someday | The Hunchblog of Notre Dame

03May 2016

Songs of Hunchback of Notre Dame Musical Review; Part 7

by jess

Ciara RenÃ©e as Esmeralda and Andrew Samonsky as Phoebus performing Someday, La Jolla Cast of The Hunchback of Notre Dame

In a Place of Miracles – Technically this song is not new to this incarnation of the musical. It was originally written for the Disney movie along side As Long as there is a Moon which more or less did the whole wedding thing of Esmeralda and Gringoire but with Phoebus. Both Songs were scrapped for pacing and time. In the German version there was a song called Out of Love that was reprised here and was sung earlier by Phoebus with the Gargoyles to convince Quasimodo to help Esmeralda.

Before I get the song itself I want to point the choice to use this song instead of As Long of there is a a Moon. Some of the purpose of this musical was to reconcile the Disney movie with the book. In some ways the two kind of muddle each other a bit. If they had picked As Long of there is a Moon they would have gotten a book scene in there but it would have made no sense as the Gypsies where trying to leave their homes quickly, which is one reason it was scrapped from the movie. I respect that they went with the logical choice instead of trying to get a book scene in the show.

That being said this version of the song is different than the deleted song from the Disney movie. Most of the lyrics are there in parts as well as the melody but it does borrow somethings from Out of Love reprised where Quasimodo sings a reprised of Heaven’s Light but wait because it also does it own thing too. Admist the confessions of love and heartbreak, the Gypsies and Clopin sing about leaving their homes and hope for a better and kinder place.

The structure of this song is a little weird. The second verse is basically Esmeralda, Phoebus and Quasimodo singing over each other. This makes it somewhat dissociate but the song is doing a lot for three minutes. We have a love song, sad song and a bittersweet moving song, so not a bad thing but it’s a style that I’m not that crazy about though they do mesh together.

I don’t really love the melody either, it’s pretty enough but I’m not crazy for the notes on “Place” but that is a preference. I do prefer the Out of Love Reprise but this song is fine.

Also who else heard the the melody of the Tavern Song at the end?

Justice in Paris – There is much to this song, it under a minute to set up Esmeralda’s burring. It’s to the melody of The Bells of Notre Dame so I like the melody. So there is no trial it seems this song is just a bridge song to get the audience from the “love” song to the burning of Esmeralda.

Someday – Someday was originally written for the Esmeralda Prayer segment in the Disney movie. They had written God Help the Outcasts first but felt they wanted something more intimate for the scene but changed their minds and placed Someday as a credit song. It was put into the German version which Esmeralda and Phoebus song right after Frollo’s proposition and it continues till Esmeralda reaches the pyre. This means it is not sung directly after Made of Stone in this version. This annoys me a little bit since it’s a nice converse to Made of Stone but I will hold off judgement till I get that song.

As it stands, this song is gorgeous. It’s left unchanged from it’s purpose of being a bittersweet hope for the world, which sadly is still not true. Comparing it to the German version which is called Einmal, there is a build-up to a big swell at the end as Esmeralda is about to be burned. In this version it keeps its intimacy as it’s just Esmeralda and Phoebus. Apples and Oranges both are great despite the different tones.

Also while on the subject Einmal has very different lyrics than Someday. Einmal speaks of people learning to respect each other after thousands of battle and bloodshed while Someday is softer in the lyrics. Still I have no issues with the song it’s beautiful and Ciara RenÃ©e and Andrew Samonsky sing it very well.

29Dec 2015

Someday” Hunchback of Notre Dame Cover by Geekiarchy

by jess

Very nicely done. I really like the costume. This song seems like a good song to end the year with and I hope 2016 is a better year.

16Aug 2012

A Review of Paw’s Review

by jess

Paw is a reviewer for musicals on That Guy with the Glasses. The show is called Music Movies. Disney’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame has been on the Dartboard (his method of selection) for a while and he finally got to it so let’s take a look at his review.

Paw reviewing Disney’s Hunchback of Notre Dame

Right off bat Paw calls into question what Disney was thinking in making the movie. He then makes a joke about how much architecture is a theme in the book. I think that he is poking fun at the chapter in Hunchback that goes through long description of Notre Dame but that chapter is nothing compare to the long chapter that just about Paris.

Frollo singing Hellfire Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Review-wise Paw doesn’t really add anything new. He loves Hellfire, Bells of Notre dame and the overall score. He hates the gargoyles and their song. So no surprises there. He also brings up the issue of tone.

