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Frozen song leaves me cold

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I know I’m somewhat late to this particular party, but why is that ‘Let It Go’ song from the “Frozen” animated movie so popular?

It’s now over a year since Disney’s “Frozen” was released - just in time for Christmas, of course – so I’m not entirely sure why I’ve suddenly got myself all hot under the collar about it’s feature song. Maybe it’s that my central heating is on the blink, meaning the word “frozen” regularly spreads it’s icy chill through my shivering brain cell.

As many parents of young children will willingly attest, it is entirely possible to hear “Let It Go” far, far, too many times. As it’s sung by one of the lead female characters in the film, it resonates powerfully with children of the female persuasion, but also with many of their Mum’s too.

Sung so passionately by Idina Menzel it sounds like she might be about to injure herself, the song is an empowering statement of release, escaping the constraints of other people’s expectations of perfection, and setting yourself free, plus ‘souls spiralling in frozen fractals all around’. I’m not sure your average six-year-old is going to fully understand that last one. Come to think of it... neither do I.

Both the song and the film created surprising levels of controversy. Featuring strong, female, leads, you could rightly assume that it gives a very positive message out, but some Right-Wing Christians have a somewhat different viewpoint. They argue that “letting go” really means coming out, and that the film is a shocking piece of propaganda in support of homosexuality.

When central character Elsa is banished for having ‘magical powers’, and sings “I’m never going back, the past is in the past”, is she proudly announcing her previously suppressed sexual orientation? I’m not quite sure that everyone exiting the closet feels the need to build an ice castle, but maybe some more research is needed.

Then there’s the Whitewashing Controversy, whose proponents point out that the film features white characters only, and accuse Disney of racism. Largely perpetuated by social justice bloggers (who sound like they’d be fun at parties) and fervent fans of the film (ditto), it has raged online since the film’s release, meaning the 99.9% of people who think it’s just a cute animation with a feel-good reading that’s off the scale can easily avoid it.

So: cute and funny film about unconditional sisterly love, redemption, snowmen, a nice mountain man and reindeer (with catchy songs)? Or racist, homosexuality-promoting smut-fest, corrupting and indoctrinating our innocent children (with catchy songs)?

I’m going with the former, although I will confess I’ve only seen clips. A pushing-50 bloke with a beard, on his own at a children’s film, is liable to go down rather badly in this paranoid day and age. “Let It Go” is a feisty, catchy, sing-along tune from a very successful film that children and adults can enjoy signing together and interpret as they choose.

Me? Can’t stand it.

This post first appeared as my "Thank grumpy it's Friday" column, in the North West Evening Mail, on the 6th of February 2015. Once again, it hasn't surfaced on the newspaper's website so far, but if you want to keep an eye out for it (and see how old the last one is they actually did get around to posting), have a look on their website here

Odd one this. Having heard the song on the radio a few time recently (Radio 2 had been playing it over the Christmas period) I had the odd sensation of knowing it was a likable song, but I didn't like it. I suspect this is down to Indina Menzel - she has a strong voice and sings with gusto, but something about it grates for me. Can't fault her pitch etc., it just irritates me for some reason.

The only other example of this I can think of, where I like a tune but hate it at the same time, is Mike Oldfield's "Incantations" album. I'm a big Oldfield fan, but that's the one album of his that I find hard to listen too. Coincidentally, this is largely down to the female vocals on that album.

I guess my point here is this: It is quite possible to largely dislike a singer/band's output, in the same way it quite possible to mostly love their stuff. It's pretty rare to have a particular track that is the is the polar opposite of your usual inclination for that particular artist. Rarer still is the strange case of liking a song whilst simultaneously being irritated by something about it. Let It Go ticks that particular box for me.

(Tapeologism of tonight: A TDK AR90 - my tape of choice! - containing the Corrs' "Talk On Corners" album from '98. If I remember rightly, I purchased this particular album to use as the hold music on the phone system of my employer at that point in time. Sorry, The Corrs....)
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