollo singing Hellfire Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Frollo singing Hellfire Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

 

 

 

 

 

 

The song starts with Frollo singing to Notre Dame both  figuratively and actually ( The building and the Virgin). He claims that he’s purer than the common people and still as pure as he is, he can’t understand his obsession for Esmeralda and why she is invading his mind. For Frollo this lust is not in conflict with ethics or his own deep religious convictions; it’s all about pride and fearing losing control within himself.  You can see him visually losing of control: he starts calm and become more and more crazy  as the song progresses.

Frollo singing Hellfire Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Frollo singing Hellfire Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Frollo singing Hellfire Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Frollo singing Hellfire Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Frollo singing Hellfire Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Frollo singing Hellfire Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

 

 

 

 

 

 

For Frollo there are two ways to resolve his problem, either Esmerlada must die or she must be his. Hellfire has a very similar vibe to Frollo in the book. Victor Hugo’s Frollo was very proud of his purity. But much like Disney Frollo Hugo’s Frollo felt that Esmeralda was sent by hell to take him away. Unlike Disney Frollo, Hugo’s Frollo is more of a stalker who is hopelessly seeking out Esmeralda. He doesn’t really want her to die but doesn’t want her to be with anyway else. Disney’s Frollo is more black and white, either she is his or she dies, he only going to ask once.  Frollo in Hellfire does have a twinge of gray (which you’ll never seen again), he asks for God to have mercy on both him and Esmeralda. If as he knows he’s wrong but he won’t do anything about it because he too far gone. The Latin chanted “Mea Culpa” (Through my fault) also drives that point too.

Frollo singing Hellfire Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame pitcure image

Frollo singing Hellfire Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Frollo Hunchback of Notre Dame Hellfire Disney picture image

Frollo and an illusion of Esmeralda during Hellfire

Frollo Hunchback of Notre Dame Hellfire Disney picture image

Frollo singing Hellfire Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s an odd Disney Villain song as Frollo isn’t revealing in his evilness or what his brilliant evil plans are, he is simply singing out his desperation which ultimately gets worse. Unlike other songs, Frollo is not singing to anyone, usually a villain is rubbing something in the hero’s face, being a demagogue, or exposing their master plan of evil to minions. Frollo is singing to himself. It reminds me of La Monture. In the original staging in Notre Dame de Paris, where Fleur de Lys (Phoebus’ fiancee) is singing about her desperation for Esmeralda to be hanged. In the original staging, she singing to her shadow. In singing alone Frollo’s feelings come off more intense, power, and frantic while he sings to the fireplace while seeing illusions and the becomes engulfed in specters.

Frollo Hunchback of Notre Dame Hellfire Disney picture image

Frollo singing Hellfire Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Frollo Hunchback of Notre Dame Hellfire Disney picture image

Frollo singing Hellfire Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Frollo Hunchback of Notre Dame Hellfire Disney picture image

Frollo singing Hellfire Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

 

 

 

 

 

 

The song is perfectly sung by Tony Jay, he showcases control and then goes intense. The Latin chanting  is  great mood enhancer. The music is intense and the Hellfire melody makes up a lot of the Hunchback of Notre Dame’s score. The Music was inspired by Mozart’s Requiem Mass which completes the dark presentation of the song.

Frollo at the end Hellfire Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Frollo at the end Hellfire Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

 

The music, the singing, the lyrics, and visuals  with the intensity, insanity, sexuality, and  religious overtones  create a great piece of moviedom.  I wish Disney would explore their darker side more, because when they do it’s better than some of their more saccharine fair. I mean Disney enjoys going dark, it’s part of their history (Night of Bald Mountain). So Disney embrace the darkness more often! Please…

 

Next Time- A Guy Like you

Victor, Hugo and Laverne singing A Guy like you Disney Hunchback of Notre dame picture image

Victor, Hugo and Laverne singing A Guy like you Disney Hunchback of Notre dame

The Music of the Disney’s Hunchback of Notre Dame – Heaven’s Light

by
Quasimodo's figurines from "Heaven's Light" Hunchback of Notre Dame Disney picture image

Quasimodo's figurines from "Heaven's Light"

Frollo Hunchback of Notre Dame Hellfire Disney picture image

Frollo and an illusion of Esmeralda during Hellfire

 

 

 

 

 

 

Heaven’s Light and Hellfire are meant to be listened together. Both parts represent the basic nature of The Hunchback of Notre Dame; how feelings can be internalized and twisted according to the individual. However I’m going to look at Heaven’s Light and Hellfire separately, because of the intensity of Hellfire and the simplicity of Heaven’s Light.