Frollo singing Hellfire Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Hugo in drag Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

This is the third review I have looked that remarks on the changing tone of the film. This is making me question why I don’t have an issue with it. I mean if we look at the novel the scene where Phoebus gets stab a lot of humor leading up to it but judging this movie on it’s own merits I personally don’t see the big deal. I mean this movie isn’t really that dark and nor is the book. Yes, for a Disney movie, yes it is but Disney movies have anyways had shifting tones. Perhaps I’m desensitized to changing tones as result of years of watching anime and Bollywood movies where tones change often.

Janine Masse played Esmeralda in the Las Vegas cast picture image

Janine Masse as Esmeralda in the Las Vegas cast

My biggest issue with Paw’s review is the lack of fact-checking just to set up a few jokes. The first one he makes wasn’t for a joke set-up. He mentions that there have been two musical versions of Hunchback but only were performed in Europe. I’m guessing he means Notre Dame de Paris and Der Glockner von Notre Dame. However if he did mean those two or at least Notre Dame de Paris than he is wrong about Notre Dame de Paris has only been performed in Europe. Notre Dame de Paris was performed in Las Vegas and Canada in 1999 a year before the London cast and two years before the Italian version.

Esmeralda Demo Reel of Someday Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Another fact he didn’t check was claiming that Someday was meant to be an upbeat Pop song from its’ conception. This means that he didn’t look at the demo reel of Heidi Mollenhaur singing. Now I can forgive him not looking at this as it’s not in the film but I mean Disney taking a song from the film and making into a cheesy Pop song for the credits is nothing new but for him to make the assumption that Someday was conceived as a Pop song is an oversight.

Frollo and Quasimodo during Out There Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Now it seems that he read the book at some point or at least read a summary but there one little quip he makes that bugs me. He said that at the point in the film during the first part of Out There i.e. Frollo’s part, that at the same point in the “book proper” Hugo was still describing Notre Dame. Well first since this scene doesn’t exist in the book that a stupid joke but let’s give this joke more a chance. Since he correlates this part to the “book proper” let’s do that too. Since this scene is before the Feast of Fool that would mean Hugo had to make his description of Notre Dame prior to that in order for Paw’s accretion to be correct. In the “book proper” the core of the descriptions of Notre Dame occur after Feast of Fools. So this quip about the book’s preoccupation with architecture doesn’t work.

Paw reviewing Disney’s Hunchback of Notre Dame

I do give Paw credit, the review is entertaining and well-thought albeit his fact checking is not the greatest. I also give him props for counting how many times the Hellfire motif was used in the film. The correct answer is 14 times.

Click here to watch Paw’s review.

20Feb 2012

Wie aus Stein & Einmal Music of Der Glöckner von Notre Dame“ Part 8

by jess

This is the eighth part of my review on the music of Der Glöckner von Notre Dame

Wie aus Stein

Drew Sarich as Quasimodo in Der Glöckner von Notre Dame

Wie aus Stein is Quasimodo’s despair song. The song is lifted from the movie when the gargoyles are trying to convince Quaismodo to save Esmeralda who is moments away from death. In the musical this scene occurs the night before Esmeralda is to be sentenced and instead of a short scene between the gargoyles and Quasimodo, we have a song.

This song is Quasimodo at his most angry and his most broken-hearted. He is clearly angry at the gargoyles as they don’t understand his pain as they’re made of stone and he wishes he was like them. He regrets his emotions and wishes they would go away. I really can’t not imagine the Disney movie Quasimodo getting this angry and morose. Plus it’s nice to hear Quasimodo really telling off the gargoyles.

The title Wie aus Stein (Made of Stone) is taken from the original book when Quasimodo mournfully asks why he wasn’t made of stone. He’s not exactly angry in the book but more sad that he is in love with Esmeralda and can’t really do anything about it.

Musically this song is great it has wonderful tension and drama. Quasimodo voice moves though these soft parts like suppressing rage and parts him fully expressing his rage with great power in his voice. Quasimodo’s angry and despair really come though.

I really enjoy this song, it’s a great way to showcase the singer for Quasimodo. I find this song oddly additive and it’s one of my favorites from the show.

Watch a video clip of Wie aus Stein here

Einmal

Ann Christin Elverum as Esmeralda singing Einmal Der Glöckner von Notre Dame

Einmal (Once) is the song Someday which was created as a second option for the song used in the “Esmeralda Prayer” sequence in the movie. However Someday was used as the credit song which had two pop song recording.

