time-stamping this for anyone else :v 27:51 time stamp when he approaches the subject 29:41 talking abt the recognition of Frollo’s power 37:00 (ish) returns to the subject 39:37 the quote “Hellfire isn’t about Frollo’s power, it’s about his weakness.”
If you ask me, Bruno not being a villain actually makes "We Don't Talk About Bruno" MORE of a villain song, not less of one. Because it's the family trying to justify why they disowned and ostracized a family member who they found inconvenient. So it's not BRUNO'S villain song, it's the FAMILY'S villain song.
I have my issues with encanto but the way Bruno is described by his family was a little to relatable as a Latina. If you’re neurodivergent and your characteristics don’t fit the values you’re out, if you speak for yourself you’re out, if you call someone’s lack of ethics within the family you’re out. I am sure I’m described the way Bruno is lolz but I’m ok with that.
I literally went “OOOOH!” 😙 when I read Family villain song. You’re absolutely right. It’s a perfect example of how personas develop inside a family that don’t match the person in question.
They spent most of the song talking about themselves and their personal encounters with him. Pepa sings about her wedding, Dolores and Camilo sing about how *they* see him, and Isabella (and later Dolores again) sings about her prophecy. They're not singing about Bruno, they're singing about Bruno in relation to them.
Still to this day i don't know how they did that, that is such an obvious redundancy, like, anyone who has even the slightest knowledge of the english language can see that they literally said it twice, didn't anyone check the lyrics? Did the voice actors notice it? The writers? The musicians? No one batted an eye??
the single most disturbing thing about Frollo is how EVERYTHING he does is justified in his own eyes. He, by his admission, can do no wrong, no matter how depraved or violent his actions are
and this is true for many in real life. some people would feel their world fall apart if they allowed themselves to accept any responsibility or guilt for the fucked up things happening in their life. it's a pitiful, if not infuriating sight that can be unfortunately easy to spiral into if you're one of the people getting your psyche fucked up enough.
I absolutely love the beginning when the priest is telling him the things he did wrong but he talks over him, saying it's justified. Not only that but the matter of fact way he talks over him too, he says his justifications like he accidentally dropped a plate but in fact he just killed an innocent woman and was about to drown a baby on the very steps of the church, where they already claimed sanctuary.
@@Jcrafter13 Honestly, I think part of the reason why I find this movie so dark and uncomfortable to watch is because I've had bad experiences with people exactly like Frollo. They damage their communities and churches justifying evil, but take no responsibility for the pain they inflict on their victims. Frollo gaslights everyone, including himself, by proclaiming innocence no matter what crimes he does.
@@mish375 that's the reason why I absolutely love Frollo as a villain. It's because he's a genuine villain. There's no sad back story, no twist 'good turned bad' villain trope, there's not even a 'villain turned good' trope like they do in recent Disney movies. This is a time where Disney was not holding back with their villains and were experimenting with their villains and stories, and it's especially shown here in this movie which is why I love it so much. Sure we have Ursula, Gaston, Scar and Hades, but difference between Frollo and the other villains is that their motivations are relatable. We've all been there in the terms of having a role or promotion taken away from us, had moments of our egos getting the better of us, and being out casted/not invited to stuff. Classic Disney motivations, but just because their villains doesn't mean people look up to them. It's a 'bad never felt so good' because of their charisma, their confidence, and of course, they have personality traits we relate to. Frollo, however, has motivations based on prejudice, malice, homicide, and abuse of religion/spirituality. There are complete ill intentions with his behavior, and even though other villains have this, it's Frollo that has the most realistic, and very scary, intentions we've seen in a villain
I'm genuinely surprised they didn't include "be prepared" on that list. Hell, even something like "Mother Knows Best" would probably fit better on there than some.
Depending on when the list was made, it could be they skipped it because originally Disney wasn't planning on including it in the live action remake, and they wanted to avoid reminding audiences of that. Later on fan outcry caused them to reconsider and they ended up putting in a terrible last minute rendition, though honestly idk why people cared that much about what they do or don't put in these terrible live action remakes.
That’s sad. Also, I haven’t seen the list either, but I’ll take a gander that My Lullaby is not on it, when it has some of the most haunting lyrics the studio has produced…
Frollo full on attempts to SA Esmerelda in the stage version of this show. It makes Hellfire far scarier. Since it's a very hard song to pull off with the same intensity on stage. And - spoiler alert - when she is dead and Frollo says to Quasimodo ( who has finally seen the light about his horrible master and is done with his s***) "you don't want to do this" ... you quail in horror AND cheer when the statues of saints move in and hiss "Yes you do!" Before Quasimodo full on murks him by THROWING him to his death.
@@steveisthecommissar4013 (not the original commenter) but yes! in latin it would be "mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa" but im not sure what the english translation of the whole prayer would be lol
@@χα.ρά I got you “though my fault though my fault though my most grevious fault” that’s what we do today normally it’s said while one is beating on their chest about 3 times if I remember right
Hellfire is hands down the BEST villain song. It’s dark, it points out the issues of the church back then and current, and it truly encapsulates the story Victor Hugo had written from the original story. The only other villain song I love this much is In the Dark of the Night from Anastasia, another movie that does not get the attention it deserves. Edit: Holy schnikes, I did NOT expect my comment to get this much attention. Thank you! But hopefully most of this attention went to the video. He did most of the work.
