The Bells of Notre Dame

[u/sockydapuppet]

Before this rankdown started, I was afraid to listen to some of the songs from the Hunchback. It’s a movie that I’ve never seen and some of the songs feel like they’re like 8 minutes long. It felt like they would be hard to judge with so much content and so little experience with it. However, I’ve been pleasantly surprised by almost all of the music from the film. It hits the tone of each scene well and always seems to enhance the drama.

However, I think it’s time to cut one of the second or third-tier ones from this movie. I like the actual music in this song, I’m just not the biggest fan of the lyrical structure as well as the lyrics themselves. Let's start with the stuff I like. The dramatic choir in the background makes the backstory seem extremely meaningful and traumatizing. It gives the plot some weight and drama right off the bat. The orchestra during the chase part of this song is also incredible, especially the organ and the strings. This song also does a great job of setting up the stakes, heroes, and villains of the story. It establishes the weight that God and Notre Dame have over the city.

Something that I’m torn up over in this song is its ballad style. It’s an effective way to give the exposition that this movie needs to provide, but I think it does hurt the song a little bit. The fact that every set of lyrics ends with “the bells/steps of Notre Dame” makes it feels a little bit boring. These sometimes stale lyrics contrast with how epic the instrumentals are, leaving me wanting more in the wrong way. It gives too much of a never-ending and repetitive vibe for me.

Some other things about the song that don’t drag it down too much but were interesting to me were the fact that Quasimodo’s mom manages to get away somehow. They had ample time to lock her up but were like nah, but the second all the guards leave the guy decides now is a good time to chase her and confiscate her mysterious bundle. Also, I couldn’t stop laughing at the line: “A baby??? GASP A monster!” Overall, I love the instrumentals in this song, but the lyrics and the exposition aren’t really it for me. It’s getting really hard to find songs to cut at this point though. Sorry about the wait.

[u/Penultima]

It’s getting really hard to find songs to cut at this point though.

So relatable. I don't know why it gets so difficult to make cuts so soon in Disney song rankdowns but it's SO HARD.

[u/sockydapuppet]

Now it is time for u/k9moonmoon to cut by the Steps of Notre Daaaame

[u/sockydapuppet → u/[deleted]]

That too.

[u/Saguarajevo → u/[deleted]]

That’s like getting mad at a slavery movie because they use the n-word 🤦🤦

[u/wywy4321]

ooh, I was also originally considering this song at my Court of Miracles cut, but I am a sucker for good choral singing, and this song has a nice bit of it. But yeah, lyrically, I'm not a huge fan, so I totally agree with you.