Customer Reviews

The Hunchback Of Notre Dame: An Original Walt Disney Records Soundtrack

5 star:		(44)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I am a classic lit fan, but I have not read Hunchback of Notre Dame. I do know what was used from the book in the movie and what they changed to make it suitable for kids. But I am not here to discuss the movie.

I am here to discuss the music. People seem to diss this movie, but they tend to forget that the songs are quite truthful to the book. Stephen Schwartz is a GOD when it comes to lyrics; Alan Menken is an amazing composer. They work togethter amazingly. Unlike Pocahountas, I think this was much better because they were working with a story that was different than the fairytale children stories that Disney usually did. (This was done by the directors of Beauty and the Beast, and that was quite adult too if you can think about it.) The lyrics are adult themed in a sense.

The Bells of Notre Dame--Always gave me chills listening to it. You can just picture the story in your mind. You can feel the fear, the anger, and the mystery. "Who is the monster and who is the man?"... Who is?

Out There--This song is my personal favorite. It just captures Quasimodo's want to be like everyone else. It also expresses his gentle natured side that seems to be hidden behind the darkness of the catherdral's walls. I think Tom Hulce has an amazing singing voice.

Topsy Turvy--This is the longest of the written songs and the most interesting on screen. There is so much wit and creative humor thrown into this scene that the song ends up in your head for a couple days. I like the fact that they said the word "beer", but edited it later on in the Sing-Alongs. Oh well, more fun for the adults.

God Help the Outcasts--Now, I like this song...but I really didn't want it to be the actual song chosen for the movie. I much prefer "Someday" (which was going to be the song sung). I think this song just feels a bit out of place. I would have also liked it to feature Quasimodo dueting with Esmerelda, so that he feels a link between him and her. (If you purchase the rare Berlin Musical Cast of Hunchback of Notre Dame, he does!)

Heaven's Light/Hellfire--When I saw the movie in the theatres (I was 8 or 9), I loved these scenes. First, Quasimodo showing his adoration for carving a figure of Esmerelda and including it among the people in his figurines. It's sort of symbolic because he feels Esmerelda belongs among the people that she feels she is distant from. And then it flips to Frollo, over in his Palace of Justice. There, as in the book, he is tormented with the lust of killing Esmerelda and having her for his own. The choir, the voice of Tony Jay, the lyrics simply give you chills when hearing it. You can almost feel him ready to "go get her". Seeing it on film defys all other Disney movie scenes. Adults may be against their children seeing this, but really, it's not all that bad. My mother loved it.

A Guy Like You--I hate the Gargoyles and for a while I hated this song. But when watching the commentary, and having the directors saying that this was more of a fantasy in his mind--after all, the gargoyles are only made out of stone--it makes more sense and it's more appreciated. It'd be kind of stupid having Quasimodo going all "split personality" and singing this song. But it's good humor, wity lyrics, and it builds up for such a heartbreaking scene later on in the movie.

--Not included in the soundtrack is the reprise of "Heaven's Light" when Quasimodo sees that all hopes with Esmerelda are nothing now. It's a short little ditty, but I think it should hae been on the CD. Hopefully if the movie ever gets a special edition, the song will be included. And also some of the missing music...--

The Court of Miracles--I don't like this song. I feel as if it were created because they wanted kids intrest. So point being, it's for kids, don't expect anything from it.

And then we get the best of the best by Alan Menken. I call this, The Rage of Menken. Because he just goes all out with this soundtrack. Most importantly in the "Santcuary/And He Shall Smite the Wicked"... I think he just had a blast with that scene. Just listen to it and you're like, woah. I think it just captures the theme of the book to a "T". And if you take Latin, the choir is chanting actual words and phrases that correspond in what is happening in the scene. I find this to be the best of the soundtrack.

The Bells of Notre Dame--Makes more of an impact on screen when seeing all the characters for the last time. But still, it gives another moral to the kids, and it also answered the question in the begining of the movie, "what makes a monster and what makes a man?" Perfect. :)

And then there is "Someday". I love Someday, I'm not a fan of One-4-All singing it but it's good. I just would have liked a man and a woman duet of it, or perhaps just a woman singing it.

God Help the Outcasts sung by Bette Midler is torture to my ears. I just don't like that song being sung by her and I feel that he place on the soundtrack was just a bad choice. The song is just not something I would see her singing, her voice is unfit for it (watch Hocus Pocus, watch Gypsy). She's better singing songs that she can belt to. This one she tries to belt to, but it just sounds like crap.

In the end, out of all the Disney soundtracks, this is a true beauty. You get amazing lyrics, talented singers, and beautiful music. This deserves a spot on your shelf. Buy it now. And if you have not seen the movie, SEE IT. You'll love it, not over it's inconsistancies, but perhaps the moral of the story.

Wow, what to say about this movie? It is by far my favourite movie now, above Titanic and Braveheart both. I saw the movie in the theater when it first came out instead of ID4 and I fell in love with the soundtrack then. My favourite song on this ("The Bells of Notre Dame") still brings tears to my eyes when I hear it (the reprise as well), and I have probably heard it 1000 times now. "Heaven's Light / Hellfire" is incredible... beautiful and chilling, inspiring and haunting (just like love). When I hear "Hellfire" it gives me chills. This soundtrack is just as good as the movie, in fact I think that it makes the movie complete. I am recommending it to all of my friends (I am 20) and they all look at me funny. Being the Mommy of a wonderful 2 year old I get sick and tired of Disney stuff, but this will always be an exception (however although she loves the music I do feel that this movie was meant for a much more mature audience). This soundtrack will move you, and will tap into the deepest, darkest and most sensitive parts of your heart.