Quasimodo singing Heaven's Light Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Quasimodo singing Heaven's Light Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Quasimodo singing Heaven's Light Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Quasimodo singing Heaven's Light Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

 

 

 

 

 

 

Heaven’s Light is the second ballad in the film and is Quasimodo’s final song though it is reprise later in the movie. It’s the only romantic song to make into movie. In this song Quasimodo  equivalents love to being heavenly. Since Quasimodo believes himself to be hideous, he thinks he not meant for love. However since Esmeralda gave him a peak on the cheek without fear, he calls her an angel and he’s hopeful that she could love him. This hopefulness is gestalt of song.

Quasimodo singing Heaven's Light Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Quasimodo singing Heaven's Light Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Quasimodo singing Heaven's Light Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Quasimodo singing Heaven's Light Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

 

 

 

 

 

 

There is lot going on in this song: Quasimodo explains what love is like, he feel he’s not meant for it but then not a beat goes by and he turns his hopeful-o-meter up to max, as he hopes that Esmeralda could love him because she wasn’t afraid of him. The song seems to do a lot. This is because it’s such a short song and that’s it feels kind of ADD. Quasimodo goes from being emo to sappy.  Anarkia in Notre Dame de Paris has a similar ADD feel to it.

Victor and Laverne's drawing of Esmeralda Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Victor and Laverne's drawing of Esmeralda Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Hugo draws Djali Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Hugo draws Djali Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The elements of humor in this song by the gargoyles are actually good. It’s relevant and cute to the song. In the song each gargoyle draws a picture. The pictures reflect their personalities, Laverne and Victor draw Esmeralda and Hugo draws Djali. It’s cute relevant humor. I like  Victor’s drawing the best.

Quasimodo singing Heaven's Light Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Quasimodo singing Heaven's Light Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Quasimodo singing Heaven's Light Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Quasimodo singing Heaven's Light Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have to admit that for me this song gets a little lost because it’s the song that comes right before Hellfire, which is for many people is their favorite song in the film and their favorite villain. However listening to the song in isolation, it’s a sweet, well done song that develops Quaismodo’s character as both hopeful and naive.

Quasimodo reprise Heaven's Light Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Quasimodo reprise Heaven's Light Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Phoebus and Esmeralda Kiss Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Phoebus and Esmeralda Kiss Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Quasimodo reprise Heaven's Light Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Quasimodo reprise Heaven's Light Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

 

 

 

 

 

 

Later when the song is reprised it’s a bittersweet sting to Quaismodo as his heart breaks as he watches Esmeralda and Phoebus kiss.

Quasimodo singing Heaven's Light Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Quasimodo singing Heaven's Light Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

 

All in all it’s a good song, not terrible but not not fanatic. It’s one flaw is being next to Hellfire.

Next Time – Hellfire.

Frollo Hunchback of Notre Dame Hellfire Disney picture image

Frollo singing Hellfire

My Little Esmeralda Pony

by

I love My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic (friendship is literally magic). So I thought it would fun to make the Hunchback of Notre Dame characters into My Little Pony Friendship is Magic style. This is Disney Esmeralda as a Pony.

