Ready As I'll Ever Be (Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure)

 With the blog taking a new direction, musicals, music, and songs will also be featured here along with games, movies and T.V. So why not talk about a song from an animated series I am quite fond of to start this off?

The Tangled animated series has some great comedy, heart, adventure and some amazing songs in it. Bringing in Disney legend Alan Menken, this series does not use songs all the time, but when they do it is usually a slam dunk, and this season one song is no exception. In terms of the song it fits well into the story moment but also stands strong on its own without the context of the narrative, making it a great one.

This song is building towards a giant climax, as those on the sides of good and evil prepare for the titular moment, saying they will be "Ready As I'll Ever Be". The songs repeating of that to add to the urgency of the moment but showing both sides of this coin as well. We have moments of someone preparing to stand their ground, someone preparing to prove themselves, and the one who wants to solve it all. Each piece getting a moment to shine before they all come together in one sweeping moment before it ends where it started.

The instrumentation adds to the mood of the moment fantastically, blending well with the vocals and making the transitions seamless. As the tone of the song stays strong while changing its instrumentation to signal a different singer to sing their part, making each part of the song stand out and even convey the emotions they are singing incredibly well. From angry, to determined this song sets the mood wonderfully and really uses all of its pieces to craft something unforgettable.

Every part stands out. Beginning with Varian in his anger, no matter how he is viewed, preparing to a stand. Next comes my personal favorite being the second verse led by Cassandra, a call to action that shows determination and gathering others for support, the score and vocals swell for this powerful moment. Returning to only take a softer turn for Rapunzel and then return for an epic finale involving the whole chorus, showing where they stand and how there is no turning back.  Ending on a single line of Varian repeating the song's title and showing this is the moment of truth.

The song is a great group number, showcasing all the great singers involved in great performances all across the board, both on their own and as a group. This is one of those group songs that knows the balance of strength in numbers while letting the main cast shine to progress the feeling of the moment.

This song is a great motivator, and helps someone really get into the mood, whether to run that errand, or perhaps write a blog post. I have listened to this song both for fun and to push me for what I have set out to do during the day, and it works both ways very well. This will not be the last time I look at this series or the many songs it has to show, many of them are amazing and have joined my regular playlists. With amazing lyrics, powerful and sometimes inspiring moments, a great hook, and wonderful score, this is a song, I am always ready to listen to.