Einmal occurs after Frollo gives Esmeralda his ultimatum in jail (Be Mine or Die). Esmeralda considers taking it if only to save Phoebus. Phoebus tells her she should do it for herself, so she can live. Esmeralda says she doesn’t consider a life with Frollo living. She then sings along with Phoebus and eventually with Clopin and the ensemble about how she hopes the world will learn after countless war and bloodshed to live and not to hate.

Unlike Someday, Einmal’s lyrics are less soft and gentle. In Someday. Esmeralda sings about the world becoming more mature and in Einmal she sings about the world learning after making mistakes. The song ends as Esmeralda about to be put to death which makes this song all the more poignant and dramatic as Esmeralda dying wish for the world.

Judy Weiss as Esmeralda singing Einmal Der Glöckner von Notre Dame

Muscially it’s a pretty song and while I like the inclusion of Phoebus, Clopin and the crowd, this means Esmeralda does not get a solo song of her own, which I find a bit sad. But as the song stands on it’s own merits, it is quite lovely and powerful with the overlays of singing. And like Wie aus Stein it’s high on my list of favorites from the show.

Watch a video clip of Einmal here

A Final Thought on these songs;
Wie aus and Einmal are very nice counterpoints to each other in both mood and meaning. In Wie aus Stein we have Quasimodo who is depairing in life and in Einmal we have Esmeralda who has hope as she about to die. It a just a nice example of selfness vs altruism in the show, and I love contrast.

Next Time – The Grand Finale,

Molten Lead Der Glöckner von Notre Dame

22Sep 2011

Demo Reel Someday â€“ The Music of the Disneyâ€™s Hunchback of Notre Dame

by jess

Esmeralda Demo Reel of Someday Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

So now we come to the Demo reel of Someday. If Someday had been chosen over “God help the Outcast” the animation would have looked have followed this. It’s pretty the some as “God Help the Outcast” and it’s sung by Heidi Mollenhaur.

Esmeralda Demo Reel of Someday Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Quasimodo Demo Reel of Someday Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

So the story goes that Alan Menken wrote “God Help the Outcast” for the “Esmeralda Prayer” sequence. The director felt that they wanted a song with more energy for this part because they felt Outcast was to quiet. Menken then wrote “Someday” which is a bigger number. However untimely the Directors felt it was too big a number to be sung in Notre Dame of Paris and they went with “God help the Outcast”. Now if you read my review of “God help the Outcast” you’d know I have some problems with song as I find to be on the condescending side. It bothers me that Directors opted for Outcast over Someday by claiming it was more humble. Example what more humble saying your at loss words or trying to relate to Mary? I find Someday far humbler.

Esmeralda Demo Reel of Someday Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

It also bothers me that they claimed “Someday” was too big for Notre Dame. In “God Help the Outcast” Parishioner sing loudly and Esmeralda does belt a little bit towards the end of “God Help the Outcast”. So why was “God Help the Outcast” chosen over “Someday”? The reason I think is untimely “God Help the Outcast” reflects Quasimodo more. Esmeralda maybe singing about Gypsies but the song heavy eludes back to Quasimodo. And this film never wants you to forget Quasimodo, ever. In “Someday” she says the phase “Out There” but other than that Quasimodo is really reflected back. So since the film can’t seem to go 5 minutes without Quasimodo the songs is about Outcasts and not the world as a whole.

Esmeralda Demo Reel of Someday Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

A Picture from the demo reel of Someday Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Esmeralda Demo Reel of Someday Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Should they have gone with “Someday” over “God help the Outcast” for Esmeralda’s Prayer? Hard to say, while I like Someday better “God help the Outcast” has more Drama and tension to it plus it refers back to the source material; The 1939 version of Hunchback of Notre Dame, so if nothing else Film Buffs can better catch Disney ripping off another movie which what Disney loves to do.

Esmeralda Demo Reel of Someday Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Next Time – Let’s look at the songs that time forgot; The Deleted Songs of Hunchback of Notre Dame

Esmeralda As Long as there's Moon Demo Reel Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

21Sep 2011

Einmal Someday â€“ The Music of the Disneyâ€™s Hunchback of Notre Dame

by jess

Ann Christin Elverum as Esmeralda singing Einmal Der Glöckner von Notre Dame

Einmal (or Once) was performed in the German musical of Disney’s Hunchback of Notre Dame; Der Glöckner von Notre Dame. The German musical took the Disney film and made it darker and more like the book. A lot of Songs were added including Einmal (Someday.)