Edit: Honestly the Hunchback of Notre Dame is my favorite Disney movie because of how dark it is. The music is the best from any Disney movie. Ever. All of it!
That quote of Frollo being terrifying because he is real has never rung truer to me. I think every woman who has seen this movie can relate to the genuine fear and disgust I felt towards Frollo the second he started lusting over her. And, considering this film is made mostly by men in the 90s, it is surprising that they made a near perfect portrayal of a predator. It explains his thought-process to justify it, we have a look into his mind and literally *see* his massive cognitive dissonance, but the film doesn't excuse him. In fact, it mercilessly punishes him for his terrible actions. It feels good to have a reminder that art isn't just entertainment. When done well enough, it can go this deep into someone's mind and soul.
Oddly enough, it's not uncommon for male producers/artists etc. to portray predators well... the issue then comes with the lack of self reflection and seeing where their own biases and bad habits coincide lol.
@@alfombra1054 Frollo was actually animated by a team of women, led by Kathy Zielinsky. She also animated other villains such as Jafar and Tezekel Khan. From this point of view, it makes perfect sense that Frollo as a predator was portrayed in a realistic and disturbing way.
@@Malevolence__This, plus the way the writing, music, and animation come together for this sequence is so revealing. I don’t know whether the writers were male or female but I really do think they did a great job with Frollo’s portrayal regardless, along with Alan Menken adapting the themes in the music. All of the individual parts work so well on their own and together in harmony that it really shows off how animation is a collaborative art form.
Schaffrillas did a good review comparing the Frollo in the Disney cartoon to the stage musical production. Until seeing that video I didn't even know there was a stage musical. It was pointed out in the review, and after seeing it I agree, that the Frollo in the musical actually managed to end up being the scarier of the two. I recommend watching it.
Something that I have personally never heard anyone else comment on is when Esmeralda appears within the flames for a second time, you can hear the rattling of her tambourine. BUT that tambourine sound can also be hear as the shake of a rattle snakes tail (which snakes have huge biblical symbolism for sin). Just thought it was neat
i think that’s an interesting comparison, even though it doesn’t make much symbolic sense in the setting of the story since rattlesnakes are endemic to the americas and that sound wouldn’t really have that association with snakes/serpents in 15th century france. but i agree that the audience could definitely associate the rattle of her tambourines with that of a snake and thus associate it with warning or danger, and sin as well.
I never noticed that. The amount of thought and attention to detail that went into this song is extraordinary. You can come back to it again and again, thinking you know the song inside out and back to front, and still find previously unnoticed little nuances that contribute to the story Hellfire is telling. Clearly the people who put this together had a considerable knowledge of both human psychology and Catholicism. "Mea Culpa" and "Mea Maxima Culpa" are Latin for "My fault" and "My most grievous fault".
@@tomnorton4277 god yeah, they really thought of every little thing they could to make this song as good as it is. Props to everyone who not only wrote this song but animated it's scene as well. Absolute masterpiece
@@phantomgrape And Tony Jay. Without his incredible voice, all those other details wouldn't matter. His performance was the most crucial piece of the puzzle and he nailed it. I put him up there with Gary Oldman as Shen in Kung Fu Panda 2 and being able to go toe-to-toe with Oldman is an exceptional feat.
@@uu2379frollo rather blames it on Esmeralda though because he’s reluctant to admit to his sins. That’s why those ghosts were singing mea culpa, they wanted him to confess, but he refused. I think that’s also an interesting detail! When the soldier entered the room, he represented Frollo’s last chance to redeem himself-which he rejected, dooming him to his fate
I feel the same way as a Christian! People like to dismiss us as “holier than thou snooty perfectionists” when that could be further from the truth (at least for me personally.) I genuinely adore the fact that like some people who claim to do things in the name of God, Frollo will *never* admit to his faults, even blaming God for making him a man. He asks for help, but he never admits his faults or repents because that would mean he isn’t as pure as he thinks he is. And I love that.
As a choral performer, The Bells of Notre Dame is not just the best opening number for an animated film and Disney movie, it is a musically complex piece of work. Kyrie Eleison is one of the motifs throughout that work, which means “Lord, have mercy”. A frequent phrase we see in choral works, and I was pleased Menken included this, especially with the overarching theme of judgment. It’s seriously brilliant. So beyond underrated.
Love how this almost 4 minutes masterpiece can be dissected in a 50 minutes video, and it feels like we've not even yet delved half-ways about it. I seriously think I could watch a 2 to 4 hours essay dissecting this song. That's how much it's a masterpiece
A great deal of art is like that, which is why I wish some people would give longer video essays on things like "cartoons" a chance, instead of just saying it's "crazy" to talk that long about it. Hellfire is a shining example of the craft behind stories that deserves to be appreciated; someone making a 50-minute video is really only fair to all the people that worked so hard on the song/sequence.
