How Elsa Found Herself (Musically) & Why It's Amazing

[@cassandramuller7337]

One thing that I also noticed at the end of Frozen 2 isn't about the music (so I completely get why you didn't mention or perhaps even notice it) but about the "costume". Did you realize that Anna's dress and hairstyle as queen look very similar to what Elsa wore when she first became queen? It's even in a darker colour and bigger (both the dress and Anna's hair + crown/tiara) which would imply or make it seem heavier but Anna isn't bothered by it. She seems to have flourished under it. She stepped into her own powers and talents as much as Elsa did. Elsa looked uncomfortable and constricted by the clothes, the crown, the hair-do and her queenly responsibilities whereas Anna looks strong and comfortable and completely in her element. I just thought that that was such a cool tidbit. It's like Elsa was always too earnest and controlled and needed freedom and Anna was too silly and carefree and needed structure. It's just so cool how many details are in every bit of both movies and I love them so much. On a different note, I've never felt so entertained and not jumpy druing a 30 minute video. I usually find myself fidgeting even when I'm interested but didn't feel that way today. I'm really impressed by your work and style and am definitly subscribing :D

[@HowardHoMusic]

Oh yes, Anna's arc is really great too. My focus was on Elsa, because of her songs, but I love the costume insights you have!

[@cassandramuller7337]

@@HowardHoMusic Completely get it :D But I think it's neat how all the things you said and your conclusions were already shown/hinted at at the beginning of the first movie in Elsa's costume and how much it contrasts to how Anna now wears that same/very similar costume. I love music but I think the thing I really notice most when watching movies are the colours and by extent the costumes. Isn't it also cool that Elsa's light colour palette makes her look ethereal, as if she's gonna float away whereas Anna looks down to earth and like the keeper of the home and hearth. I guess what I like most is, that you arrived at your conclusion the through the music, but the hints were everywhere. That just blows my mind. The way the artistic vision comes together in these movies is awesome :D

[@lizseal6401]

I also noticed that in Let it Go, Elsa let’s her hair down into her iconic braid, symbolizing that she has let it go. But in the second movie, we see her hair completely down. Showing that she had some things she wasn’t letting go, but now, she has completely let it go and is happy. Hope this makes sense!

[@cassandramuller7337]

@@lizseal6401 Yeah, that makes sense. But doesn't she already have it down at the beginning of the movie?

[@lizseal6401]

@@cassandramuller7337 it’s still in her braid. Technically it’s down, but she’s clearly holding something in, represented by the braid

[@femkebocker]

Many people I know thought that "it's not that great a movie". But I don't agree. I have literally no knowledge about musical theorie, but I was blown away by both of Elsa's song and mostly the ending of show yourself is sooo satisfying. It's musically amazing and, in my opinion, better than the first one.

[@JustAnotherPerson4U]

Yeah, The music of Frozen 2 and Elsa's story arc was hands down the best part. but what made it frustrating was that Anna felt like a tagalong especially when it came to their northuldran heritage. I was thinking why couldn't Anna go with Elsa to Athohallen. she literally pushed her away again like in the last film and I was like 'I thought we learnt our lessons about not doing that.' It could've been that Anna tries to go with her but realises halfway in the struggle that Elsa must go alone or something like that. that it's not possible for both to go. There were just too many things crammed. the stuff with Elsa and her songs were great. Not knowing anything about musical theory Elsa's 2 major songs were still pretty great. Yet everyone just kept dismissing them as 'Let it go' songs. This video explaining how that's true but not in the way that they're trying to replicate Let it Go's success but rather builds on it by splitting the intentions of the musical notes. It's so interesting how this actually gives me a different perspective on the muscials scores by Elsa. How they're all connected. I cant overlook the other fundamental flaws for Frozen 2 sadly. If Kristoff and Anna were tied in a bit better than by being the final messengers of Elsa's ice of truth at the end, then it could've been better. They had so much stuff. Frozen 2 would've worked better had they split it into a 2 parter. it felt more like an epic journey and NEEDED the 2 movies to show it. and yes show yourself was better than Let it go. Let it go wasn't bad but... Show yourself was so good. it made me forget that I was annoyed at Elsa for shoving Anna away. Like I was in the theatre watching it for the first time and I felt so touched I actually cried. like the tears just started and I didn't realise right away.

[@cindymartinez2152]

Me too! I liked it way more that the first one

[@GrumpyLoco6]

@@JustAnotherPerson4U In regards to Elsa going to the glacier by herself, I don't think it's flawed that she didn't take Anna with her. We saw how difficult it was for Elsa herself to get there, and she had ice powers to help her. If Elsa took Anna with her, at least one of them would've been killed. It wasn't Elsa pushing Anna away because she's depressed, like it was in the first movie. It was Elsa protecting Anna from certain death and that, to me at least, is one of the things that makes Frozen 2 feel like a stronger movie than its predecessor.

[@bluemoon7785]

IKR! I couldn't understand why people were saying that the sequel was worst than the first movie. In my opinion, not only the songs are better, but also the storyline....

[@cloudie1464]

Well, I loved the music, but the story... it's not as good.

[@redkb]

As a father of 3 kids under 10 I've listen to this music many times more than I'd ever admit! Loved the insight.

[@HowardHoMusic]

Haha, you're my target audience then!

[@UlmDoesAnything]

Lol RedKB is here

[@SpencerTwiddy]

Whoa, didn’t expect to see you here!

[@arecus54]

Woah red kb

[@jyotsnasrivastava6373]

@@HowardHoMusic Why the hell no one appreciates how much better is the background score of frozen 2 please make a video on it please please please!!!!

[@d_dave7200]

I find it interesting that all the musicians I know were blown away by Frozen II. Non-musicians in many cases preferred the original, or were like, "It was fine." While I'm not on your level in terms of music analysis, I noticed enough to know this movie was something special. I've already listened to the soundtrack more times than the original.