Ruby Rosales as Esmeralda Der Glöckner von Notre Dame

Judy Weiss as Esmeralda with Frollo (Norbert Lamla) Der Glöckner von Notre Dame

Einmal is performed after Frollo gives Esmeralda his ultimatum in jail. Esmeralda considers taking it if only to save Phoebus. Phoebus tells her she should do it for her, so she can live. Esmeralda say she doesn’t consider a life with Frollo living. She then sings about how she hopes the world will learn after countless war and bloodshed to live and not to hate.

Ann Christin Elverum as Esmeralda Der Glöckner von Notre Dame

Einmal hits a bit more to core without gentle lyrics in the hope for peace. It less sweet and vague than Someday. I don’t want to get too much into Einmal since Der Glöckner von Notre Dame’s review day is coming.

However I do like that this song is performed as Esmeralda’s dying wish, it gives the song even more power. It also gives it a very different feeling than “God help the Outcast” and lets Someday stand on its own instead of just being a replacement song.

Judy Weiss as Esmeralda singing Einmal Der Glöckner von Notre Dame

I understand why it’s not in the movie even with the placement of where Einmal is in Der Glöckner von Notre Dame. If it had been place in a Jail scene it would have taken away the drama of the execution scene plus the music used in that scene in the movie is awesome.

Plus another Esmeralda scene without Quasimodo would have made the audience forget all about Quasimodo (or so the directors thought.)

Next Time – The Demo version of Someday from the Movie

Someday Demo Reel Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

18Sep 2011

Eternal Someday â€“ The Music of the Disneyâ€™s Hunchback of Notre Dame

by jess

Eternal Someday Cover Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

The credit roll version of Someday on the UK release of Hunchback of Notre was performed by Eternal. Eternal is another R&B group from the 90s. Their redition has more convention instrumental. Again this song has that 90s twinge to it, that is hard to over look. Again they have that classic 90 vocalization. However it’s well sung and like All 4 one, it’s a heartfelt performance. Eternal’s Redition is less gentle than All 4 One and has more power in the vocals.

Eternal Someday Cover Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

The biggest problem with it, is the video. They re-create the Feast of Fools complete with jugglers and a Clopin double. However this just doesn’t work. Someday is a heartfelt song about a hope for the betterment of humanity, so why am I seeing a cheap renaissance fair in the background. Also I don’t think their costume fit in with the whole Ren thing either. When I think of early Renaissance/Late Medieval, I don’t think of blue jump suit but to each their own. I’m also not a big fan of the hard cut of film. So good cover, bad video.

Eternal Someday Cover Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Next Time –Einmal (Someday from the German musical)

Der Glockner von notre Dame German Musical of Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

17Sep 2011

All 4 One Someday – The Music of the Disneyâ€™s Hunchback of Notre Dame

by jess

All 4 One Cover of Someday Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

I admit it, I’m not an R&B fan. It’s never appeal to whatever music taste I have. When I was younger I didn’t care for All 4 One’s Redition of Someday during the Credit Roll. As I listen to now though I don’t hate it. In fact, I rather like it.

All 4 One Cover of Someday Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

My biggest problem with it, is it reeks of that very, very typical 1990 style. I can’t even describe it, but I know it’s there. Those smooth vocal gymanast they loved to do back then, that electric piano, etc. It just is soaked with musical mid-90s trend. That being said despite the 1990 style and R&B, I think they give a heartful redidtion of it. I even enjoyed the music video of it. It’s simple but effective.

All 4 One Cover of Someday Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

The group is standing in street while clips of the movie radom play in clouds, sunglasses, ect. It doesn’t have to much more. Maybe it my hobby editting that I like that film clips as overlay instead of hard edits, I think it just works better with the mood of the song.

All 4 One Cover of Someday Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Really I thought I was going to get snarky with this but other than the stinky 90s of it I have nothing to said, All 4 One version of Someday was Good and I bet if Hunchback of Notre Dame came out now, Disney would have push for an Oscar.

All 4 One Cover of Someday Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Next Time – Eternal’s Rendition (the UK credit Roll)

Someday Eternal Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

13Sep 2011

The Music of the Disneyâ€™s Hunchback of Notre Dame â€“ Someday

by jess

Someday Demo Reel Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Someday was originally written to replace God help the Outcast. The idea was the directors wanted a bigger number for Esmeralda praying in Notre Dame, so Someday was written. Upon comparing the two, they decided to go for the quieter number which was Outcast. Ultimately I prefer Someday to “God Help the Outcast.” I have to agree with the reasoning, that a big athematic song in a place like Notre Dame isn’t a smart chose for a number, so I understand why they went with it. But I do find “God Help the Outcast” to be not as humble or mature as Someday. Outcast is about Outcasts and Someday is about all people coming to together. It’s about a hope for the betterment of everyone. The song doesn’t have make over-confident boosting or the juxtaposition of Nobility asking God for selfish gains to sound more humble.