a fun point: Frollo's room does not need a fireplace that big Allow me to explain - A room of that size, made of stone, can be insulated in various ways - the most common method, used liberally throughout castles and large dwellings, was to cover everything in rugs and tapestries. Aside from looking pretty, the point of these was to form a buffer between the cold surface of stone and the air around it, drastically reducing the rate of heat loss, and making for some much more comfortable walking besides. Frollo has chosen to keep the room almost totally bare, with just the fireplace at the far end, and a MASSIVE OPEN BALCONY DOOR. That door is enough to give any builder a heart attack, but more on that in a moment. In order to heat a room of that size, consistently, for long enough to maintain a livable temperature whenever such a thing is required, Frollo would be burning his way through up to a METRIC TON of dried oak, per WEEK. His piety and humility is artifice - the money required to keep up the sham is probably enough to feed half of Paris, and yet he uses it all on _looking_ poorer than the nobles of the country who at least have a touch more sense. His balcony door exacerbates the problem. The middle ages, at the time HOND is set, had yet to invent the double-glazed window, which means that any tiny gaps in the Lead sealing of those huge windows would let in wind. Any gap between the windows themselves? wind. Any porous materials, surfaces, connections, holes in the glass, chips in the wood, etc? wind. This makes keeping a consistent heat even more unbearably difficult, as it's being sapped away at _record pace._ A fuel consumption of 1000kg wood p/wk is CHILD'S PLAY when we're factoring in the multitude ways that heat can escape that bloody hall. A conservative estimate would place Frollo's yearly consumption at around 50 *whole trees* per annum. My brother in Christ that's enough to build half a village, and then some.
This comment is nothing short of excellent and adds even more color to the setting. The film is riddled with gorgeous details that shine through the lens of 2D animation.
The moment towards the end of Hellfire where Frollo says" God have mercy on her" always makes me tear up a little. Because its like he is having a small moment of clarity where he realizes just how vile he is being and is remorseful before his pride, wrath and lust completely bury that. It also hits me because if he/Frollo would have mercy on Esmeralda God wouldnt need to.
fun little detail many people miss, during the opening number Bells of Notre Dame, when Frollo is chasing the woman through the streets of Paris, the chorus we hear in the background is singing the Dies Irae. It's an old Latin chant/song that in more recent history has been used in movie scores to symbolize death/dying. So while we are watching this high-tense chase scene, the score is literally screaming at us that someone will die soon, which we see happening to the women and almost to Quasimodo before the Archdeacon steps in. It's been a while since I've seen the movie so I don't remember if it appears anywhere else in the movie but that moment in particular always has stood out to me. Anyway, this has always been my favourite Disney movie, if not first than definitely top 5. Hellfire has always held my number 1 spot for Disney Villain Songs and I have literally argued with a friend for 20+ minutes if Hellfire or Friends on the Other Side was better. (we never agreed on an answer. They're both great songs but Hellfire tops FOTOS for me).
It does reappear shortly at the end right before Frollo dies. Takes me back to AP music theory class in high school. So much passion went into this movie clearly.
I always thought it noteworthy that Quasi is almost certainly the adopted son of the Gypsy woman. Her husband seems nowhere near as fond of the babe, and of course Quasi looks nothing like either of them, having recessive traits (ginger hair and green eyes, the rarest and most recessive colours possible), as well as pale skin. I always thought this a clever inversion of the old racist trope of Gypsies stealing babies (something that is unfortunately a part of the original novel) - in this case, I believe Quasimodo’s mother rescued and adopted him, saving him from death twice. It makes her actions even more noble, and Frollo even more wicked as Quasi’s second adoptive parent. It makes Quasimodo even more tragic, as well.
My Grandpa was directly descended from Romani immigrants from Hungary and the Ottoman Empire. Interestingly enough, red hair (think prince harry), light eyes and olive skin and in general varying shades from pale to darker copper/tan tones most people would align with India… it’s actually not that uncommon for those features to appear in that general region of the world. Even Central Asia has groups where red hair shows up every so often, and my Grandpa specifically had very bright and deep blue-green eyes (like Esmeralda) and until he went gray he had thick black wavy hair but was a towhead until he was about eight or nine with very tan skin. My brother and I had a much similar experience to that too. Lol My Dad however, has light brown/hazel eyes with light brown hair and my Mom has clear blue eyes and medium brown hair. I have very mint-spring green colored eyes though. Until I started school, I went from blonde hair to ginger and then it darkened to a deep brown-soft black by the time I reached my late teens. 🤷🏻♀️
While I'm sure you didn't intend any ill with this theory, some Romani people feel as though that idea re-inforces the negative myths of Romani people 'stealing' children from non -Romani folk.
@@Aliasbaba41it’s been a long time since I read the book, but I’m fairly certain she was kidnapped by Romani people when she was a baby and she’s reunited with her biological mother (who herself hates Romani people for that reason and encourages frollo’s racism) in prison right before she’s killed
(Idk if you said it) I just realized that in the start of the song, Frollo, while pleading for heavenly mercy, is directly blaming God for his sinfull desires. He is in a way accusing God to have purpousely created Satan more powerful than men, just to tempt him, while he believes himself to be Gods righteous and virtueous servant worthy of all heavenly mercy. Although being tormented by the fear of divine punishment, Frollo is essentially putting himself above God by thinking himself worthy of the exempt of human desire and temptation. It's not my fault (mea culpa) If in God's plan (mea culpa) He made the Devil so much stronger than a man (mea maxima culpa) The echoes surrounding him is the voice of God trying to push through his state of Narcissim.
To add. That one guard who interrupted him had his face shadowed like it wasn't actually a Person. People think it might have been an Angel. And yes. Frollo trying to absolve himself of what he was doing and that guard coming in literally giving him a way out. Just forget and let Esmeralda go. But we know how it all went.
