Defying Frozen

February 15, 2014 10:41 AM

I love 'Let it Go' and 'Defying Gravity'. What other songs are about rebellious spirits, personal epiphany and/or acceptance of their uniqueness?
posted by Memo to Media & Arts (18 answers total)

I Gotta Be Me
posted by brookeb at 10:58 AM on February 15, 2014

Blackberry Smoke, "Like I Am"

Drive-By Truckers, "Never Gonna Change"
posted by Pirate-Bartender-Zombie-Monkey at 11:04 AM on February 15, 2014

Steve Earle, Copperhead Road
posted by Pirate-Bartender-Zombie-Monkey at 11:26 AM on February 15, 2014

It sounds to me like you may like other pop/rock-ish 11 o'clock numbers or showstoppers from musicals:

• Legally Blonde – Legally Blonde Remix or So Much Better
• 13 – Here I Come
• Parade – This Is Not Over Yet
• Children of Eden – Lost in the Wilderness

Or maybe not! These are just a couple that came to mind.
posted by Zephyrial at 11:45 AM on February 15, 2014

Don't Rain On My Parade might fit this.
posted by HuronBob at 11:59 AM on February 15, 2014

Most of these don't sound much like the examples you gave, but I think they go along with the theme:

Jim Croce - I Got a Name
Alicia Keys - Wait Til You See My Smile
Bif Naked - I Love Myself Today
Bon Jovi - Have a Nice Day
Curtis Mayfield - Move On Up
Estelle feat. Janelle Monae - Do My Thing
Gavin DeGraw - I Don't Want to Be
Joan Jett - Bad Reputation
Kelly Clarkson - Breakaway
Nikka Costa - Everybody Got Their Something
Whitesnake - Here I Go Again
posted by sigmagalator at 12:14 PM on February 15, 2014

This is the moment, from Jekyll and Hyde
posted by shivohum at 12:25 PM on February 15, 2014

Make Your Own Kind of Music by Mama Cass

Seconding Breakaway by Kelly Clarkson.
posted by Aquifer at 12:38 PM on February 15, 2014

Weezer - Pork And Beans
posted by dhoe at 12:45 PM on February 15, 2014

Judy Garland - I Don't Care
posted by sparklemotion at 1:09 PM on February 15, 2014

I am What I Am from La Cage Aux Folles.
posted by not that girl at 1:10 PM on February 15, 2014

And I Am Telling You

It's not as uplifting as your examples, but I think it fits the general model.
posted by Diagonalize at 2:11 PM on February 15, 2014

Both Let Your Freak Flag Fly and This Is Our Story from Shrek the Musical.
"What makes us special makes us strong."
posted by still_wears_a_hat at 3:01 PM on February 15, 2014

Dessa- Flying Fish: "Got a lot of imperfections but I don't count my ambition in 'em."
Iron and Wine- Glad Man Singing: "I've become a glad man singing a song..."
Marian Call- Vanilla: "My virtues are too dull to entertain but you can always count on me."
Marian Call- I'll Still Be a Geek After Nobody Thinks It's Chic: "You don't really know me and my culture don't control me..." (This entire album has an underlying theme of accepting one's geekdom; you might want to check out the whole thing.)
Tullycraft- Twee: "You can keep the punk, rock, ska, rap, beats, and house, fuck me, I'm twee."
posted by NoraReed at 5:08 PM on February 15, 2014

The One And Only - Chesney Hawkes
posted by SisterHavana at 9:40 PM on February 15, 2014

"Just because I kiss the prettiest girls and I drive my truck too fast / Why does everybody want to kick my ass?"
-Big & Rich
posted by Pirate-Bartender-Zombie-Monkey at 9:14 AM on February 16, 2014

Alice Cooper covers Lady Gaga, Born This Way

Iron Maiden, Running Free

Candye Kane, Toughest Girl Alive
posted by Pirate-Bartender-Zombie-Monkey at 9:34 AM on February 16, 2014

Paloma Faith - Upside Down
posted by talitha_kumi at 6:13 AM on February 17, 2014