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| 9 | [[quoteright:350:[[WebAnimation/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirlsRainbowRocksShorts https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/pint2.png]]]] |
| 10 | [[caption-width-right:350:[-''"Like a phoenix burning bright in the sky\ |
| 11 | I'll show there's another side to me,\ |
| 12 | you can't deny"''-]]] |
| 13 | %% |
| 14 | ->''"I'm stuck in this dream\ |
| 15 | It's changing me\ |
| 16 | I am becoming."'' |
| 17 | -->-- '''Music/NineInchNails''', [[Music/TheDownwardSpiral "The Becoming"]] |
| 18 | |
| 19 | Related to an IAmSong, this isn't about what the singer ''is'', but what they are ''[[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin becoming]]''. This can be expressed [[LookWhatICanDoNow positively]] or [[WhatHaveIBecome negatively]]. |
| 20 | |
| 21 | May double as a IWantSong, a SanitySlippageSong, a BSODSong, a GainingConfidenceSong, or a VillainSong, especially if ThatManIsDead. See also ComingOfAgeStory, CharacterDevelopment. Compositionally, it's often a SmallStartBigFinish number, starting off rather slow and low before growing as the character asserts themselves. |
| 22 | |
| 23 | This is meant to describe CharacterDevelopment, and ''[[JustForFun/IThoughtItMeant not]]'' a literal transformation or {{Metamorphosis}}, though the two may overlap if the metamorphosis ''causes'' the character's development. Don't let the progressive tense fool you either; it can also be an a character explaining how they've ''already'' changed--and might only just be realizing it now. |
| 24 | |
| 25 | Note: This is CharacterDevelopment summary in song: '''spoilers may ensue''', even if you only see a character name. |
| 26 | |
| 27 | ---- |
| 28 | !!Examples: |
| 29 | [[foldercontrol]] |
| 30 | |
| 31 | [[folder:Fan Works]] |
| 32 | * ''Fanfic/GettingBackOnYourHooves'' has an example for Trixie. After going on an adventure in Everfree Forest with Fluttershy, in which she saw that her belief that [[SocialDarwinist kindness equals weakness]] was ''very'' flawed, she sings "Through New Eyes", about how her world view has changed and she's not certain what to do now. Twilight joins in, reassuring Trixie with her own part of the song about how ''her'' world view was changed by her move to Ponyville. Trixie finishes by singing about how she now knows her new {{True Companion|s}} Twilight will help her through the change. |
| 33 | * ''Fanfic/IceFury'' sees Elsa sing a new version of ''Let It Go'' to encourage her new dragon- later to be named Wintergale- to overcome her fear of flying. |
| 34 | [[/folder]] |
| 35 | |
| 36 | [[folder:Films -- Animation]] |
| 37 | * ''WesternAnimation/{{Anastasia}}'' has [[LostOrphanedRoyalty Anya]] actively seek out her long lost family and reject her previous AmnesiacHero state in "Journey to the Past". |
| 38 | * Franchise/DisneyAnimatedCanon: |
| 39 | ** "I See The Light" from ''WesternAnimation/{{Tangled}}'' doubles as both a LetsDuet and this for both Rapunzel and Flynn Rider, as they realize their feelings for each other are changing them as people. |
| 40 | ** ''WesternAnimation/{{Frozen|2013}}'': Elsa sings [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moSFlvxnbgk "Let It Go"]] when she goes into a self-imposed exile after her powers are exposed in public, and now she can use her powers to her full potential and build an ice palace in total solitude. |
| 41 | ** During ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eF9wZR3m8m8 Show Yourself]]'' in ''WesternAnimation/FrozenII'', Elsa comes to term with her powers and learns that the answers she wanted were inside her all along. |
| 42 | ** ''WesternAnimation/{{Encanto}}'' has two. |
| 43 | *** The first is "What Else Can I Do?" is one for Isabela as it's [[spoiler:about her embracing her newfound ability to make "imperfect" plant life and finally shedding the facade of her being TheAce.]] |
| 44 | *** "All of You" is one for the Madrigal family as a whole, due to it being about them [[spoiler:moving past their unhealthy perfectionist attitude and becoming a closer, more mentally healthy family.]] |
| 45 | * ''WesternAnimation/TheLastUnicorn'': "Now That I'm A Woman"; in this case while the ''physical'' change from unicorn to woman has already taken place, Amalthea is describing the mental changes that are taking her over. |
| 46 | * "For a Moment" from ''WesternAnimation/TheLittleMermaidIIReturnToTheSea'' is about Melody's transition from human to mermaid. |
| 47 | * "I Am Chirin" from ''Anime/RingingBell'', which is played when Chirin decides to team up with the evil Wolf King, and as a result he goes from an innocent baby lamb to a fearsome, demonic ram. |
| 48 | * "Strange Things (Are Happening to Me)" from ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory1'' counts, since Andy starts to appear to favor Buzz over Woody, and this has an effect on Woody's character. |
| 49 | [[/folder]] |
| 50 | |
| 51 | [[folder:Films -- Live-Action]] |