[@losfp]

Yep! I think the first movie was such a success that they gave Bobby and Kristen the keys and said - do what you want, so they had the freedom to develop something that was much more musically ambitious. Harder to listen to at first, but much more rewarding. Music theatre geeks love Frozen 2 :)

[@adamzheng4362]

As a musical theatre geek, I prefer the original. While Frozen 2 has many great songs, Frozen feels tied together more in terms of musical style. While the Dies Arae is a really good theme, it only applies to a few of the songs and not the background songs. All is Found, Into the Unknown, and Show Yourself all feel part of the same movie, but the ensemble songs lack a coherent theme. But maybe it's just nostalgia.

[@Orynae]

I love Frozen 2's songs, they're way better... Frozen 1 felt more polished as a whole, though. And a lot of songs in Frozen 2 have like one line that sounds super awkward. Like, "so I make a big mistake" in Into the Unknown kinda makes me cringe every time, it sounds like something a kid would say or maybe an easy rhyme. And "I promise you the flag of Arendelle will always fly" just immediately pulls me back into the fact that this is a kid's movie, because of how enormously on the nose the foreshadowing is.

[@QTCutes]

Exactly the same experience

[@carlosalejandroalvarenga4913]

Music is one of my favorite aspects of a movie and that's why this movie blew me away

[@sonlen796]

On the topic of Kristoff: One major theme I got out of the movie, one which is supported by comments from people like Kristen Bell and Jennifer Lee, is the idea of mental health (specifically overcoming chronic anxiety and crippling depression). I think Anna more clearly represents overcoming anxiety, as she is so desperate to protect things from change that when she loses everything she can't even put one foot in front of the other. I believe Kristoff always loved Anna, but he didn't quite understand what she was going through emotionally with her concerns about Elsa's future. He didn't get that Anna wasn't ready to 'move on' and marry him, and that she wasn't brushing him off but that her main focus was still her sister. It's why I've heard the criticism that Kristoff feels disconnected from the main plot, and I think it's the point. He DOESN'T "get" what Anna is going through. He knows that Anna wants to protect Elsa, but he doesn't understand that Anna NEEDS to protect Elsa, and couldn't go on without her. You see after the day is 'saved' that it's almost like Anna really acknowledges Kristoff's feelings for the first time, and his response is that "I get it". Lost in the Woods also (in addition to what you mentioned) is Kristoff learning to be patient with someone who is struggling with their own issues and realizing he should be more attentive to that, so I think the song has an important message about mental wellness. I think it's sad how many people see the song as just a 'funny song', so I appreciate more people talking about it! I also like that instead of the relationship struggle being about some big misunderstanding or lie or whatever, Disney showed a relationship that grew more distant just kinda slowly.

[@HowardHoMusic]

Wow, this interpretation rocks. I hope people read this!

[@Vandiiis]

You should watch Cinema Therapys' video on frozen 2, its about kristoff, i found it verry intresting

[@yiklongtay6029]

I still wished that he could go through all of that complex lines of thought while being part of the main plot. I am no screenwriter. But I do believe that, although difficult, it's possible to write a plot where he can join the adventure (rather than being sidelined until the climax) while dealing with the character development. Those two things don't have to be mutually exclusive. ALso, being in close proximity with Anna rather than being benched in the village for most of the film would be a better situation if you want to write some character-developing dialogue

[@MavisSiobhan]

​@@yiklongtay6029 Except him "being sidelined" was kind of the point of that storyline. Anna went off and dealt with what she needed to deal with while Kristoff was so distracted with *his* issues that he missed being able to go on that journey with her. It highlights the fact that people don't have to take journeys together in order for them to both get what they need done - they can go off, do their thing, and then come back together in the in without there being any hard feelings of "Why weren't you with me?" And why were they able to do that? Because their love is not fragile. Also, not to put too fine a point on it, but I’d be willing to bet that Kristoff’s musical number with the reindeer felt like and adventure to him that he wouldn’t trade for *anything*. Seriously. Screenwriting 101, if a character or prop won’t add to the story, don’t have them - especially if you can move the story along *more* by having them not be there. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I *love* Kristoff but, him being there would have hindered Anna’s character development and we’d have lost that awesome 90’s Boy Band (sorry Howard, gonna have to disagree with you on the 80’s Rock correlation, that song was totally N’Sync / Backstreet Boys :p ) character’s development.

[@hilarybee-chan5259]

@MavisSiobhan oof, yes!! That was definitely the vibe I got from Lost in the Woods. Awesome understanding and summation here. But Lost in the Woods felt so much like a 90's Ballad that I nearly shriveled from the cringeworthy embarrassment of childhood memories the first time I watched the movie!

[@IanWagner94]

When me and my friends, they were saying the music was weaker than the first and said I was defending it because I didn't want it to be a "bad sequel". I TOLD THEM I WASN'T CRAZY WHEN I HEARD THE DIES IRAE, AND INTO THE UNKNOW WAS A GROWTH IN LET IT GO! Damn that's satistying...

[@msk-qp6fn]

There are two thing I will say Frozen 2 is better than Frozen 1: the music and visuals.

[@alyalvarado1667]

@@msk-qp6fn Definitely. Frozen 2 maybe had TOO many songs, but it's definitely obvious that the songwriters and music producers worked to make the music even stronger than in Frozen 2. The plot of Frozen 2 is a lot messier than Frozen 1, but wow, the music is even more impressive, and obviously, the visuals are STUNNING, which says a lot because in 2013, Frozen 1's visuals were stunning already.

[@philaeew4866]

Ohhh you made the connection to dies irae? I looove the piece but didn't figure that out. That's impressive!

