Topsy Turvy | The Hunchblog of Notre Dame

18Feb 2015

Final Fantasy 14 Hunchback Reference

by jess

For those of you who read the blog, you know I like Final Fantasy. I have been playing the franchise’s second MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV; A Realm Reborn. FF14 has a lot of references to a lot of things for titles of quests. I was doing a quest to level up one of my classes and the quest was called Topsy-Turvy Time. For the quest you just have to gather scaffolding logs, hence the name.

Topsy-Turvy Final Fantasy XIV; A Realm Reborn picture image

Topsy-Turvy Time Levequest

I don’t know about you but when I hear the words “Topsy-Turvy” I go to the Disney song right away. Is it a direct reference to Hunchback? Only the localization team knows for certain but I think it is and that all that matters.

There could be more references to Hunchback in game but I’m sure there are more Disney ones.

11Jun 2014

Top Ten Best Things about The Disney version of the Hunchback of Notre Dame

by jess

Being forced to watch very, very bad versions of Hunchback makes me more grateful to the Disney version. The Disney version is not perfect but they did at least put out a solid effort into their version and made a good movie. You can’t really say that for the Enchanted tales version. So I thought I would list of what I consider to be the Top Ten Best Things about The Disney version of the Hunchback of Notre Dame

Clopin with Puppet Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

10. Clopin
Clopin is just such a fun and interesting character. He kinds neither good or bad. I guess he more of a light gray. I wish he was in more of the movie.

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

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

9. Animation
Gorgeous Animation is a Disney hallmark and the Hunchback is no exception. There are some gorgeous shots. Though the CG crowds didn’t age well but you seldom really notice them unless you’re looking.

Esmeralda and Quasimodo Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Esmeralda and Quaismodo Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

8.The Pacing
The pacing is great in this movie. There are no low points and the story moves from point to point really well.

Esmeralda singing God Help the Outcast Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

7. Accuracy to Notre Dame
The way they rendered the Cathedral is lovely and you can see all the effort that went in to it. I mean they did make it larger but they did capture its Beauty and it intricate little details. They might have been to accurate since they included elements that were not present at the time of the story but that is a nitpick that you would have to be aware of.

Clopin Topsy Turvy Disney Hunchback Notre Dame

6. The Songs
With one exception, you know the one, the songs are really great. Some are better than others but on the whole they are great.

Frollo and Notre Dame Bells Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Frollo stares at Notre Dame during the Bells of Notre Dame FDisney Hunchback of Notre Dame

5. The Music Score
The Score was inspired by Mozart’s Requiem Mass and it really is gorgeous especially Sanctuary. It really one the best Disney scores ever.

Frollo and Baby Quasimodo bells Disney Hunch back of Notre Dame picture image

Frollo and Baby Quasimodo during the Bells of Notre Dame Disney Hunch back of Notre Dame

4. Frollo
Frollo is one of the most complex Disney Villains. On one hand he is cool and cruel and the other he’s bat-shit crazy but he thinks he’s good and just even when trying to kill a baby he thinks he is in the right.

Frollo singing Hellfire Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

3. Hellfire/Heaven’s Light

This is kind of like A Night on Bald Mountain/Ave Maria in reverse. A Lot of the drama comes from the duality of the Heaven and Hell. Though you would get little argument that Hellfire is the better song in both the visuals and the lyrics. It so dark and twisted but Heaven’s Light just elevates Hellfire crazed hellish tone. It’s kind ironic that Frollo is praying to Mary in this song.

A Puppet of Quasimodo bells Disney Hunchback of notre dame picture image

A Puppet of Quasimodo during the Bells of Notre Dame Disney Hunchback of notre dame

2. The Opening
The Opening is amazing. In 5 minutes we get some drama, some humor and all the backstory. The song and the visuals are wonderful. I like how dark this gets and there is no denying that crescendo at the end. Flawless

Quaismodo Bells of Notre dame reprise Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

1. It introduced people to The Hunchback of Notre
While of course this is not true for everyone, The Disney version did introduced people to the characters and the ideas of the novel. Without it people may not be fans of original story today.

