Music & the Fictive Dream

 Remember Me

(spoilers, but if you haven't seen it by now I am shocked)

The song Remember Me is sung in the 2017 Disney Pixar movie Coco. It was directed by Lee Unkrich and Adrian Molina, based on Unkrich's original idea. The story follows Miguel, a young boy who is passionate about music and wished to become a musician in a family that despises them. Miguel steals a local famous musician's guitar, Ernesto De La Cruz, to play in a town talent show to prove he can play. All of this takes place on the Día de Muertos or Day of the Dead where he then crosses over to the land of the dead. He runs into his late relatives who help him get back to the land of the living at first without their blessing on him being a musician but over time gives it. He is convinced De La Cruz is his late great great grandfather but turns out a friend that assists him in the land of the dead is actual his real great great grandfather. Miguel needs to return to the land of the living not only to avoid being stuck in the land of the dead but to also help his real great great grandfather Hector, be remember by his great grandmother Coco who is elderly and forgetting him. To help her remember he sings the song Remember Me, which her father always sang to her as a small child. 

The song Remember Me is song by multiple people at multiple times in the movie. At first it is one of De La Cruz's famous hits that Miguel knows by heart. Once Miguel learns that De La Cruz stole the song from Hector, he learns Hector sang it to his great grandmother Coco as a child. At the end Miguel returns to the land of the living and plays it for Coco so she can remember her father. This song is the last connection that Hector has with his daughter Coco. He was never able to return to her after his untimely death so long ago and this was the last fond memory he had of her. After meeting Hector and figuring out what happened so long ago, Miguel must play his guitar for Coco against the families wishes who thought Hector had just left the family and not actually been killed by none other than De La Cruz, his bandmate. 

The song Remember Me was written by Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez. Performed by multiple artists within the movie itself, Benjamin Bratt, Gael Garcia Bernal, Anthony Gonzalez, and Ana Ofelia Murguia. Received the Academy Award for Best Original Song. Per Hooktheory, "In terms of chords and melody, Remember Me - Coco (PT-BR Credits Version) is significantly more complex than the typical song, having above average scored in Chord Complexity, Melodic Complexity, Chord-Melody Tension, Chord Progression Novelty and Chord-Bass Melody." This song was written in the key E major with pitches ranging from D, C, E and G. 

This movie is a favorite of my husband and I. Every time we watch it, we always walk away with Remember Me stuck in our heads, singing it the rest of the day. It reminds of us relatives we have lost and need to remember that might be out of our lives but not our hearts. This is also the resounding take away from a lot of listeners. Doing my research uncovered not only all of the awards this song has won but many interpret the song as remembrance to all those who we have lost throughout the years. To make sure we continue to talk about them and tell stories to keep them in our hearts and minds. Trending stated "remembering those who have paved the way and sacrificed for us is something that we shouldn't overlook."

Sources

Brammer, John Paul. “Pixar’s ‘coco,’ and Looking to Our Ancestors in Times of Struggle.” Them, Them., 19 Oct. 2018, www.them.us/story/pixar-coco-ancestors-death. Accessed 10 Apr. 2024.

“Remember Me - Coco (Pt-BR Credits Version) by Disney Chords and Melody.” Hooktheory, www.hooktheory.com/theorytab/view/disney/remember-me---coco-%28pt-br-credits-version%29#:~:text=In%20terms%20of%20chords%20and,Novelty%20and%20Chord%2DBass%20Melody. Accessed 10 Apr. 2024.

Shimazu, Harrison. “Lessons from Pixar’s Coco: Adding Flavor to Your Chord Progressions - Blog.” Splice, 12 Sept. 2023, splice.com/blog/adding-flavor-to-chord-progressions/. Accessed 10 Apr. 2024.

“Anthony Gonzalez, Ana Ofelia Murguía - Remember Me (Reunion) (from ‘Coco’/Sing-Along).” YouTube, 25 June 2020, www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0azOIk0Kvg. Accessed 10 Apr. 2024.

“Coco (2017 Film).” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 8 Apr. 2024, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coco_(2017_film). Accessed 10 Apr. 2024.

“The Dual Meaning of Coco’s ‘Remember Me.’” Trendeing, 2 May 2019, www.trendeing.com/watch-read-listen/cocos-remember-me/. Accessed 10 Apr. 2024.

“Remember Me (Coco Song).” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 10 Mar. 2024, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remember_Me_(Coco_song). Accessed 10 Apr. 2024.

Role of the Performer - VSQ

 VSQ

Vitamin String Quartet or VSQ are internationally known for their contemporary string quartet covers of many popular hit songs. Ever since the start of their project in 1999 in Los Angeles, they have continued to come out with their classical version of many top billboard chart songs. They have been featured on many TV shows and movies such as Bridgerton and The King of Staten Island. They have released over time 300 songs, and 50 albums. As their website states in their description, "...VSQ approaches their renditions with respect and care, breathing new life into music they already love." In 2021 their album VSQ Performs Lana Del Rey was nominated for Best Classical Record for the Libera Awards. "From Cardi B to Bjork, Studio Ghibli to goth metal..."  What started as a few cover songs on YouTube and their website has grabbed the attention of many listeners across the world. Many now even look to them for cover song to play at their wedding. 

The way VSQ plays their renditions with such drama and attitude, it is a true delight to listen to. Many songs on the radio that are considered pop don't always have the same praise universally but when these versions are released many people like them better than the original. Especially when they are put to moments like in the movies and TV shows, they are able to communicate levels of emotions that maybe are needed but traditional music wouldn't be able to convey. A great example below is the commercial to the movie A Promising Young Woman.  The song is Toxic by Britney Spears. Although the original version of this song is widely known and loved, VSQ's renditions communicates this femme fatale character. 

The melody changes when the instruments do and turns it to a whole different feel to the song. Also by using the string quartet instruments they are able to convert the vocals into notes hitting levels both high and low that the singer might not have been able to. Speeding up or slowing down the tempo accompanies the instruments and performers as well. I am so glad VSQ has continued throughout the years making these fun renditions of pop or rock songs into very dramatic classical hits. I hope they continue to get the praise they deserve. 

Sources

“Billie Eilish - Bad Guy (Vitamin String Quartet Ver.).” YouTube, 9 Sept. 2022, www.youtube.com/watch?v=20RD_Cmsvq4. Accessed 03 Apr. 2024.

“Classical Convergence Series: Vitamin String Quartet.” Music, 5 Sept. 2023, music.colostate.edu/events/classical-convergence-series-vitamin-string-quartet/. Accessed 03 Apr. 2024.

“Heathens.” YouTube, 25 Aug. 2016, www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8teEP1yqpU&list=PLTThlpA3SWS8cSpHlAiuVt1m921oy_cHm&index=80. Accessed 03 Apr. 2024.

“Vitamin String Quartet.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 28 Mar. 2024, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitamin_String_Quartet. Accessed 03 Apr. 2024.

“VSQ Digital Sheet Music + Albums.” Vitamin String Quartet, www.vitaminstringquartet.com/. Accessed 03 Apr. 2024.

YouTube, www.youtube.com/results?search_query=toxic%2Bbritney%2Bspears. Accessed 03 Apr. 2024.