iwantsongs-blog

[iwantsongs-blog]

Are You Singing an ‘I Want’ song, or an ‘I Am’ song? Let’s find out!

1. Are you expressing a desire for something? 

I said I’m not happy with my current circumstances. That counts, right? 

Well, yes and no. Do you just say you don’t like the way your life is right now, or did you express a desire to change or alter your circumstances in some way? If you’re just stating what is, you’re singing an ‘I Am’ song. 

2. Do you currently have the thing you desire, or can you reasonably assume you’ll have it in the near future?

Yes! I just can’t wait to be king! I don’t care what they’re going to say--let the storm rage on! 

Okay, sounds like you’re in an ‘I Am Becoming’ song. Like the name would suggest, it’s similar to an ‘I Am’ song, with the added factor that you’ve embraced or are preparing to embrace a new role/power/status/etc. You already know what you’re becoming, even if you haven’t done it yet. You probably sound very empowered and triumphant. 

No! In fact, I don’t know if I’ll ever get the thing I desire. Is it even possible? 

You’re definitely in an ‘I Want’ song. Buckle up and hold on--you might be able to get you what you want, but it’s going to take a lot of time and/or hardship. 

3. Is the thing you desire something you can’t live without? Essentially, is it something that you feel would complete you as a person, or something you want so badly you’d give up almost anything to achieve it?

Eh, no. I want it, but I have bigger concerns, like figuring out how to escape the deal I made with the Greek god of the Underworld. 

Yes! Absolutely! I want it I want it I want it I want it--

Okay, calm down. You’re definitely in an ‘I Want’ song. Prepare yourself for some serious inner turmoil and emotional growth. 

[iwantsongs-blog]

My Top Ten Disney ‘I Want’ Songs

Not MY top ten, but a nice compilation nonetheless. I’d disagree about the two songs from Frozen, though--I think “Let It Go” is an ‘I Am Becoming’ song while “For the First Time in Forever” doesn’t count since she’s expressing a want for something she’s essentially already received. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aa23K79spt8

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TV Tropes’ (Exhaustive) List of ‘I Want’ Songs Across Multiple Genres

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/IWantSong

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“Ranking Disney’s ‘I Want’ Songs from Worst to Best” (MTV)

http://www.mtv.com/news/2952314/disney-i-want-songs-ranked/

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"Which Disney Character has the best ‘I Want’ song?” (LA Times)

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/herocomplex/la-et-hc-disney-i-want-song-poll-20170316-htmlstory.html

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Links to Disney ‘I Want’ Songs

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs 

“I’m Wishing:” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlUbWNpg1os

“Someday My Prince Will Come:” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45r2t1pGGyQ

Cinderella

“A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes:” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1i8XVQ2pswg

Sleeping Beauty

“I Wonder:” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rg5gpoVR9V4

The Jungle Book

“I Wanna Be Like You (The Monkey Song):” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JDzlhW3XTM

The Little Mermaid

“Part of Your World:” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXKlJuO07eM

Beauty and the Beast

“Belle Reprise:” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Oni8_k5twU

Aladdin

“One Jump Ahead Reprise:” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usemebanodk

Lion King

“Be Prepared:” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkU23m6yX04

“Can You Feel the Love Tonight:” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25QyCxVkXwQ

Pocahontas 

“Virginia Company:” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ne2tzfxQ6T4

“Just Around the River Bend:” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ne2tzfxQ6T4

“Mine, Mine, Mine:” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSfYrPdTKVA

The Hunchback of Notre Dame

“Out There:” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxFD7Tk8Kps

“Heaven’s Light/Hellfire:” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4D26y7CQSHQ

Hercules

“Go the Distance:” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgnHF2CwrPs

“One Last Hope:” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtTmR_v6pz4

Mulan

“Reflection:” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_BtlAw4trg

The Princess and the Frog

“Almost There:” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljdAYTH5QSY

“Friends on the Other Side:” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g00kEcGh4j8

“When We’re Human:” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBCBv1O_Xi4