Honorable mention Djali

I love Djali to pieces

Djali Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

22Apr 2013

Clopin’s Music Box

by jess

Fantasy Faire opened in March 2013 in Disneyland. It is basically a place for the Disney Princesses to meet the guest for one on one encounter. It has a Gothic Old world look to it. Among the the items in this area is a rather large colorful music box that plays Topsy-Turvy from Disney’s Hunchback of Notre Dame. It’s a a pleasant version of the song and the way the character move around is adorable. Apparently in addition to Clopin and Quasimodo, Beast in human form, Gaston, Maurice
(Belle’s Father), Smee (Peter Pan), King Hubert (Sleeping Beauty)are in there too. I hope they add more Hunchback elements in the future.

Read more about the Clopin’s Music Box/Fantasy Faire here;

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2013/02/clopins-music-box-adds-to-old-world-charm-of-fantasy-faire-at-disneyland-park/

http://www.insidethemagic.net/2013/03/interview-disneyland-designers-talk-fantasy-faire-creation-with-new-fun-food-and-foamy-drinks-for-fantasyland/

http://www.insidethemagic.net/2013/03/inside-fantasy-faire-as-disneyland-unfurls-new-princess-meet-and-greets-and-storytelling-surrounded-by-delightful-detail/

and check these videos;

02Jul 2012

Topsy Turvy in Spanish

by jess

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upiAJ9gTvbk

24Jan 2012

Tanz auf dem Seil, Ein bißchen Freude”, Drunter drüber“ Music of Der Glöckner von Notre Dame – Part 2

by jess

This is the second part of the music review of Der Glöckner von Notre Dame

Tanz auf dem Seil

Esmeralda and Clopin Tanz auf dem Seil Der Glöckner von Notre Dame

Tanz auf dem Seil (Dance on the Rope) is first new song of the show. It introduces Clopin as the Leader of the Gypsies and to Esmeralda. Clopin starts the song by telling the audience and the new members of the Court of Miracles what roles they play in Paris as Travelers. Those roles are beggars, artist, and the scapegoats and they must understand them in order to survive. One of the newcomers catches Clopin’s attention and that is Esmeralda, a dancer. Esmeralda had to move to Paris as she can’t keep her opinions to herself and it gets her into trouble but she is determine to try and make Paris her home.

Musically this song is fun. Clopin sings a bit of the from the final number of act one Esmeralda (which is one of my favorite from the show {it got the 8th position in my top ten best hunchback songs list ). But more than that Tanz auf dem Seil shows the audience how the Court of Miracles functions and what it means to be a Gypsy in Paris under Frollo’s control. It also gives Esmeralda a back story and ironically it seems to take it a bit from the 1939 version where Esmeralda was new in Paris and the Court of Miracles. Plus it’s nice to know that the map amulets were standard issue as you see Clopin give it to Esmeralda.

This song is the first big number of the show so I’m sure the staging was full of dancing. I enjoy this song, it’s interesting, informative, and fun.

To watch a clip of Tanz auf dem Seil performed on stage click here

Ein bißchen Freude

Fredrik Lycke as Phoebus in Der Glöckner von Notre Dame

Ein bißchen Freude (A Bit of Joy) introduces us to Phoebus. Like the movie, Phoebus has been relieved of military duty and has been promoted to Captain of the Guard. Unlike the Disney movie, Phoebus here acts more like he does in the book. He just wants to indulge in vices and have lots of “wine, women and song” you know A bit of Joy. He also flirts with a random girl during the course of the song. It also gives us some basis for character development with Phoebus seeing him start out as more of a member of the “common, weak, licentious” crowd to becoming a more righteous person later at the end of act one.

Musically the song uses the Phoebus’ Lemotif from Disney (you know that march music you hear when Phoebus is first introduced). It’s a good introduction to Phoebus as a combination with Disney and the book. The song has good energy and a bit of fun and it’s nice to hear Phoebus get a song to himself (spoiler- this is Phoebus’ only solo song).