@@silverhawkscape2677 Exactly. And at the ending fight Frollo says something like "And He shall destroy the wicked and plunge them into the fire pit" which is exactly what Frollo thought his mission in life was from God. And God made sure he got exactly what he wanted to destroy the wicked, himself. For the stone that breaks off is the one he cut himself with his sword trying to kill Quasimodo and Esmeralda they are the innocent in the moment and Frollo is the wicked. So it is almost like the stone didn't crack at their double weight but it did with Frollos single weight because his sins/guilt was too heavy compared to the innocence of the other two.
@@silverhawkscape2677The guard is also lit in white/blue. Probably to both contrast it as a clear intermission from the red lighting of the rest of the scene, but this could also be it, heaven interceding.
@@marlena. A great detail is that it's never confirmed that God intervened. Frollo slashed his sword into the gargoyle and weakened it before climbing on and the gargoyle was snarling, which could have been Frollo hallucinating in his final moments. It also hinted that if there was any supernatural intervention, it's more likely to have come from Satan or one of his demons. God could have simply watched without needing to do anything at all.
@@tomnorton4277 I agree that it is not obvious and he did it to himself. It's still speculation, just as the inner voice in hellfire echoing, "It's my fault, its my greatest fault, Lord have mercy" could be his inner concience but likewise the powers heaven trying to give him realization of his own sin. In the beginning, the priest said that the eyes of Notre Dame are watching him, so it can still be implied that the heavenly powers are, in fact, somewhat involved or allowing things to happen ;-)
I'm a simple woman. I see an hour long video essay about my favorite Disney song from my favorite Disney animation sequence from my favorite Disney movie, I click.
fun lil story. i was in handbells in grade school. our music teacher left partway through a year. it was a devastating loss. a sub stepped in for a while. then, our new leader arrived. I'll call her M.S. MS came in and endeared herself to us discombobulated children and unified us. by the end of the year, we were rallied to her. If I'm remembering correctly, this story happened within her first year at our school. if not, it was within the second. she listened to what we liked and taught us some Disney songs. we preformed bells of Notre Dame for our school. then against a few other schools. then at a regional... and if I'm recalling correctly, we went all the way to the state level. We. Won. grade-schoolers won at a massive contest with none other than a handbell cover of The Bells of Notre Dame. It has a very special place in my heart
The entire soundtrack for that movie is very, very solid. It will go great for instrumental and vocal aspects because both have so much range amongst the soundtracks.
I had a Disney piano sheet music book with Heaven’s Light/Hellfire, and it was a no-brainer when my piano teacher told me I could choose a song to learn. She was helping me out like usual, reminding me to round my fingers, keep the tempo, etc…and then the song transitioned from Heaven’s Light to Hellfire. She was MORTIFIED. 😂 I still remember the way she leaned back and said “What IS this??”
@@gordonfreeman7187 sure dude, nothing EVER happens, as we know, your boring-ass life is the universal standard as to how many interesting things can happen, no one can have experiences different than yours
!! So rare to see another handbell player!! I just graduated highschool, but I was in my school's handbell choirs from 7th-senior year. In seventh grade we played bells of Notre Dame in my state's capitol building! Specifically under the dome, it was surreal. We never won any competitions (at least against anyone else since handbells aren't a huge category on any tour) but I did several performances with the song. It's just so haunting and I love the techniques in it like the tower swings
I love how you explained how frollo is so terrifying because he’s so real. he’s the type of monster that can exist, unlike magical creatures, or magicians of death, frollo is a human being that craves disgusting humanly desires. That’s why he’s so scary.
You know you’re watching a good RU-vidr when you literally actually genuinely fist pump and say “YUSS!” In 2023 upon seeing them upload a video about a topic you like
As an honourable mention I just want to mention the French version of this song. Absolute masterpiece, breathtaking performance by voice actor Jean Piat and the lyrics are honestly crazy. For "destroy Esmeralda, and let her feel the fires of hell", for example, the french version goes: détruis Esmeralda, qu'un rideau de feu soit son linceul" - destroy Esmeralda, that a curtain of fire shall be her funeral veil. Or "quelle brûlure, quelle torture, les flammes de sa chevelure dévorent mon cœur d'obscènes flétrissures" - what burning, what torture, the flames of her wallowing hair devour my heart with obscene wilting/rotting... okay, I'm a bad translator, but you get the point: whoever wrote these French lyrics 1000% understood the assignment.
Hellfire I’ve heard as one of if not THE best Disney songs ever made. The fact that a top 100 list did not include it must absolutely be on purpose I honestly always love video essays on Hunchback and Hellfire. There’s so many little details everyone picks up and it’s just amazing to see. Thanks for making and sharing this!
Making a stupid point on online lists is often on purpose because they know people will get mad and comment on the page, increasing engagement and traffic, and thus ad revenue.
Villain songs are as IMPORTANT as the 'Hero' songs. You make the point so clear in this video!! For me they're the ones that stick as much as the songs sung by the protag, maybe even more (like Hellfire and Poor Unfortunate Souls). To not include them and sometimes ignore them, is just disrespectful to everyone who influences the creation of a villain song
It's a testament to Stephen Schwartz's talent (and range) that he's able to write lyrics for Hellfire, while also having composed music for the likes of Wicked around the same time, The Prince of Egypt, and Pooh's Grand Adventure. I know he's not the most-employed composer/lyricist ever but gosh darn if he isn't underrated! Good on you for giving the whole creative team a shout out, they all deserve it.
