As I had been hoping would be the case, the episode's songs were released digitally as a soundtrack. (While Buffy the Vampire Slayer's "Once More, with Feeling" released the songs, Fringe's "Brown Betty" did not, another factor that was disappointing, although I suspect that it had something to do with the songs being covers.) The soundtrack was, in fact, released on Friday, May 5th, two days before the episode aired. The soundtrack being released when it was was a marketing decision that I honestly cannot understand. Why would you want people hearing the songs before they see the episode? That would have almost entirely ruined the excitement of the episode for me, which is why I refused to listen to the soundtrack until after I had seen the episode. (Granted, ABC and the showrunners spoil significant plot-points before they happen quite frequently, so I shouldn't be surprised by how the soundtrack was released, and I quite honestly am not. I don't mean to slam the show, but I really don't understand its promotion process sometimes. Fans know things about the direction of the show, even significant character deaths and departures, way before they should. Even the focus of the upcoming seventh season was made known to fans way before the sixth season finale even aired.)
The opening song is the Disneyesque "Powerful Magic," a duet between real-life married couple Ginny Goodwin (Snow White) and Josh Dallas (Prince Charming / David). "Powerful Magic" features a powerful and booming melody sure to become an ear-worm and definitely has elements of humor, as Snow and David sing in confusion about why it is that they're singing. "Good morning, friend," Snow opens, singing to a bird that perches itself by her bed. "Oh, my dear, something's wrong 'cause all my words are coming out in song." The song is then followed by "The Queen Sings," a short introduction to "Love Doesn't Stand a Chance," when The Evil Queen (played by the beautiful Lana Parrilla) regally saunters toward the Magic Mirror in classic Disney fashion. She then eerily and angrily sings in a low register, wondering why she is singing. She uses her mirror magic to spy on various Enchanted Forest residents, including the Dwarfs, Granny, and Geppetto, all of whom have also broken out into song. The Evil Queen then breaks out into a rock number titled "Love Doesn't Stand a Chance," described by Parrilla as being similar to David Bowie's classic style. Parrilla passionately growls some of the words (which reflect on her belief that Snow and David's love for each other is their downfall, as love is weakness) like a rockstar, and it's evident that she had a lot of fun singing and performing the number/scene.
Colin O'Donoghue, who plays Killian Jones / Captain Hook, did not surprise me with his impressive tenor vocals; he was one of several cast members with musical experience. Snow and David, believing that they can defeat the Queen with song, offer Hook money in exchange for passage to her castle. Hook, however, bursts into "Revenge Is Gonna Be Mine," an '80s rock meets Broadway number (fueled by Queenesque guitars and harmony) about how he only wants revenge on Rumplestiltskin. The song is one of the catchiest songs on the soundtrack; it was stuck in my head after only a couple of listens. The following song, "Wicked Always Wins" (another ear-worm), is probably my favorite one. Performed by Rebecca "Bex" Mader, who plays Zelena, Oz's Wicked Witch of the West (who, on Once Upon a Time, also happens to be the Evil Queen Regina's sister), the song begins with quiet and melancholy piano but soon crescendos into a joyful melody fittingly reminiscent of Wicked. The song features lyrics about triumph and victory, and Mader's sweetly vibrato vocals are perfect. Interestingly, both this and Regina's song are about triumphing over an enemy but also acknowledge said enemy's strength. Regina sings, "Love at times can entrance, but love doesn't stand a chance," and Zelena sings, "Evil may be powerful, but wicked always wins."
"Charmings vs. Evil Queen" is a medley of "Powerful Magic" and "Love Doesn't Stand a Chance," taking place when Snow and David confront Regina and try to defeat her with song. "Emma's Theme" is the first of only two songs that are sung in the present; the previous six songs are all sung during flashback sequences. The song, which reminds me of Anastasia's "Once Upon a December" (especially because of its hauntingly beautiful piano accompaniment) and the Broadway musical Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, is set primarily to Mark Isham's score for Emma, which can he heard during the end credits of every episode so far. This song is the one that surprised me the most because I honestly hadn't expected Jennifer Morrison to be as vocally talented as she is. She has the voice of an angel, and considering how she enunciates and draws out her vowels and makes use of a beautiful, almost operatic vibrato technique, she sounds like she has had extensive vocal training. (I am hoping that, following her soon-to-be departure from Once Upon a Time, she will pursue music as another career because the woman seriously has pipes. She can also be heard singing here.) "Emma's Theme" is lyrically about Emma embracing the fact that she has finally found a home and a family, which gives her the advantage over evil.
The final song of the episode (and, of course, the soundtrack) is "A Happy Beginning," an ensemble celebratory song sung during the aforementioned wedding. Heard from during this number are Jennifer Morrison, Colin O'Donoghue, Ginny Goodwin, Josh Dallas, Lana Parrilla, Bex Mader, Jared S. Gilmore (Henry), etc. Parrilla really showcases her range here because whereas she had previously sung "Love Doesn't Stand a Chance" in a growly and sultry low register as the Evil Queen, her line here is much higher-pitched and sweeter as the reformed Regina. The song is about how the ceremony represents a new beginning for the characters and how that will win the day despite the literal and metaphorical darkness approaching them. I, overall, vastly enjoyed this episode and its soundtrack. As previously stated, it was long overdue and felt earned. I only wish that it had been a two-hour episode so that songs could have been longer and so that maybe more cast members, like Robert Carlyle (Rumplestiltskin) and Emilie de Ravin (Belle), could have been heard. There are two aspects of the songs that I especially like; the first is that most of them are timeless in relation to the show because their themes represent the characters singing them in general, not just in relation to the episode, and the second is that they all share a common theme - overcoming adversity. The musical episode was well executed, and bravo to all who were involved!
Oh, and my laptop kept autocorrecting Bex Mader's name to Bex Vader, so here is this for your amusement:
