This week, I’ve had the song, “How Does a Moment Last Forever,” from the live-action version of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. To be honest, I’ve been listening to the songs from the soundtrack for weeks now in preparation for the release of this movie (since this was one of my favorites growing up), and when I came across this song, the melody has been stuck in my head ever since.
Beauty and the Beast is the tale of a young woman who is imprisoned by a beast in an enchanted castle after trading places with her father who was punished for taking a rose from the castle garden. The beast was once a prince who was cursed by an enchantress for his arrogant behavior; and his curse can only be broken by learning to love another and receive love in return. There are obvious themes of love and redemption, but also the need for the sense of belonging.
Several of the characters in the story are mourning the loss of loved ones who have passed and frequently revisit memories of their loved ones. This concept of trying to cling to memories of loved ones–and possibly even trying to relive those memories–are especially apparent in the song, “How Does a Moment Last Forever.” Although the song is performed by Emma Watson (who plays Belle) and Celine Dion (who I grew up listening to and consider a powerhouse in terms of Pop and Ballad music), it is actually Kevin Kline’s performance that impressed me and stood out the most of the three. Kevin Kline plays Maurice, Belle’s father, and during the brief moment where he actually sings, it doesn’t feel like a performance. It is a musical that he is a part of, and he’s technically performing to some degree because he’s singing a song, but it doesn’t feel elaborate or grandiose like the other numbers (“Be Our Guest” or “Belle”). It feels intimate, simplistic, and vulnerable in nature, and Kline’s pleasant tone exemplifies these sentiments as he softly sings to his tiny music box. I think we forget sometimes, as performers, that something as simple as someone singing to themselves or to another person can be so real just in that one private moment. It is truly one of the most profound moments in the movie just based on the context of the moment and Kline’s delivery alone.
Take a listen below:
Is there a song or artist that you can’t stop listening to? Leave a comment below!