25:00 another fun fact, the latin chanting of mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa is another catholic chant that's called the penetential act where the person chanting it acknowledges their faults and sin during the mass and asks for forgiveness
The dies irae throughout the entirety of the movie is so clever. It’s a constant memento mori, reminding all the characters that they will someday be judged by their actions: dark when warning Frollo of his sacrilege, bright when praising Quasimodo’s empathy. This movie is SO rich. …but then there’s the gargoyles. Every time they’re on screen is like you’ve been sitting at a beautiful evensong, and then someone smacks you in the face with a fish.
I like the interlude of the Monks and the Archdeacon too, while Heaven’s light has symbolisms of light and, well Heaven, and Hellfire is so centered around the ideas of man’s depravity and sin, the middle part reminds me of Purgatory. Hear me out It’s three ordinary men, singing acts of confession and burning incense to “purify” themselves and Notre Dame. Purgatory is a place of purification, and the middle road of Heaven and Hell. Just a beautiful transition to me.
@@thathalfcanadian5543 "The one before Hellfire, I skip it and so do you." Nostalgia Critic. I admittedly never watch Heaven's Light unless I'm watching the movie itself, which I don't do often. Hellfire overshadows it so much that I barely comprehend Heaven's Light and it's relevance. But you're both right. It IS important to the overall story.
Fun fact, because I think this film's first shot in Hellfire captures it the best I've ever seen: the bridge between the Ile de la Cite (where Notre Dame and the Palais de Justice both are) and the North bank is where Javert commits suicide in Les Miserables-- specifically, on the road towards the justice building, he stops and looks out from the bridge towards the Justice Building and Notre Dame. He is unable to move past this point, because moving forward-- towards man's justice-- would mean he has to decide between going to the justice building or going to Notre Dame. There is only one other road after the bridge that would take him back to Notre Dame (towards god), which Hugo describes as "Reddened" by a streetlight. Caught between a staunch belief that god's law and man's are the same, and forced to confront a situation where man's law is directly opposed (like the Notre Dame and Palais de Justice), he cannot decide-- so he jumps. In contrast, Frolo looks out from the Palais de Justice towards Notre Dame and believes the same thing-- that his laws, man's laws, are the same as god's laws. But unlike Javert, he has direct power to control those laws and who they harm, and does not feel the same moral issues that Javert feels. He sits inside the Palais de Justice and looks out at Notre Dame, believing himself in many ways to be a god, if one lesser than God, capital. He sits inside the justice building, directly facing the seat of God, and believes himself to be in communication with that God wants-- that his thoughts and God's are the same. In Hellfire, he is confronted by the same situation-- he's facing a situation where he is clearly and unjustifiably wrong, but unlike Javert (who decides only to not decide), he decides that he IS still right, and that his pain comes from the fact that he isn't removing his temptation the way god 'would want him to'. This surely isn't how Hugo writes it in the book, but I think whomever made that decision understood a lot of Hugo's impulses and the ways in which Hugo writes the city of Paris as a thing that is living and in direct communication with his characters.
i always interpreted the fire pulling Frollo as him being pulled further into his desire - and thus, his damnation. everything about the Hellfire sequence is so powerful. my favorite line delivery in the song is probably the trembling in Tony Jay's voice in "God have mercy on *me*." Always sends shivers down my spine
35:45 Just a tiny correction, "Κύριε Ελέησον" is Greek. Lord have mercy on us. It's a very common phrase used in hymns of the Orthodox church even today. Loved the video, Hellfire is THE best Disney song of all time.
But it's also a rite that predates the Great Schism, and, as such, is also part of the Catholic pseudo-Latin custom as well. That's the easiest way to suck the wind out of any Catholic trying to claim that Vatican's self-serving pageantry is the "original" Christian sect-they even call themselves _"Christians",_ after the _Koine_ "Χριστόσ", rather than "Selected" or "Elects" after the Latin translation. The oldest elements of their liturgy come directly from the Orthodox traditions of the Levant and east Africa.
Hunchback is incredible because as you said, it could actually happen. Hellfire is absolutely a goodbump-inducing hauntingly beautiful masterpiece. I'm not surprised today's version of Disney is hesitant about it, but I agree, that you cannot remake the movie without the song. I hope Disney is learning that lesson with their recent major flops.
The Hunchback of Notre Dame is by far my favorite Disney movie of all time. Not only did it have incredible music and a great story, but it's one of the, if not the ONLY, positive depiction of a gypsy I ever saw growing up. I'm Roma, my family is Roma, and my grandparents travelled the world escaping persecution, just to find it everywhere they went, even outside of Czechia. I always wanted to grow up to be like Esmerelda, and I'm so greatful for all the artists who made this movie a reality for me as a child. Thank you for this video :)
King Louie's song I wanna be like you, is such a bop, you wouldn't think it's a villain song, until you hear the part where he says "Give me the power, of man's red flower, so I can be more like you." He knows how powerful this thing is, & wants it for himself to be even more powerful.
44:29 I actually have to disagree with you here. They did not drown out the word "sin" but instead emphasized it by having the chorus come out clearly saying "SIN" as he says it. It's one of the most stand-out words in the line, it's got a big OOMPH that makes you pay attention to it. They were not even trying to hide the word in the music, rather they used it to lead up into the hooded court's chorus, as both a declaration and an accusation. They may have been squeamish about it, but they did not conceal it.