[@M.M.Y.B]

I’d say the music is more stage musical, and probably stronger in terms of plot relevance, but weaker because you need context to enjoy the songs fully. And that makes it less likely to play on a radio for a broad audience.

[@ronsorage78]

I agree. If Lin wants it, give the man what he wants.

[@HowardHoMusic]

You know what's up.

[@sansfangirl4life439]

FINALLY. Someone actually explaining why Kristoff's song is not only so good, but so is his part in the film QAQ Seriously Frozen 2 is real good! both musically and story wise.

[@crimbleland]

SAME I feel like I have been alone in this

[@marissajohnson1684]

I absolutely LOVE Kristoff's song!!! My only complaint is that Kristoff's role is too small and one-dimensional. He only exists in the movie because of this proposal conflict. But, as I think about it further, I realized that his depiction in this movie is the same as many female love interests in other movies (*glares at every superhero movie ever*). In a lot of hero stories, the woman only exists in relation to the hero. She has no other attributes or qualities independent of him. Kristoff fulfills a similar role in Frozen II in relation to the heroine Anna. He is really a support role more than a main character, and that is ok! He has moments of strength and masculinity that shine through ("My love is not fragile"), but it is not a toxic masculinity. He is there to truly support Anna and help her strength and heroism shine.

[@sansfangirl4life439]

@@marissajohnson1684 yes

[@kl-1447]

Also, Jonathan Groff definitely deserved a song

[@monicac2466]

I love the role Kristoff played but I felt they could have done it better. I did, however, appreciate that he wasn’t made to create unnecessary conflict beyond supporting Anna and trying to propose to her.

[@jpyanity443]

Show Yourself deserves to be the Let It Go of Frozen 2, not Into The Unknown

[@HowardHoMusic]

Not that it's a competition, but yes.

[@jpyanity443]

@@HowardHoMusic of course. They’re both amazing songs

[@b_r_ooklyn]

Into the Unknown was the hyped song before the movie even was released like Let it Go bc Show Yourself is such a huge spoiler but now that the movie has been out for some time it definitely deserves recognition But I also prefer Show Yourself over Into the Unknown

[@8is]

Since it's a competition all of a sudden, let's give Let It Go even more recognizing because it totally deserves it.

[@drartemisa21]

Big yes!

[@sarahluchies1076]

You know, the first time I watched Frozen 2, my thought was "This feels like the story they wanted to tell all along."

[@OneoftheVoice]

I like to think of the Frozen movies as a single story told in four parts. The first two, the first movie, is about setting the stage (beginning through the end of "Let it go"), setting up Anna's arc (she truly goes full circle) the second two parts are about finishing finishing Elsa's arc using the stopping point of the first movie while still acknowledging the time gap.

[@sba6796]

DUDE, I didn't know Lin mentioned you personally on his Twitter, I just went back to find the tweet and I'm so happy for you!!! Congrats, you deserve it! Also, I can't wait for Lin to watch this, he's going to love this!

[@HowardHoMusic]

Fingers crossed!

[@mephostopheles3752]

@@olihhayes That’s the tweet OP is referencing (and is also mentioned in the video).

[@drartemisa21]

Lin's mentioned Howard Ho in a lot of tweets and I felt so happy for him!

[@bizboss6143]

“Words make you think thoughts, music makes you feel a feeling but a song makes you feel a thought” I’ve been trying to explain why certain songs make me cry regardless of feel. This video was beyond exceptional.

[@zairazaira_]

is it weird that i am happy knowing i’m watching a video Lin-Manuel Miranda will see

[@Makenzie-t7h]

Honestly, yeah. When Lin hints at you to do something, *you do it without hesitation*

[@HowardHoMusic]

Yes, you do! And I did!

[@mulinhuan8410]

This I guess is why the movie gets divisive reviews (I personally absolutely love Frozen II). It has a super complex story that in my opinion requires a close to 2-hour runtime to elaborate it to its fullest potential. But since it is still geared primarily towards the little ones it has a runtime restriction of around 1 hour and 30 minutes so they have to make the story more fast-paced (in other words, the movie is a little rushed at some points). But I found it to be brilliant that the Lopezs found a way to make up for the slightly rushed story using the music which you explained beautifully in this video. I picked up a lot of hits and the musical hints (obviously not every single one since there's ALOT) and I understood and was moved by the narrative. This video just makes me appreciate this movie even more than I already had, thank you for the detailed analysis. You've earned a new subscriber. I LOVE Hamilton and just musicals in general and I'm surprised that I haven't found your channel earlier.

[@crackle6875]

The extra run time would have probably also given us more time with the side characters.

[@legrandliseurtri7495]

@@crackle6875 You mean, the side-characters that got 2 scenes each at most? Those side-characters? Yeah, they needed a lot more screentime.

[@kool-aid48]

Ok ok hold on You can also see the design of Elsa’s arch. By looking at her hair styles throughout the movies. Frozen: In the beginning her hair is tied up into a bun in which represents the insecurities and the rules he has to follow to hide her powers, her true self. Once she hits the song “Let It Go” she releases her hair but doesn’t untie her braid. It’s a step closer to freedom but still seems to be tied down to her responsibilities as a queen. Frozen ll: Elsa still has that braid hairstyle, still having the responsibility of being a queen. As she continues in the journey she still has her braid with her but that braid turns into a ponytail when she encounters the ocean to Ahtohallan. Once she arrives at the island she is able to release her hair. Meaning that she has actually has found a piece of herself that was missing all this time. Idk 🤷🏻‍♀️ maybe the creators didn’t think much about it.

[@lizseal6401]

I noticed this too! Even if they didn’t, I love the piece of storytelling there

[@kool-aid48]

@@lizseal6401 YESSS THE HAIRSTYLE EVEN TELLS A STORY

[@lisatindall2556]

Ofc they did. Nothing in a movie is happenstance. They have limited time and limited finances and everything has to "say" something. I did particularly notice when she fully let her hair down. (See, even that phrase is full of meaning.) She was Home. The castle was just where she lived.