Drunter drüber

Esmeralda, Quasimodo and Clopin Drunter drÃ¼ber Der Glöckner von Notre Dame picture image

Esmeralda, Quasimodo and Clopin Drunter drüber Der Glöckner von Notre Dame

Drunter drüber (Topsy Turvy) is similar to the Disney version but there are a lot of big little differences. A quick staccato introduces the song and seems like people running to get there in time for the start. Then it follows the songs with the crowds and Clopin. Quasimodo get some lines here to the tune of Out There (Draußen {His Leitmotif}). Also the music of Esmeralda’s dance is different. It’s slower and sounds more like what is typically considered “Travelers Music.” So you can imagine her dance is not the pole dance of the Disney movie, but you couldn’t really have a stage actress performing the moves Esmeralda did in the movie plus in book I don’t think Esmeralda would have done the those moves either. So the slow tempo dance music is a nice mitigation

Drunter drüber is akin to the Disney version but the difference make it fun and interesting and fun in its own right.

To watch a video of Drunter drüber performed on stage Click here

Next Time –
Hilf den Verstoß’nen (God Help the Outcast)
Hoch über der Weltt (High above the World)

Esmeralda and Quasimodo Der Glöckner von Notre Dame

19Jan 2012

Die Glocken Notre Dames, Zuflucht, Draußen- Music of Der Glöckner von Notre Dame -Part 1

by jess

For the Music of Der Glöckner von Notre Dame I have decided to do a few songs at a time (with the two exceptions). I’m also going to try to not compare the singers between the Disney Cast and the Original Berlin Cast and I’m going to try not to discusss staging too much.

Die Glocken Notre Dames

Frollo (Norbert Lamla) with Baby Quasimodo and the Archdeacon Der Glöckner von Notre Dame

Die Glocken Notre Dames (The Bells of Notre Dame) is the show’s opening number and it is pretty much exactly the same as it is in the movie but there are some differences. First off, no Puppet. Yeah, I know tragic. Clopin appears as a beggar and not as a performer, so any humor that the Disney version had is gone. Giving us a a clear tone. Also Clopin is not telling the story of Quasimodo and Frollo to children he instead tells it to the audience which makes him more clearly a narrator.

Another difference is Quasimodo’s mother talks back to Frollo. Now, I don’t speak much German and I don’t have access to a script (I looked and couldn’t find one so if you know what she saying or know of a script let me know) so I have no idea what she is saying, I could guess. Probably goes along the lines of something like this:

Frollo- Hey, you there what are you hiding?
Quasimodo’s Mother – Who me? It’s just my Baby
Frollo – You Lie, give me what you are concealing, I wants it!
Or something like that or I’m way off.

Another difference is there is some instruments. The difference can really be heard when the Archdeacon is singing. There is a Piano and a lower brass opposed to the original which seems to be woodwinds, bells and a high brass. Also the usage of bells at the end is different whereas the movie uses what sounds like low octave bells that play a few notes the musical opts for scales of higher octave bells and I swear I hear a xylophone in there.

Also the attitude of Frollo and Archdeacon are different. In the movie Frollo is cool and calm and the Archdeacon has a sad yet kind of soft tone till he get firm about the eyes. In the stage show Frollo is flustered and Archdeacon is forceful from the get go.

Also a staging difference, there are videos that you can be see on youtube (if Youtube isn’t killed by SOPA and PIPA) that shows this number performed on stage and when Quasimodo’s Mother is push by Frollo she doesn’t die right away. As she is dying she reaches for Quasimodo. So I guess she died of blood loss and not of head trauma or a broken neck like the movie but I’m no doctor. Watch Video Here

Zuflucht

Frollo and Quasimodo Der Glöckner von Notre Dame

Zuflucht or Refuge is a song that is extended from Frollo’s part of the movie version of Out There. This song is where you learn that Frollo was a Priest but he thought that Paris was sick and needed to be save and so he changed his career to a judge. Quasimodo still sings in it with the addition of the Gargoyles Antoine (Hugo), Charles (Victor) and Loni (Laverne). The Gargoyles here sing against Frollo and encourage Quasimodo to go out side to see the world for himself.

