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Jessica Mills

Prof Echols

English 1201

20 February 2022

Different Artists of the Same Song Appeal to Different Audiances

“I'm never going back, the past is in the past”. This quote is from the well known song

Let it Go originally by Idina Menzel written for the Disney movie Frozen. The quote is a good

representation of the song by getting across a message of acceptance. "Let it Go" by Demi

Lovato sounds nearly identical to the original version by Idina Menzel yet appeals to a different

audience. Using pathos and through visuals and the history not included in the song, Lovato's

version attracts an older audience while Menzel's version specifically charms young kids.

Menzels original version of the song appears in Disney’s Frozen. This is important

because the music video tells the story of Elsa leaving her family, home, and town behind in

order for her to feel free and herself. In the music video Elsa uses hand gestures and phrases

such as “conceal don't feel”. These are both things her parents taught her when she was

younger. In Menzel's version Elsa is freeing herself from her old life.

Since Menzels version of the song is integrated as the theme song for a childrens movie,

More children are going to enjoy and watch it. Since Lovatos version is only featured on

Youtube, people who have been her fan and are subscribed to her other songs are more likely

to come across and watch her version of Let It Go.

In Lovato's cover of the song, she is the main character, going through an empty house.

It isn't crystal clear what Lovato's music video represents but a general idea can be drawn from

context clues. Lovato’s version can tell a different story than Idinas version. Lovato is discussing

the ability to let go and move on from an abusive relationship, having the ability to put the past
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behind her and move on to something new. This conclusion can be drawn from the emotion she

shows during the music video and the pain that she is feeling as she sings. She shows her hurt

and how she is doing what she can to move on.

Both music videos have different visuals but tell the same story of leaving an unhealthy

past behind. One difference in the songs is that Lovato's song deals with a kind of abuse that a

more mature audience can understand and Menzels is easy for younger children to make sense

of.

Menzels song appeals to a younger audience because of the animation designed to

keep children's attention and the song being featured in a children's movie. It is fast moving,

incredibly colorful, and shows wow-factor animation. The original song includes lots of context

before the song started making it simple and easy for the writers to be able to continue the

storyline in a way children are able to understand. Before the song starts Elsa has run away

from home and is exploring what she was never able to do in the past. In Menzels music video,

the movie continues to advance in the storyline through the song which is something Lovato

wouldn't have the ability to do.

Demi Lovato's cover of the song appeals to a much older audience. She is well known

and listened to by people who grew up watching her acting in the early 2000’s. This audience

remains her main target audience since they are the only age that widely knows her and enjoys

her music. This plays a big role in the cover of the song because the way the music video is

written does not have the ability to catch younger children's attention. It has little animation and

the setting being an empty house isnt very attention grabbing for a child.

Both songs show use of Pathos. The lyrics mention many different feelings and there are

many different themes that can be drawn through emotions. The songs want to convince people

they have the ability to free themselves from their history. Whether it be personal problems,

regrets, or upsetting memories, the song wants the audience to understand they can move past

that and leave it behind. lyrics like "I don't care what their going to say", "the fears that once
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controlled me can't get to me at all", and "It's time to see what I can do to test the limits and

break through no right, no wrong, no rules for me, I'm free" are featured in both songs and helps

prove this.

Both versions of the song Let It Go sound nearly identical when only listening, but after

watching the music videos for them it is clear that the artists used different approaches to

appeal to different audiences. Pathos, history, graphics, storyline, and where the song appears,

all show why Idina Menzels version of the song is ment for young children while Demi Lovatos

version is ment for older kids or young adults.

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Works Cited

Broadcast Music Inc. “Demi Lovato - Let It Go (from "Frozen") (Official Video).” YouTube, 1

November 2013, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHue-HaXXzg. Accessed 20

February 2022.

Walt Disney Animation Studios. “FROZEN | Let It Go Sing-along | Official Disney UK.” YouTube,

Peter Del Vecho, 30 January 2014, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0MK7qz13bU.

Accessed 20 February 2022.