Apparently the Academy likes it too, or at least the music - as 3 of the 5 songs up for Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Song) were from “Enchanted.” The nominees are:
“Falling Slowly” - Music and Lyric by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova (Once) “Happy Working Song” - Music by Alan Menken; Lyric by Stephen Schwartz
“Raise It Up” - Songwriter and Lyricist not listed (August Rush) “So Close” - Music by Alan Menken; Lyric by Stephen Schwartz “That’s How You Know” Music by Alan Menken; Lyric by Stephen Schwartz
These were the only nominations for “Enchanted.” It would be great if there were a telecast so Amy Adams and Jon McLaughlin could sing onstage. In a perfect world, there would be a big production of “That’s How You Know,” much like “Blame Canada” from a few years ago.
I actually haven’t seen the movie (my family and I were supposed to watch it, but we went to Disneyland instead ). However, I have listened to the three nominated songs from Enchanted, as well as the other two nominees, and I must say that the one I’m definitely rooting for is “That’s How You Know”. Actually, I’ve been rooting for this song even before the nominees were announced, so I’m really glad that the Academy gave it some recognition.
I recently saw it, and loved it! I went back to see it a second time, and I’m definately going again sometime soon. It was really great, and I loved it even more the second time around. The songs are so catchy, and the characters are fun
Actually one of the reasons I saw Enchanted was because Stephen Schwartz composed some songs- I liked his work with Godspell, though I’m not christian/religious … the songs were fun in the movie but I got some and they’re no fun to listen to without the movie- they’re actually way too happy for me, lol!
Okay, so I was thinking about this today, since the Oscars are tonight (set your VCRs, people!) and I got my wish for a telecast. Here’s what People magazine has to say about Enchanted and who’s performing…
I’m happy because Amy is singing “Happy Working Song,” and I guess it would be too much to do two songs, but still… I guess I would rather have Amy sing “That’s How You Know”… oh well. I still want a big production, since it’s just not the same otherwise.
Edit: Enchanted had three shots, but did not win. With the exception of Best Animated Film, the Academy never picks movies I like… “Falling Slowly” from the film Once took home the award. I had my money on August Rush…
I have to say that all of Enchanted songs were really good. BUt i found it sad that they didn’t win. I do think that “Falling Slowly” really deserved the award. However, I think the singing from Augest Rush was powerful too.
Well, I really have no idea about the other songs - we don’t really get TV here on campus, and I haven’t seen Once or August Rush (mostly because I was busy, partly because Once had such a limited run I had no idea it even existed), so I have to wait and see if anyone will upload clips on YouTube or something.
I was so, so pleased that the songs from Enchanted didn’t win. That woman, whoever she is, has to be possibly the most annoying human on the entire planet. Gah.
The song from Once wasn’t that great either, to be honest, and I’ve never seen August Rush. All in all, the songs nominated weren’t exactly a spectacular array of musical abilities- nothing really stood out.
But that was the point of it, wasn’t it? Obnoxiously corny, making themselves look like idiots … wasn’t that the idea behind it? And the songs were annoying but I enjoyed it just the same - just not a movie I’d watch 20 times over nor a soundtrack I’d buy that I’d listen to constantly. Those songs get caught in you head!
But, FONY, isn’t that the point? I mean, it’s still Disney, for crying out loud. They love to write the kinds of songs that you sing as you walk out of the theater and for weeks afterward. I could mention “Be Our Guest,” “A Whole New World,” “Under the Sea,” and countless others - many of which Alan Menken worked on - and chances are good that many of the people who read this post will end up humming one (or more) of these later on in their day. I love the soundtrack from Enchanted, and I adore all three of the nominated songs. Since I downloaded them, I have listened to them near constantly.
In terms of the Oscars, I’m limited to what people have posted on YouTube, so I’ve seen part of Amy Adams’ performance (“Happy Working Song”) and all of Kristen Chenoweth’s (“That’s How You Know”), and I will agree that Kristen’s voice is a bit annoying. I just listened to the song from Once, and I’m giving the song from August Rush a listen now, if only to get an idea for the competition. Right now I can see why Once won - it’s completely up the Academy’s alley.
