http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czhEaWzSnXk
She sounds good.
This is the fifth part of my review on the music of Der Glöckner von Notre Dame
Esmeralda
Esmeralda saving Phoebus Der Glöckner von Notre Dame
Esmeralda is the closing number of Act 1 so it’s high on drama and plot. This song takes place when Frollo is searching for Esmeralda and Phoebus realizes that he would rather be “good than smart”, (morality over career ambition) and he disobeys Frollo. After he stands up to Frollo, Frollo condemn his to death and Phoebus flees with Esmeralda’s help. Frollo then begins to burn down Paris for Esmeralda while Quasimodo worries.
Musically this song is the melody that Clopin and Esmeralda sing in Tanz auf dem Seil and Draußen. However there are other melodies floating around in this piece and therefore it have more of mash-up feel.
Frollo and Phoebus Der Glöckner von Notre Dame
What I like about this song is that it speaks to the basic plot of Hunchback, three men one women. There is another famous Notre Dame song like this, mmm but it’s name escapes me, what could it be?
Esmeralda Der Glöckner von Notre Dame
All in all Esmeralda is a very dramatic song that ends the first act perfectly with Phoebus falling into a river. Mmm that reminds me of another Hunchback musical where the first act ends with Phoebus getting injured, mmm which one was that?
Click here to watch a video of Esmeralda being performed on Stage
Note – this song made my list of the top Ten Best Hunchback song which was my fist squidoo lens. Click Here to go there now
Next time – Trommeln in der Stadt & Ein Mann wie du
Mob Der Glöckner von Notre Dame
“I’m Gonna Love You” was made in part by Jennifer Love Hewitt’s desire to sing a song because at the time she was a singer
It’s a standard pop song, sweet and innocuous, though there is hint of codependency, she can’t be without him or her soul will die. What’s more Romantic than Codependency??? I wish this bothered me more but I don’t take this song seriously enough to care.
Can’t say I’m a Jennifer Love Hewitt fan, she seems to buy into the pop vibrato and has nasal tone to her voice but at least she sings without auto-tuning, so kudos to her. I do think it’s funny that at the end, she sings “babe” which is a reference to Quasimodo. It feels really out place with rest of the song and is really awkward. Like, it’s there as a pop music trope rather than as an expression of love.
“I’m Gonna Love you” is a typical pop song with codependent lyrics to boot. But this whole movie is just and attempt to get children to shut-up for an hour while their baby-sitters make-out, so I don’t imagine too many people (kids) actually listen or understand the codependent message of the song or they are too young to understand, so hence I don’t care, I found the lyrics more hilarious than sad, which I guess is sad.
Next Time -TBD
When I say I’d Stick With You is the worse song in the movie I mean it, but it may not be the stupidest. Which is odd considering the lyrics of Fa la la la Fallen In Love, which based on the title, it qualifies as the stupidest song of the movie.
Gargoyles Fa la la la Fallen In Love Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
Gargoyles Fa la la la Fallen In Love Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
Gargoyles Fa la la la Fallen In Love Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney 2
So the song is about how Quasimodo has fallen in love, that’s it. The song starts with the Gargoyles lamenting that their “boy” has grown (their boy is like 27) and in love but their lament is a fake because they’re happy that “Love has nailed him” then the crowd joins in about have love has “derailed him“. (Didn’t this happen more to Madeline???)
