You could sayFrozen 2is kind of a big deal. The film broke the box office record for the Thanksgiving holiday with $126.3 million, and its global debut of $358.5 million marks the largest worldwide opening weekend for an animated film ever. If past Disney animated hits are any indication, this thing is going to keep climbing and climbing throughout the holiday season,and thenit’s destined to hit Disney+ next year, where it’ll be able to stream in perpetuity. That means if you’re a parent, you’re going to hear all these newFrozen 2songs over and over and over again for a very long time. Just like the firstFrozen.
The good news is theFrozen IIsongs are, on the whole, pretty good! Oscar-winning songwritersKristen Anderson-LopezandRobertLopezreturned to try their hand at penning another “Let It Go”-sized megahit, and the results are solid. In fact,FrozenandFrozen IIare both very much musicals in the classic Disney vein, and given that theFrozen 2songs are pretty dynamic—and given that we, as humans on the internet, have an inherent propensity to rank things—we felt it prudent to rank all the newFrozen 2songs from worst to best.
So yeah, we did just that. Below, you’ll find a definitive, be-all, end-all, officially official ranking of all theFrozen 2songs by the world’s utmost authority on Disney songs—yours truly. Don’t @ me. These rankings were created using science and stuff. And no, we didn’t include outtakes, but “Get This Right” isincredibly good.
7. “The Next Right Thing”
It’s almost unfair to rank “The Next Right Thing” because it’s such a unique song stacked against the other numbers in the film. This, more than any otherFrozensong, feels like something from a stage musical, and as such its impact is really best felt when experienced with your eyes as well as your ears. It does giveKristen Bellthe opportunity to emote with her voice—something she’s unsurprisingly great at—and it has a swell emotional arc. But the song also rings a bit hollow within the film because we, as audience members, know in that moment that [SPOILER] isn’t really lost forever (although I’ll admit kids may feel differently). Perhaps ifFrozen IIhad the gall to commit to some of its flourishes with brave storytelling this would hold more weight, but as-is it’s a sad but somewhat hollow detour.
6. “All Is Found”
This song is nice. “All Is Found” is essentially the motherly theme threated throughout the film, as Elsa (Idina Menzel) attempts to track down the truth about her parents, and recalls the lullaby her mother used to sing to her. And hey,Evan Rachel Woodhas a nice voice! The song kind of sets the tone for the woodsy adventure theFrozensisters embark on in the sequel, and sonically has a bit of a fable vibe to it. That’s neat! Although I will admit,theKacey Musgravesversionof this song is just abitbetter. If you’re into that sort of thing…
5. “Some Things Never Change”
This opening number grew on me. Initially, it felt too hokey and a bit too “kids-y”, which was disappointing since theFrozensongwriters have a knack for crafting songs that are interesting/pleasing for kids but are also just absolute bangers of the Broadway musical variety. But you know what? This song is crazy catchy and I’m good with that. It’s also the only number that gives the entire cast a chance to sing together, and for that we should be grateful.
4. “When I’m Older”
Olaf’s number is, unsurprisingly, very funny, but not just mainly for kids this time. The brilliance of “When I’m Older” is how it taps into the anxiety of being an adult, and how sometimes the world doesn’t feel like it makes any sense at all and you’re not really sure what to do, except you’re supposed to know what to do because you’re an adult—especially if you’re a parent fielding tough questions from your kids.That’sa relatable feeling in 2019, and in that way this song feels like a bit of a throwback to the super smart comedic songs that Robert Lopez co-wrote for the stage musicalsThe Book of MormonandAvenue Q. Moreover,Josh Gad’s vocal performance here is kind of perfect. Dynamic in range, playful, and absolutely positively optimistic.
3. “Into the Unknown”
This one was clearly positioned to be “the next ‘Let It Go’” and I do not want to know the kind of pressure Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Bobby Lopez were under to deliver another hit like that. Honestly, “Into the Unknown” is about as close as you can imagine getting to a follow-up. It’s a really neat, exciting, vibrant anthem that letsIdina Menzeljust absolutely wail. It also sets up Elsa’s thematic arc for the film in an interesting way, as she’s now settled into domestic living and is fairly happy, and yet feels compelled to enter uncharted (and magical) territory at the risk of upending her “normal” life. Bonus points for this song being just as catchy as “Let It Go” yet in an entirely different way.
2. “Show Yourself”
But the sneaky better Idina Menzel song inFrozen IIis “Show Yourself,” which comes at the thematic climax for Elsa. This is the “Stefon” ofFrozen IIsongs in that it has everything: a slow build, an “Into the Unknown” refrain, a duet with Evan Rachel Wood, akey change! It’s beautiful and exciting and emotional all at once, and Menzel absolutely knocks it out of the park. 10/10 would recommend.
1. “Lost in the Woods”
The bestFrozen 2song, however, goes toJonathan Groff, who many were upset to find had zero solo numbers inFrozen 1. How do you hire Jonathan Groff for a Disney musical and then not let him sing? What insanity is that? Luckily, Robert and Kristen Anderson-Lopez make it up to us with the absolute banger/it slaps/bop-and-a-half “Lost in the Woods.” This song is quite possibly the best moment in all ofFrozen II, as the movie stops dead for a full-on homage to earnest 80s power ballad music videos. It’s cheesy and over the top, yet also at the same time somehownotover the top? I’m gonna chalk that up to Groff, who rises to the occasion and creates, like, 97 separate vocal tracks as “Sven” and the other reindeer back up Kristoff as he sings about his love for Anna. Possibly controversial opinion: “Lost in the Woods” > “Let It Go.”