Disney Esmeralda as a My Little Pony Fan art Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

If you would like use any of my fan-art I made on your website/blog, all I ask is for a hunchblog credit. Fan-art is meant to be shared and enjoyed. ^_^

Some additional observations from God Help the Outcast

by

So as I was working on my God Help the Outcast I noticed things that didn’t fit into song content so I’m posting them now. (Beware I run off on a bit of a tangent)

 

Quasimodo listening to Esmeralda singing God Help the Outcast Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Quasimodo listening to Esmeralda singing God Help the Outcast Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Quasimodo watching to Esmeralda during God Help the Outcast Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Quasimodo watching to Esmeralda during God Help the Outcast Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I once agian suspect that the Disney Production team didn’t read the book (well maybe a few did), I say this because in the book Quasimodo is deaf but here in the Disney movie Quasimodo has such a amazing hearing. He can hear a soft ballad in the sanctuary all the way in the bell tower. I don’t think it was necessary to have Quasimodo listening in on Esmeralda. They did it to include Quaismodo since he had not been in the movie for 5 whole minutes. I mean it also worked to get Esmeralda and Quasimodo to reunite and  to give them a chance to bond but they couldn’t have thought up another way.

 

 

Frollo's Female Doppelganger singing a line in God Help the Outcast Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Frollo’s Female Doppelganger singing a line in God Help the Outcast Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Disney Frollo Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Judge Claude Frollo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Lady who asks for love. Frollo’s twin sister? Could be. Frollo has no back story so he could have a sister. My guess is since they look so much a like and look to be the some age, they’re twins. What else is Frollo hiding in his past? I want back stories, Disney. It’s interesting to learn what pushes a character to doing less than wholesome things. Like;

Ursula Disney The Little Mermaid picture image

Ursula Disney The Little Mermaid

Why was Ursula exiled? Many speculate that Ursula is Triton  sister but  maybe Triton pulled a  coup d’état and stole the kingdom from the octopus people. That makes sense but it would make Triton look bad. Really Disney don’t say that Urusala once lived in the palace and was exiled if your  not going to into why she was exiled.

 

 

Gaston Disney Beauty and the Beast picture image

Gaston Disney Beauty and the Beast

 

Why did Gaston like Belle? I mean sure she’s pretty and Gaston is a shallow idiot but she didn’t feed his ego and that’s what he needs. He is governed by outward appearances, but where did this superficiality come from? His upbringing?

 

 

 

Jafar Disney Aladdin picture image

Jafar Disney Aladdin

Why was Jafar so stupid? He sent years searching for the Cave of Wonders so he could get the lamp so he get three wishes and the when that plans fails his bird tells him to marry the princess. However, Jafar had military control over the city-state and a  mind control ring. My goodness, is Jafar one stupid idiot, it would have taken his less time and energy to pull a coup d’état and I’m sure the people of  Agrabah wouldn’t have notice a shift in power. The Sultan seems more interested in  toys than his people. My guess is Jafar was drop repeatedly as a baby and that him more than a little dense.

 

Frollo Hunchback of Notre Dame Disney picture imageBut Frollo had a job, control and perhaps an deep emotional  connection with a women who prays for love. I have to wonder if Frollo is so tightly wound and his sister wants love, what was their family dynamic like growing up? Assuming that she is his sister, but she looks too much like Frollo for  it be coincidental where as the rest of crowds look generic.

 

Who do you think that lady in Notre Dame is? Think she could be important or just some extra that looks like Frollo and nothing more? Opinions, Thoughts, Anything!

 

The Music of the Disney’s Hunchback of Notre Dame – God help the Outcasts

by
Esmeralda singing God Help the Outcasts Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Esmeralda singing God Help the Outcasts Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

God Help The Outcasts is a very different Disney heroine song. Many of the Female Disney Characters sing about wanting something for themselves. While Esmeralda is singing about wanting something that is not for her. She is being  selfless which furthers elevates her into the mature sector.

 

Esmeralda singing God Help the Outcasts Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Esmeralda singing God Help the Outcasts Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

 

The song is simple, it’s Esmeralda praying for the welfare of her people. This humble and selfless prayer is shown in contrast to the other parishioners who pray for selfish things like wealth, fame and love. This scene is pretty much lifted from the 1939 version albeit with some differences but the overall scene and content is the same.

 

Esmeralda singing God Help the Outcast Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Esmeralda singing God Help the Outcast Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

 

Unlike in the 1939 version, during the course of the song Esmeralda walks through the sanctuary of Notre Dame. It’s the only time in the Hunchback of Notre Dame where we get to see the interior of  Notre Dame other than the bell tower. While it’s nice to see the sanctuary portion of Notre Dame there are more than a few things wrong with how Notre Dame is presented. I’ll go more in depth on that later for now let’s get into the reviewing the  song’s content.

