Songs like “Let It Go” and “How Far I’ll Go” provide Disney On Ice Live Your Dreams the empowering music it needs to push the premise that “no dream is too big when we find the strength to shape our own destiny.”
While it’s primarily a showcase of popular Disney characters, state-of-the-art set design, and high-caliber figure skating, the show is blessed with great music that brings life to its visuals beyond what the eyes could see.
The Mall of Asia Arena crowd watching that last Sunday of 2019, with me enjoying the experience from PLDT-Smart Suite 325, held its breath as a lone performer glided around the iced floor to the tune of Idina Menzel’s instant classic song from Frozen.
Something in the Queen Elsa song makes you feel both inspired and misty-eyed. No wonder it was one of last decade’s most admired tunes.
Arguably, the theme from the 2016 animated feature film Moana sung by American actress-singer Auli’l Cravalho was not as effective. But nevertheless, it is nearly as powerful. Thanks to a chorus melody that moves forward like a boat sailing through beautiful waters.
Digging deeper, Moana’s soundtrack has something more to offer than a let-it-go attempt. Who wouldn’t be amused by the track “You’re Welcome,” sung by, yes you guessed it, Dwayne Johnson who voiced out the likably big bod-demigod Maui? If one would observe The Rock was keeping the Filipino audience thrilled and in celebratory mood while waiting for the program to begin, with his song’s embracingly upbeat jive and simply infectious hook line.
Prior to Disney On Ice delivering its cool, globally loved kind of entertainment here in Manila, producer Nicole Feld was quoted as saying, “Each section of the show was carefully selected to immerse families in an array of beloved stories that they have grown and loved.”
Exactly, that was delightfully delivered, backed by stunningly vibrant visuals and mesmerizing music.
Hearing the unforgettable Alan Menken tune “Beauty and the Beast,” even without hearing its famous tale-as-old-as-time lyric, was enough to keep your heart in love mode. It reminded you that music is one of Disney’s strengths. So much so that people were singing along with Miguel from Coco “as he strums his guitar, knowing that as long as there is music, love will never fade.”
Other show plots included Rapunzel teaming up with Flynn Rider as she embarks on realizing her own dream, and Cinderella, with a little help from friends, determinedly trying to “make the wish in her heart come true.”
Originally called Walt Disney’s World On Ice and first introduced to the public nearly 40 years ago, this series of touring ice shows, produced by Feld Entertainment’s Ice Follies and Holiday On Ice, Inc. will make stops at Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore early this new year.
The good-size crowd at MOA Arena indicated that Filipino audiences won’t get enough of its lovable characters led by Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse. The show’s run, which started Dec. 21, ends this Sunday, Jan. 5. That’s cool music on ice.