"Monster" is a song from the 2018 Broadway musical Frozen, an adaptation of the 2013 Disney's computer-animated musical film of the same name. Sung by Elsa, the song takes place during the second act.[1] The song was written by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez.[2] The scene takes place after Elsa strikes Anna with her powers and starts questioning her own mortality, then Hans and his men come to capture Elsa in her ice palace.
| "Monster" | |
|---|---|
| Single by Caissie Levy, John Riddle and Original Broadway Cast of Frozen | |
| from the album Frozen: The Broadway Musical (Original Broadway Cast Recording) | |
| Published | Wonderland Music Company |
| Length | 3:42 |
| Label | Walt Disney |
| Songwriter(s) | |
| Producer(s) |
|
Composition
edit"Monster" is written in D minor and vocals span from A3 to Eb5.[3] The song contains an allusion to Dies Irae.[4]
Release
editThe song was released on YouTube Vevo with a music video the same day the show opened on Broadway. This track was performed at New York City's Gotham Hall, and is the first of four original songs from the musical to be released weekly through the Disney on Broadway channel (the Anna and Kristof duet "What Do You Know About Love?", the Elsa solo "Dangerous to Dream", and the Anna solo "True Love").[5][6][7]
Context
editThe soliloquy ballad sees Elsa ask herself if she is evil due to her magical abilities, and wonders if the world would be better without her. She first attempts this by running away to a far-off place and building an ice palace ("Let It Go"). When a winter is triggered regardless, she considers more extreme measures.
This song takes place after Elsa has just thrown Anna and Kristoff out of the ice palace, as Hans and his men from Arendelle arrive to capture her. She thinks about the damage she has caused,[4] while she is buried under her self-doubt, fear, and uncertainty.[6]
Critical reception
editThe Telegraph felt that the song "allows the audience to better understand her motivations" at this point in the story.[8] Mashable deemed the piece an "earworm",[9] while Digital Spy described the song as "pure Elsa".[6]
References
edit- ^ "WATCH: 'Frozen' Broadway musical debuts new song for Elsa". journal-news. Retrieved 2018-02-28.
- ^ "Broadway's Elsa Sings New Song "Monster" From the 'Frozen' Musical". /Film. 2018-02-25. Retrieved 2018-02-28.
- ^ "Monster". 27 February 2018.
- ^ a b Disney On Broadway (2018-02-22), Writer's Commentary: "Monster" from FROZEN The Musical, retrieved 2018-02-28
- ^ Soloski, Alexis (2018-02-23). "Disney's Frozen musical opens on Broadway: 'More nudity than expected'". the Guardian. Retrieved 2018-02-28.
- ^ a b c "Disney's Frozen musical drops new Elsa song 'Monster'". Digital Spy. 2018-02-23. Retrieved 2018-02-28.
- ^ "Watch Broadway's Elsa sing the new song from the 'Frozen' musical". EW.com. Retrieved 2018-02-28.
- ^ Bryant, Miranda (2018-02-26). "Frozen: The Musical first look: Elsa and Anna's surprisingly risque Broadway debut is a hit with adults". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2018-02-28.
- ^ Han, Angie. "Here's the new 'Frozen' song that's gonna get stuck in your head for the next million years". Mashable. Retrieved 2018-02-28.