How Kristoff’s 80’s Power Ballad in Frozen 2 Came To Be

Hands down one of my favorite parts of Frozen 2 is Kristoff’s 80’s style power ballad. If you have heard the soundtrack then you sort of know what I am talking about. However, it gets one thousand times better when you see it. Because the animation that it was put with is EVERYTHING. 

Of course someone at the Frozen 2 press junket asked about Kristoff’s ballad, and how it came about. Mentioning that it gave her total 80’s vibes, which it did for me too. Songwriter Kristen Anderson-Lopez honestly answered that she works so closely with the filmmakers, she couldn’t pinpoint whose idea it was. Then Jennifer Lee jokes about how they are all middle aged, and that might have had something to do with it.

“I remember breaking up with my 8th grade boyfriend and listening to Bryan Adams’ Heaven over and over. Why would I do that? You want to wallow, you want to feel it.” — Kristen Anderson-Lopez

Bobby Lopez then added that originally there were two ideas on the table for Kristoff’s song in Frozen 2. The 80’s one, and then a Snow White kind of deal (like and I’m Wishing song). While I do love what we ended up with, I kind of want to see a short of Kristoff singing the other version. I can’t be the only one who does.

It’s Hard To Have A Man Pour Out His Feelings In Song

Kristen Anderson-Lopez also pointed out just how hard it is to have a song with a man pouring out his feelings, and making it work. Like really, truly work. Bobby chimed in with a sad, but true, statement. “It ties in with why kids get bullied. It’s very sad.“

“The truth is Bobby and I adore 80’s music. The melodies and the chord shifts are really complex. And most importantly — men being able to sing an I want song is very, very hard. Unless they are orphans, new to the country (saying I’m not giving away my shot!}  — it’s very hard to have a man sit down and go ‘here’s who I am, here’s what I want‘. ” — Kristen Anderson-Lopez

And Kristen is right. Because for some reason we judge a sensitive guy. So the moment needed to be done perfectly for Kristoff’s ballad to work in Frozen 2. And I think it was. Kristen went on to explain how they did that.

“In order to thread the needle — it needed to be a fun moment. We’ve been in the woods. We’ve just learned some really heavy things. Terribly scary Earth giants just went by — we needed to have a moment of fun. But we didn’t want to lose the tether to real emotion and real problems of transformation that are happening in the woods.”

The Scene Is Made By The Animators

I absolutely loved when Josh Gad chimed in, saying that they could not have done this without the animation team. He went on to sing their praises, saying they are “one of the  most incredible groups working on any movie I have ever been a part of.” 

We learned there were 75 animators that worked on Frozen 2, all from the original team creating more than 130,000 frames. We also found out they are quite the jokesters, and has used outtakes from recording sessions in animations for a laugh. Some of which, are include words that are not Disney friendly. What I wouldn’t give to see those! 

Then we ended the Frozen 2 press junket with a group sing-a-long. I bet you can’t guess what song it was? That’s right, Bryan Adams’ Heaven. Talk about a perfect ending, to a perfect morning. Check out my Frozen 2 spoiler free review if you haven’t already to learn more about why I love this movie so much.

About Frozen 2

Why was Elsa born with magical powers? What truths about the past await Elsa as she ventures into the unknown to the enchanted forests and dark seas beyond Arendelle? The answers are calling her but also threatening her kingdom. Together with Anna, Kristoff, Olaf and Sven, she’ll face a dangerous but remarkable journey. In “Frozen,” Elsa feared her powers were too much for the world. In “Frozen 2,” she must hope they are enough.

Frozen 2 Hits Theaters Now!

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