The Next Right Thing Analysis

This is a heartbreaking song sung by Anna from Frozen II. Musical sequels tend to struggle, but I really enjoyed Frozen II.

I’ve seen dark before
But not like this
This is cold
This is empty
This is numb
The life I knew is over
The lights are out
Hello, darkness
I’m ready to succumb

I follow you around
I always have
But you’ve gone to a place I cannot find
This grief has a gravity
It pulls me down
But a tiny voice whispers in my mind
You are lost, hope is gone
But you must go on
And do the next right thing

Can there be a day beyond this night?
I don’t know anymore what is true
I can’t find my direction, I’m all alone
The only star that guided me was you
How to rise from the floor
When it’s not you I’m rising for?
Just do the next right thing
Take a step, step again
It is all that I can to do
The next right thing

I won’t look too far ahead
It’s too much for me to take
But break it down to this next breath
This next step
This next choice is one that I can make

So I’ll walk through this night
Stumbling blindly toward the light
And do the next right thing
And with the dawn, what comes then?
When it’s clear that everything will never be the same again
Then I’ll make the choice
To hear that voice
And do the next right thing

Frozen II

Anna sings this song after losing Olaf and Elsa. She is totally devastated at the moment, but needs to find a way to move on. In the story, Anna and Elsa were trying to save The Enchanted Forest. In the song, Anna discovers how she can do “the next right thing”, which is destroying the dam, which could possibly damage Arendelle. She has to find that inner strength and determination. Despite being heartbreaking, it still talks about moving on.

True Love Analysis

My favorite added song in Frozen is True Love. However, I still don’t understand why it eventually got cut from the production. It happens a pivotal and emotional moment in Anna. At least, it still is on the Original Broadway Soundtrack.

I’ve sat alone in this room before
Hours and hours on end
I know this delusional ‘Wish the door
Will open to reveal a friend’

I know this solitude
I know this kind of cold
But I had faith in what the stories told
Of true love
How I’d find true love

And here I am in this room again
Just as lost and small
That lonely girl with a desperate heart
Is who I am, after all

There’s no escaping her
But now the dream is gone
Because I spend a lifetime counting on
True love
True love

I was looking for a fairy tale
And dove headfirst into his
Turns out, you cant find love
If you don’t know what it is

And now it’s clear I’ll never leave this room
It ends as it began
With no one but myself to blame
I played my part
In the plan

Dreaming got me here
And yet the dream won’t die
I can’t wish it away
No matter how I try

True love
True love
True love

Frozen, True Love

True Love is a heartbreaking love song, which Anna isn’t expecting. For those who know Frozen, at first we think Hans loves Anna, but in reality it isn’t what we think it is. It later turns out that Hans is pretending. Anna needs an act of true love to save her life due to a frozen heart- but Hans betrays her and plans to kill her sister, Elsa. This is a way of taking over Arendelle. Ever since hearing of Hans plans, Anna is heartbroken. She doesn’t even know what to do- where will her act of true love be in order to save her life???? True Love happens after Hans betrays Anna- despite the song being cut, I still see it as a part of Frozen. Just like “I’m Not That Girl”, it is another ironic song.

Unexpected Struggling Characters

What exactly do I mean by this? Yes, several of my favorite musical theatre characters struggle. There are some characters that do exist that barley manage to survive. There are characters that exist that almost didn’t survive. What if I talked about some of my favorite characters that almost didn’t make it? So SPOILERS ahead.

Marius

He is the first character that comes to mind. Marius was one of the revolutionaries. He almost didn’t survive not once, but twice. He was saved not once, but twice. First, he was saved by Eponine (she took a bullet for him) and second, he was rescued by Jean Valjean (he literally went to the barricades to rescue him because his adopted daughter loves him). Jean Valjean literally loves Cosette so much that he would risk his life to save the man she loves. Marius is actually the only survivor of the barricade, which causes him to have survivor’s guilt.

Mimi

Mimi is the most fragile and vulnerable character in Rent. During Finale and Your Eyes, it appears as if Mimi is extremely weak and dying. This is the hardest on Roger because he loves her. However, Mimi wakes up and turns out she actually is going to live.

Simba

Yes, this does sound a bit unusual. However, in a ton of ways it makes sense. It is obvious that his uncle Scar wants Simba killed. Simba barley escapes death during the stampede and then later when Simba fights his uncle to gain his right to be king, it does seem as if Simba might be killed again. However, Scar loses the fight and Simba gains his right to be King.

Elsa/Anna

Well, Elsa was almost killed by Hans, but was saved when Anna sacrificed herself to save her sister. But at the time, Anna was freezing to death (meaning turning into an ice statue). However, what she did to help her sister was an act of true love, which saved both Elsa and Anna.

