Disney movies are beloved for many reasons, but the enchanting music often takes center stage. Among these musical masterpieces, Disney Princess Songs hold a special place. These songs are not just catchy tunes; they are integral to the narrative, revealing the innermost desires and motivations of our favorite princesses. This article dives deep into the world of “I Want” songs sung by Disney princesses, exploring what makes them so compelling and universally loved. We’ll analyze the common themes, musical patterns, and lyrical brilliance that define these iconic Disney princess songs.
Unpacking the “I Want” Song: The Heartbeat of Disney Princess Narratives
If you’re a Disney enthusiast, you’re undoubtedly familiar with the signature “I Want” song. Coined by musical theatre analysis, this type of song serves a crucial purpose in storytelling, especially in Disney films. As TV Tropes aptly describes it, an “I Want” song is designed to “[establish] the character of the protagonist and their one burning desire that will motivate their actions from here on” (“I Want” Song). In essence, these songs give voice to the dreams, aspirations, and longings that drive the princess’s journey throughout the film. And in true Disney fashion, these desires often come to fruition by the movie’s end, adding to the satisfying and hopeful narratives.
Think of Quasimodo from The Hunchback of Notre Dame. While not a princess movie, his song “Out There” perfectly exemplifies this concept. Quasimodo’s yearning for a single day of freedom outside the bell tower is his “I Want,” and ultimately, he achieves this desire. This pattern resonates throughout Disney princess movies, making the “I Want” song a powerful storytelling tool. My fascination with these songs stems from a deep love for Disney music and the recurring patterns I’ve noticed across these melodies.
The Universal Desires: Adventure, Acceptance, and Love in Disney Princess Music
After countless hours immersed in Disney princess songs, distinct patterns emerge. The core desires expressed by these princesses often fall into three major categories, reflecting fundamental human needs:
- Adventure: The longing to explore the unknown, to break free from mundane routines and discover new worlds. Princesses like Belle and Ariel perfectly embody this yearning for adventure in their respective songs.
- Acceptance: The deep-seated need to be understood, valued, and embraced for who you truly are, often in the face of societal pressures or personal insecurities. Mulan’s journey is a powerful example of this desire for acceptance.
- Love: The timeless human desire for connection, companionship, and romantic love. Snow White and Aurora’s songs beautifully express this yearning for a loving partner.
These desires are not unique to princesses; they are universal human emotions, which is why Disney princess songs resonate so deeply with audiences of all ages. Today, we’ll embark on a journey through the eras of Disney animation, starting with the princesses from the Pre-Renaissance period and moving into the iconic Disney Renaissance, examining how these themes are woven into their “I Want” songs.
Pre-Renaissance Disney Princess Songs: Classic Wishes and Timeless Dreams
While the official Disney Pre-Renaissance era is often cited as 1977-1988, for our purposes, we’re using “Pre-Renaissance” to denote the princesses who debuted before the Disney Renaissance boom. These classic films – Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937), Cinderella (1950), and Sleeping Beauty (1959) – laid the foundation for the Disney princess archetype. Coming from a different era, these movies reflect the values of their time, yet their “I Want” songs still hold relevance today, expressing desires that transcend generations.
Snow White: “I’m Wishing” – A Simple Song of Love’s First Bloom
“I’m Wishing,” Snow White’s “I Want” song, is as delicate and innocent as the princess herself. It’s a sweet and straightforward expression of her longing for romantic love. Snow White dreams of a prince charming who will reciprocate her affections and see her inner beauty, a stark contrast to the Evil Queen’s jealousy and negativity. Given her isolated existence and lack of social interaction, it’s clear that Snow White yearns for connection and love.
Does Snow White’s wish come true? Almost immediately after her song, Prince Charming appears, serenading her with “One Song.” Although their paths diverge temporarily as Snow White seeks refuge from the Evil Queen, fate intervenes. In the end, true love’s kiss awakens Snow White, and she rides off with her prince to a happily ever after. The wishing well, indeed, seemed to work its magic for Snow White, solidifying the theme of love as a central desire in classic Disney princess songs.
Cinderella: “A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes” – Hope Amidst Hardship
As a child, Cinderella held a special place in my heart, and the film’s music, especially “A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes,” is undeniably enchanting. Even without the lens of nostalgia, this song stands out as a quintessential Pre-Renaissance princess anthem. It’s hopeful, gentle, and deeply moving.
While “A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes” doesn’t explicitly state Cinderella’s “want,” it powerfully conveys her deep desire to escape her oppressive circumstances. Cinderella endures endless chores and mistreatment from her stepfamily. Her days are filled with cleaning, cooking, and tending to their every whim, leaving her no time for herself. Her dream is clearly to break free from this servitude and find a life where she is valued and happy.