“Dig a Little Deeper:” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2v7QQbJO6aw&t=9s

Tangled

“When Will My Life Begin:” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=je4nDvNJXsg

“I’ve Got a Dream:” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTuwo_TqlhQ

Frozen

“Do You Want to Build a Snowman:” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-zXT5bIBM0

“In Summer:” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPe71yr73Jk

Moana

“How Far I’ll Go:” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPAbx5kgCJo

[iwantsongs-blog]

Bonus Episode: Give My Regards to Broadway

In which our narrator lists her top ten Broadway ‘I Want’ songs. 

https://soundcloud.com/catharine-kane-101539157/broadway/s-MSaLf

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Episode Seventeen: “How Far I’ll Go”

In which our narrator sadly reaches the end of her journey for now, but hopes to continue with lots of wonderful Disney ‘I Want’ songs in the future. 

https://soundcloud.com/catharine-kane-101539157/how-far-ill-go

[iwantsongs-blog]

Episode Sixteen: “Do You Want to Build a Snowman” and “In Summer”

In which our narrator carefully navigates the ‘I Want’ songs from the ‘I Am’ songs, and explains why “Let it Go” really doesn’t qualify as an ‘I Want’ song, despite what several YouTubers seem to think. 

https://soundcloud.com/catharine-kane-101539157/do-you-want-to-build-a-snowman-and-in-summer/s-21vom

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Episode Fifteen: “When Will My Life Begin” and “I’ve Got a Dream”

In which our narrator unashamedly admits her inability to appreciate this movie, especially its songs. 

https://soundcloud.com/catharine-kane-101539157/when-will-my-life-begin-and-ive-got-a-dream/s-JgU7z

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Episode Fourteen: “Almost There,” “Friends on the Other Side,” “When We’re Human,” and “Dig a Little Deeper”

In which our narrator exams how Princess and the Frog teaches and troubles all the other Disney ‘I Want’ songs. 

https://soundcloud.com/catharine-kane-101539157/princess-and-the-frog/s-DOQI9

[iwantsongs-blog]

Episode Twelve: “Go the Distance” and “One Last Hope”

In which our narrator fully acknowledges this movie’s cheese factor while also shamelessly celebrating her favorite ‘I Want’ song.

https://soundcloud.com/catharine-kane-101539157/go-the-distance-and-one-last-hope/s-GKxS9

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Episode Thirteen: “Reflection”

In which our narrator reflects upon one of the most somber ‘I Want’ songs, sung by one of her childhood heroes. 

https://soundcloud.com/catharine-kane-101539157/reflection/s-NZaJn

[iwantsongs-blog]

Episode Eleven: “Out There” and “Hellfire”

In which our narrator explains why she thinks “Out There” is the best Disney ‘I Want’ song because of, not in spite of, Tom Hulce’s singing. 

https://soundcloud.com/catharine-kane-101539157/out-there-and-hellfire/s-Vcq1w

[iwantsongs-blog]

Episode Ten: “Virginia Company,” “Just Around the River Bend,”and “Mine, Mine, Mine,”

In which our intrepid narrator looks at some rare chorus ‘I Want’ songs, and wonders if Pocahontas is perhaps too cool to even need an ‘I Want’ song.

https://soundcloud.com/catharine-kane-101539157/just-around-the-river-bend-virginia-company-mine-mine-mine

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Episode Nine: “Be Prepared” and “Can You Feel the Love Tonight”

In which our narrator explains why you can’t sing an ‘I Want’ song if you already know you’re getting the thing you want. 

https://soundcloud.com/catharine-kane-101539157/be-prepared-and-can-you-feel-the-love-tonight/s-qWoy2

[iwantsongs-blog]

Episode Eight: “One Jump Ahead Reprise”

In which our narrator reflects on the surprising darkness in Aladdin and analyzes the relative lack of socio-economic diversity in Disney. 

https://soundcloud.com/catharine-kane-101539157/one-jump-ahead-reprise/s-PeGTg