I'm just gonna say it...

[eliza61]

Love, love Idina! She can do no wrong in my book.

However, I can't stand Barbra Streisand.

***gasp**** you are evil and must be destroyed.

I love the Babs!! Her voice is not as strong as it use to be, but girlfriend could saaang.

Loved Idina in rent, never saw wicked though.

 

[frostedpink]

I don't care for the Idina version of the song. She has this weird drop off/twang to her voice and it just sounds odd. I'm actually surprised that Disney selected her for the role. She sounds like an old woman, rather than a ~20 year old young lady like Elsa is supposed to be.

I LOVE the song itself though, when sang by others!

 

[mill4023]

I liked her in Rent, but I was not a fan of her voice in Frozen at all. I liked the movie, but the music, especially her songs, really annoyed me.

 

[DisneyDreamer2504]

I've never been a big fan of hers, mostly bc of the sound of her voice, especially her speaking voice. However, in Frozen I think she's amazing! I actually felt bad bc she really didn't speak or even sing much through the whole thing. Let it go, gave me chills, (no pun intended!) I mean, her version is just absolutely stunning to me. I enjoy some other versions, like the African pop version, but I can't stand when Demi lovato sings it! I like her usually, but I really really don't like her for this song.

 

[NotUrsula]

Any singer with a range of better than three octaves has my respect; that's a heck of a gift to have.

Menzel is known for her ability to "belt" -- that is, to suddenly increase volume to accent certain phrases. "Belting" is something that a successful Broadway lead pretty much has to be able to do these days, and Menzel can do it consistently, which is unusual.

I happen to like "Let it Go". It's not a patch on something like "Let Him Go", but it's a classic modern Broadway-style tune and I'm a fan of that style of composition. It was written especially to suit Menzel's vocal range, so if you don't like Menzel, it stands to reason that you wouldn't care much for the song. (As to Lovato's version; PLEASE spare me that. Even my 6yo thinks it is awful. Lovato is fine at pop-style songs, but musical theatre songs are just not her metier.)

BTW, for those who thought they had never heard of Menzel before this, didn't you see Enchanted? She played Nancy.

 

[Nancy]

I am a fan of Idina so I love Let It Go, but I can see how she would not appeal to everyone. I think that is a good thing though..there is a music choice for everyone and we all don't have to like every single singer/group/song...keeps a lot of artists in business.


Of course my husband will tell you that I have no taste in music. I love Streisand and Celine Dion, but do not like groups like the Rolling Stones or Aerosmith. I can take them or leave them...mainly leave them. Also do not get the Bruce appeal.

 

[elphaba91]

Idina can do no wrong in my book! I think her voice is incredible, especially live! She came out here last year and her Melbourne concert was the best night of my life. She is a big part of why we are going to New York this year; we want to see her new musical If/Then...plus, we wouldn't be obsessed with musicals if it weren't for Wicked! I love Let It Go too, but not the Demi version. I actually first heard it sung by Amanda Harrison, who is pretty much the Aussie Idina. Her version is pretty spectacular too!

 

[Silly Little Pixie]

I love "Let It Go". I think Idina Menzel did a great job in the film, but I would love the song no matter who sang it. The song lyrics have so meaning well beyond the movie...at least to me.

Love Idina Menzel, LOVE "Let it Go"!!

OP, are you not a fan of Broadway musicals? If you're not, then definitely her style would probably not be appealing at all. We are big showtunes folk here, even my 13 yo DS.

 

[shortbun]

Love Idina Menzel!!

 

[Deb in IA]

We love Idina Menzel and "Let It Go". And we think her version of "Defying Gravity" is amazing.

Now, DH loves Janis Joplin - I can't stand her.
And we both think Bob Dylan is a great songwriter, but he should not try to sing anymore.

Not too entralled about Steve Tyler either.

 

[suzannen]

Put my whole family in the love, love Idina category. We saw her in "Wicked" twice and her live performances give you chills. She was one of the main reasons my 19-year old DD and I rushed out to see "Frozen." Love her version of "Let It Go" and cannot stand Demi's.

And like NotUrsula, I'm surprised by all of the DIS folks here who didn't know who she was, even after her role in "Enchanted."

Can't wait to see her perform at the Oscars!

 

[jenny105]

I think she has a great voice but I don't understand all the hype surrounding Frozen. It was cute. It wasn't anything spectacular IMO.

 

[NotUrsula]

I think she has a great voice but I don't understand all the hype surrounding Frozen. It was cute. It wasn't anything spectacular IMO.

The thing about Frozen is that for Disney, it is a new take on the idea of true love and self-respect, and it plays very strongly to the grrl-power movement. Mulan went in this direction, but had a traditional romantic ending. Brave was another step, but stopped short of putting the heroine entirely in charge of her own life, let alone a country.