[@kool-aid48]

@@lisatindall2556 YESSSSSS OMG YESSSS THEY PUT LOTS OF DETAILS IN THIS MOVIE !!! 😭

[@missmillennial1242]

I noticed this right away when I first saw the movie!!!

[@Marlokan]

Funny story. The day I saw Frozen II, I had just watched your video on Sweeney Todd and was explaining the Dies Irae and various places where it's found to my friend on our way to the movie theater. So when it appeared in the movie, I nudged her and was like "see see I told you it's everywhere!"

[@HowardHoMusic]

You may be thinking of another Sweeney Todd video (I don't remember making one), but I'm glad you're making all these great musical connections!

[@Marlokan]

@@HowardHoMusic you're right! I was binging several channels at the time. That's embarrassing. Love the content though!

[@kathrynvincent1563]

I think that was probably Sideways but both channels seem pretty cool and informative

[@lovelyunknown]

either way, Dies Irae is everywhere.

[@ysabellarivera8166]

I believe thats a Sideways video,,,, EDIT: yeah, im sure that its a Sideways video about the Sweeney Todds scorr spoiling the end of the movie using multiple iterations of dies irae

[@Zodia195]

Elsa quickly became one of my fav Disney chars after the movie due to how much I related to her on a personal level, and the song Let it Go definitely contributed to that. Frozen 2, Elsa's path of self-discovery, it hit the nail on the head as far as my own self-discovery journey want. I had grown to accept myself, but I still had SO many questions to why I was the way I was and thank goodness I found the answers to those questions. I CRIED when Elsa started getting emotional in Show Yourself and the song still makes me emotional to this day. Finding out who you are is one of the greatest gifts life can give. So yeah thanks to that sequel, Elsa is now my 2nd fav Disney Female Char (that's good). Only Mulan is still my fav. Great analysis video, I really enjoyed learning about the Samil. I love cultural stuff so it was fun learning this.

[@carlosflemingjr6464]

I can say the same. She’s easily my favorite Disney character due to how I personally relate to her.

[@xsweetiebloomx605]

Oh, same. Elsa being so reserved and hard on herself in Frozen 1 because she was scared of hurting others on impulse was a strongly relatable point for little me, and even current me. And yet I think so far I'm still trying to go towards Let It Go. But once I get there, I know how the sequence will play, so that's a relief.

[@m.i.a.826]

Oh my god, I didn't even realize how she broke the Disney Princess Happily Ever After mold. Not just the lack of a romantic finale, but also finding happiness in a castle. Thank you so much!

[@whatusernameis5295]

and then theres people thinking they should have used the songs that got cut instead of the ones they did lol. tbf those songs are good but they don't really fit in the storyline

[@randomname24680]

My take on all of this is that the first movie is on the consequences of fearing oneself (Elsa being scared of he power) and acceptance of others (the people accepting her as their queen), and the second is about the consequences of fearing others (the grandfather attacking the indigenous people) and accepting oneself (Elsa deciding to stay in the forest where she belongs and not compromising who she is for her people anymore).

[@Havanachan]

Ahhhhhh LMM KNOWS OF YOUR EXISTENCE LOL that makes me happy Also, I knew Arendelle was based on Norway but didn’t know about all the details and about the dam! I have a newfound appreciation for this movie now. Thanks for making this!

[@HowardHoMusic]

Haha...yes, validation!

[@alexandrarosewood452]

Finally someone else agrees that Frozen II is in no way inferior to the first movie. I feel a stronger connection to this one and now I think I know a little bit more about why I feel like that.

[@rainbowtrash_1999]

I cried watching Frozen 2 , I love Show yourself and Into the Unknown and learning more about the beautiful songs makes me really happy ❤️

[@bilingualkaraoke8665]

Thanks for pointing out the "dies irae". I think it'is pure genius, because the story is actually moving towards a day of reckoning for both Anna and Elsa: They are forced to atone for the sins of her ancestors - Elsa by bringing them to light and Anna by righting the wrong as far as it is still possible. One may point out that Judgement Day is an element of christian belief and that it's not part of said belief that you have to pay for the sins of your grandfathers. But then again, Anna and Elsa both get away with their lives, if barely though. Elsa eventually unfreezes and Anna isn't hit by the rock giants while acting as a living target for them. (Reviving her from death by squashing would have been utterly unfeasible.) Nonetheless, they both had to pay with their absolut willingness to give their lives for the cause of atonement. So they were judged by their good will and absolved. And that again is something very christian, so in my opinion the musical motif from the gregorian plainchant fits perfectly.

[@redsun23x]

Awesome comment!! Thank you for this insight!

[@bilingualkaraoke8665]

@@ImmenseNihilist Well, it wasn't me who brought up the "dies irae". And I doubt Robert Lopez used it just because he thought it was a nice tune. Nobody has to care for religion, of course, but being allergic to it doesn't make the movie and video more enjoyable, either, I think.

[@RossPitSharkHunter]

There's nothing that gets me more excited than someone making a not hateful video on Frozen!

[@joselgarlitos6368]

Show Yourself is so good how it ties to Let It Go. plus the pressure of doing a song that will top Let It Go.

[@cornnuts9457]

It's also worth mentioning that the Dies Irae is quoted in the Frozen stage adaptation, too - namely, in Elsa's Act Two song 'Monster' where she considers taking her own life to save the people of Arendelle from her ice powers. She even seeks guidance from her late parents in the bridge of the song, before deciding to continue living so she can try to reverse the damage she's done to the kingdom so far. The way that they have used this musical theme to bookmark so many defining moments in Elsa's journey across the full Frozen story is beyond incredible, and I'm blown away by how well constructed the Frozen scores are!