Gargoyles Fa la la la Fallen In Love Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
Madeline and Quasimodo plus crowd Fa la la la Fallen In Love Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
Madeline and Quasimodo Fa la la la Fallen In Love Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
Musically the song isn’t bad, it has a jovial and whimsical tone. The lyrics are one of the problems with this song. First off the song is called Fa la la la Fallen In Love and those are the bulk of lyrics. This is just stupid! But I think the “Oh Wow” lines are stupider. Now here the big problem, I can’t write this song off as completely stupid (and that pains me). The song uses a lot of word that I didn’t know. Like roundelay and madrigal. Roundelay is 1) a song in which a phrase, line, or the like, is continually repeated 2) the music for such a song 3) a dance in a circle; round dance. And Madrigal 1) a secular part song without instrumental accompaniment, usually for four to six voices, making abundant use of contrapuntal imitation, popular especially in the 16th and 17th centuries 2) a lyric poem suitable for being set to music, usually short and often of amatory character, especially fashionable in the 16th century and later, in Italy, France, England, etc 3) any part song. However both words are anachronism, I mean if your going to use pedantic words they should at least be fashionable to the setting. It’s funny that a song in a sequel would use GRE type words and be called Fa la la la Fallen, use that title as a Roundlay and use the line “Oh Wow” it’s mind boggling to say the least.
Madeline and Quasimodo Fa la la la Fallen In Love Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
Madeline and Quasimodo Fa la la la Fallen In Love Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
Madeline and Quasimodo Fa la la la Fallen In Love Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
I have another issue with the song. The song seems incredulous to the fact that Quasimodo could have fallen in love in the first place. Which is insane since Quasimodo wants to be in love because he think it looks nice. And this isn’t the first time Quasimodo has “fallen in love” remember Esmeralda, she broke his heart (or ripped it). The purpose of this song seems to be that a hard-hearted people has fallen in love which is evident in the lines “Love has nailed him” and “Love’s derailed him.” It seem more suited to Madeline and not Quasimodo. I mean Madeline as to overcome low self-esteem and has to get past Quasimodo’s deformity. What did Quasimodo have to do? Stare and listen to her. And further more why does the crowd care? When did Quasimodo become the Darling of Paris? Because the Darling of Paris is Esmeralda and is a 1917 Hunchback film version starring Theda Bara.
Madeline and Quasimodo Fa la la la Fallen In Love Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
Ariel & Jasmine’s Love Child Fa la la la Fallen In Love Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
Circle Dance (Roundelay) Fa la la la Fallen In Love Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
Fa la la la Fallen In Love is a dumb little song that uses big words for the sake of alliteration, which makes a level of sense because Quasimodo and Madeline’s relationship is founded alliteration as well lies but still it’s stupid. And no amount of smart and big words can help save it from it’s stupid title.
Madeline and Quasimodo Fa la la la Fallen In Love Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
Madeline and Quasimodo Fa la la la Fallen In Love Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
Divine Intervention End of Fa la la la Fallen In Love Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
Next Time – I’m Gonna Love You ( a.k.a Jennifer Love Hewitt’s Vanity Project)
Jennifer Love Hewitt singing I’m Gonna Love you Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
Quasimodo singing Ordinary Miracle Hunchback of Notre Dame II
Ordinary Miracle is Quasimodo sweeping solo number in the Sequel. It’s akin to the “I want something more” type of songs but it focus on Quasimodo’s desire to be loved by preferably a good-looking lady. He relates people falling in love as miracle but just an ordinary everyday miracle like lightning, architecture and growing-up. I’ve read that people like this song and they think it’s powerful. I disargee though, I find it clumsy in every aspect.
Quasimodo singing Ordinary Miracle Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
Quasimodo singing Ordinary Miracle Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
Madeline Figurine Ordinary Miracle Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
The Background Music is fine, the orchestra is quite nice but the medley and lyrics really kills it. Melodically the song has three parts, Quasimodo first bit where he imagines having someone love him, the second part where he discusses the “Ordinary Miracle” and the the last bit is Quasimodo’s singing about how’s he in love. Then the song goes back to being about miracle and ends on the imagine how great it would be if someone loved him. The trouble with these parts is the don’t flow nicely into each other. The worst offender is Quasimodo singing about love and how it’s a volcano of emotion and gypsy potions can’t undo it. That part seems like it’s from a different song
Quasimodo singing Ordinary Miracle Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
Quasimodo singing Ordinary Miracle Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
Quasimodo singing Ordinary Miracle Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
That brings us to the next point; the Lyrics. Quasimodo’s references to love and being in love with someone else as a common place miracle and that for him that would be extraordinary miracle. However he says that it would that it would “extraordinary if an ordinary miracle happen to him” now I know he’s referring to love but the line is written “an ordinary miracle” meaning any of the other aforemention miracles in the song would be extraordinary. However one of those miracle has already happen to him- “A Baby starts to walk or talk one day then shockingly he’s grown and in love“, Quasimodo is adult and is in love again, so an “ordinary miracle” happen kinda weakens his arrgument. Plus he sites, a natural occurrences like Lightning and Cathedrals being Miracles. Perhaps Quasimodo needs a dictionary but since he never master the alphabet maybe a dictionary is beyond him. Lightning, Architecture, and aging are not Miracles. A Miracle is an extraordinary event manifesting divine intervention in human affairs or an extremely outstanding or unusual events, things, or accomplishments. Given the examples and how Quasimodo ruins his point I’d say the lyrics are weak.
