| "I See the Light" | |
|---|---|
| Song byMandy Moore andZachary Levi | |
| from the albumTangled: Original Soundtrack | |
| Published | Wonderland Music Company /Walt Disney Music Company |
| Released | November 16, 2010 |
| Recorded | 2010 |
| Genre | Folk-pop |
| Length | 3:44 |
| Label | Walt Disney |
| Composer | Alan Menken |
| Lyricist | Glenn Slater |
| Producer | Alan Menken |
| Audio video | |
| "I See the Light (From "Tangled" / Soundtrack Version)" onYouTube | |
"I See the Light" is a song written by composerAlan Menken and lyricistGlenn Slater forWalt Disney Animation Studios' animated filmTangled (2010). A duet originally recorded by American recording artist and actressMandy Moore and American actorZachary Levi in their respective film roles as main charactersRapunzel andFlynn Rider, thefolk-inspiredpopballad serves as both the film'slove andtheme song. Lyrically, "I See the Light" describes the developing romantic relationship between Rapunzel and Flynn, and is featured as the seventh track on the film'ssoundtrack album.
Tangledwas originally conceived byDisney animatorGlen Keane. Subsequently, Walt Disney Animation Studios hired veteran Disney composer Alan Menken and lyricist Glenn Slater to write the film's songs. Initially, Menken and Slater had written a moreanthemic version of "I See the Light" before finally re-working it into a gentler, simpler, and more folk-oriented song. Menken would later reveal that, out ofTangled's five songs andmusical numbers,[1] he is most proud of "I See the Light".[2]
"I See the Light" received polarized reviews from film and music critics, who were largely ambivalent towards the song's content, questioning its originality. However, the "lantern sequence", during which "I See the Light" is performed by Rapunzel and Flynn, received high critical acclaim, with journalists and commentators praising its visuals and use of 3-D. Critically, both the song and the scene have been compared to similar romantic musical sequences from preceding Disney animated films, including "Kiss the Girl" fromThe Little Mermaid (1989) and "A Whole New World" fromAladdin (1992), both of which are love songs also composed by Menken.
In spite of its polarized reviews, "I See the Light" has garnered numerous awards and accolades. The song was nominated for theAcademy andGolden Globe awards forBest Original Song in 2010. Subsequently, "I See the Light" won both the Las Vegas Film Critics Society Award for Best Song and theGrammy Award forBest Song Written for Visual Media. Since its release, the song has been recorded andcovered by various musical artists, including musical theatre performersDavid Harris andLucy Durack, and classical singerJackie Evancho.
The concept of an animated film based on theBrothers Grimm fairy tale "Rapunzel" originated from Disney animatorGlen Keane in 1996.[3] Veteran Disney composerAlan Menken had just recently completed scoringWalt Disney Pictures'Enchanted (2007) when he received a telephone call fromWalt Disney Animation Studios in 2008, who invited him to compose the music for the studio's then-upcoming animated filmTangled.[4] Upon accepting, Menken invited frequent collaboratorGlenn Slater, with whom he had previously worked on Disney'sHome on the Range (2004), and theBroadway musicaladaptation ofThe Little Mermaid (1989), to serve alongside him as his co-writing lyricist once again.[5]
Aware thatTangled would not be "a [traditional] musical likeBeauty and the Beast or [The Hunchback of Notre Dame]", on both of which Menken worked as a composer, Menken described the film as a "hybrid"[6] because it is "far from [a] classic break into song musical."[7] ForTangled, Menken challenged himself to come up with a different, unique sound that would differ significantly from the musical styles of his previous Broadwaymusical-influenced film projects and compositions.[8] Inspired by the ongoing motif ofRapunzel's "long hair and the freedom she wanted",[4] Menken decided to draw particular influence from the musical genre of 1960sfolk rock, citing the musicianship and artistry of Canadian singer-songwriterJoni Mitchell as a major source of musical inspiration.[4][9]
When it came to writing the film's songs andmusical numbers, Menken and Slater "looked for what is going to be an appropriate song moment for the main characters."[4] In the specific case of "I See the Light", Menken elaborated, "The lantern song ... flows pretty much out of the sense of completion and [Rapunzel] finally sees the lanterns and has this moment. It's more of amontage number."[4]
Menken and Slater had originally intended for "I See the Light" to sound more "anthem-like".[2] The songwriters eventually changed their minds, deciding to re-write "I See the Light" into a gentler, morefolk-oriented song.[2] Menken spoke of thecreative writing process, "we began throwing melodies up, doing songs and riffs and harmonies, and we waited for something to stick". Additionally, Menken later admitted that, out ofTangled's five songs and musical numbers,[1] he is most proud of "I See the Light"[2] because it "is a great moment in the film and I am very happy with the beauty and simplicity of the song."[10]
Similarly, co-directorByron Howard also took an immediate liking towards the song. Hailing "I See the Light" as his favorite of the film's songs, Howard elaborated, "The moment [co-directorNathan Greno and I] heard Alan Menken'sdemo we knew that one would be a classic."[11]
A romantic duet performed during the narrative portion of the film by its 2 main characters,Rapunzel andFlynn Rider, "I See the Light" was recorded by American recording artist and actressMandy Moore as the voice of Rapunzel and American actor Zachary Levi as the voice ofFlynn Rider. While filmingTangled, Moore and Levi met to work with each other only twice, one of which was to record the vocals for "I See the Light".[12] According to Levi, he and Moore first rehearsed the song live accompanied by the film's 80-pieceorchestra before eventually being divided into separateisolation booths to record their respective lyrics, verses and harmonies individually.[13]
Occurring towards the end ofTangled,[14] "I See the Light" takes place during the film'ssecond act[15][16] soon after Rapunzel and Flynn Rider have finally completed their grueling journey from Mother Gothel's tower to Corona, arriving in the kingdom just in time to experience its annual lantern-lighting ceremony, which Rapunzel has spent 18 years – her entire life – observing at a distance from the confinement of Gothel's tower.[17] There the couple embarks on a boat ride[18] to watch the ceremony as "the night sky [is] illuminated with a sea of lanterns."[19][20] During the pivotal[21] scene, described by critics as the film's "emotional peak"[22] because "Rapunzel's dream of watching the floating lanterns seems to be reali[z]ed",[22] the musical number both "highlights the ... flight of the lanterns"[23] while essentially triggering Rapunzel and Flynn's "budding romance",[23] who are gradually beginning to fall in love.[24]
According to Marianne Paluso of theCatholic News Agency, Rapunzel, during the scene, "finally sees for herself the wondrous floating lanterns she's yearned to see her entire life".[21] Meanwhile, the audience is shown the way in which "love ... has blossomed between" the film's 2 main characters.[21] Commonly referred to by critics as one ofTangled's "show-stopping moments",[25][26] Rapunzel and Flynn perform the romantic duet while "play[ing] off each other"[27] as they continue to fall in love.[24]
As a result of the song's setting, romantic context and lyrical content, several comparisons have been drawn between both the song and its corresponding scene and various romantic musical sequences from a number of preceding Disney animated feature films, the most frequently referenced of which are "Kiss the Girl" fromThe Little Mermaid (1989)[24][28] and "A Whole New World" fromAladdin (1992), both romantic ballads also composed by Menken.[29][30] One particular reviewer, Steven D. Greydanus ofDecent Films Guide, drew comparisons between the scene and the musical "Nutcracker Suite" sequence from Disney's animated feature filmFantasia (1940), describing it as "a moment of visual transcendence."[31]
Throughout the filmmaking process,Tangled's co-directorsByron Howard and Nathan Greno continued to hold the scene in particularly high regard, constantly boasting to the production team that "I See the Light" "will be the most spectacular animated sequence you've ever seen."[32] According to Greno, the use of 45,000[33][34]floating lanterns during the scene was directly inspired by traditional Indonesian ceremonies during which people "set up rice paper lanterns and send them into the sky."[35]
A "dreamy"[23] love song[36] that embodies a "classic romantic feel",[37] "I See the Light" is a "peppy and cheerful"[38] romantic[39]pop ballad[18] accompanied by a "soaring"[40] melody that spans a length of three minutes and forty-four seconds.[41][42] Stylistically combining bothclassical andcontemporary music[43] withfolk influences,[2] the lyrics of the "endearing"[44] romantic duet center around main characters Rapunzel and Flynn while describing their developing romantic relationship, which is finally beginning to allow the couple to "[see] life in a whole new way"[45] as they "begin to connect romantically,"[16] ultimately falling in love.[17]
According to the song's officialsheet music, published byWalt Disney Music Publishing. "I See the Light" is a mid-tempopop ballad, written in the key ofC major (later changing toE♭ major) at a tempo of 104beats per minute. Combined, Moore and Levi'svocal ranges span over 2octaves, with Levi singing the low note ofB♭2 and Moore singing the high note ofE♭5. In addition to vocals, the song's instrumentation also encompassesharp,acoustic guitar andorchestra.[46]
Musically, "I See the Light" has received polarized reviews from critics, many of whom were generally underwhelmed by the film's songs.[47][48][49]
Catherine Jones of theLiverpool Echoreviewed "I See the Light" positively, hailing the song as a "rousing love ballad".[50] While Jessica Dawson ofCommon Sense Media described "I See the Light" as a "sweet duet" between Rapunzel and Flynn.[45]Common Sense Media's Sandie Angulo Chen called it a "great" love song.[51] Lindsey Ward ofCanoe.ca praised both Moore and Levi's vocal performance, commenting, "their work on the film's signature love ballad ... is bound to melt some hearts."[52]
Meanwhile, several critics have reacted much less favorably towards "I See the Light". Scott Chitwood ofComingSoon.net described the song as nothing more than "pretty good".[53] Tim McCall ofThe Star-Ledgerreviewed "I See the Light" very negatively, describing it as both "predictable" and "the sort of thing you'd plug your ears through". McCall went on to pan Slater's lyrics, describing them as a "dull ... 20-car pileup of cliche."[54]Time'sRichard Corliss described "I See the Light" as a "generically tuneful love ballad".[55] In another review, Corliss similarly commented, "'I See the Light' ... isn't the most inventive of Menken melodies".[56] Questioning the song's originality, Cindy White ofIGN described "I See the Light" as "unmemorable".[57]Filmtracks.com wrote a mixed review, describing Levi's vocal performance as "conservatively appropriate" while criticizing Moore for "lacking in depth of inflection."[30]
The picture goes from strength to strength, with ... some amazing animation set pieces, culminating in a love ballad set against a backdrop of floating lanterns that's among the most dazzling pieces of moving artwork executed in any animated movie, Disney or otherwise, ever.
— Glenn Kenny ofMSN Movies' very positive analysis of the sequence.[58]
Contrastingly, the climactic musical sequence during which "I See the Light" is performed by Rapunzel and Flynn, commonly referred to as the "lantern sequence",[59][60][61][62] has fared significantly better than the song itself, garnering widespread acclaim from film critics. Keith Uhlich ofTime Out described the scene as "especially wonderful",[20] whileDigital Spy'sSimon Reynolds similarly hailed it as one of the film's most "striking moments". Although Georgie Hobbs ofLittle White Lieswrote that, lyrically, "I See the Light" is "nothing special", she went on to praise the scene, describing it as a "treat ... that will clinch it for romantics and 3-D tech-heads alike."[40]Radio Times' Alan Jones labeled the sequence one of the film's "most beautifully uplifting moments".[63] Similarly, Christian Blauvelt ofSlant Magazine highlighted the scene as one ofTangled's "few moments of otherworldly beauty".[64]A. O. Scott ofThe New York Timeswrote, "A scene of paper lanterns descending through mist onto water is especially breathtaking, partly because it departs from the usual 3-D insistence on deep focus and sharply-defined images, creating an experience that is almost tactile in its dreamy softness."[65]
Dan Kois ofWestwordcommented, "whileTangled's 3-D is mostly unobtrusive, the lights swooping over the audience might be the most crowd-pleasing 3-dimensional filigree I've seen yet."[66]Rediff.com's Sukanya Verma praised both the scene and the song, writing, "it's the luminous imagery of ["I See the Light"], merging the reach of technology with Menken's sublime melody that produces a spectacular celluloid moment."[67] Tasha Robinson ofThe A. V. Clubopined, "even a falling-in-love sequence cribbed in part fromThe Little Mermaid is overwhelmingly magical."[28] Colin Covert of theStar Tribune wrote, "A romantic boat-ride beneath a constellation of floating lanterns is one of the more breathtaking episodes of gratuitous beauty".[68]MSN Movies' Glenn Kenny hailed the scene as one of "the most dazzling pieces of moving artwork executed in any animated movie, Disney or otherwise, ever."
TheAcademy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences decided to modify the nomination rules pertaining to theAcademy Award for Best Original Song after Menken'sEnchantedgarnered 3 separate nominations for the award in 2008, decreasing the nomination limit from 3 to only 2 from any individual film.[69] After the release ofTangled, Menken revealed that the studio will only be submitting 1 song from the film to theAcademy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for consideration for theBest Original Song award at the83rd Academy Awards in 2011 "to avoid songs canceling each other out if nominated."[15] Menken decided upon "I See the Light" because he considers it "the heart-and-center of the film" and "seems to be the one that can break out."[5] Additionally, several critics expected the song to win Best Original Song,[30][53][69][70] includingTime's Richard Corliss.[56]
| 'I See the Light' is the heart and center of this movie and it's a beautiful sequence, so it's our best option. I'm proud of the others as well, but ... 'I See the Light' seems to be the one that can break out." |
| — Menken, on his reason for submitting "I See the Light".[5] |
As widely anticipated, "I See the Light" was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song at the 83rd Academy Awards in 2011,[71][72] becoming Menken's nineteenth Academy Award nomination. Menken said of the accomplishment, "I don't take it for granted at all".[73] However, the song ultimately lost toRandy Newman's "We Belong Together" fromToy Story 3 (2010), another animated feature film released by Walt Disney Pictures, produced byPixar Animation Studios.[74] Previously, "I See the Light" had garnered aGolden Globe nomination forBest Original Song at the68th Golden Globe Awards in 2011,[75] which it lost to "You Haven't Seen the Last of Me" fromBurlesque (2010), written byDiane Warren and performed byCher. Lastly, "I See the Light" was nominated for Best Song at the 16th Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards in 2011, losing to "If I Rise" from127 Hours (2010).[76][77]
"I See the Light" went on to win the Las Vegas Film Critics Society Award for Best Song in 2010,[78] and theBest Song Written for Visual Media Award at the54th Grammy Awards in 2012.[79]
Babble.com ranked "I See the Light" as one of the "Greatest ... Disney Movie Moments".[80]
In celebration of the song's Best Original Song nomination, Moore and Levi performed "I See the Light" live at the83rd Academy Awards in February 2011, accompanied by Menken himself on piano.[81][82] For the performance, Moore asked that she be provided with a "show-stopping" dress, specifically requesting that it not resemble a Disney costume. To comply, fashion designerMonique Lhuillier "incorporated elements of 3 dresses Moore loved" into the final dress, resulting in a full-skirtedcobalt blue gown. Moore revealed that she was feeling confident about the performance "until about 2 minutes before the show".[81] Moore also said of the performance, "It was the most intimidating audience I performed for ... I made a point not to look at anyone … because I was nervous."[83]
Australian actor and singerDavid Harris included his rendition of "I See the Light" on his second studio album[84]At This Stage (2011),[85] recording the song as a duet with Australian actressLucy Durack.Theatre People's Simon Parriswrote of Harris' version, "the gorgeous duet .. will have listeners rushing out to watch theirTangled blu-ray again."[86] American classical singerJackie Evancho recorded "I See the Light" for her fourth studio albumSongs from the Silver Screen (2012)[87] as a duet with American singer Jacob Evancho, her elder brother.[88]Amazon.com described Evancho's rendition as a "very special duet."[89]
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[90] Portuguese Version | Platinum | 60,000‡ |
| New Zealand (RMNZ)[91] | Gold | 15,000‡ |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[92] | Platinum | 600,000‡ |
| United States (RIAA)[93] | 3× Platinum | 3,000,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
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