Musically the first part is the same as the movie, so where Out There starts properly (Quasimodo’s part) the music changes and the last part with Gargoyles is like a composite of the new movement and the old one and it works well. I actually like the gargoyles here, their harmony together and with Frollo is nice. The harmony is like the Angel and Devil on each shoulder troupe. And having the Gargoyle sing with Frollo solidifies the gargoyles as imaginary. The Gargoyles part makes it clear that they are not as cheerful or upbeat as their movie counterparts. There is a combination of hope and confusion in their lines, because as they sing about what the outside world is like they can’t complete their thoughts because as aspects of Quasimodo they too have no idea what the outside world is like.

Draußen

Quasimodo with the Gargoyles Der Glöckner von Notre Dame

Draußen or Outside is exactly the same as the movie version of Out There with one wonderful difference; there is no more wobbly vibrato. Another than that there are no further differences I can ascertain.

Watch Video clip here

Next Time – Part 2 of the Music of Der Glöckner von Notre Dame with;

Tanz auf dem Seil (Dance on the Rope)
Ein bißchen Freude (A Bit of Joy)
Drunter drüber (Topsy Turvy)

Esmeralda and Clopin during Drunter DrÃ¼ber" (Topsy Turvy) Der Glöckner von Notre Dame picture image

Esmeralda and Clopin during Drunter drübe” (Topsy Turvy) Der Glöckner von Notre Dame

06Jan 2012

Topsy Turvy Fan-art

by jess

Since it’s Friday and January 6th which is the Feast of Fool, It’s a Feast of Fools Fan-Art (or Topsy Turvy Day to you Disney Fans).

This Fan-art is by GenkiTenshi. It’s uses the Feast of Fools as a setting with the characters from Kingdom Hearts Characters; Sora, Donald Duck, and Goofy fighting the Heartless (yeah, I’ve played Kingdom Hearts before). This pairing is appropriate because Kingdom Hearts 3: Birth by Sleep, will go into the Hunchback of Notre Dame world.

Topsy Turvy Day by GenkiTenshi

07Nov 2011

Le Jour D’Amour – Part 1 of the Music of the Hunchback Sequel

by jess

Disney is known for many things; Music, Animation etc. Conversely what Disney is known is thrown out in their sequels. So let’s tackle the music of this monstrosity of a money-making scam ( their direct to relase sequels). This first song on the list; the opening song, Le Jour D’Amour or Not Topsy Turvy – it’s the festival song.

Clopin Le Jour D'Amour Disney Hunchback of of Notre Dame II 2 Sequel picture image

Clopin Le Jour D’Amour Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney

Clopin and Quasimodo Le Jour D'Amour Disney Hunchback of of Notre Dame II 2 Sequel picture image

Clopin and Quasimodo Le Jour D’Amour Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney

It’s Clopin’s one and only song. But Wait, it’s not just Clopin’s song it’s a duet with Quasimodo. Remember in the original film when Quasimodo was shoved down our throats, it’s even worst in this film. And also the Gargoyles get in on this song (eye roll).

Djali Le Jour D'Amour Disney Hunchback of of Notre Dame II 2 Sequel picture image

Djali Le Jour D’Amour Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney

Phoebus and Esmeralda Le Jour D'Amour Disney Hunchback of of Notre Dame II 2 Sequel picture image

Phoebus and Esmeralda Le Jour D’Amour Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney

Clopin with an extra Le Jour D'Amour Disney Hunchback of of Notre Dame II 2 Sequel picture image

Clopin with an extra Le Jour D’Amour Hunchback of of Notre Dame II Disney

This song introduces us to the fact that this movie is about love. Le Jour D’Amour is supposed to a Valentine’s Day-Love is great- and a pox on you if you don’t have love in your life Day. The premise of the day, in that people yell declarations of love while some bell rings. And for some reason yellow Roses are the flower of chose for Le Jour D’Amour. Yellow Roses are yet one of many, many, fun anachronisms in this movie. The Yellow Rose wasn’t discovered till the 18th century. Yellow Roses are a very stupid chose because according to the meaning of flowers they mean Friendship, Joy, Get Well, not very good chose for a festival of love. If only roses came in other colors, a color that denotes Love and Passion, a “Lover’s Rose” if you will. Darn if only rose came in RED! Stupid movie!