Let it Go is an anthem. It was designed to be an anthem, and many people feel that it mirrors how they wish they could live but are afraid to. They are finding that the song reflects the current turn against societal conformity. It promotes the idea of embracing your strengths even if others do not understand them and might even shun you for displaying them, and it does it in a musically pleasing way. (However, it is a bear to sing. My DD6 is enthralled with it, and we've all been living in off-key hell while she practices it incessantly. She's improving, but nowhere near fast enough!)

Frozen is a good Disney film, and will be a classic. It's not at the level of the Lion King (hard to top Hamlet), but it is ideally placed for release at this moment in time, with the way that societal tides are turning these days. Blood is thicker than water, and in Frozen, it's thicker than marital romance as well. (It also helps that the leads are very pretty, and the dress designs are lovely and lend themselves to real-life construction.)

 

[zoemurr]

Love Idina! One of the best belters of all time in my book. I didn't get a chance to see her in Wicked but did see her live on tour. Amazing!

That being said I thought she was the wrong choice for Frozen. She is much older than the character and her low tones just didn't jive for me as a young princess. (Although I imagine they wanted someone very opposite of Kristen Bell's cutesy high voice so in that case they succeeded.)

I love "Let it Go" on it's own, but it just seemed so much like a song Elphaba would sing. I always picture a dark haired, green skinned witch when I hear it, not a blonde beauty.

If you're not an Idina fan but you've never listened to Wicked I think you should. There are not many women on the planet that can hit notes the way she can.

We did like Frozen but I'm not sure it's worth all the hype as well. One thing I didn't get.. they seemed to be paralyzed by the snow. Handing out blankets? They lived by fjiords for goodness sake. (I believe the original story took place in Denmark, but it bears very little resemblance to this version.) I'm sure they would be dismayed about it happening in summer, but they would have been used to snow, and couldn't there be snow year round in the mountains?

It's also frustrating to me how different the characters are becoming. I kept wondering if Cinderella would be in a movie where they talked about being gassy and picking your nose. I know they are trying to get away from helpless women, but it really takes away some of the magic for me.

 

[lucas]

I loved Frozen and the song (both versions). As a stockholder I love it even more - see article below.

Kids seem to love it too, they are lining up for hours at Epcot's Norway to get autographs from Elsa and Anna. And, their merchandise is a big seller.

"Disney's newest animated film, Frozen, turned out to be a bigger hit than expected. This and other company investments skyrocketed Disney's year-end profits, significantly surpassing analysts' projections.

Already, Frozen has broken numerous animated movie records. While the film was still in theaters, it managed to surpass Finding Nemo as the highest grossing original animated film of all-time. The success doesn't end there, though, as a new sing-a-long version of the movie can soon be viewed in theaters across the United States. In addition, DVD and other home entertainment releases of Frozen are still months away. Toys, bedding, clothing, soundtracks, and other Frozen merchandise have added to Disney's unexpected profits from the film. Currently, Frozen has earned $865 million USD.

Against all odds, this untraditional Disney movie has been a huge success. Straying away from the classic fairytale storyline of young love, Frozen's focus was more on the bond between two sisters. Disney has never before placed such an emphasis on a sibling relationship as to make it the main plot of a feature film. Unlike most animated Disney movies, Frozen received limited marketing hype before its release. Most of the marketing propaganda focused on a minor character, Olaf, despite that character's insignificance to the plot."

 

[DeaverTex]

Any singer with a range of better than three octaves has my respect; that's a heck of a gift to have.

Menzel is known for her ability to "belt" -- that is, to suddenly increase volume to accent certain phrases. "Belting" is something that a successful Broadway lead pretty much has to be able to do these days, and Menzel can do it consistently, which is unusual.

I happen to like "Let it Go". It's not a patch on something like "Let Him Go", but it's a classic modern Broadway-style tune and I'm a fan of that style of composition. It was written especially to suit Menzel's vocal range, so if you don't like Menzel, it stands to reason that you wouldn't care much for the song. (As to Lovato's version; PLEASE spare me that. Even my 6yo thinks it is awful. Lovato is fine at pop-style songs, but musical theatre songs are just not her metier.)

BTW, for those who thought they had never heard of Menzel before this, didn't you see Enchanted? She played Nancy.

Nope. Never saw it. Was it ever in theaters or did it go straight to DVD?

 

[portia9]

I think she is amazing. I love her voice. I have loved the Wicked soundtrack for years and I actually didn't realise she sang in Frozen until the end.

 

[MichelleVW]

Nope. Never saw it. Was it ever in theaters or did it go straight to DVD?

Enchanted was very good with a lot of big names and was in theaters.

 

[Andtototoo]

I loooove Broadway show tunes, but Menzel's voice is not my favorite. There is something in her tone that makes me wince. I can hear that she has a great voice, but there is something in her tone that I find viscerally annoying. I can't put my finger on it, but it's there for me.

 

[lucas]

Way to go! Oscars for best original song AND animated feature!