Quasimodo does a Hand Stand while singing Ordinary Miracle Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
Victor and Hugo Ordinary Miracle Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
Quasimodo singing Ordinary Miracle Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
Hulce does a decent job with vocals, it’s not a different song to sing but I do feel he didn’t perform to his full capability.
Laverne Ordinary Miracle Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
Quasimodo singing Ordinary Miracle Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
Quasimodo singing Ordinary Miracle Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
Is this song the worst in the movie? No, it’s not, but it’s not a good song either, it’s barely an adequate song. It’s just weak. Dare I say, Ordinary.
Next Time – I’d Stick With You
Quasimodo and Zephyr Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
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 Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
Clopin and Quasimodo Le Jour D’Amour Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
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 Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
Phoebus and Esmeralda Le Jour D’Amour Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
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 Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
Clopin and Quasimodo with Puppets Le Jour D’Amour Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
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 Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
Laverne as Esmeralda Le Jour D’Amour Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
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 Notre Dame II Disney
Sad Quasimodo Le Jour D’Amour Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
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 II Disney
Zephyr Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
Zephyr is the son of Phoebus and presumably Esmeralda. Zephyr looks like Phoebus but I guess his slightly darker coloration comes from Esmeralda’s side. I supposed if Zephyr had been a girl child he would have looked like a mini Esmeralda with a slightly lighter coloration, though given Disney maybe Phoebus’ color but Esmeralda doppleganger( Esmeralda with Blond hair click here to see).
Saroush magically zap balls to Zephyr Hunchback II Disney
I have been referring to Zephyr as being personality deficient and it’s true, Zephyr doesn’t have a personality and he’s uninteresting as a character. Basically Zephyr is child and acts as such. But Zephyr is not a character he is a plot device. As the best friends of Quasimodo he shows Madeline that Quasimodo is a nice guy and as the son of Phoebus he gets kidnapped. Zephyr is also used to redeem Madeline in Quasimodo’s eyes. If I has to assign him personality traits I would he’s a curious, impulsive, easily impressed, chatterbox with narcoleptic tendencies. The only things he does as character development are trying to join the circus (cliche childhood fantasy) and saying “yuck” in regards to romance ( yet another childhood cliche).
Zephyr sums up the movie "yuck" Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
The Cast Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
Quasimodo and Zephyr Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
So Zephyr wins the award dullest character in not just this sad excuse for a movie but probably all of Disney moviedom.
Zephyr's Award for "Dullest Character to appear in a Disney movie"
And yet oddly enough he’s only new character to get a song in the sequel.
Next Time – The Songs *shudder*
Quasimodo singing Ordinary Miracles Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
The Two Unused Love Songs
So there were two Deleted Songs in Hunchback of Notre Dame: “As Long as there’s a Moon” and “In a Place of Miracles.” Both songs were love songs for Phoebus and Esmeralda, and occurs right before Frollo arrested anyone. It was an awkward place for the songs as it’s like “Hey Frollo is coming” “Oh no but first a love song”, it just didn’t work. The other problem is that the directors felt that a love song for Phoebus and Esmeralda took any the Quasimodo-ness from the movie, yada yada yada the directors loved Quasimodo as the focus and no else. As result no love songs.