I don't think they were squeamish about it. This song is so honest and raw that I think everybody involved had a "let's fucking do this!" mindset. I know that Tony Jay did. He initially wasn't sure he could handle this song since he wasn't a trained singer, but he knuckled down, went to singing lessons specifically for Hellfire, exhausted himself whilst delivering the final performance, and gave us an absolute banger of a scene. Certainly the greatest scene in the movie and a formidable contender for the greatest scene in Disney's entire history.
Another issue about Disney's recent villains being surprise villains: villain songs are slowly disappearing since they would reveal everything and thus we cannot get bangers that explore their inner world :/
LIOD actually is. If you listen to it, it's a masterclass in manipulation. Han is going along with what Anna says, he puts forth almost nothing himself. He is telling her what he wants to agree with her and makes it feel like he's sharing without ever tripping himself up. It's scary on multiple viewings. (In a different way than Hellfire obviously.)
@@SarahBenthe even kinda confesses his plans in the song but Anna doesn't realize it cause shes so in love "ive been searching my whole life to find my own place...." then he says "but with you I've found my place" its kinda crazy
37:40 great observation! Most villain songs end with the villain feeling powerful, in fact so powerful they laugh manically. Scar laughs at the end of Be Prepared, Zira laughs at the end of My Lullaby, Dr Facilier laughs at the end of Friends of the Other Side & Jafar laughs at the end of Prince Ali reprise. But Frollo ends his Hellfire song fainting to the floor in the shape if a cross
I love this song because the amount of emotion displayed in it, the rage, the desperation, the fear. It’s already a good movie, but this is just a beautiful representation of the effects of human humans
The Hunchback of Notre Dame is one of those movies where it didn't grab my interest as a kid cause I could tell the movie was overall darker than a lot of other films, but it gained my interest as an adult due to that very same reason. I have a lot of reasons for why I absolutely love Hellfire, but I think my main one is that it's real. It doesn't shy away from showing all the ugliness that Frollo displays on screen. This isn't some typical Disney villain song, this is Frollo giving into temptation. An everyday man who is just like everyone else admitting that he'd rather be evil than ever admit he has problems. Knowing how Disney is with their remakes, I don't ever wanna see the day a remake of this movie exists and it doesn't have Hellfire in it. It's not the same without it.
My favorite kind of villains are those that had every chance to do the right thing, every reason to do the right thing, and simply don't for one reason or another. It makes the character more tragic even if it is by their own doing
I really appreciate how well spoken you are. I’m not much of a Disney guy myself but I still found this really engaging because of how clearly passionate and well researched you come off about this movie and this song
For We Don't Talk about Bruno, I see it as the villains being the family, who ostracized Bruno and have villainized him, and blaming him for leaving even though the entire time they've been pushing him away, and that's not even why he left. So when you first watch it you think it's a villain song about bruno, but I think it's a villain song about the family. They're not intending to be villains, but they're definitely hit a point where they're the antagonists of the story, not just abuela, because they're all perpetuating this idea of Bruno and being uncharitable to their brother and uncle.
I do wish La Esmerelda was mentioned, since it's arguably much more a source for Disney than the original book ever was, or the actual stage adaptation of Disney's Hunchback, which delves more into how each of the three male leads view Esmerelda (Quasi and Frollo assuming idealistically opposite extremes, seeing her an an angel and devil respectively, while Phoebus takes a more worldly stance, remarking on her dancing instead of adopting a religious stereotype). Of the three, Phoebus is the only one who understands Esmerelda as a mortal woman, as capable of virtue or sin as himself. Both he and Frollo are attracted to her, but unlike Frollo, Phoebus accepts his own responsibility for those feelings, cares about Esmerelda's consent, and doesn't view lust/desire as evil. But otherwise, love me some longform musical content, and both Tony Jay and Patrick Page bring so much depth and emotion to a truly despicable villain. I understand this video was specifically about the film version of the song, and Tony Jay's is certainly the version I'm most nostalgic for, but wanted to mention the others since so many are less aware of them than the Disney film or the book
I love this song for the idea that it can humanize and HUMBLE a villain, even though that villain still does not humble himself, he is about to GET humbled by something else.
I just heard "This is the Thanks I Get" for the first time and I desperately needed to watch something about a Disney song I actually like. This video was a lifesaver! God, Disney truly died a gruesome death leaving some lecherous ghoul standing in its place
I've always adored this song. It feels so authentic and vulnerable for a villain song. You see Frollo actually break down. You can see him talking to his subconscious (hooded figures). He says: "It's not my fault" they say "My fault" One thing that shocked me was that they actually had the word Damnation in this movie
I just realized another thing. Before Frolo is washed in shadow and is laid unconscious in an upside down cross. While yes the shadows of the robes wash over him first, he faced toward the fireplace. Faced towards the red while a deep royal blue is behind him. Red usually seeming more evil and menacing while blue usually indicating more good and calm.
Other villain songs: I am a powerful genius. Allow me to explain not just my motivation but my plan for world domination. The protagonist never stood a chance. Frollo's villain song: WHY MY P P HARD
Love this video! 💖💖💖 Also, THANK YOU for referring to Esmeralda's people as Romani. Ironically, when my Romani partner was first brought to this country as a child (long, fucked up story), it was the year Hunchback came out and everyone (myself included) dressed as Esmeralda for Halloween. Talk about culture shock! So thank you, thank you, thank you. Your cultural sensitivity is much appreciated.
