Organisation of the 'Reflection'

Introduction --> Verse 1 --> Chorus 1--> Verse 2 --> Chorus 2 --> Bridge --> Chorus 3 --> Coda

The organization of the song is rather typical of a popular song form. It is basically a Verse-Chorus Form whereby there is alternation between verses and choruses. In this case, 2 verses and 3 choruses.

There is also the Bridge after Chorus 2 before it repeats the Chorus.

The song ends with a Coda which is a repeat of the lyrics of the last line of the chorus. ("When will my reflection show, who I am inside?")

NOTE: I name the verses, Verse 1 and Verse 2, and the choruses, Chorus 1, Chorus 2 and Chorus 3, because the 2 verses have different lyrics, likewise for the 3 choruses.

Introduction to 'Reflection'

Mulan is a 1998 animated feature film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation. It was released by Walt Disney Pictures on June 19 1998.

Mulan is the 36th animated feature in the Disney animated features canon. The film is based on the Chinese legend of Hua Mulan, and was the first of three produced primarily at the animation studio at Disney-MGM Studios in Orlando, Florida. It was directed by Tony Bancroft and Barry Cook, with the story by Robert D. San Souci and Rita Hsiao, among others. The film was part of the Disney Renaissance that began in 1989.

Adapted from here

Lyrics of 'Reflections'

Below is the lyrics which includes the headings to differentiate the various parts of the song.

Verse 1
Look at me,
You may think you see
Who I really am,
But you'll never know me.

Everyday,
it's as if I play
A part.

Now I see,
If I wear a mask,
I can fool the world,
but I cannot fool my heart.

Chorus 1
Who is that girl I see?
Staring straight,
Back at me.
When will my reflection show
Who I am inside?

Verse 2
I am now,
In a world
Where I have to hide in my heart,
and what I believe in.

But somehow,
I will show the world what's inside my heart,
And be loved for who I am.

Chorus 2
Who is that girl I see,
staring straight
back at me?
Why is my reflection someone I don't know?

Must I pretend that I'm
someone else
for all time.
When will my reflection show,
who I am inside?

Bridge
There's a heart that must be free
to fly
That burns with a need to know
the reason why

Chorus 3
Why must we all conceal
What we think
How we feel?

Must there be
a secret me
I'm forced to hide
I won't pretend that I'm
someone else
for all time.

When will my reflection show
who I am inside?

Coda
When will my reflection show
who I am inside?

oh, ooh yeah

'Reflection' piano score

The song that I have chosen to analyse is 'Reflection' from Mulan. Below is the piano score.

There are two versions for the recording (videos are embedded in the previous entry):
(1) the original disney version
(2) the pop version (sang by Christina Aguilera)

For this analysis, I will look at the Pop version, sang by Christina Aguilera.

'Reflection' video (2 versions)

(1) Original Movie Version



(2) Pop version by Christiana Anguilera

Testing

This entry is meant for testing. :)
Keep a look out for future entries! :D