Disney’s Frozen took the world by storm. Currently, it is the sixth highest-grossing film of all time, the very highest-grossing animated film of all time and the third highest-grossing film in Japan. So why exactly was it such a success? Was it Anna’s quirky personality? Elsa’s chilly powers? Olaf? Although there are a number of factors that can explain why this animated film has received worldwide recognition, many fans are attributing the film’s success to the catchy soundtrack and the powerful voices behind them.
A quick search on YouTube can bring you to countless covers of “Let it Go,” but ultimately, nothing can quite rival Tony Award-winning Idina Menzel who voiced and sang for Elsa. This is probably why we couldn’t contain our excitement when we discovered that Menzel made an appearance on The Ellen Show to sing “Let it Go.” And not just the usual “Let it Go” we all know and love. Here, Menzel is practicing the song in Japanese!
Menzel doesn’t show off her Japanese skills until the four minute mark, but you’ll want to check out the entire video anyway. You won’t believe what her 5-year-old son thinks of the Academy Award-winning song.
Menzel first gained recognition for playing Maureen in the Broadway musical Rent, as well as the 2005 feature film adaptation of the musical. She then gained a Tony Award for playing Elphaba in the Broadway musical Wicked. In addition to her Broadway career, you may also recognize Menzel from her recurring role on Glee, as well as her role in the 2007 Disney film Enchanted.
All of this eventually led to her iconic role as the voice actress behind Frozen‘s Elsa. During the 86th Academy Awards, composers Robert Lopez and his wife Kristen Anderson-Lopez won the best song award for “Let It Go.” By winning, Lopez became the very first Filipino American to win an Oscar.
