In these posts in the future, I will cover one film score and some music from the resorts. Sometimes I may only do one score, but I will aim at including both in most of them.
The Score for Tangled was composed by Alan Menken. It sounds like very traditional Disney music: light and happy, not too intense, and very memorable. I will be discussing the expanded edition of the score, so you may not be able to find some of these tracks in the original soundtrack found for sale on the common market.
Alan Menken also composed the score for The Little Mermaid back in 1989, so his scoring reputation with Disney is good. He took the same feel from that previous work and brought it into Tangled. I believe Disney has very high expectations when it comes to film music. It stands out from much of the other music that it out there. It all sounds very similar, yet each score still manages to bring something new and exciting into the world.
Alan Menken created a brand new theme and threw magical pixie dust over the top. The Prologue in the beginning of the album nicely introduces these themes with a neat combination of slower tip-toe sounding music and medium paced action.
Stealing The Crown introduces Flynn Rider in a great chase. It creeps along until the end when he is suddenly faced with danger.
Let Down Your Hair, Look In That Mirror, and It's My Birthday are introductions to the character that this whole movie is about: Rapunzel. These all take their own turn at the magical and fun girl up in the tower. It's My Birthday introduces you to her greatest want while briefly playing a version of the main theme.
Wanted brings you back into Flynn Rider's adventure as he is being chased. This is mostly filled with fast action, but it lightened with a comedy sound. The thing with Disney music is that it doesn't stay serious for very long, in most circumstances. Since it is aimed mostly towards children, it needs to lighten up the mood every now and then.
Much of this music has a tip-toe sound to it. Refer to the beginning of Fit To Be Tied to understand what I mean. This song introduces what sounds like danger coming at one point, but then calms down very fast after learning that there isn't any.
The Lantern Thing is where you learn about Rapunzel's greatest desire: to see the lanterns. She still isn't quite sure about Flynn, though. This plays a nice combination of both quick and slow music.
A New Life is short and sweet, but is very bright and exciting. This is where Rapunzel finally is introduced into the real world.
Horse With No Rider is the first song to this point to show such a high level of intensity. This whole scene isn't a happy one in any way, so there is no reason to lighten it up.
Snuggly Duckling begins happy, but rapidly turns the feel to that of absolute danger. Escape Route changes mood again, introducing something that sounds like the Mission Impossible theme. It finally comes to an end with smooth jazz music.
Cavern Chase is a great track of high intensity that sneaks a heroic theme that hints towards a successful getaway. Water Rising combines a chaotic and intense theme coming from a fear of danger (or in this case, death) and a sense of calmness. Around the 2:12 mark, Rapunzel's hair glows and sends the music soaring above again until it explodes in triumph.
Campfire is a relaxing and emotional piece that slows down the mood a bit, until you reach the end and it hits the note where you know that something isn't right.
To The Kingdom and Kingdom Dance are when Rapunzel is in the kingdom having a blast. These two bring into light some new instruments while it energizes the mood. It almost makes you jump up and start dancing!
A nice, calming guitar and piano play under the moonlight in Waiting For The Lights. When the lights finally show up, it changes the mood again, making you feel much joy.
Kiss Interupted sounds mysterious, kind of like the theme when you see the Lucasfilm LTD logo on some of their more recent titles.
Realization And Escape is a long track that is part of the overall wrap up of the story. It's slow beginning gradually fades into a happy mood before exploding into a huge, joyful realization. This happiness is soon killed, sending you into a dark mood that continues throughout most of the song, speeding up and lightening up a few times here and there. At the 5 minute mark, it sounds more victorious, and at 5:22, it plays the jazzy theme of the mime. The heroic mood to this continues to the end, gradually increasing.
Let Me Save Him continues this joyful theme, but it quickly declines as Flynn is stabbed after realizing Rapunzel is tied up. This launches the listener into the lat bit of high intensity that is left in this score.
The Tear Heals begins very sad, and this is perfected with the guitar and piano. Soon, the resolving sequence occurs and the music reaches a new high of jubilee which the listener is able to deeply feel emotionally.
This doesn't compare to the Kingdom Celebration, which is just exploding with happiness and nothing less. This introduces many different themes until finally hitting the finale.
To conclude this film (and this post), I included the End Credits for your enjoyment. This long song is a basic summary of what what heard throughout the film, covering some action sequences, magical moments, and finally ending with a second fantastic finale.
Though I did not cover the complete album, you can find that I covered most of it. I hope you enjoyed this!
Joshua
Soundtracks Gizmo
soundtracks.gizmo@tech-center.com
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