FONY- Yeah, I can see that that was the whole point of the film- to be like that- but I still can’t help but hate it. They went out and achieved what they wanted, and good for them, but I didn’t like what they wanted to achieve in the first place.
KE- I can understand the comparison between the Enchanted songs and the other Disney songs that you mentioned, but there’s something different about the songs from Enchanted…Sure, they’re all very catchy and addictive, but the songs from the animated Disney films didn’t seem so obnoxious. Then again, as FONY pointed out earlier, the whole point of the Enchanted songs was to be obnoxious.
Yeah, it’s one of the side effects, if you will, to writing a parody - it both tries to be similar to what it’s parodying and different at the same time. Also, while I think the movie works on many levels, it’s not for everybody. “Clever” and “witty” and “obnoxious” and “annoying” are just two sides of the same coin depending on who is watching it.
I know - I realized now I judged Enchanted too harshly - though the songs are catchy and somewhat annoying, I do like “That’s How You Know”. And I’ve got those other Disney songs you mentioned right now on my iPod; though they’re fun and good to listen to, one too many plays in one sitting can drive a person insane, or people around them. I guess what I meant to say about Enchanted is - it’s a lovely Disney film, and it fits right in with the rest that you love to watch but can’t stand the songs after hearing it one too many times. And who can, honestly, of any type of media?
lizardgirl: I’ll admit, some bits made me feel embarassed to be there, but I never got too annoyed at it. Seemed to me they settled a bit once they got a little too annoying, and though it’s not a favorite film of mine I’ll still say it’s one of the best Disney things I have seen as of late.
I heard the songs from the movie while watching the oscars, and now i really do want to see the movie. I never had a chance to see it while in theaters but now i know i want to see it.
I finally saw it today, and I thought it was extremely wonderful during the first half, but the last half really disappointed me. My spirits were lifted in the first half, because I seriously thought that Disney was back to normal. Then the ending came, and the [spoil]dragon stuff and especially Giselle not getting back to Andalasia[/spoil] was really weird and upsetting. Oh, well.
I saw it when it came out in theaters, and, for my personal opinion, thought it was a very good movie.
Probably my favorite thing of the whole movie was the theme - true love does exist, and does last, but you have to work at it. The side plot with the almost-divorced couple was my favorite scene.
I thought the songs would be annoying, and shockingly they weren’t! They flowed beautifully in and out of the movie. Compared to what Disney is shelling out these days, I’d say it’s one of their better ones.
I’m going to put the entirety of my response in a quote just to be safe…
Enchanted according to the heroic journey:
[spoiler]I agree with you on some points… the dragon part especially was a little too far-winded for me and not tastefully done. I think, however, that you are missing the fact that Enchanted outlines a deeper theme. Although there are many Disney movies which have a great heroic journey background (Lion King always comes to mind), the more “princess-y” one’s which Enchanted is a satire of do not for the most part.
Giselle’s storyline is based upon the heroic journey. Andalasia is Giselle’s stage of Innocence. Here, although she is happy and believes in “True Love’s Kiss” and all that jazz, she is innocent to an almost ignorant degree. Giselle is pushed down the fountain to bring the stage of Initiation. In New York, she is exposed to a new world of both pains and joys beyond her own. She is exposed to relationships like Robert & Nancy and the couple filing for divorce. From here, Chaos begins. This is notably the point when Prince Edward actually finds her in New York. Suddenly, Giselle is faced with an uncertainty of which life to choose. The climax of the Chaos stage is at the point when she is offered the apple and the temptation to return to Innocence is presented. Giselle would so greatly like to forget Robert and the complications of real love. She would like to believe that Edward was the perfect man for her after all. Her Resolution, therefore, despite the fact that she takes the apple, is that she will fight for Robert and the life in New York. Giselle chooses knowing the truth and gaining the knowledge instead of returning to blissful innocence. Therefore, Giselle really could not have gone back to Andalasia in order for Enchanted to have been a truly good movie. If Giselle had returned to Andalasia, the theme would have been weak and misleading.[/spoiler]
That was really long-winded… but the Heroic Journey arc is so much fun!
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). However, I have listened to the three nominated songs from 