I think that a line from Bells of Notre Dame sung by the archdeacon really underscores why Frollo is working so hard to convince the red chorus of his innocence: "You can lie to yourself and your minions/You can claim that you haven't a qualm/but you never can run from/nor hide what you've done from the eyes/the very eyes of Notre Dame." Since 'Notre Dame' literally translates to 'Our Lady' in Latin, and the archdeacon is gesturing to all the statues of saints as he sings this, I think he hit on a really tender point in Frollo's mind by saying that no amount of justifying to HIMSELF is enough to save him from damnation. He has to convince God and/or the Virgin Mary that everything he's done is fine and dandy and he's just as pure as he thinks he is. I think that's why he comes across as so desperate to convince a third party that his lust isn't his fault--because he's afraid that even if HE believes it's not his fault, that God will still damn him.
Hey, I'm a new subscriber but fell for how you're analyzing beloved movies of my childhood. Just a small note I wanted to add: "Kyrie eleison" is not Latin but Greek, it translates to "Lord have mercy" (as you correctly said) it's used by both Catholic and Orthodox priests during prayers.
There was a quote in a show I watched that perfectly describes Frollo. "The kind of evil that doesn't realize that it's evil... is the worst kind there is."
I love how well versed you are in the religious symbolism. As a devout Catholic, I can tell that this song is underappreciated because without enough background information it is hard to understand some of the metaphors.
The darkness, Tom Hulce's singing, the setting, the characters, the score, the songs/lyrics, the animation, Hellfire... all these and more, much more, make Hunchback my no.1 favourite animated film of all time. Thank you for shining a much deserved spotlight on it.
HILARIOUSLY, your video about animated villains convinced me to watch Hunchback in early May (thank you), after which it became my current 3rd favorite movie AND it also got me back into making YTPs, and one of the reasons for that is that its soundtrack has some of Disney's best ever bangers. Now, things have come full circle with the RU-vidr who convinced me to watch this movie discussing one of my favorite things about it!
I'm only 8 minutes into this video and i can already say im so excited to hear what you have to say! Hellfire is one of my favourite songs to the point i have it as well as covers (specifically annapantsu's covers i love the original one she did but the 2021 is also brilliant). It's such a bone chilling song but its one that you would belt out since you cant just half ass it with how incredible it is. I love seeing how he descend further into his own lust and insanity throughout the song! Its just a really wonderful depiction of Frollo's character (well terrifying wonderful is not a word to describe frollo lmfao)
In case you’ve never heard them, there are some artists on RU-vid that have really good covers of Hellfire. Chase Noseworthy, Peter Hollens (who did an a cappella cover), and Johnathon Young (who did a metal cover).
Too many guys in the Manosphere today really saw Frollo growing up and said, "Dude seems chill." But for real, I've always said he is objectively the most terrifying Disney villain, specifically because there are guys like him out in the world. I knew it at 12 years old when I saw the film, and I see it even more now more than two decades later. Still the scariest Disney villain. Anyway, instead of the... abhorration that is Hunchback 2, I feel a great prequel following Esmeralda would have been far more compelling. We see her through the eyes of Quasimodo and Frollo as both a saint and a sinner, while her song is grounded in humanity. It hints at some great adversity in her past, which we know must stem in large part to her Romani heritage and discrimination by others. Despite that, she prays for the needs of others, showing great compassion. Given the liberties already taken with the film, there's so much you can do exploring Esmeralda's past, and how she's taken the pressure and adversity and used it to forge exemplary kindness. And sass. Lbr, it would also provide a lot of opportunities for spectacle and fun to break up the dark undertones. ... anyway, shout-out to honorary Disney composer Yoko Shimomura, whose 'Le Sanctuaire' goes so hard and really embodies, "What if Hunchback, but boss fight?" 😙👌
I wanna be like you, I can see why the article called it a villain song, but the Jungle Book had various animal characters that could also be villains. While Sher Khan never got his own Villain Song, he did get the final line in "That's what friends are for". But what is surprising is that they completely forgot Kaa's "Trust in me" a really important Stranger Danger villain song for today's kids who are growing up in a world where they are gonna be taken advantage of much like in Pinocchio that was animated decades earlier.
TW for SA; I don't have the energy to put my own essay in the comments on this film and this song, a quick version is as a queer person I think Frolo is the Disney villain people will pull up as "weirdly relatable" despite being sexually predatory and such which for a lot of queer people is terrifying not only because we are compared to sexual predators just for existing as ourselves but also because many of us have been victims of sexual predation and assault. The reason Frolo is "weirdly relatable" is because of Hellfire and Esmeralda being a kind and attractive woman made her a crush for a lot of queer kids and the shame we feel/felt for being attracted to her especially if you grew up in a religious household. Would be interesting to explore further. I just wanted to add that I'd never seen one of your videos but it was so well thought out and presented that I have to commend you, can't wait to see more of your content and just keep up the amazing work!
There are a pair of covers from this film that I absolutely love. The first is a version of Hellfire by Violet Orlandi. Her operatic alto voice is so epic with that piece of music. The second is the rendition of Bells of Notre Dame by Jonathan Young and Caleb Haynes. Jonathan has this absolutely amazing basso voice that works so perfectly as both the narrator and Frolo. Caleb meanwhile comes in as the bishop, and his higher tone is a wonderful contrast to Jonathan, something that comes through every time they collab.