Cinderella’s magical night at the ball is the catalyst for achieving her desires. She meets Prince Charming, experiences a night of romance, and ultimately, the lost glass slipper leads him back to her. The perfect fit seals her fate, leading to a joyous wedding and a life free from drudgery. Cinderella’s “I Want” is fulfilled, highlighting the theme of escaping hardship and finding happiness, a common thread in Disney princess songs.
cinderella happy ending
Aurora: “I Wonder” – A Quiet Yearning for Romantic Connection
Aurora, or Sleeping Beauty, also has a short but beautiful “I Want” song, often overshadowed by the iconic “Once Upon a Dream.” “I Wonder” is a tender and heartfelt expression of her longing for love and companionship. The lyrics beautifully capture this sentiment:
I wonder, I wonder
If my heart keeps singing
Will my song go winging
To someone who’ll find me
And bring back a love song to me?
These lyrics resonate with a quiet yearning for a soulmate. Like Snow White, Aurora desires someone to love and someone to love her in return, someone to share her life and “sing a love song” with. In a delightful twist of fate, Prince Phillip appears immediately after her song, leading to their charming encounter and the duet of “Once Upon a Dream.”
sleeping beauty once upon a dream
Ironically, Aurora later expresses dismay upon learning of her betrothal to a prince she hasn’t met (unaware it’s Phillip), fearing it will jeopardize her chance at true love with the stranger from the forest.
sleeping beauty sad aurora
Despite the obstacles and misunderstandings, Prince Phillip ultimately breaks the curse with true love’s kiss, and Aurora’s wish is fulfilled. She finds her prince, and they are destined to sing “love songs” together forever. Aurora’s story reinforces the recurring theme of romantic love in Disney princess songs of this era.
Disney Renaissance Princess Songs: Bold Dreams and Powerful Voices
Ah, the Disney Renaissance! This era (1989-1999) is celebrated for its animation, compelling narratives, and, especially, its unforgettable musical scores. The Disney Renaissance princesses are among the most beloved, and their “I Want” songs are powerful anthems of self-discovery and determination. We’ll explore the “I Want” songs of Ariel and Belle in this section, saving the rest for next time. 😉
Ariel: “Part of Your World” – An Anthem of Adventure and Curiosity
“Part of Your World” is arguably one of the most iconic “I Want” songs in the Disney canon, and certainly, my personal favorite. Ariel, often unfairly criticized, is a princess driven by curiosity and a thirst for exploration. Her song is a passionate declaration of her adventurous spirit.
“Part of Your World” is not primarily about Prince Eric; it’s about Ariel’s deep yearning to experience the human world. She is captivated by the unknown, by the “walking,” “running,” and “sun-basking” world above the sea. Her desire is for freedom and exploration, to understand and be “part of that world” that is so different from her own.
The lyrics emphasize this longing for adventure:
Up where they walk, up where they run
Up where they stay all day in the sun
Wanderin’ free – wish I could be
Part of that world
What would I give if I could live out of these waters?
What would I pay to spend a day warm on the sand?
Ariel’s “I Want” is clearly adventure. While love for Eric becomes intertwined with her decision to become human, her initial motivation is exploration and a desire for a different life. Remarkably, Ariel achieves not just adventure, but also love and, ultimately, acceptance from her father. This makes Ariel one of the most fortunate Disney princesses, achieving all three core desires: adventure, love, and acceptance.
Belle: “Belle (Reprise)” – Yearning for More Than a Provincial Life
Belle, perhaps the most relatable Disney princess for book lovers and dreamers, has a unique “I Want” song. Intriguingly, it’s not the opening song “Belle,” but rather “Belle (Reprise)” that truly reveals her deepest desires. The song “Belle” primarily showcases how the townspeople perceive Belle and their own provincial desires. While it hints at Belle’s dissatisfaction with her “provincial life,” the reprise is where her “I Want” song truly blossoms.
In “Belle (Reprise),” she explicitly rejects Gaston’s vision of their future, declaring:
“Madame Gaston!”
Can’t you just see it?
“Madame Gaston!”
His “little wife”
No sir! Not me!
I guarantee it
I want much more than this provincial life
This leads into the defining lines that resonate with so many Disney fans:
I want adventure in the great wide somewhere,
I want much more than I can bear
beauty and the beast belle reprise
Belle’s “I Want” is a powerful yearning for adventure, for a life beyond the confines of her small-minded town. She seeks “adventure in the great wide somewhere,” a desire for experiences and knowledge beyond her current reality. While her adventure comes in an unexpected form – finding the Beast and the enchanted castle – she does achieve her desire for a life less ordinary. She also finds love, albeit not in the way anyone, including herself, might have imagined.
While Belle doesn’t gain acceptance from the townspeople, she finds it with her father, the Beast, and the enchanted objects. She gains adventure, love, and a magnificent library – a dream come true for a bookworm like Belle.
Sources:
“I Want” Song. (n.d.). Retrieved December 8, 2014, from TV Tropes: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/IWantSong
Disney Lyrics. (n.d.). Retrieved December 8, 2014, from ST Lyrics: http://www.stlyrics.com/songs/d/disney6472.html
Next week, we’ll continue our exploration of Disney princess songs, delving into the Renaissance princesses and beyond! Who is your favorite Disney princess, and what is your favorite “I Want” song? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Have a magical day!
Cheers, -M&M
