Dear Kris and Bobby – [Can I call you that? Too familiar? Mr. and Mrs. Lopez? Kristen and Bob?].
How about…
Dear friends –
See, I feel like we’re friends. You, me, my two little boys, Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Josh Gad… we hang out every single day on the way to preschool, on the way home, on the way to the grocery store, pretty much anywhere else we might go, and sitting in the driveway because if I turn the car off before the second rendition of “Let it Go,” there will be tantrums. I know every word of the soundtrack and some alternate versions my kids make up when they don’t quite understand the words.
I’ll be honest, even though we saw the movie Frozen back in December and all loved it, I didn’t know much about either of you until we bought the deluxe version of the album, and got to listen to the demo versions of the songs that didn’t make it into the movie. That’s when I learned that you wrote the songs together, with your very own children, and managed to stay married like, the whole time. Hubs and I met while we worked together, but we were in different departments so our egos rarely had occasion to clash. I can’t imagine us collaborating on such a huge project using the same set of skills and talents. Impressive, Lopezes (Lopezi?). Impressive.
As a parent, I’m writing to thank you for writing songs that my kids want to hear 24/7 that are still completely tolerable after the 4,089th listen in a week. In fact, we all sing along together on many days, which is pretty astonishing when you consider that most kids’ music makes me want to pull out a vein with a rusty paper clip. I’ll admit, though, I don’t get tired of the Frozen soundtrack easily. My husband loves it. My mother-in-law loves it. The cat — well, the cat doesn’t like anything, but if we had a dog the dog would love it. Also, getting to listen to your songs on the way to school works well as an incentive for my 2- and 4-year old boys to get ready in the morning. So, yeah. That’s worth every penny.
As a creative-type person, I wanted to thank you for releasing the demo versions of your songs, including the ones that didn’t make it into the movie, and talking about your process. Thank you for showing us your cutting room floor, and reminding us that just because something is discarded from the finished product doesn’t mean it was a waste of time. (I especially love the “girl who’s bad a metaphors” line in “More than Just The Spare,” maybe because I’ve been known to torture a metaphor beyond recognition. Thank goodness for editing.)
I love your funny, nuanced portrayal of both princesses as flawed but strong heroines, and the tongue-in-cheek odes to true love and fictional romance. I also love that you had an Oscar speech that rhymed. If Jared Leto’s speech was missing anything, it was totally that. [“AIDS has left millions of people in pain; and let’s not forget what’s happening in the Ukraine…”] If I ever win an Oscar — stop laughing, it could happen — I want you to write my speech.
I’m sure you get tons of fan mail, and you’ve had accolades far more glorious than a small-time novelist and blog mom in Atlanta. The thousands of parodies of your songs alone must be so incredibly flattering and would eat your whole life if you watched them all. I’ve posted a few on Facebook in the last couple of weeks, but with Passover coming up in a few days this one is our family favorite:
I don’t know if there really will be a Frozen 2 or a Broadway musical version, but if there are, sign us up. We’ll even come to New York to see it. (Lunch is on you, though, right?)
Really, if you happen to read this, I hope you are enjoying the success of this movie and your music and basking in the glow of your many shiny awards. It was so fun watching Robert clinch the EGOT Hat Trick on Oscar Night. I hope, too, I that you’ll take a moment to breathe and take it all in before you get busy writing something new for us. Okay, done breathing? Great. Go get busy on Frozen 2: Antarctica or Desert Rose or The Littlest Alien or whatever’s next on tap. Mama needs some variety in the minivan.
Your new BFF, biggest fan, mommy stalker friend,
Manda
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I’m M.J. (Manda) Pullen, an author and mom in the Atlanta, Georgia area. In addition to going all fangirl for certain songwriters, I blog about writing, publishing, parenthood, life and the many lessons I’ve learned the hard way. And I do want to build a snowman.
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Did you hear them on Fresh Air last night? I wanted to hang out in their living room.
I missed it! I just saw a partial transcript while I was writing this blog. They seem unbelievably cool.
Hi MJ!
Thank you so much for your lovely and incredibly funny letter. I just read it out loud to my husband and it made us feel cool. We rarely (if ever) feel cool, so thanks for that. I’m sure if I lived in Atlanta we’d be friends but I can’t live in Atlanta because of what the humidity does to my hair. I went to high school in Charlotte and rarely go back there for aforementioned reason — I’m not sure what genetic super-splice allows all those skinny blonde Charlotteans to have stick straight shiny hair in 98 degree weather, but I don’t have that and I’m scared of those that do.
Tell your boys we’re working hard on some more songs for the minivan but, knowing how long these things take, you may be driving a hovercraft version — or at least one with holographic rear imaging. Still, we work a little every day. Keep singing and thank you for your bolstering words!
xoxo,
Kristen
Oh my goodness! You responded! And so very graciously, too. Thank you so much. I really adore your music and can’t wait for what’s next – hovercraft and all.
My hair is always a mess, so if you find yourself in Atlanta and want to stand next to someone frizzier so you look sleek, hit me up. 🙂
You go, girl! Great blog. Great response. The world just seems a little happier!
It is, isn’t it? I have far less desire to strangle anyone than I did last week…. 🙂
Manda,
Your sense of humor harkens back to when I had one… sarcastic, self-deprecating and fast! I am amazed at your ability to raise two young boys, officiate at weddings?? ( and how did you get those credentials?…. box top, online…. I need a future in something marketable) and write. I am a frustrated, call it undisciplined writer, so the envy is now dripping on the keys of my computer. If you could just find time in your schedule to drive about 40 miles to strap me to a chair and write, your life’s mission will have been complete. If that’s not possible, be content in knowing that you reminded me that I did, at one time smile, indeed, laugh. I am no longer ‘frozen’ in a frown.
Thanks, Debbie! Anyone with a full name and an email address can become ‘ordained’ in the Universal Life Church (aka “The Internet Guys”) http://www.themonastery.org/ which will allow you to perform weddings if you desire. Personally, I really enjoyed the experience, but I’m not sure I’m ready to give up my Saturdays just yet!
I think most writers struggle with that frustration/lack of discipline. I wish I could say it gets easier after you finish a book or three, but a blank page is the same no matter how many times you’ve done it. I am NOT superwoman – the boys go to an amazing preschool, which allows me to do what I do. Or at least to try to do what I do!