An "I Want" song is a monologue of sorts that defines what the character uhhh wants. For protagonists it's usually the start of the hero's journey and shows us what their main goal for the movie will be. Villains can have "I Want" songs too ahem HELLFIRE. But since I've already made a post about villain songs, we'll be focusing on our beloved heroes! As always, this is all my own opinion and just the order of songs that I prefer. Also, I had a hard time narrowing these down so I'm going to cheat a little bit and have my honourable mentions at the end.
10. One Jump Ahead (Reprise) - Aladdin
Aladdin wants people to find out that there's so much more to him! Unlike it's original, it's much slower and shorter. Part of me wishes it was a bit longer but I even though it's only a few lines long, it's incredibly effective and one of the most memorable scenes in the film. Fun fact, a song called Proud of Your Boy was deleted early on in the development of the movie and it would have made an amazing addition to this list. Fortunately, it made it into the Broadway production and it's pretty much amazing. You can check out Adam Jacobs (Aladdin on Broadway) singing Proud of Your Boy with the legendary Alan Menken on the piano HERE. (Prepare your tissues!)
9. Almost There - The Princess and the Frog
Tiana knows what she wants and she knows she's so close to getting it. At this point in the film Tiana has already been established as a hard-working and determined young lady. She works day and night in hopes of raising enough money to open her own restaurant in her father's honour. The animation design switches in and out of the traditional 2D and a very stylized sort of dream sequence that shows Tiana cooking and baking numerous foods and strutting around because she owns it! Tiana knows she's almost there and her determination is certainly a quality that we should all adopt. I may also sing this song with Rosie when we're almost close to finishing exams... okay, I absolutely do.
8. When Will My Life Begin? - Tangled
Rapunzel just wants some excitement and to see those floating lights! Oh if we could only be as productive as Rapunzel at 7 AM every morning. Realistically, I'm usually rushing t also get ready and get out the door to catch a bus. We see Rapunzel do everything from, painting, candle-making, cooking and brushing and brushing and brushing that infamous hair. She's tired of the repetitiveness of her mornings and just wants something different and to see those floating lights! Don't worry girl, you'll finally see the light!
7. Santa Fe - Newsies
Most people want to get to New York, but Jack Kelly wants to get out of it. Jack thinks that Santa Fe is the promise of a new beginning for him unlike his life as a paperboy in New York. Tired of taking orders from his oppressive boss Joseph Pulitzer, Jack just wants to be free. Even at 17, he feels like he has no future. Unfortunately, I couldn't find a good quality version of the scene in the film. Missed opportunity to have some singing and dancing Christian Bale, But here's the Broadway version by Jeremy Jordan, which I'm pretty much in love with. You can watch Jeremy Jordan sing the Santa Fe (Prologue) with Alan Menken at the piano HERE. (Still have your tissues?)
6. Out There - the Hunchback of Notre Dame
Quasimodo just wants to live one day out there! We start of with Frollo manipulating Quasimodo and hammering into him messages of self-doubt and worthlessness. Amazingly, poor Quasi just takes it all in. I'd probably slap his face silly! Okay, maybe not... I'd probably chicken out. Quasimodo is tired of hiding out alone in the bell tower and wants to be part of the people out there. Think of it as Part of Your World moment. It's just a simple request which makes it so heartbreaking that he's shut out. He just wants one day to be an ordinary man!
5. Reflection - Mulan
Mulan wants her reflection to show who she is inside. And to bring her family honour! After a fiasco with the matchmaker, Mulan is so disappointed that she's dishonoured her family. She knows that all the make-up, prim and properness isn't her true self but as a result of societal pressures she knows that this is what is expected of her. We see plenty of faces staring back at her but the real her only emerges right at the end. Girl, what I want is to know is what make-up remover you're using to wipe all that off so easily.
4 - Strangers Like Me - Tarzan
Tarzan wants to know about the strangers like him. Can you show him? Unlike the other songs on this list, this song isn't actually sung by the character. The amazing vocals belong to Phil Collins! I love how it's a bit different and more upbeat. It's also definitely my favourite song from the film. Even though Tarzan isn't directly singing the lyrics it does a good job of conveying what he actually wants. He's intrigued by these humans and wants to learn how to be more like them. And of course he's interested in Jane. Let's not forget the romantic vine swinging. I love all the transitions from watching Tarzan observe and learn about these new things and then switching to moments when Tarzan copies them. Tarzan can ride a bike and I can't *sigh.*
3 - Go the Distance - Hercules
Hercules wants that hero's welcome right where he belongs. I'm going to be honest, this one is probably one of my favourite Disney songs of all time. After making a mess of things because she couldn't control his superstrength and then finding out that he's adopted, Hercules sets off for Mount Olympus in hopes that the gods have the answers that he wants. Hercules wants to know his place in this world as he feels like he doesn't belong. It's a big montage of his travels topped with an iconic song that starts off this hero's journey.
2 - Belle (Reprise) - Beauty and the Beast
Belle wants adventure in the great wide somewhere. She wants it more than she can tell. I'm going to admit that I have this song stuck in my head too many times. Sometimes in the middle of exams. Belle has just turned down Gaston's proposal and manages to kick him out of her house. Angered, she storms out and sings about how she doesn't want to be just some man's wife living a provincial life (ha rhymes). The build-up to her proclamation of her need for adventure is big and beautiful topped with stunning visuals of her amongst the dandelions in the French countryside. Don't even get me started on how gorgeous the colours are. I've often considered painting something from this scene. then I remember that I can't paint. It then settles down to something much quieter and simple and the camera pans to dandelion seeds floating away. It serves as a great transition into the adventure that Belle is about to have.
1 - Part of Your World - The Little Mermaid
It was inevitable. You knew it was coming. Ariel wants to be part of your wooooooorld. It's the I Want song of all Disney I Want songs. Ariel's got everything that a mermaid could possible want, but it's not enough. For the people who say that she ditched her tail just for Prince Eric, I suggest listening to this again. She clearly has fantasies about the human world before she even meets him. This animation in this scene is so beautiful that it makes you miss that good ol' 2D. If you're not convinced, watch how her hair moves like it has a life of its own. The animators really captured the movement of her hair in the water and it's so fluid. This is our first glance at Ariel's grotto and our first peek at her collection of human things. The amount of gadgets, gizmos and thingamabobs she has only show us how much she longs to know more about our world. Let's not forget that this was probably the biggest I Want songs that kickstarted a whole string of them in Disney movies to come.
Honourable Mentions:
In Just Around the Riverbend, Pocahontas knows she wants something but just doesn't know what that exactly is.
Like Strangers Like Me, I'm Still isn't sung by the character (Jim Hawkins) but instead is sung by the Goo Goo Dolls. Jim isn't just a rebel with a cause and he wants to prove it to everyone else.
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