Esmeralda Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame singing "God Help the Outcast" picture image

Esmeralda singing “God Help the Outcast” Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

 

The song musically is nice and is pleasant. It’s one of two ballads that made it into the film. It’s the prettiest song in the movie and it’s sung well by Heidi Mollenhauer. However there is an air of  condescension with this song. As Esmeralda is trying to sound humble she is saying some really condescending lines. She asks for nothing because she is lucky and better off then most of her people and if God doesn’t help no one will help them.  She also reminds Gods that everyone is “children of God” and that Mary should relate to her because she thinks Mary was once an outcast like her. This another fault with the song, she’s in Notre Dame de Paris, in any Notre Dame, Mary is the figure of reverence. However she starts praying to Mary and then instantly switchs to God. Maybe it’s her “outcast” “pagan” ways that she would do this flippantly  but my guess is God is more dramatic and fits song meters better,  Even though Mary embodies compassion. Then again Frollo prays to Mary to burn Esmeralda, so what is the movie trying to say about Mary? I mean everyone seems to be trying to get out of Notre Dame.

 

Esmeralda singing God Help the Outcasts Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Esmeralda singing God Help the Outcasts Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

There is also all her “I” statements that are kind of off putting. Her lines are “I ask for nothing, I can get by, but I know so many less lucky than I”  these lyrics just seem to reek with “I’m better than you” mentality.

Esmeralda looking at the Virgin Mary Maureen O'Hara 1939 Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Esmeralda looking at the Virgin Mary, Maureen O’Hara 1939 Hunchback of Notre Dame

 

In the  spectrum of the “Esmeralda’s Prayer”  which isn’t in the book,  God Help the Outcast is the worst. Beside this song there are two other prayers, the fore-mention 1939 version  and Ave Maria Paien from Notre Dame de Paris. In the 1939 version, Esmeralda (Maureen O’Hara) asks “The mother of God” to help her people, she says that Mary can take all that she has but Esmeralda presents Mary with a Method; she asks to speak to the King as he is a authority figure and can help her and her people, which he does as the end.  In the 1939 version, Esmeralda  is sincere and humble, and as she not insulting anyone by saying she’s better off. In Ave Maria Paien (The Pagan Ave Maria) Esmeralda is (pending on which version your listening to) asking for a few things, protection from the fools who are in control and the joining of all people. The essence of the song is she wants Ave Maria on her side. Is it humble and selfless?  Not really, she does come off as humble and sincere though. Disney Esmeralda is sincere but she seems to have a defeatist attitude, only god can help and no one else can, she’s powerless to do anything.  Maybe Esmeralda should have ask God to make Frollo tolerant. At least that would have been proactive.

 

Esmeralda singing God Help the Outcasts Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Esmeralda singing God Help the Outcasts Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

 

The problem with God Help the Outcasts isn’t the music or the singing, it’s the content. While it’s great that Esmeralda is mature and is capable of praying selflessly but in the course of the song she’s pretty much insulting her people, and due to juxtaposition of the her prayer with other parishioners she is making them look bad. So she can’t be selfless and humble without bring others down?

Next Song – Heaven’s Light (I have a little bit  more on God Help the Cast, so stay tuned)

Quasimodo's figurines from "Heaven's Light" Hunchback of Notre Dame Disney picture image

Quasimodo’s figurines from “Heaven’s Light”

Quasimodo is Ariel from The Little mermaid

by

Quasimodo from the Hunchback of Notre Dame is Ariel from The Little Mermaid. Here is the original artwork for Quasimodo that proves that he was meant to be Ariel. This image is rare and very hard to find  but here it is,

Quasimodo as Ariel from the Little Mermaid Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Quasimodo as Ariel from the Little Mermaid Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

 

Ok I made this image, but you watch Out There and then watch Part of your World and tell there not for the most part idenitcal.  I mean these two characters are the same entity. Is it plagiarism if a company copies their own work? I suppose I could do the reverse of this image as well, Ariel’s head on Quasimodo, actually that’s not a bad idea stay tune for that one.