What other characters do you know that almost died?

Characters I Relate To

One of the most important things in storytelling is an emotional connection. There is a difference between relating to a character and emotionally connecting and not relating to a character and still forming an emotional connection. So, who are some of the characters?

Elphaba

As many know by now, Elphaba is my favorite musical character. Like Elphaba, I know what its like to feel different due to epilepsy, Autism, and learning disabilities. At times, I have felt misunderstood. I am also smart, determined, big-hearted, unique, impulsive, and believe in equality and staying true to myself. It was through Elphaba where I was able to finally start to understand both emotional connection and relating to characters.

Belle

Of all the classic Disney princesses, I relate to Belle the most. I am unique and a bookworm.

Anna

Now, of the contemporary Disney princesses, I relate to Anna the most. The two of us share a lot in common. We are both the youngest. We are both impulsive, outgoing, optimistic, and both want a stronger relationship with our older sister. Thinking of Frozen, I am excited for 2022 because Frozen is coming to Charlotte next year.

Annie

Annie remains my favorite childhood musical. I think I now know why Annie was my favorite musical before Wicked. I think a lot of it had to do with the character of Annie. I was an optimistic child and I was able to relate to her. At the time, I didn’t exactly understand emotional connection and relating to characters.

Conclusion

These are only a few examples of characters I relate to.

Review of Original Frozen Broadway Soundtrack

It has been known to some people that I finally own the Original Broadway Soundtrack. Usually after owning a new soundtrack, I usually am listening to it. Frozen is coming to Charlotte in 2022.I thought today to review the soundtrack.

The Review

Vuelie/ Let the Sun Shine On- this is the opening number. I think this is a stronger opening then the animated one. It actually sets up the stage really well- you begin to see the relationship of Elsa and Anna when they were children.

A Little Bit of You- this is a really cute duet between Anna and Elsa. You really get to see their bond as kids.

Do You Want to Build a Snowman- one of the well-known songs from the animated movie. I even think this song has improved especially towards the ending. Now, you see Anna wanting to get close to Elsa further

For the First Time in Forever- one of my favorite songs from the movie.

Hans of the Southern Isles- he finally gets some more songs

Queen Anointed- as expected, it happens during Elsa’s coronation. I am glad we see most of her coronation during song

Dangerous to Dream- this also happens during the coronation. It is one of Elsa’s songs, and I love how you see more of her fear of what will happen while she is Queen

Love is an Open Door- this song has improved as well. It is a lot more catchy and feels more like a love song even thought it “technically not a love song”

Reindeer(s) are are better than People- the duet where we really first get to meet Kristoff and Sven. Turns out this song happens sooner in person as opposed to the movie

What do you know about Love- this a funny duet between Kristoff and Anna arguing what they think love is

In Summer- Olaf is such an adorable snowman.Even. Olaf’s idea of Summer is crazy, but cute in a way. Crazily enough, the original Broadway Olaf sounds almost exactly like the animated one

Hans of the Southern Isles (Reprise)- I think this song does (in my opinion that Hans is the antagonist and villain of the musical)

Let it Go- everyone knows this song. This ends the first act, which I had a feeling it would be

Hygge- this song is a fun opening to the 2nd act. I believe this is now we start to realize that Arendelle is set in Norway. Now we meet Oaken, the guy at the shop

For the First Time in Forever (Reprise)- having those beginning parts are an improvement from the film. The rest of the song is what I am familiar with. This song is only on the soundtrack (sadly the US Tour cut it out)

Fixer Upper- we know when this happens. The moment Kristoff is trying to get help for Anna

Kristoff Lullaby- finally, we have a moment when Kristoff realizes he loves Anna, but scared that he might lose her (due the the Frozen Heart that was picked up on after Fixer Upper)

Monster-this is one of my favorite additions to the musical. It is Elsa’s big moment in act II- when she decides to try to make everything alight done in Arendelle instead of being the “Monster” people are calling her

True Love- this is actually my favorite addition to Frozen. I am glad Anna has this heartbreaking song, and happens after Hans betrays her. I relate strongly to Anna. Sad that the tour cut it- seriously, this song is sung by one of our two protagonists and happens a pivotal and emotional moment for her. I still see this song as part of Frozen.

Colder by the Minute- lots of things happen in this song. Kristoff trying to get to Anna, Anna trying to get to Kristoff, Hans trying to get to Elsa to kill her, and Elsa trying to figure out how to stop the Winter (I believe) and looking for her sister. It is when the storm is more like a blizzard

Finale/Let it Go- finally the eternal Winter is going to be over. Anna finally shows Elsa how- even though Anna has no magical love. You realize in this song that the True Love was between the sisters.

“The two cuts were thing I wish never happened especially “True Love”. At least the song is on the soundtrack”