Esmeralda twirling, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Jetlag
The second song in the Jetlag 
version is called “Queen of my Heart.” This song is played over Quasimodo’s fantasy of Esmeralda. I suspect that the reason why the song is not sung by Quasimodo himself is either the song was written independently from the animation or they just didn’t want to bother with lip sync. But how is the song? Is it better than “Pity Not Quasimodo“? Well yeah, it’s better than “Pity Not Quasimodo” but it’s still a sappy and stupid song made worse by the visuals.
Esmeralda swaying, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Jetlag
Let’s start with some positives, because there are a few. First off, despite the visuals which are bad, the quality of animation (in parts) are the best in the film. They have clean lines and there is a decent flow to the movements, however that is also an issue that I will get into in bit.
Esmeralda dancing with Quasimodo, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Jetlag
The song while it’s sappy, it’s also heartfelt and self-actualized. Unlike the Disney version where Quasimodo doesn’t really have a doubt that Esmeralda could love him, here he does and is afraid that she’ll leave or may not even be real. Also the song stresses her kindness as well as beauty but doesn’t elevate her to an Angel, it keeps her human.
Eye Zoom through Esmeralda’s eye to Esmeralda, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Jetlag
Those are the positives and now the negatives. First off when this song begins Quasimodo stares up in the flame of a candle and the camera zooms into it and the fantasy/song starts. Ummmmm, hmmmm what other Hunchback of Notre Dame song has a guy starring into a fire and fantasizes about Esmeralda? Hmmmm let me think………. Oh! I know, Hellfire, Frollo’s villain song from the Disney movie where he calls Esmeralda a witch, blames her for the lust he feels, and plots to kill her while damning her soul. Why are they ripping-off Hellfire with this sappy ballad for Quasimodo’s love of Esmeralda? It’s the total opposite tone of Hellfire. I guess the candles links Quasimodo and Esmerada as an editing transition but it a stupid choice. Having him stare into the moon would have been better and easier to animate since this movie is lazy with animation anyway.
Esmeralda prancing, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Jetlag
Which brings me to my next point, the animation in this song. Now I said that the animation in this song was the best in the movie which is true but too bad the animators knew this because they repeat animation over and over and over again. Despite the sweet tone of the song it gets comical. The repeat animation is clearly just to pad the animation out for 2:42 minutes.
Esmeralda and her tambourine, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Jetlag
The dancing is also really awkward. All she really does is leap and spin around. She does so other moves like hits her tambourine against her breasts. What? I don’t get why she does this? She also at the end of the song she makes bats appear. Now I know they are supposed to be birds, which on its’ own makes no sense but they look like bats.
Esmeralda dancing with Phoebus, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Jetlag
One more aspect of the visuals really bothers me. The way the song is presented as Quasimodo’s fantasy so why his fantasy about Esmeralda is her dancing with other men? I mean he doesn’t really know Phoebus and he doesn’t know about Gringoire, so how can he fantasize that Esmeralda dances with both of them? What is Quasimodo subconscious trying to tell him? Or are Phoebus and Gringoire a manifestation of Quasimodo’s fear that she will leave him? I’m going to say no, the movie it not that cerebral. I get why they are here from a story context but it makes no sense in the here because the song is Quasimodo’s fantasy.
Esmeralda dancing with Gringoire, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Jetlag
So the visual are very problematic but how is the song? Pretty Bad. The predominant instrument is a cheesy electric piano. It’s really hard to get pass the utter cheapness of the electric piano here. As with the first song I’m not a fan of the singer’s thin, breathy, raspy voice. There is something about his voice that is sleep inducing and lifeless. And then there are the lyrics. They’re not terrible but there no good or special, they just meh.
Esmeralda spinning, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Jetlag
The result of the song is that it just stops the story right it it tracks for a lifeless, sappy, confusing song sequence. If it was good you can forgive it but it’s not good it’s boring. That is the most complementary thing I can say about the end result of this sequence is it was boring. I think a better singer, a better arrangement and better visuals that fit the song this sequence could have been good because it song fits Quasimodo character pretty well.
Esmeralda releases bats, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Jetlag
Watch the video of this song here
Next Jetlag Article – The Ending Song “Love is Everything” {gags}
Ending of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Jetlag
. And of course the bestest song from the Disney version Hunchback, Hellfire .
are good. Sure there are some weak songs but they’re thoughtful and the either drive the plot forward or develop a character. However the music is not without problems.
) and she is seldom even in the adaptations. So that was a BIG negative.