Notre Dame de Paris Video

by

This Video is Garou (oringal Notre Dame de Paris Quasimodo) and Damien Sargue (the original alternate for Phoebus and Gringoire but is most known for playing Romeo in Romeo and  Juliette) singing Le  Temps des Cathédrales. The song starts at 58 seconds. Garou makes Quasimodo faces and Damien is wearing a Romeo costume.

Enjoy

The Music of the Disney’s Hunchback of Notre Dame – Topsy Turvy

by

Topsy Turvy follows in the path of the big show stopping music numbers of Disney. Other songs like this included (but not limited to) Under the Sea (The Little Mermaid), Be Our Guest (Beauty and the Beast) and A Friend Like Me ( Aladdin). Unlike these, Topsy Turvy is not a show stopper, it doesn’t stop the movie for the sake of a spectacle, but instead  Topsy Turvy propels the plot forward.

 

Clopin during the Feast of Fools Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Clopin during the Feast of Fools Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

There is a lot that happens within the course of the song with regards to story telling. The festive starts and Quasimodo gets caught in the swing of it, Quasimodo meets Esmeralda, Esmeralda dances getting the attention of Quasimodo, Phoebus and Frollo, the King of Fools contest starts, and Quasimodo is crown the king.  There so much that happens that the song is broken up into four part essentually. These parts are well connected and the last portation with Quasimodo as the King of Fools features a keynote change to denote the ending of the song.

Clopin Topsy Turvy Disney Hunchback Notre Dame picture image

Clopin Topsy Turvy Disney Hunchback Notre Dame

Quasimodo Topsy Turvy Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Quasimodo Topsy Turvy Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Disney Esmeralda Hunchback of Notre Dame Dance picture image

Esmeralda's Dance Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

 

 

 

 

 

 

As far as the song is concerned it’s fun. It’s very celbratory, the lyrics are clever and Paul Kandel does well singing it. It’s the only Disney song to use a word meaning prostitutes. The line “Join the bums and theives and strumpets,” a strumpets is an old fashion word for a prostitute or a harlot. Kind of intresting that the only Dinsey song to use a word for prostitute would also feature a pole dance.

 

Reversal Topsy Turvy Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Reversal Topsy Turvy Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Quasimodo reacting to the craziness Topsy Turvy Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Quasimodo reacting to the craziness Topsy Turvy Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Topsy Turvy CG Crowd Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Topsy Turvy CG Crowd Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The visuals help make this song memorable. There lots of  reversals to help keep the momentum going and the fun up. This visually also give Quasimodo something to react to and since he is seeing all this craziness for the first time, Quasimodo acts as the audience in this song.  There is a cast of thousand. The crowds were made using CG and at the time were a feat but the crowd in movie hasn’t aged well.

 

Clopin Topsy Turvy Disney Hunchback Notre Dame image picture

Clopin Topsy Turvy Disney Hunchback Notre Dame

The song has several reference that harken back to Victor Hugo’s Novel. First the lyrics mention the date a being January 6, which is the day the Feast of Fools took place on. Of course the movie doesn’t seem to take place in winter, then again it could just be unseasonably warm.

 

 

 

Disney Esmeralda Hunchback of Notre Dame Dance picture Image

Esmeralda's Dance Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

 

Another Reference is Clopin referring to Esmeralda as “La Esmeralda”. Esmeralda in the book is very often referenced to with the article “La.”

 

 

 

 

Shock the Priest Topsy Turvy Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Shock the Priest Topsy Turvy Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

 

 

The last reference and probably the most interesting. Is on the line “shock the priest” Clopin is holding a Frollo puppet. This is a clear reference to Frollo being a priest in the book.

 

 

 

Quasimodo as the King of Fools Topsy Turvy Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Quasimodo as the King of Fools Topsy Turvy Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

 

The song itself is fine, it big and fun but it’s not my favorite. I would position this song in the middle of the ranking  however I can understand why many would like it, it’s a fun song that adds to the movie and alludes to the book very appropriately.

 

Next Song – God Help the Outcast

Esmeralda Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame singing "God Help the Outcast" picture image

Esmeralda singing "God Help the Outcast" Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame