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For the First Time in Forever

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"For the First Time in Forever"
Song

"For the First Time in Forever" is a song from Disney's 2013 animated feature film Frozen, with music and lyrics composed by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez. It is reprised later in the musical. Both versions are sung by princess sisters Anna (Kristen Bell) and Elsa (Idina Menzel).

Production

After writing the showstopper "Let It Go", the Lopez songwriting team revisited this number and added in the melodic line as a counterpoint melody for Elsa to sing while preparing for the coronation.

The original version of the song contained a line about "I hope that I don't vomit in his face," which was deemed unacceptable by Disney as a reference to bodily fluids.[2] The Lopezes' daughter, Katie, came up with the replacement line that ended up in the film: "I wanna stuff some chocolate in my face."[2]

As for the reprise, originally there was a different confrontation song entitled "Life's Too Short" (the premise being that life's too short to waste it with someone who doesn't understand them), which itself would have been reprised later when the sisters realize that life's too short to live life alone. As the characters evolved throughout the writing process (specifically Elsa was turned from a villain to a tragic hero), the song was deemed too vindictive and was instead replaced with a reprise of this song, to create a motif.

Synopsis

In the first version, the song shows Anna's happiness when preparing for her sister's coronation. Singing a counterpoint melody (to the tune of "Let It Go"), Elsa expresses her fear of accidentally revealing her ice powers.

In the reprise, Anna has arrived at Elsa's ice palace to try to get her to unfreeze the kingdom, after she unknowingly sparked an eternal winter. She also wants Elsa to be her sister again. However, the elder sister refuses because she feels she cannot control her powers and that she is better off alone where she can't hurt anyone. As Anna's tries to reason with her sister, Elsa's fear intensifies, resulting in her being covered in a blizzard of ice particles as a physical manifestation of her emotions, and she blocks out her sister's calming words. At one point Elsa turns her back to her sister to form a two shot west, a blocking technique normally used in American soap operas. Finally, paranoid and lost, Elsa lets out a yell, and accidentally blasts Anna in the heart with the accumulated ice particles, thereby freezing it (an act which was noted in an earlier scene in the film to be fatal).

Critical reception

Anna singing in a scene from the "For the First Time in Forever" sequence of Frozen.

Both iterations have received very positive reviews.

Original

NeonTommy described it as "A classic “I want” song (think Part of Your World or When Will My Life Begin?) with a sprinkle of self-awareness", and said "this song puts a nice new spin on a familiar form...Lopez and Anderson-Lopez keep the tune fresh, and Kristen Bell’s charming and bright delivery of the peppy lyrics is endearing."[3] GeeksOfDoom said "Who would have guessed that Kristen Bell and Idina Menzel would make such a nice duo? Bell adds some humor with her effervescent spirit and amusing lyrics, whereas Menzel lends the signature Broadway voice. You know a song provides further significance when it moves the story, as opposed to stops the film completely, and this one perfectly represents the former. “First Time” conveys Anna’s hopefulness and openness, contrasting with Elsa’s close-minded and fearful vibe."[4] In a negative review, SputnikMusic said "“For the First Time in Forever,” with its lyrical clunkers like “Don't know if I'm elated or gassy / But I'm somewhere in that zone” and poor performance decisions like the ham-fisted pause before Elsa “opens the gates” and Anna’s meaningless harmonization shortly thereafter, represents the downhill slide and subsequent face-first mud landing of the soundtrack over the course of its runtime".[5] The Hollywood Reporter described it as a "big number", and "the centerpiece of the original songs".[6] StitchKingdom said: "The ‘I Want’ song, the composition and lyrics feed off Anna’s frenetic and anxious energy and awkwardness, a classic example of mixing sophistication with silliness".[7] Rochester City Newspaper wrote " For the First Time in Forever suffers from a fairly run-of-the-mill chorus tune, but smartly makes up for it with catchy verses, amusing lyrics (“Don’t know if I’m elated or gassy / But I’m somewhere in that zone!”) and a great performance from Kristen Bell, showing off protagonist Princess Anna’s quirky side while still longing for a ball, a man, and some basic human interaction."[8]

Reprise

"For the First Time in Forever"
Song

NeonTommy wrote "This song balances really well between long, powerful phrases and banter-like recitative, and is a great illustration of the dynamic between Anna and Elsa. It’s also the first time where we get to hear Anna and Elsa sing as equals (the earlier version of this song is more about Anna than it is about Elsa), so it’s quite fun to hear this sung battle between two sisters."[3] GeeksOfDoom wrote "The reoccurrence of the “sister song” signifies how Elsa has changed, much unlike Anna, who still sees the potential of their relationship. The song incorporates polyphony and intensifies their emotions as it builds to a crescendo. While it’s not a substantial addition – the scene could have played out just as well without music – it’s still entertaining".[4] StitchKingdom wrote "The words and melody are just about the only thing this song has in common with its namesake. Anna’s desperate plea to Elsa, this song also features one of the most complex arrangements found on the soundtrack, giving it a haunting and to a professional effect in a way seldom seen on the stage, let alone in family films. The song also treads dangerously along the operetta line at times which puts a unique spin on it."[7]

Other languages

Several other language versions of the song have also been successful. The Japanese language version called "Umarete Hajimete" (生まれてはじめて, "For the first time in life") was sung by Takako Matsu and Sayaka Kanda, who played Elsa and Anna respectively. It appeared on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 in between April and June 2014, peaking at number 19, and was popular enough to be certified gold for 100,000 digital downloads by the RIAJ in May 2014.[9][10] The Korean language version, sung by Park Ji-yoon and Park Hye-na, reached 129 on the Gaon Singles Chart being downloaded 14,000 times, while the reprise version peaked at 192 with 8,000 downloads.[11][12]

Charts

Chart (2013–14) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[13] 62
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[14] 70
Ireland (IRMA)[15] 54
Japan (Billboard Japan Hot 100)[16] 14
Scotland (OCC)[17] 37
South Korea (Gaon International Chart)[18] 4
South Korea (Gaon Chart)[19] 19
UK Singles (OCC)[20] 38
US Billboard Hot 100[21] 57

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[22] Gold† 500,000^
Australia (ARIA)[23] Gold† 35,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Performances

Kristen Bell and Idina Menzel performed both songs together at the Vibrato Grill Jazz Club in Los Angeles to celebrate the film.[24]

References

  1. ^ a b Perlman, Jake (February 10, 2014). "On the Scene: 'Frozen' cast performs live for the first (and probably only) time ever". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved February 10, 2014. It was the first time the cast had ever sung the songs live and the first time many had sung the songs at all since they recorded the soundtrack a year and a half ago.
  2. ^ a b Watkins, Gwynne (January 15, 2014). "Frozen Composers Assess 6 Fan-Created Homages to Their Songs". Vulture.com. New York Media LLC. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
  3. ^ a b Soundtrack Review: 'Frozen' | Neon Tommy
  4. ^ a b Disney In Depth: ‘Frozen’ Soundtrack Review
  5. ^ Review: Disney Soundtracks - Frozen: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack | Sputnikmusic
  6. ^ Frozen: Film Review - The Hollywood Reporter
  7. ^ a b REVIEW: 'Frozen' Soundtrack Disney's Best Since 'Beauty and the Beast' | Stitch Kingdom
  8. ^ CD Review: Disney's "Frozen" Soundtrack | Music Reviews | Rochester City Newspaper
  9. ^ "Japan Billboard Hot 100 2014/05/12". Billboard (in Japanese). May 12, 2014. Retrieved May 24, 2014.
  10. ^ "レコード協会調べ　5月度有料音楽配信認定" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. June 20, 2014. Retrieved June 20, 2014. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  11. ^ "Gaon Digital Chart 2014년 3월 2주차". Gaon (in Korean). March 1, 2014. Retrieved May 23, 2014.
  12. ^ "Gaon Download Chart 2014년 3월 2주차". Gaon (in Korean). March 1, 2014. Retrieved May 23, 2014.
  13. ^ "ARIA Chartifacts 19-May-2014". ARIA. May 19, 2014. Retrieved May 25, 2014.
  14. ^ "Kristen Bell Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard.
  15. ^ "Chart Track: Week 10, 2014". Irish Singles Chart.
  16. ^ "Japan Billboard Hot 100 2014/04/21". Billboard (in Japanese). April 21, 2014. Retrieved May 25, 2014.
  17. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  18. ^ "Gaon Digital Chart" (in Korean). Gaon Chart.
  19. ^ "Gaon Digital Chart" (in Korean). Gaon Chart.
  20. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  21. ^ "Kristen Bell Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  22. ^ "American single certifications – Kristen Bell – For the First Time in Forever". Recording Industry Association of America.
  23. ^ NO certyear OR id WAS PROVIDED for AUSTRALIAN CERTIFICATION.
  24. ^ 'Frozen': For the first time in forever, watch the cast sing live | PopWatch | EW.com
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