All 4 One Someday Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Someday Eternal Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Der Glockner von notre Dame German Musical of Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Here’s the trouble with Someday; There are four different versions of this song. You have the original version, that was delated from the movie in lieu of “God help the Outcast” performed by Heidi Mollenhauer, The U.S Credit Roll by One 4 All, the U.K Credit Roll by Eternal, and The rendition from the German musical Der Glockner Von Notre Dame called “Einmal.” Each Version has a different feeling so it’s a little hard to review them together. So I’m not going to. Over the next few post I’ll look at each one. Then I’ll compare them a little bit. That’s Plan Anyway!

First up – The U.S Credit Roll

11Sep 2011

The Music of the Disneyâ€™s Hunchback of Notre Dame â€“ The Reprise of The Bells of Notre Dame

by jess

Quasimodo accepted by the people Hunchback of Notre Dame Disney picture image

Quasimodo accepted by the people Disney Hunchback of Notre dame

After Frollo dies, the hellish lava goes away and the masses are happy. This is when Quasimodo, the lovable abet not too pretty hero emerges from the darkness and silence of Notre Dame to be greeted with the acceptance of the people. Why is he now welcome? I think for saving Esmeralda and saying “No” to Frollo. It’s not for killing Frollo, Notre Dame and Frollo’s haste took care of that.

Clopin, Frollo Puppet, and Girl Bells of Notre dame reprise Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Quaismodo Bells of Notre dame reprise Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

So as Quasimodo is being cheered, Clopin reprises the Bells of Notre Dame. Just in case you’re a complete moron the movie clearly shows the audience who the Monster was, the Frollo puppet. To think this whole time I just thought it was Frollo, Twist ending here; it was the Puppet! The man was Quasimodo, no surprise there.

Clopin Reprise of Bells of Notre Dame Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

If you like Bells of Notre Dame, you’ll like the Reprise. It is sung well by Clopin (as to be expected now from Paul Kandal). It’s a bit repetitive though, not sure how times the word “Bells” is uttered but it’s a lot. The lyrics are also a little strange;

“Whatever their pitch, you
Can Feel the bewitch you
The rich and ritual knell‘

The True Villain, The Puppet Disney Hunchback of Notre dame

Big Marie, The Lead Bell Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

He saying that the Ringing Bells have an effect of people. So was it the bells that made Frollo crazy with lust? I mean it says the Bells bewitch. Quasimodo did ring the bells right before Hellfire, and you only see him doing it once in the movie. So the Bells were the Frollo puppet accomplice. Of course, it all makes sense. The Puppet couldn’t stand that Frollo had all the power, so he harnessed the ancient Deus ex Machina power of the Bells to make Frollo crazy which would led to his death by Notre Dame, of course! I figured you out, movie. This makes the Bells and the Frollo Puppet the heroes and villains. TouchÃ© Disney, I didn’t know you were so complicated. Truly this twist rivals M. Night Shyamalan.

Quaismodo Bells of Notre dame reprise Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Gargoyles - Victor, Hugo and Laverne at the end Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Djali, Esmeralda, and Phoebus Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

On an unrelated note, the song is a good ending, you get a curtain call: Quasimodo is happy to be “out there” “in the sun” with the “ordinary men.” The Gargoyles are happy that the people now love “a guy like” Quasimodo. Esmeralda is happy because Notre Dame (Mary) “helped the outcasts”. Phoebus is happy because his ex boss is dead and he has a hot new girlfriend. Djali and Clopin are happy because the sanction of street performers had lifted with Frollo’s death and now they donâ€˜t have to pay the Busker Tax. The only person who isn’t happy in all this is the Old Heretic, he fell into a sewer and was never to heard from again. They say on quiet nights you can heard an old man saying “Dang it.”

The Old Heretic Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Final Shot Bells of Notre dame reprise Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Beauty and the Beast Ending Shot Stained Glass Disney

Genie page Peel, Final shot Aladdin Disney

Since the film ends with the same song as it began with, it’s only that it ends with a pull away though the sky above the Notre Dame. It’s appropriate yet a little cheesy but it’s better that ending on a stain glass window that show all the main characters, a la Beauty and the Beast or a stupid page peel by the Genie in Aladdin. Though it would be funny to have the Genie pop up in random Disney Movies saying “made you look” at the end.

Next Time – Someday, the Credit song and Delated Song.

A Picture from the demo reel of Someday Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

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