Tom Hulce & Tony Jay, “Heaven’s Light / Hellfire”

Reading Time: 4 min read

In the 16^th edition of Controversial Tunes (2022), we explore the controversy behind the song, “Heaven’s Light / Hellfire” performed by Tom Hulce and Tony Jay.

ring on the controversy! Controversial Tunes 😈🎶 is a column that provides background information and insight into songs that raised eyebrows and totally stirred the pot. The records that grace Controversial Tunes are old and new alike, with all genres of music welcome. In the 16^th edition of Controversial Tunes (2022), we explore the controversy behind the song, 🎵 “Heaven’s Light / Hellfire” by 🎙 Tom Hulce and 🎙 Tony Jay.

Theme & Lyrics ✍

memories You’d be surprised by the amount of controversy that Disney animated films seem to conjure up. Or maybe, you wouldn’t! The older animated films, in particular, have elements that are problematic for a variety of reasons. In one of my favorite Disney films (not everyone agrees, obviously), The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996), the themes are ‘heavy’ for children – perhaps, inappropriate, all told. At that time, adapting a classic novel, aimed at adults and not children, into a children’s film was an ambitious, tall task. Ultimately, to make The Hunchback of Notre Dame work, it couldn’t be sanitized, hence why Disney released perhaps its most ‘mature’ rated G movie of the Renaissance era. Yes, it should’ve been rated PG like all the Disney/Pixar films are currently. It’s the themes that make The Hunchback of Notre Dame as a whole brilliant – again, by my estimations – as well as controversial.

One of the most accomplished and controversial parts of The Hunchback of Notre Dame is the song, 🎵 “Heaven’s Light / Hellfire”. This is by far the best moment of one of the better Disney soundtracks. Because of the religious component, inspiration, and sometimes, source material, comes from elements of classical liturgical music. This is a song of contrasts finding Quasimodo (🎙 Tom Hulce) performing the more hopeful, major-keyed “Heaven’s Light,” while Judge Claude Frollo (🎙 Tony Jay) performs the darker, more enigmatic and twisted “Hellfire.” Heaven and hell at the surface level are tough subjects for children so, this 🎼✍ Alan Menken and 🎼✍ Steven Schwartz record was always going to be controversial.

fingers crossed Quasimodo’s desire for love – “heaven’s light” – tugs at the heartstrings. One thing that children and adults alike should take from it is that they don’t deserve to be bullied, persecuted, or have to settle for less just because they’re different in some regard. Even as he’s depressed, Quasimodo shows hope as he sings, “And as I ring these bells tonight / My cold dark tower seems so bright / I swear it must be heaven’s light.” Then, the contrast begins – that “Hellfire.” It doesn’t commence devilishly, though, as the choir sings in Latin, a product of the Catholic mass and classical liturgical music. Initially, once Frollo (Jay) begins singing, he affirms his righteousness, proclaiming, “Beata Maria / You know I’m so much purer than / The common, vulgar, weak, licentious crowd.” Woo, licentious, huh? This, of course, is where things become more adult and controversial.

go to hell With interspersed Latin continuing, Frollo speaks to Mother Mary about his lust for Esmeralda, the gypsy. No, he never utters the word lust (that would’ve never flown), but that’s what’s depicted lyrically. “I feel here, I see her / The sun caught in her raven hair / Is blazing in me out of all control.” Of course, this prompts the darkest moments of the song, the infernal chorus:

“Like fire

Hellfire

This fire in my skin

This burning

Desire

Is turning me to sin.”

Woo! It gets worse. Frollo absolves himself of guilt, blaming, you guessed it, Esmerelda! To Maria, he petitions:

“Don’t let this siren cast her spell

Don’t let the fire sear my flesh and bone

Destroy Esmeralda

And let her taste the fires of hell

Or else let her be mine and mine alone.”

Final Thoughts 💭

Wow – a lot to unpack there! Is there any question why “Hellfire” is deemed controversial? Frollo explores righteousness, lust, and damnation – not typically children-friend topics! Zach Glass of Screen Rant breaks this masterwork down brilliantly, characterizing it as “the most intense, layered and complex songs in Disney’s Hunchback of Notre Dame.” He’s totally correct!