Elsa from “Frozen 2”.
Disney
- Buisness Insider spoke with Academy Award winners Kristen anderson-Lopez and robert Lopez about how they created the song for Frozen 2.
- The duo, best known for their hit song “Let It Go,” created a sequel with the equally catchy “Into the Unknown.” He talked about how he created it.
- The duo also revealed how they decided too replace the song with “Into the unknown”, even though they had originally intended it to be a different song.
ItS been six years as the movie “Frozen,” but songwriters Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez have barely taken any time off from “Elsa and anna.”
When the two had finished the original Frozen songs, they helped directors Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck retell the story, creating the global hit “Let’s Go!” the story won an Oscar. After the first film, the two were quickly involved in the production of Frozen.Broadway musical versionand wrote 12 original songs (During that time, the two also wrote “Remember Me,” the theme song for the 2017 Pixar film “Remember Me,” which also won an Academy Award.)) (Remember Me)”.
“We’ve been working as 2012,” Anderson-Lopez told Business Insider.
The Lopezes have spent a lot of time in the Kingdom of Arendelle, but when Walt Disney Animation approached them in 2015, they did not hesitate to enter the movie Frozen 2. . However, until the end, he was worried about how he could achieve the success of “Let It Go”.
Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert lopez.
AP
“If you’re thinking like that, you’re really…” anderson-Lopez said, without missing a word, and then Lopez took over, saying, “You can’t move.”
“Yes, we could have gone somewhere and become farmers,” said Anderson-Lopez.
Actually,for the first two years of working on the sequel,they put their sheet music and instruments away.
Around this time, the two were invited not only to write songs for the film, but also to advise on story growth (their names are also credited for story development). To that end, he had daily video conference calls with directors Lee and Buck, and also other Disney personnel, and accompanied him on business trips to Iceland and Norway.
“It’s about collecting your feelings and saving your thoughts for later when you’re writing,” Lopez says of the process.
in Frozen 2, Elsa travels through the forest guided by a mysterious singing voice that only she can hear. Anna, Olaf, and Kristoff (and Sven) join them and find themselves through comedy and song. Towards the end of the film,Elsa finally finds a “mysterious singing voice” and sings “Into the Unknown” to it. Like “Let It Go” from the first Frozen movie, “Into the Unknown” has an addictive hook and a great performance by Idina Menzel (who totally voices Elsa).
However, as the story began to revolve around elsa’s search for her “mysterious singing voice,” inspiration struck and they wrote Into the unknown.
“Some of the songs were inspired by the innovation of stories, and our team and I got the idea that there was a voice from the past that only Elsa could hear. Coming to this idea, the duet songs were clearly “I’m at start to see. it,” said Lopez. “The first voice is calling Elsa, and Elsa wants the voice to take her somewhere. Halfway through the song, Elsa realizes that part of her wants to know what’s out there. At the end of the song, Elsa begins to go towards him… “on a journey into the unknown.”
But, like “Let It Go,” it wasn’t until Elsa Menzel’s voice sang it that got everyone excited about the song.
“She got to sing in the key we wrote, and she has a great pitch,” Anderson-Lopez said of Menzel’s singing. “When the lyrics to “Into the Unknown” appear, the first time it goes up an octave, and the second time it goes one step further, going beyond its own limits, it comes back as 11 degrees is normal. It goes way beyond my limits and I think Idina finds me crying at the moon.
Idina Menzel is the voice of Elsa in the Frozen series.
AP
“Into the Unknown,” like “Let It Go,” is a strong contender for an Academy Award. But the Lopezes say they have no idea if the song they wrote will be a hit. Both are focused on whether the songs serve the story.
“We’re looking for the most emotional moments when someone feels something strongly and moves from one emotion to another,” Anderson-lopez said,adding,”In this case … we knew that Elsa would have to sing, trying to find out the truth about herself and why she had these powers. We’ll have to wait until the duet.”
“It’s impossible to say for sure how much emotional animation will bring into each scene,” Lopez added. ”Honestly, that’s when I feel the song really worked. It was exciting
“Into the Unknown” (English version)here.
How do Kristen Anderson-Lopez and robert Lopez approach the songwriting process for Disney films?
Interviewer: Welcome to Time.news! Today, we have the astounding opportunity to speak with celebrated songwriters Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, the creative minds behind the iconic music of Disney’s Frozen franchise. Thank you both for joining us!
Kristen Anderson-Lopez: Thank you for having us! It’s great to be hear.
Robert Lopez: yes,absolutely! Excited to share our journey.
Interviewer: It’s been quite a journey for you both as the release of the original Frozen in 2013. Can you take us back to the very beginning? What was your initial reaction when approached to create songs for a sequel?
Kristen: oh, it was a mixture of excitement and a bit of apprehension. I mean, Let It Go had become a global phenomenon, and we kept thinking—how do we top that?
Robert: Right! We definitely felt the weight of expectation. But we also knew that we had a unique opportunity to delve deeper into these beloved characters and their evolving stories.
Interviewer: You decided to introduce the song ”Into the Unknown” for Frozen 2 instead of another tune you initially had planned. How did that transition come about?
Robert: It was quite an evolution, actually. Initially, we had a different song in mind, but it just didn’t resonate in the way we hoped. After a lot of discussions with Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck, we realized we needed something that really captured Elsa’s internal struggle and her desire for finding.
Kristen: Yes! “Into the Unknown” became that anthem. It encapsulated her journey and her yearning to understand her powers and her place in the world.
Interviewer: It’s fascinating how the creative process involves collaboration and even re-evaluation! During the progress of Frozen 2, you also consulted on story growth, right? what was that experience like?
Robert: It was honestly one of the most rewarding parts of our work. Having daily video conference calls with the directors and Disney team allowed us to weave the music closely with the storyline.
Kristen: We even traveled to iceland and Norway for inspiration! Those trips were monumental in helping us understand Elsa’s connection to nature and her heritage.
Interviewer: It truly seems like your songs truly reflect the essence of Arendelle.How do you go about capturing feelings and thoughts when you write?
Kristen: It’s all about collecting experiences and emotions beforehand.Sometimes, we take a step back from writing to let everything simmer in our minds before putting pen to paper.
Robert: Exactly.The creative process doesn’t always require constant active work; sometimes, it needs quiet moments of reflection to blossom.
Interviewer: Your partnership has been so fruitful, especially with awards and accolades. What’s the secret sauce to your collaboration?
Robert: We genuinely respect each other’s creative instincts. We can be candid and vulnerable during our brainstorming sessions, which allows us to push boundaries.
Kristen: Plus, we’ve grown to trust each other’s artistic vision over the years. there’s a synergy that’s developed—like a dance we’ve perfected!
Interviewer: Speaking of Frozen, the legacy of your songs continues to resonate with audiences globally. How does it feel to hear your music impacting so many lives?
Kristen: It’s surreal and incredibly humbling! Knowing that our songs have become anthems of empowerment, particularly for young girls and families, means the world to us.
Robert: Absolutely! We feel incredibly lucky to be part of such meaningful stories. We’re all about making connections through music, and seeing that joy in others is our greatest reward.
Interviewer: Before we wrap up,what’s next for you both? Any exciting projects on the horizon?
Kristen: We’re always working on new music and ideas! For now,we’re exploring some other stories that inspire us,but we can’t reveal too much just yet.
Robert: Stay tuned, though! There’s always something magical brewing in our world!
Interviewer: We look forward to it! Thank you so much for sharing your insights with us today. It’s been a pleasure!
Kristen: Thank you for having us!
Robert: Always a pleasure!