[@HowardHoMusic]

Oh cool. Wish I had seen it Broadway.

[@sabrinaspeakeasy]

This is the first video of yours I’ve seen and I subscribed like, 3 minutes in. I’m a retired opera singer, and you pointed out everything and more that I had caught, I feel so validated! I wanted to share my thoughts about how “where the north wind meets the sea, there’s a river full of memory” totally reminds me of the feminist chant “there’s a river a birds in migration, a nation of women with wings.” And to be in the theatre with my mother and daughter to hear those words “step into your power” and “you are the one you’ve been waiting for all of your life” I couldn’t help but weep in gratitude that these ideas are so accessible in the mainstream for my daughter and her fellow girls.

[@HowardHoMusic]

And now I feel totally validated by an opera singer! Thanks for the sub, and for introducing me to that chant. So cool.

[@chuckfinn89]

I cross stitched "you are the one you've been waiting for" because that line brings me to tears everytime. It's a beautiful song.

[@emmaj8337]

I love telling people that let it go wasnt her finding herself, show yourself was, and I haven’t even watched the video but i know im gonna love it, thank you for being hekkin amazing i love this channel

[@HowardHoMusic]

LOL that's basically what the video says in a nutshell. Good work!

[@Cachalyce]

Oh yeah, and then all these people debating wether into the unknown or show yourself was the official let it go of frozen II

[@paloma4444]

That is moronic. Let it go absolutely is her finding herself. No sequel necessary.

[@AMoniqueOcampo]

And here I thought that opening part reminded me of The Lion King. That Ocarina Link joke was so inevitable! This video is best watched with a mug of hot chocolate!

[@HowardHoMusic]

Ohhhh...yes. Wintry viewing!

[@nitfens6863]

Is no one going to mention how Anna keeps singing Broadway out of despair? First with Papa Can You Here Me for Do You Want to Build a Snowman, and then Empty Chairs at Empty Tables for The Next Right Thing.

[@HowardHoMusic]

Anna's arc is also great! Maybe I'll need to look at that too.

[@lisatindall2556]

@@HowardHoMusic Please do. I would love that.

[@refail1388]

To me, "Into the unknown" is about when you start questioning yourself (sexuality, gender etc.), "Let it go" is about coming out to yourself and "Show yourself" is about coming out to others. These movies are amazing💖

[@lent_ils]

YOUR ICON BADGE!!!! 😍

[@lent_ils]

Also, hard agree on everything you said

[@refail1388]

@@ImmenseNihilist I'm not sure if you know what feminism actually is. Feminism is good and it's needed in the society we live in. I never said Elsa was questioning her gender/sexuality. Out of the movies' context, TO ME (as I wrote in my original comment) these songs are about those things I mentioned. From my point of view. As someone who has been throught the stages of questioning, accepting my own self and coming out. It's totally okay if you perceived the songs in a totally different way. That's how songs work. But still you should check out what feminism is and not use it as it's something bad. Because it really isn't.

[@mintayza7784]

SAME

[@crackle6875]

Anna’s & Kristof’s solos during Somethings Never Change definitely remind me of several musical numbers from My Little Pony Friendship is Magic.

[@xsweetiebloomx605]

Ohhhhh that's why it sounded familiar, I watch the show religiously haha They give me vibes of "Morning in Ponyville", for example, and the other typical morning musical numbers in the show.

[@kitchensinkchronicles3272]

i knew i liked this film for a reason. i heard so many people talking about how it was meh, or worse than the first one. i completely disagree i think it was improvement on it. anyway, back to making my elsa halloween costume! (it's the 'spirit dress' from show yourself)

[@thejiddy]

When Kristoff said: "I'm here. What do you need?" I'm like .. melting.

[@peblezQ]

When Lin-Manuel Miranda demands a video essay on Frozen II, you give him a video essay on Frozen II. I hope he saw this and enjoyed it. I know I did. (I might rewatch both films because I didn't really like Frozen or Frozen II, but you kinda helped give me a new perspective on it.)

[@melodyfussell829]

Yesssss the Dies Irae makes an appearance! I was actually telling my best friend about this right after we listened to "Into the Unknown" but I didn't sing the tune until the end of my explanation and she was SHOOK.

[@hannahbaldwin7248]

Brilliant! I also want to say, the logic you used in the last minutes of this video also apply to Anna. Many people have wondered why Anna didn't just leave the castle, and that's because the castle is exactly where she wants to be. She's happiest when she's in Arendelle, and the castle is the heart of it all.

[@HowardHoMusic]

Good point. More on Anna coming soon!

[@dbseamz]

Even though I can see why they cut it, I really like Anna's deleted song "Home" (it came up on Pandora's Disney station a few times). It gets this message across very clearly. The reason I think they cut it is because it would make the threat of Arendelle's destruction later in the movie too predictable for some viewers and too painful for others.

[@JustMeJH]

Every time I watch one of your videos, I learn so much more about a story l love. The behind the scenes videos on D+ made the creation process seem more haphazard, but you have filled in the gaps of what happened after they settled the thematic beats.

[@HowardHoMusic]

I'd like to think so. I think musically they definitely had a grand design, which the documentary didn't focus on as much. The documentary just focuses on the areas of the story where they had the most issues, because that's more dramatic.

[@susanalopez5052]

I’m so mesmerized about how the second film develops the characters and musical themes even further. I love the first one and felt fulfilled by the ending, there was no need to tell another, but then the second one comes back and creates organic arch’s for both Anna and Elsa. They literally put into question their ending archs from the first “okay Elsa sure you let go but was it enough?” The way both into the unknown and show yourself compliment Let it go is wonderful. And I just adored the way the integrated the vuelie into the story this time around. And sure the story is flawed but I don’t even think it’s any more contrived than your typical Disney fairytale. What an amazing video !!

