She Likes It

Not in the “my life is a fairy tale” sense but…hmm how do I explain this?

Do you know what an “I want” song is?

Definition via TvTropes.org:

In most American musicals, the hero is a little guy (or girl) who doesn’t amount to much right now, but dreams of a brighter future. Usually, they do this with an “I Want” Song, where they sing of how this little town is too small and they know there’s a great big world out there for them. This is always so the audience can identify with them. Because the hero, just like you, isn’t a movie star or a princess or anybody else officially special, but is really special deep down if they try, and (unlike those conformist drones around you) wants to try. The lyric to the song may well include the actual words “I want” or some variant thereof to hammer the point home.

I’m at this point where I’d break out into my “I want” song because I’m searching for something more than what I’m experiencing right now.  

In fact, I actually did break out into song after a walk by myself today pondering about what I actually want to get out of life. The song was “To be Free” from Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular, Jasmine’s “I want” song that got cut from the movie. It’s basically one of my favorites to sing because I think the score is so pretty and it’s comfortably in my range to sing it nicely.

Well today I felt more of an emotional connection to the song than I normally do. Which is why I think the “I want” point in all these Disney princess movies (really any musical, but Menken knows best) is similar to exactly where I am and how I feel right now.

I’m Belle living in a small town, wanting more than this provincial life.

I’m Rapunzel locked in a tower, wondering “when will my life begin?”

I’m Ariel looking at my collection, longing to be part of a bigger world.

I’m Pocahontas canoeing down the river, looking for something around the river bend.

I’m Rosalie…hoping I figure out what it is I really want to do so that I can sing a triumphant reprise of my “I want song” somewhere down the road.