Quasimodo with Zephyr and some little girl Le Jour D'Amour Disney Hunchback of of Notre Dame II 2 Sequel picture image

Quasimodo with Zephyr and some little girl Le Jour D’Amour Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney

Clopin and Quasimodo with Puppets Le Jour D'Amour Disney Hunchback of of Notre Dame II 2 Sequel image puppet

Clopin and Quasimodo with Puppets Le Jour D’Amour Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney

Extras Dance Le Jour D'Amour Disney Hunchback of of Notre Dame II 2 Sequel picture image

Extras Dance Le Jour D’Amour Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney

Now compared to the actual movie, the songs are bad. I probably could have just end my music discussion of the sequel right there but that’s too easy, plus Le Jour D’Amour is the least guilty. It’s somewhat period appropriate, uplifting, and at least you can sing along to it, through why you want to is beyond me. I think the worst part musically is the Gargoyle’s part and I’m not fond of Quasimodo’s solo right before that. But this is my least hated song of the movie (I hesitate to use the word favorite). Don’t get me wrong it’s a stupid song about a stupid festival with stupid people dancing around like dumdums. And despite it being the best in my opinion, I’m always forgetting it. ( in my last article post when I said what would be next, I used a picture from Ordinary Miracle instead of a picture from Le Jour D’Amour)

Hugo and Victor Le Jour D'Amour Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame II 2 Sequel picture image

Hugo and Victor Le Jour D’Amour Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney

Laverne as Esmeralda Le Jour D'Amour Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame II 2 Sequel picture image

Laverne as Esmeralda Le Jour D’Amour Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney

Quasimodo Le Jour D'Amour Hunchback of of Notre Dame II 2 Disney Sequel picture image

Quasimodo Le Jour D’Amour Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney

And I would like to point out that the lyrics try to justify this festival (maybe even the movie) as the “best of all” over the the original and certainly over Topsy Turvy, but Topsy Turvy would win with both hands tied behind its’ back and little pieces of duct tape covering its’ eyes and Le Jour D’Amour can have a spear even. No contest. (Hey, two points go to the person who knows what I just referenced with that little battle scenario comment if you know what it it)

Quasimodo with dancing extras Le Jour D'Amour Hunchback of of Notre Dame II 2 Sequel piciure image disney

Quasimodo with dancing extras Le Jour D’Amour Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney

Sad Quasimodo Sequel Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney picture image

Sad Quasimodo Le Jour D’Amour Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney

Clopin Evil Smile Hunchback of Notre Dame Sequel Disney picture image

Clopin Evil Smile Le Jour D’Amour Hunchback of Notre Dame Sequel Disney

Since Le Jour D’Amour is the best of the songs in this explicit deleted fest, this is only going to get worse for me.

Next Time – Ordinary Miracles (bleh)

Quasimodo with Madeline Figurine Hunchback of Notre Dame sequel 2 II picture image Disney

Quasimodo with Madeline Figurine Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney

02Oct 2011

Getting CG with it Visuals of Hunchback

by jess

For the most part Hunchback of Notre Dame has stunning animation and visuals, and isn’t that what Disney is know for… beside songs, and Princesses and Branding the Hell out their movies. Unfortunately Hunchback has one aspect of their visuals that hasn’t aged well; the CG crowds.

Topsy Turvy CG Crowds Hunchback of Notre Dame Disney

Hunchback of Notre Dame has had a history of big crowds scenes, they can be seen the the 1923 version, 1939 version and most of the other film versions have scene with a ton of people. So of course Disney had to this to and the opted for computer generate crowds that the could swap out clothing hair and other traits, it was a time saver. The crowds can be seen in Topsy Turvy, the climax and the ending. And My God they stick out against the film’s art style. There just not refined enough to blend in remote to the film. However it is possible to over look it.

Climax CG Crowds Hunchback of Notre Dame Disney

Finale CG Crowds Hunchback of Notre Dame Disney

But still when the are notice they’re clunky, angular and not very pretty. They actually bring the visuals down for me, perhaps I’m too harsh but they look like the come from a cheap and boring video game about peasants who wear a lot of brown.

Beside the Crowds there is another aspect of the that Disney didn’t quite get right

Next Time – Notre Dame de Disney’s Hunchback of Notre Dame

Notre Dame of Paris Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

25Aug 2011

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

by jess

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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