[@jonahbartlett4466]

you should do a "How Hadestown Works" video

[@HowardHoMusic]

Love that show and that score! Stay tuned...

[@mirandabee2323]

@@HowardHoMusic Ooh, I'm super excited now!!

[@ogaoms8985]

@@HowardHoMusic You should've replied more like WAAAAAIIIIIT FOR MEEEEEEEE I'M COOMIIIIIIIIIN'

[@chrissybunnyify]

Yes please!

[@flusel4949]

Please! It would be awesome! 😊

[@vilena5308]

She's a new Disney queen. Not evil and didn't need a prince. I'll raise a glass for that one alone. Thank you for sharing.

[@JoshuaFagan]

I love the note about the instability implied by the beginning of Let It Go. I'd always wondered why that opening is so striking from a musical perspective.

[@leothefirst]

I came to this channel so long ago and kept coming for the Hamilton videos. Never in a million years would I have expected a video on Frozen II. Well, I'm happy for it! I watched the movie a bunch of times while it was still in theaters last year and keep listening to the songs at least a few times a week!

[@HowardHoMusic]

I aim to surprise people in a good way!

[@KM-se4vh]

I'd love to hear you discuss Anna and relationships - my domestic violence support group found Frozen 1 and 2 to be enormously significant to us. Hans as a realistic depiction of an abuser (far from the stereotypical depiction: attractive, romantic, typical disney prince charming sort only he moves too fast), that song Anna and Hans sing with dissonant surprises: sandwiches instead of sentences. And yes, exactly, Kristoff saying, "What do you need?" instead of taking control from her! And I about fell out of my seat when Olaf told the story and said, "guess what? I'm the bad guy"! It IS a shock, honestly. And it's amazing that Lieutenant Mattias' reaction is incredibly empathetic (opposite of an abuser). It's a HUGE departure for Disney to have a romantic prince be a villain, and it's also informing the audience of the warning signs that are very real. I'm guessing musically this theme is supporting the story, as well.

[@andrewxc1335]

13:55 - My friends and I were laughing the entire time we were listening to "Lost in the Woods" in the theater because we heard this exact mash-up in our heads. Our kids were slightly concerned for our sanity.

[@SimonOpsi]

I always start crying to show yourself, even in this video 9:04

[@Luv2Dnce4]

The rules aren’t different in Ahtohallan. Pabbie, in the first movie, relates that fear is her enemy. In Frozen, this manifests externally, because Elsa can’t control her powers. When fearful, her powers are defensive and reflexively protect her. At the end of the movie, she’s beginning to understand how her emotions directly affect her abilities. Frozen II begins with Queen Iduna singing about how Ahtohallan is a “river full of memory,” and where answers can be found. The lullaby also warns “but can you brave what you most fear?” and not to dive too deep “or you’ll be drowned.” Elsa finds out a horrible truth about her ancestry, feels massive guilt for her parents’ deaths, and there’s an emotional breakdown going on. Because she’s fearful. Her mother may have been Northuldran, but her grandfather was a murderer and brought upon the curse. How can she fix it? How can she atone for what she’s just learned? The fear overwhelms her, and there’s no one to lash out at defensively. Not that she would, anymore, having mastered her powers. Her ice, therefore, fueled by fear, damages herself. What I love is that she sends out a message to Anna, a plea: “This is what happened, and I don’t know what to do!” Anna, the other side of “the bridge” between the natural and the magical, uses critical thinking to determine that the only aspect of the original conflict that remains is the dam. It is unnatural and built by Arendelle. It doesn’t belong. When it’s destroyed, the spirits are no longer restless. I think Elsa is delivered from her fear and guilt at the same moment, although she’s not sure why. The Nökk saving her and taking her to save Arendelle might be when she learns of what she missed. A psychic link between the five spirits, perhaps, now that she’s officially their “queen?”

[@HowardHoMusic]

Very nice.

[@Luv2Dnce4]

@@HowardHoMusic Not as nice as your deep-dive videos! Thanks for putting together such fascinating analyses!

[@dbseamz]

Oooh, I never made that connection about the guilt and the ice that froze Elsa! That adds a whole new layer to what I had thought was just "the dam was hurting the magic, break it and the magic (including Elsa herself) is restored".

[@ghostwizard7597]

I never truly understood why i liked Let it Go better than Into the Unknown and Show Yourself until this video. The feeling of wanting AND achieving at the same time fits way more with me than both feelings being seperate. This video was simply amazing and i learned so much about singing, story, history and growing as a person.

[@NinaNiterose86]

19:04 Damn, that quote is everything!

[@SCErnst]

Love it, thanks! About Elsa relinquishing her powers as queen: extreme act of modesty, honesty & becoming her true self, not a thing people actually in power are usually willing to do - wink at King George in Hamilton, "I wasn't aware that was something a person could do". This is the very essence of emancipation to me - worldly power might not make us happy at the end of the day! And that is a rare reveal in no matter what narrative or movie.

[@isoldelujan]

dies irae representing judgement/popularly being used as a sequence in requiems, it’s quite fitting since elsa goes to athohallen to not only find an answer to her questions, but actually to be judged (and is deemed worthy), the old her then “dying” for her to be reborn (as the fifth spirit). or as you said: settling into herself.

[@HowardHoMusic]

Oh, that's good.

[@sirenfang1179]

ngl when i clicked on the video i expected you to dive deep more into the content of the song rather than its form, but it turned out just as interesting! personally i'd always interpreted show yourself as a coming out/self-acceptance song (which can be said is her returning to her true 'nature') but it's kind of incredible that they managed to do that AND layer it with another meaning through the musical theory of it. brilliant!

