Anthems – Power of Love
The Power of Love Character Philosophy in Song
Power of Love characters fear being useless, unnecessary, unwanted or unappreciated. They believe that if they aren’t hypersensitive to others’ needs they will be rejected and abandoned. They define their own self-worth by how much others need or are dependent on them. Examples in song are below “As Long as He Needs Me” from the musical and film Oliver. and”He Needs Me” from Punch Drunk Love.
These characters believe the way to get love and keep love is to be helpful, useful, loving, kind and, above all, necessary to the other person. They fear that if you don’t put others first you won’t have good relationships. If you don’t have close personal relationships, then life isn’t worth living.
On a paper valentine, it says simply, firmly and powerfully “Be Mine.” Possessiveness and passive/aggressive domination are the hallmarks of these characters in their Dark Side. Power of Love characters often lavish their attention and affection on others in order to exercise control, prevail, gain dominance or conquer another’s heart. The example below is “Mother Knows Best” from the movie Tangled.
Here are the three examples in song (lyrics are below):
“As Long As He Needs Me” from the musical and film Oliver as sung by Shirley Bassey.
LYRICS FOR AS LONG AS HE NEEDS ME
LYRICS TO HE NEEDS ME
And all at once I knew
I knew at once
I knew he needed me
Until the day I die I wonder why
I knew he needed me
It could be fantasy oh oh
or maybe it’s because…
He needs me
He needs me
He needs me
He needs me
He needs me
He needs me!
Da da da da da da da da da da da dum da da da da da da da da da da da
It’s like a dime a dance
I’ll take a chance I will because he needs me
No one ever asked before, before, because they never needed me
“But I do”
But he does!
Maybe it’s because he’s so alone
Maybe it’s because he’s never had a home
He needs me
He needs me
He needs me
He needs me
He needs me
He needs me!
For once, for once in life I finally felt that someone needed me
And if it turns out real
Then love can turn the wheel
Because…
He needs me
He needs me
He needs me
He needs me
He needs me
He needs me!
Da da da da da da da da da da da dum
The Dark Side of Power of Love is sung with great effect by Mother Gothel in Tangled:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fi8kYcl2Y38
Look at you, as fragile as a flower
Still a little sapling, just a sprout
You know why we stay up in this tower
Guess, I always knew this day was coming
Knew that soon you’d want to leave the nest
Soon, but not yet
Mother knows best
Mother knows best
Listen to your mother
It’s a scary world out there
Mother knows best
One way or another
Something will go wrong, I swear
Ruffians and thugs, poison ivy, quicksand
Cannibals and snakes, the plague
Men with pointy teeth, and
Stop, no more, you’ll just upset me
Mother’s right here
Mother will protect you
Darling, here’s what I suggest
Skip the drama
Stay with mama
Mother knows best
Go ahead, get mugged and left for dead!
Me, I’m just your mother, what do I know?
I only bathed, and changed, and nursed you
Go ahead and leave me, I deserve it
Let me die alone here, be my guest!
When it’s too late, you’ll see, just wait
Mother knows best
Take it from your mumsy
On your own, you won’t survive
Sloppy, underdressed, immature, clumsy
Please, they’ll eat you up alive
Gullible, naive, positively grubby
Ditzy and a bit, well, hmm, vague
Plus, I believe gettin’ kinda chubby
I’m just saying ’cause I love you
Mother understands
Mother’s here to help you
All I have is one request
Yes?
Don’t ever ask to leave this tower again
Yes, mother
I love you very much, dear
I love you more
I love you most
You’ll regret it
Mother knows best
Create a visual map for a character’s emotional journey. Pull stories from character rather from rote story structure beats. Some of the largest international media companies, use this in story and character development.
A clear concise guide for writers and producers to have by their side as they embark on a project. It gives a really vital reminder of what is key for story success.
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