Both deleted songs were meh, “In a Place of Miracle” was a duet between Phoebus and Esmeralda and “As Long as there’s a moon” featured Clopin singing and followed a scene from the book. They’re average songs that were awkwardly placed.
I prefer “As Long as there a moon” more than “In Place of Miracles” but then again Clopin the best human character. I also kind of like that they didn’t have a love song however maybe the addition of love song for Phoebus and Esmeralda would have made fans believe their romance instead of just thinking Esmeralda was shallow in not choosing Esmeralda.
The Grand Finale
After Frollo dies, the hellish lava goes away and the masses are happy. This is when Quasimodo, the lovable abet not too conventionally attractive hero emerges from the darkness and silence of Notre Dame to be greeted with the acceptance of the people. Why is he now welcome? I think for saving Esmeralda and saying “No” to Frollo. It’s not for killing Frollo, Notre Dame and Frollo’s haste took care of that.
So as Quasimodo is being cheered, Clopin reprises the “Bells of Notre Dame.” Just in case you’re a complete moron the movie clearly shows the audience who the Monster was, the Frollo puppet. To think this whole time I just thought it was Frollo, Twist ending here; it was the Puppet! The man was Quasimodo, no surprise there. I kid. I understand subtexts most of the time.
If you like “Bells of Notre Dame,” you’ll like the Reprise. It is sung well by Clopin (as to be expected now from Paul Kandal.) It’s a bit repetitive though, not sure how times the word “Bells” is uttered but it’s a lot. There also some new lyrics added;
“Whatever their pitch (Bells, bells)
You can feel them bewitch you (Bells, bells)
The rich and the ritual knells (Bells, bells, bells, bells)“
A Weird Twist? No but a Fun Musing Either Way
He saying that the Ringing Bells have an effect of people. So was it the bells that made Frollo crazy with lust? I mean it says the Bells bewitch. Quasimodo did ring the bells right before “Hellfire” and you only see him doing it once in the movie. So the Bells were the Frollo’s puppet accomplice. Of course, it all makes sense. The Puppet couldn’t stand that Frollo had all the power, so he harnessed the ancient Deus ex Machina power of the Bells to make Frollo crazy which would led to his death by Notre Dame, of course!
I figured you out, movie. This makes the Bells and the Frollo Puppet the heroes and villains. Touché Disney, I didn’t know you were so complicated. Truly this twist rivals M. Night Shyamalan. (2026 edit – I was being silly here, I think at least I hope I was being silly.)
A Finale to the Grand Finale
On an unrelated note, the song is a good ending, you get a curtain call: Quasimodo is happy to be “Out There” “In the Sun” with the “Ordinary Men.” The Gargoyles are happy that the people now love “A guy like” Quasimodo. Esmeralda is happy because Notre Dame (Mary) “Helped the Outcasts”. Phoebus is happy because his ex boss is dead and he has a hot new girlfriend. Djali and Clopin are happy because the sanction of street performers had lifted with Frollo’s death and now they don’t have to pay the Busker Tax. The only person who isn’t happy in all this is the Old Heretic, he fell into a sewer and was never to heard from again. They say on quiet nights you can heard an old man saying “Dang it.”
On the Final Shot
Since the film ends with the same song as it began with, it’s only that it ends with a pull away though the sky above the Notre Dame. It’s appropriate yet a little cheesy but it’s better that ending on a stain glass window that show all the main characters, a la Beauty and the Beast or a stupid page peel by the Genie in Aladdin. Though it would be funny to have the Genie pop up in random Disney Movies saying “made you look” at the end. (2026 edit- I do not stand behind this take anymore. I’m not sure what I was thinking siting the Stained Glass ending. The fourth wall break from the Genie I didn’t love that as a kid as it took me out of the impact of the story but I don’t it’s “stupid.” The 2011 version of me had some hot takes.)
Next Time – Someday, the Credit song and Delated Song.
Clopin’s Third Song
After some build up to the The Court Of Miracles