It's really a testament to the quality of this video essay that I stuck around until the very end instead of clicking off halfway through to listen to Hellfire in its entirety after hearing snippets from it
I cannot put into words how much you put things right. This billboard list is DISAPPOINTING in most parts, and hellfire not even making it, instead of being top 10, is a crime.
This video is incredible! Hellfire is an absolute beast of a song, it's one of the few disney songs that i regularly get stuck in my head. It's such a mature song but definitely one of disney's best!
I have to agree with you about the guard being some sort of heavenly messenger or something. His voice doesn't match with the other guards we've seen up to now and its deep and authoritative. And touching on the subjects of the gargoyles: gargoyles are seen as guardians or protectors of old buildings and churches and the inhabitants of said buildings. So them coming to life especially at the end when the last one cracks and snarls at him on the way down, doing its duty to protect Quasimodo and Ezmerelda, makes a ton of sense.
Commenting for the algorithm because this was the best 50 minutes I've spent doing anything all week (and that includes the other night when I watched Hunchback). Fantastic analysis/commentary!
I love this video. Its probably the first analysis of the song and character that acknowledges Frollo's hypocrisy in away that really stresses the fact that Frollo is sincerely and authentically blind to his own corruption rather than his beliefs being an acknowledged thin veil of pretext for his actions. That's why this song is so anguished. It's breaking Frollo mentally to experience these feelings he's walled himself off from. This song makes you realize that for all his power this is a very broken man. It's left me wondering from a young age why he is the way he is and who had a hand in making him this way.
I've never actually sat down and taken the time to watch Hunchback. I know it's a phenomenal film and I know just how menacing Frollo is as a villain. And I have to say that Hellfire is hands-down the best villain song I've heard. I know the lyrics to the song, I know the story that's being told through the visuals and the lyrics and I haven't even seen the movie. That's how you know the song is incredible, when you know everything about it without even seeing the movie it comes from. Yes I will watch Hunchback. I've been wanting to watch it for at least a decade but I've been dragging my feet
I’m really glad that you pointed out how Heaven’s Light and Hellfire are inexorably linked together, complimenting each other. Not enough people acknowledge that
When I saw this video, I was like "Hell(fire) yeah." When I saw that it was 50 minutes long, I was like "Oh no." And now here I am at the end of the video, enjoying every second
All your long hours & hard work paid off! You definitely validated your opinion that Hellfire should hold a top place on the list of Villain songs! Loved every moment of this entertaining video!
I fell in love with this movie when I saw it as a kid. I still love it to this day. I think the soundtrack is a masterpiece ✨️ Hellfire will always be in my top 5 villain songs for this type of media. The visuals were very stunning as well.
The first time I ever saw hunchback of notre dame I was 19 or so, in like 2011. I remember watching it on a whim because it was one of the few 90s movies (which I had grown up on) that I hadn't seen, and I was just utterly blown away. It became my favorite instantly. I remember thinking multiple times throughout that 'this is not a movie that Disney would EVER make these days', in particular during Hellfire. That's my favorite part of the movie; regardless of whether someone likes or dislikes that part I don't think there's any denying that it is thematically, visually, musically, good. I think in several industries, gaming and movies especially, things that get very highly rated don't necessarily make the most money (take Dark Souls for example). Executives who have little, or no, role in the creative process equate a lack of money with a lack of quality, when the opposite is often true. Things that appeal to everyone and therefore make more money can be amazing, but oftentimes they sacrifice experimenting with new things or doing something truly moving. Hunchback is not a movie that could be made today because it wouldn't be able to make much money. Take a look at Wish. The star was originally meant to be a humanoid character with more depth and personality, but this was sacrificed because a cutesy little blob that makes noises is far easier to mass produce toys of. Not that Disney was a great company in the 90s by any means, but it's very clear how the creative directives are being stifled for the sake of money now more than ever. Anyway, great video! If you ever want another Hunchback video to watch, yearrrs ago Lindsey Ellis did one on the movie vs. the book, and how the movie honors the author's intent with the book despite how much it changed.
At 24:50 with the mention of Confutatis, whats really cool is nearing the end, just before Frollo falls into the fire, the choir is also chanting it, it adds such a depth to the death of Frollo
I didn’t watch Hunchback until I was an adult - never saw it as a kid and I watched it with my husband who grew up watching it. We are both 90s kids, so for him, it was one of the staple a-million-times-rewound VHS’s in his family’s minivan This gave us both a unique perspective watching it as grown people. I watched that entire movie with my mouth open I’m pretty sure. I kept saying to my husband that it did not feel like a movie written for children, it felt like a Broadway musical that had been animated. The entire Hellfire song I was wigging out and we paused and rewatched it just to take it in again. It was so incredible. But so incredibly mature and I believe the controversy around it is warranted. My husband had a whole series of “I didn’t realize it meant that” moments along the course of the movie which was fun, too. So wild.
i have been a ride or die for "the hunchback of notre dame" for as long as i can remember omg... it is truly so slept on. most people i know/had related conversations with would say that they, either by their choice or their parents who found the film too dark, straight up ignored/forgot it existed since it didn't align with the vibes of the other renaissance era movies. hell, even in the orlando parks (idk the cali situation; i'm unfortunately in fl) the film is mostly ignored until i think a couple of years ago pre-pandemic when they included "out there" in the latest magic kingdom fireworks show. i remember being so shocked from where i relaxing with friends, half asleep since it was a long day, that i sat straight up at the first few notes then experienced what i call my one and only real Disney Adult™️ moment and burst into tears
