Quotes / "I Want" Song

"This is known as an 'I Want' song — a number that comes early in a musical, in which the hero(ine) expresses his/her hopes and dreams, so that we in the audience understand those dreams, and get more involved in his/her quest to achieve them."

— The Agony Booth, on Quest for Camelot

Prince Herbert: But I don't want any of that. I'd rather...

Lord of Swamp Castle: Rather what?!

Prince Herbert: I'd rather... just... siiing! {music begins to swell}

Lord of Swamp Castle: {interrupts the music} Stop that! Stop that! You're not going to do a song while I'm here!

— Monty Python and the Holy Grail

"Why is it that Disney women are never satisfied? You're fucking royalty! If you had any more, you'd be friggin' gods!"

— The Nostalgia Critic, on the frequent I Want Songs in the Disney Animated Canon.

"But who cares/No big deal/I want more..."

— Ariel singing "Part of Your World"

"In almost every musical ever written, there's a place that's usually about the third song of the evening — sometimes it's the second, sometimes it's the fourth, but it's quite early — and the leading lady usually sits down on something; sometimes it's a tree stump in Brigadoon, sometimes it's under the pillars of Covent Garden in My Fair Lady, or it's a trash can in Little Shop of Horrors... but the leading lady sits down on something and sings about what she wants in life. And the audience falls in love with her and then roots for her to get it for the rest of the night."

— Howard Ashman, specifically referring to the above song, Waking Sleeping Beauty

"You want something nondescript, and by God, you're gonna sing about it!"

— The Nostalgia Chick, in her Disney Princess review

Buford: I WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANT nuthin'.

— Phineas and Ferb, Wizard Of Odd

"You know, when you think about The Wizard of Oz, what does everybody want? They want to meet the Wizard and have him fix whatever is wrong with them—give them a heart, give them a brain, give them courage, take them home to Kansas, whatever they want—they go to the Wizard. Surely that should be involved with what Elphaba wants as well."

— Winnie Holzman, bookwriter of Wicked, in development of the musical and prompting the creation of Elphaba's "I Want" Song, "The Wizard and I"

I wish, I wish, I wish I were a fish

'Cause fishes have a better life than people

They don't have all the care and strife of people

A fish can swim, that's all they ask of him

A fish is free to roam around the sea

And look for love wherever he can find it

He flirts with every ladyfish as she goes swimming by

And if she gives her tail a swish and winks a fishy eye,

A minnow, all at once, can be a whale of a guy

I wish, I wish I were a fish

— "I Wish I Were a Fish", The Incredible Mr. Limpet

I want the life I've never had

And I want only just to laugh

And I want stimulation every second and a half

I want the world to fucking see that I am someone to respect

Even when I'm lying cold cross-armed in a chest

No, I just want a dog

—"I Want a Dog", Hobo Johnson

God of Impulse: I shall offer you a song for your admirable efforts.

Fashion Cell: I don't need a song! Just wake Yumi up!

God of Impulse: I call it the "Want Song". I want~ You Want~ We all want~ I want this~

— Yumi's Cells, Chapter 62 ("Her Attention")

I stand here now
Thinking beyond these walls
There's something beyond these walls
And I'm tired of waitin'
And when I rise
I'll rise up beyond these walls
I will make it beyond these walls
And they'll all be sayin'...

— "Beyond These Walls", Arlo the Alligator Boy

I follow my dreams
You'd think they were nightmares the way they scream
I'll make them believe (whoa)
Someday, someday, I'm gonna be the next big thing

— "Someday", Rags

Is there ever gonna be
A place in the spotlight just for me?
When the world can finally see
I'm special like my family
Will there be a time
When I really shine?
Am I always gonna be
Plain old ordinary me?

— "Ordinary Me", The Loud House Movie

There's a better life that's waiting
Past the mountains I must climb
I will take a chance on love
To get my once upon a time
I want so much more
So much more than a dream

— "More Than a Dream", Cinderella III: A Twist in Time

I have my wings, I wear this crown
I'm a princess, this is true
But it's still unclear to me
Just what I am meant to do
I wanna have a purpose,
Wanna do all that I can,
I wanna make a contribution,
I want to be a part of the plan.

— "You'll Play Your Part", My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic

Ay, yo, it's my life, my time
My rights, my rhymes
My grind, my struggle
Hustle, sweat, and my blood, too
A predator smells fear, and I smell a lot
My competitors fled scared
'Cause they smelled I was hot
I want it all, excess
The sex and much success (Stress sucks)
I want it all, no less, so come on.

— "I Want It All" (SmackDown)

I wonder when I'll feel the power,
I wonder when I'll have some fun
To have the chance to help the others,
Can't wait to be the one!
I wonder what my gift will be now,
I wonder if it has begun
A shining heart that's so amazing!
Can't wait to, can't wait to, can't wait to be the one!

— "Can't Wait To Be The One", Care Bears: Welcome to Care-a-Lot

Somebody come and play
Somebody come and play today
Somebody come and smile the smiles
And sing the songs
It won't take long
Somebody come and play today

— "Somebody Come and Play", Sesame Street

I would move the mountains
Make new trees and flowers grow
Someone please just let me know, where do I go?
I am waiting on a miracle, a miracle!

I would heal what's broken
Show this family something new
Who I am inside, so what can I do?
I'm sick of waiting on a miracle, so here I go!

— "Waiting on a Miracle", Encanto

I've been dreaming of a true love's kiss
And a prince I'm hoping comes with this
That's what brings ever-aftering, so happy
And that's the reason we need lips so much
For lips are the only things that touch
So, to spend a life of endless bliss
Just find who you love through true love's kiss

— "True Love's Kiss", Enchanted

I just wanna be somebody to someone, oh
I wanna be somebody to someone, oh
I never had nobody and no road home
I wanna be somebody to someone

—Music/Banners, "Someone to You."

I've got to escape from this palace
For a life where I'll truly be free
I'll go live somewhere new
Just as big, with a view
And a few dozen servants attending to me
That's all I'm asking for...
I just want everything... and more!

—"Everything and More", Twisted: The Untold Story of a Royal Vizier

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