“We’re soaring, we’re flying, there’s not a star in heaven that we can’t reach…we’re breaking free.” You probably know this song if you’re a Disney fan. If not, these lyrics are from a song called “Breaking Free” in “High School Musical” and yes, that’s right, I’m an avid HSM fan. In fact, I’m an all-around Disney fan. I watch movies from “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” to “Ella Enchanted.” I listen to Disney music, from “Pocahontas’” “Colors of the Wind” to the Jonas’ Brothers’ “Burning Up.”
You may all think that I’m ridiculously childish, and that artists such as Leona Lewis and movies such as “Slumdog Millionaire” are more suited for people my age. But the truth is, those types of songs and movies simply don’t bring about the same feeling of relaxation Disney has always given me. Whenever I’m stressed out, all I have to do is put on a Disney classic and my worries instantly disappear.
Before junior year, Disney actually acted only as a distraction, pulling me away from my schoolwork. I was only a moderate Disney fan until my homework and extracurricular activities started to increase.
Ironically, my distraction became my salvation. I had many breakdowns due to stress, and I kept thinking to myself “I can’t do this anymore.” I kept on procrastinating on homework and studying just to avoid the pressure. I would just watch television shows and listen to music. One day, I was listening to a Disney song called “Hakuna Matata” and the lyrics suddenly reminded me of what my mother used to always say. She said that junior year would always be my toughest year, that I just had to learn to get it through and stop worrying about the amount of work I would have, and that I wasn’t alone. From that day since, I have continued to download Disney songs –I have about a hundred now—because their inspirational lyrics gave me hope and helped keep my emotions in check.
Disney movies not only distract me, but also send me a message. Many Disney movies have cliché or fantasy endings. Those don’t happen in the real world. Every Disney movie or song has, however, a moral or a message to the audience that is actually useful in real world. For example, in “High School Musical 3,” the gang realizes that senior year is their last year to be together, especially for Troy and Gabriella. These two characters are in a wonderful love relationship, but they both believe they have to break up before they get into college. At the end, they realize that they both don’t need to break up if they truly love each other. The moral is that people can survive a long-distance relationship.
Disney has always been a haven for me. It always provides me some sort of happiness, whether I’m infuriated or solemn. Whenever I get a bad score on a test or quiz, I come home as soon as possible, turn on my computer, and listen to a song. Whatever song it be, it makes me forget my disappointment and encourages me to work harder for the next test immediately.
No matter how busy or how mad I am, Disney will always have a part in my heart. It provides me comfort and security. It’s who I am. Listening to these types of songs may sound immature, but it helped me throughout my life. Disney songs are my guilty pleasure.