Idina Menzel “Let It Go” released

Let It Go Idina Menzel

Writer(s): Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Robert Lopez (see lyrics here) Released: November 25, 2013 First Charted: December 4, 2013 Peak: 5 US, 47 RR, 9 AC, 20 A40, 11 UK, 18 CN, 16 AU, 8 DF (Click for codes to charts.) Sales (in millions): 9.0 US, 2.4 UK, 14.38 world (includes US + UK) Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 4889.02 video, 665.92 streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: The Disney animated movie Frozen earned more than a billion dollars on its way to becoming not just the highest-grossing film of 2013, but (at least for a time) the highest-grossing animated film of all time. The soundtrack also did astonishing well, spending thirteen weeks atop the Billboard album chart and selling four million copies. Idina Menzel provided the voice of the character Queen Elsa in the movie and sang “Let It Go,” which became the film’s inescapable hit. The husband-and-wife songwriting team of Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez wrote the song with her in mind, calling her “one of the most glorious voices of Broadway and an icon in musical theater.” WK In terms of the context of the song, they wanted a song that presented Elsa as someone coming to terms with her gift instead of as a villain. In the movie, Elsa sings the song after she loses control of her ability to generate ice. She rejoices that her secret is now out and she can use her power freely and shed the expectations others have of her as a queen. WK Menzel described the song, saying, “It’s about finding that thing that makes you different that’s going to make you special and extraordinary.” SF While Menzel was a Tony-winning Broadway actress, she wasn’t a known entity in the world of pop music. The plan had been to release a pop version of the song by Demi Lovato (as performed over the film’s closing credits). However, it was Mendel’s version which took off and became what The Boston Globe’s Yvonne Abraham called “musical crack” which “sends kids into altered states.” WK Menzel became the first Tony winner to reach the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100. It was the first Disney song in nearly two decades to reach the top ten. The last time had been Vanessa Williams with “Colors of the Wind” from Pocahontas in 1995. The song won the Oscar for Best Song as well as a Grammy for Best Song Written for Visual Media. The song made writer Robert Lopez a member of the exclusive EGOT club for people who had won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony. Resources: DMDB encyclopedia entry for Idina Menzel SF Songfacts WK Wikipedia Related Links: First posted 8/16/2023.