The main reason I got this PERFECT CD was... Clopin. I am obsessed, and I give you permission to pity me. I just loved 'Hellfire' and 'Bells of Notre Dame', but by far my two favorites would be 'Topsy Turvy' and 'The Court of Miracles'. Both sung by Clopin... Half of these songs made a shiver go up my spine and I think I giggled a couple of times... My favorite Disney Movie. EVER. Wonderfully dark and a nice twist from the traditional Disney. If I could I'd give this 100 stars... But 5 is okay, too.

WIth the exception of Beauty and the Beast, The Hunchback of NOtre Dame is by far DIsney's Best. THe songs are haunting and gorgeous, with the rich flavoring of a gothic chorus.
THough this is not the best for very young children, I am fifteen and I still absolutely love it!
The Bells of NOtre Dame, Feast of Fools, God Help the Outcasts, Hellfire, Sanctuary!, Paris is burning, He shall smite the wicked, and the bells of NOtre Dame REprise are all excellent and fit the mood and story perfectly. The only oddball is "A Guy Like you" sung by the gargoyles for no reason other than to add a lighter, commical moment to the rest of the film's oppressive atmosphere.
WHile I did not like the pop songs and reditions at the end, the score and original songs themselves were so incredibly awesome.
THis is a must get CD, no questions asked!

This is probably got to be one of the best Disney musicals there is. The music is absolutely superb! So haunting and mysterious at times it almost makes you weep. The music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz are absolutely wonderful. Though on this show I would have liked to hear Stephen Schwartz do both music and lyrics, because I absolutely love Stephen Schwartz, and also just to have a change in the constant Alan Menken musicals, I think that they both pulled this off wonderfully. Not that I have anything againt Alan Menken. I love him too! Anyway, the music is so awesome! This is probably the darkest of the Disney flicks. I was also really surprised and delighted to see Paul Kandel as the clown-guy in the show too! And Tom Hulce does all his own singing, thank God. But this music is just the best it has gotten with Disney. And unlike a lot of other modern Disney musicals now and days, it doesn't have a lack of songs. It has a lot more than the newer Disney stuff. So I really suggest you buy this. Also, don't pay attention to the song listing at the top, there are a whole lot of other songs, but for some reason it doesn't list them. And when you click on a sample, it gives you the wrong song. So pay no mind to the song listing samples above.

The Hunchback Of Notre Dame is perhaps my favorite of the Menken scores. Most of his other scores have a habit of sounding like each other, but Hunchback is very different. The chorale parts are very different from a traditional Disney film. The songs are fine and some are quite beautiful. Overall Menken is able to perfectly capture the Middle Ages mood of the film, complete with the prejudices and traditions of that time period. I have to say there are moments that are purely powerful and simply perfect. I rate this score very highly and recommend it not just to those who enjoy disney films, but to those who enjoy a well-written score.

This is my favorite Disney soundtrack of all time, and quite possibly my favorite movie soundtrack of all time. The score is undeniably the best that Disney and Alan Menken have ever produced. The melodic quality is unsurpassed and the arrangement, with the chorus and bells, carries a dark edge of drama and power that all the other Disney movies couldn't even hope to achieve. Listening to the music by itself is even better than hearing it in the movie.

The score is hauntingly gorgeous and captivating. My favorite score track is Santuary! -a piece so rich and dark that by listening to it by itself, it is almost hard to believe that it appeared in a G-rated Disney movie. It drives chills down my back, a true indicator of intensely moving and beautiful music. The rest of the score is excellent as well.

Another highlight were a number of the character songs. In most Disney movies, these songs annoy me a lot, but the ones in Hunchback of Notre Dame are the exception. Yes, this movie does have its share of the typical tacky kid songs, which are used comic relief in a dark and more mature movie. The other songs are fabulous. Bells of Notre Dame is a wonderful opening and in agreement with the other reviewer who said this, both the chase sequence and the moment when Claude Frolo sees the well give me chills. God Help the Outcasts is very nice also, but the crown jewel of these songs is Hellfire. This has to be the greatest Disney Song ever written. For Disney to devote an entire song to Claude Frolo's repressed lust for Esmerelda is unprecendented and briliant.

This soundtrack is purely ingenious, and it saddens me that its movie was so underrated. If you own one Disney soundtrack, make it be Hunchback of Notre Dame.

Sure, 9/10 times Disney is great - but this is above and beyond other Disney music. Put it this way: I ruined the cassette (purchased in 1997 I think), no longer have a cassette player anyway, and have just ordered the CD. I will not be satisfied just watching the movie.
FYI:
For those of you who don't know - I hear they are making a LIVE ACTION version of this! Can't wait! Though I could honestly do without the singing gargoyles......I guess their "comic relief" was necessary as the original picture was so dark and haunting - maybe too much for the very young.

This is one of the best CD's to date. If you loved the movie, you'll love this soundtrack which is a gem in its self. I personally loved the movie, but the soundtrack and choice of musical numbers is what put it over the top for me. It has songs like "Out There".. which is a song sung by the hunchback himself, and this man has the voice of an angel. It also has a lovely song by the lovely Esmerelda (sung by Heidi) which would bring tears to anyone's eyes. My favorite song however would have to be a beautiful ballad sang by the long-lost group All-4-One called "Someday", that just brings this whole musical masterpiece together. This is a must have for every CD collection !!!

This CD is a must have for all fans of Disney. The score is more mature than other Disney scores, and makes for a beautiful listening experience. Every song takes your breath away. This is Alan Menken's best work in my opinion. Stephen Schwartz's lyrics are classics. The music varies from a soft prayer to the lord in "God Help the Outcasts", to a song about having a good old time, in "Topsy Turvy." Both children and adults will love this soundtrack for different reasons. I strongly recomend this CD, and you will not regret the purchase.