[@SimonOpsi]

At first I wasn't going to watch the whole thing, but then I did it anyway. Thanks for teaching us about the "Unknown" of the movies ;)

[@drartemisa21]

Yes! I've been looking for someone to break down the music in Frozen 2. I'm no expert in musical deconstruction of a score, and it feels so great to see a breakdown of the FEELINGS the music imparted.

[@anonymousdratini]

I’m happy someone finally talked about the Kulning thing. I’ve been dying to talk about the kulning thing for two years.

[@analysis9479]

My name is also Annika, pronounced the same way. I’m an american, so I’m unfortunately used to people butchering it. Or using the Scandinavian name and spelling but mothers pronouncing it completely different. It’s such a joy for me to hear my name correctly. 🥺 even if it’s for another lady.

[@Starchild719]

Can you also talk about Anna's journey? She had an amazing arc in Frozen 2 and the music absolutely mirrored that. Also I'd like to point out that "Into the Unknown" has a few bars of the theme from "Do you Wanna Build a Snowman" in its beginning, hinting at their role reversal from Frozen to Frozen 2. Absolute masterpiece of a movie, brilliantly dissected here. Thank you!

[@HowardHoMusic]

Lots of love for Anna in these comments! Anna has a great arc too, so we shall see!

[@derk5867]

It seems that many people don't really understand Elsa's character arc in these movies but I think you explained it perfectly

[@1DMapler18]

Tbh the flood should've destroyed arendelle so that we could see a moment where Anna stepped up as queen for her people and led them in the reconstruction efforts. Also I def preferred the music from frozen 2 than the first one mostly because the music in the second one felt more sophisticated and grounded to me

[@ElenaPhilipova]

Extraordinary analysis, thank you so much! Easy to understand for a non-professional musician, and full of thoughtful insights for aficionados, entertaining and offering a seamless flow of the visual and musical narrative. Brilliant!

[@gbartho]

How the hell does your channel has less than 100k subs? I first watched Encanto video and I came to watch the Frozen and I'm in love!!! Seriously, I have never paid too much attention to Disney musics before and it's just mind blowing

[@matzsn10]

The amount of research and thought that went into Frozen and Frozen 2 is incredible and extremely under appreciated! Thank you for explaining all of this, I love Frozen and between this video and the "Into the Unknown" documentary on Disney+, I really do now have a better appreciation for what went into these movies.

[@Writing4Jesus247]

I love the Frozen 2 songs BECAUSE they're hard! They've pushed me into the unknown of my singing voice and have helped my voice become stronger. It's so fun practicing! Into the Unknown is my favorite, and it's super hard to NOT sing when I hear it.

[@HowardHoMusic]

Can't wait for a whole generation of singers who grew up on Into the Unknown and now have big vocal ranges.

[@KGabay11]

I love all of this. The analysis, the insight, the ingenuity in the songs of Elsa aaaaaa. Very inspiring

[@deeprochakravorty]

What saddens me is that Elsa's story arc is complete now, so there's less chance that there will be a threequel. But I sure hope there is. I have faith in you directors!

[@PigIA]

Jesus Christ I was singing into the unknown before I even saw this video

[@annymus4502]

What flag is that?

[@diyaprakash3903]

@@annymus4502 The genderfluid flag

[@annymus4502]

@@diyaprakash3903 Oh thanks

[@pharuhs]

This new understanding of the music is giving me chills. I've always known Elsa was gonna die when I heard "go too far or you might drown" and Anna's fear for Elsa's safety but from a musical standpoint, I will forever remember that musical reference to death in every movie i see as a warning. What writing!

[@liveegge1547]

Santa lucia is a tradition in all of scandinavia, not only sweeden. But nevertheless, this video is amazing! How smart this video is is mindblowing

[@RandomReader24]

It's amazing how much of this is known almost subconsciously. I like that quote about music with lyrics making you feel a thought. Those are the songs that always end up being a favorite.

[@ReeHagz2]

I learned so much in this video. I never knew that the melodies of the songs are so much of the message, and though I don't know much about music I could still relate to the feeling the songs gave me despite not knowing "why". And thanks for the visual illustrations on octaves, it also made me understand.

[@SpringStarFangirl]

I was thinking about this in the shower, but the first four notes of the final chorus, the LET IT go-oh, is actually that same half-step down as in Show Yourself. Elsa is settling in, accepting who she is, in this final chorus.

[@Sapphira603]

Great video! My two year old is Frozen obsessed and I've had to listen to the songs from both full-length films, the Frozen Fever short, and Olaf's Frozen Adventure so often that at least one of them is in my head at all times. I really loved how the call was incorporated into three different songs in Frozen 2 (Into the Unknown, Show Yourself, and--because of Show Yourself--All is Found). It's really exciting to listen to all three knowing that they had to be structured around the same four notes, but all three are distinct songs that fit the call into them in different ways.

[@brooklyn113]

I remember going insane when Frozen first came out and everyone kept making jokes about Vuelie being the snow version of Circle of Life.

[@miriambergo]

Another Disney Princess boundary she breached: she got to meet her mom. Seriously though, amazing analysis. Great job!

[@isabela8214]

wait, but they knew their parents in the first movie? I thought Anna was like 12 or so when her parents died...

[@xavier8868]

Rapunzel got to meet her mom...

[@ommadawnDK]

Oh wow. This Frozen playlist has a surprising amount of Frozen 2.

[@deliriumnights]

This video just OPENED MY EYES SO MUCH regarding feminism. Many many people laughed at "lost in the woods" BECAUSE KRISTOFF WAS SHOWING HIS EMOTIONS AND I NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT IT

[@pickanapple]

I am from Norway, and noticed that at 8.39 you mentioned Santa Lucia. Santa Lucia is also celebrated here in Norway, with Santaluciadagen (The Santa Lucia day) being celebrated on the 13 th December

[@Hellion912]

I think it still qualifies as a "want song" because she wants acceptance, and it looks like she gets it because she learns how to accept herself but she still hasn't let others accept her. She's isolating herself in that castle, so it's not the place she really finds acceptance like when she lets her sister love her.

[@annaantoinette]

Santa lucia has also become a tradition in Denmark, I can imagine some traditions are just similar in across Scandinavian countries

[@MsBabbi]

It’s widespread and very integrated in Norway too, not confined to Sweden. Pretty much any school, kindergarten and in some cases workplaces will have a small procession and they might go visit nursery homes to do good for the elderly

[@kuppikahvikeisari9120]

@@MsBabbi Also Finland ;) the whole Frowen is a hotpot of ALL of the Scandinavia countries. Ofc Norway is most presented, but to dismis the clearly Finnish Ahtohallan to norwegian felt very dismissive.

[@sapphicfreckle]

Man, I know absolutely nothing about music, but boy your videos are interesting as heck!💜

[@thipower]

I'm learning and have fun a lot!!! I hope you guys are ok and don't stop... Brazilian here🌳🌹 "You are the one you've been waiting for all of your life"

[@g.b569]

While Frozen 2 had some Plot problems due to Disney rushing the production, you cannot say it was done without the full love and passion of the crew. The music, the culture, the mature issues, it’s all great.

[@anonymousdratini]

The tweet from LMM was really cute. It’s pretty neat that he and the Lopez’s are the people writing Disney’s animated musicals these days.

[@mercy_faith_]

I would love to see more disney themed video's like this! I find learning the history behind the movie fascinating, its incredible learning some of the subtleties that made Frozen as well loved as it is.

[@purplexninjamom]

WOW! Congrats on the Lin Manuel Miranda shoutout!

[@MARYWTHER]

I'll never understand people who say Frozen 2 is a bad movie, like "there is no real bad guy" or "there is no storyline". Didn't these people have had to figure themselves out in their own lives and their places into the world and what they wanted to do and who they wanted to be in the world?? It's one of the best Disney movies about that, along with Moana. Both Show Yourself and I Am Moana are some of the best Disney Princess songs and I'm so glad kids these days have the opportunity see that it's more important to learn your OWN value more than anything.

[@legrandliseurtri7495]

4:37 The whole section that starts here is mindblowing. So, if you knew this little melody and knew it's origin, you could have actually predicted Elsa dying... 12:50 I knew this was based on a real life nation, but not that even the dam is based on a real life event. That's a really cool reference. 24:40 Is that why Show Yourself is so calming? When I listen to this song, I feel like I reached a safe place and can rest. I used to listen to Show Yourself before going to bed lol(not the ending, obviously, but the first 1m30 or so).

[@chiarapassuello8347]

This video was amazing! Your analysis was so on point and as someone who loves and plays Music and identifies with Elsa so much from a personal perspective, I really thank you! Elsa for me is a very important character and I’ve never been more connected to a fictional character before (she literally changed my life for many reasons and when I saw the Show Yourself sequence in the theater for the first time I cried my eyes out: I was so fricking emotional). Listening to your video was like finding out even more aspects about her! Amazing!

[@chuckfinn89]

This movie was SO GOOD. I cry every time from Show Yourself immediately followed by Next Right Thing and now I have even more reason why. The music in this film is fantastic.

[@sweetiewolfgirl]

Wait. So the two films combined includes The Hero's Journey??? Litteraly a masterpiece this thing. Seriously, this entire thing is crafted so specifically and well. That includes me who looks at most movies and goes "overrated" meanwhile i cried like 9 times in each. Seriously, the time these came out it took a ton to make me cry

[@mitica-mar]

I already like the movie and the songs...you didn’t have to do this to me and make me obsessed with em

[@mylenijpema3723]

thank you SO MUCH for this video. I always try to tell and explain people around me why Frozen 1 and 2 are so much more than the litteral story you see and that the underlying story is so incredibly deep. I find it hard to explain that, but showing them this video really helps :) also, I really did learn a few things about the songs I didn't know yet

[@BarneyT6774]

I love the little "Here I am" motif in show yourself that she first sings in let it go.

[@defaulthand8488]

My grandmother actually did rosemaling and we have a bench she painted. It’s beautiful and I wish I had been able to learn it from her.

[@FRIENDLYJAS]

High level musical education here! This song resonates so deeply in my own life, and I never get tired of it.

[@juliaweisenberger4286]

I find it fascinating how every 2nd Disney movie brings the story to a satisfying conclusion. I had the same thing with Jungle Book 2: Mowgli never includes his Jungle side in his being. That is being done in the 2nd movie. I love your video! :D Thanks for sharing these amazing insights!

[@izabellexx]

This is a beautiful video. I cannot thank you enough. Beautifully explained, makes me want to learn everything about the Norwegian culture. I literally cannot thank you enough THANK YOU

[@izabellexx]

you literally earned an immediate subscription I can’t believe I just watched the best video on KZbin oh my GOD

[@emmaj8337]

6:32 Can we talk about that transition please 😯

[@beckysaurus3277]

My theory on how Elsa froze is her emotions. I’m frozen she feels afraid. which fear is an emotion that is directed outward towards what you’re afraid of (people), so she froze outward. In frozen 2 she feels guilt over her grandfathers actions guilt is directed inward so she froze herself. Until the thing that she felt guilty for was destroyed (bridge). The song says she’ll drown and she did she was drowning in her emotions.

[@HowardHoMusic]

Oh interesting. I kinda like that.

[@laikeree_4213]

I have a new headcanon now, thank you ^^

[@lizseal6401]

Exactly! I had a more simple version of this in my head. Which was that in the first frozen, Anna’s heart is frozen and so she freezes, the guilt of her grandfather’s mistake combined with her already sad feelings of herself causes her to freeze from the coldness in her heart. My family is always confused as to why she freezes and I have to explain this to them every tine