| 52 | * In ''Film/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' the movie, Buffy's ''entire career'' kicks off with an I Am Becoming song: "Ain't Gonna Eat Out My Heart Anymore." |
| 53 | * Eric Draven gets one in ''Film/TheCrow1994'' (specifically, "Burn," by The Cure) as he goes to a makeup mirror in his apartment and makes his transformation into a white-faced, spandex-clad avenger. |
| 54 | * In ''Film/Disenchanted2022'', Giselle sings about how her family are becoming suburbanites in "Even More Enchanted". |
| 55 | * ''Series/HannahMontana: TheMovie'' gives us "The Climb", which neatly encapsulates Miley's emotions, the lessons she's learned in the movie, and the general message of the film. Later, in Season 4, Miley writes "Wherever I Go" to say goodbye to her secret identity as Hannah, and moves forward to face the world as her real self. |
| 56 | * Addison from ''Film/Zombies2018'' has "Stand", where she sings about not wanting to hide her true self anymore and culminates with her [[spoiler: shedding her blond wig and revealing her natural white hair.]] |
| 57 | [[/folder]] |
| 58 | |
| 59 | [[folder:Live-Action TV]] |
| 60 | * The ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' musical opens up with one of these, in "Going Through The Motions," where Buffy compares herself now with the way she was before [[spoiler:her death at the end of Season 5]]. |
| 61 | * ''Series/SaturdayNightLive'' parodied this in 1989 with its parodic tribute to fictional Broadway composer Hal Jerome ... one of his early songs is "I'm Maturing As a Songwriter". |
| 62 | * ''Series/SydneyToTheMax'': Sydney sings one in "Baby One More Rhyme", as she describes her discoveries at finding her true self. |
| 63 | [[/folder]] |
| 64 | |
| 65 | [[folder:Music]] |
| 66 | %% * The aptly-named "The Becoming" by Music/NineInchNails. |
| 67 | * "The Guardian of the Realm" from Music/{{Fireaxe}}'s 4 hour epic ''Music/FoodForTheGods'' follows one soldiers progression from a young wide-eyed idealist to a cynical, embittered man. |
| 68 | * Music/{{Disturbed}} has a few of these: |
| 69 | ** "Voices", "Down With The Sickness", "Awaken", "Darkness", "Perfect Insanity", "Asylum", "Sacrifice" are all {{Sanity Slippage Song}}s [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin about becoming disturbed / going insane /]] [[FaceHeelTurn turning to evil]]. |
| 70 | ** "Indestructible" is about, well... becoming indestructible. |
| 71 | %% * "Comfortably Numb" from ''Music/TheWall'' by Pink Floyd. |
| 72 | %% * "The Last Kiss" by AFI. |
| 73 | %% * "Did My Time" by Music/{{Korn}}. ("I feel the anger changing me!") |
| 74 | %% * "Becoming Insane" by Infected Mushroom. |
| 75 | * Music/OrigamiAngel: A happy version in ''Music/SomewhereCity''. "Doctor Whomst" opens with the singer recreating a childhood memory, and then wondering if it's really the nostalgia that's making him happy. He concludes that he's "starting to like himself" and is finally happy with who he is, and then is ready to improve himself further for someone he admires. |
| 76 | * ''Music/TameImpala'': The song "Yes I'm Changing" is about Kevin Parker's breakup with Melody Prochet. He feels that he's becoming a different person as a result of his breakup: |
| 77 | -->''Yes, I'm changing, can't stop it now'' |
| 78 | -->''And even if I wanted, I wouldn't know how'' |
| 79 | -->''Another version of myself I think I've found at last'' |
| 80 | [[/folder]] |
| 81 | |
| 82 | [[folder:Puppet Shows]] |
| 83 | * ''Film/TheMuppets2011'' has "Man or Muppet" in which Gary and Walter [[DistantDuet both realise]] they need to move beyond their sibling relationship (Gary by choosing Mary over his brother, Walter by joining the Muppets). |
| 84 | [[/folder]] |
| 85 | |
| 86 | [[folder:Theater]] |
| 87 | * ''Theatre/{{Thirteen}}'' has "13/Becoming a Man" which is about the main character's Bar Mitzvah, and how he will become a man. |
| 88 | * In the musical ''Theatre/TheAddamsFamily'', Wednesday sings about how love is changing her in "Pulled". |
| 89 | * The stage musical ''Theatre/{{Anastasia}}'' has "Journey to the Past" and "Crossing a Bridge", where Anya is at the literal and figurative crossroads of being an AmnesiacHero orphan to someone with a family and an identity. |
| 90 | * ''Theatre/CompanySondheim'' has "Being Alive" for Bobby/Bobbi's shedding of his/her commitment phobia. Doubles as a late-in-the-game IWantSong. |
| 91 | --> '''Joanne:''' You're not a kid anymore, Robby. I don't think you'll ever be a kid again, kiddo. |
| 92 | * In ''Theatre/{{Dreamgirls}}'', Effie sings "I Am Changing" and decides to get her life together. In the revival of the musical, the actress playing her has changed into a glitzy dress that is revealed just before she starts the final belt. |
| 93 | * ''Theatre/EpicTheMusical'', a musical adaptation of ''Literature/TheOdyssey'', has "Monster", where Odysseus contemplates Teiresias' prediction that he will have to change in order to get home and decides to become more ruthless in order to protect his crew. |
| 94 | * ''Theatre/EvilDeadTheMusical'' has "I'm Not A Killer", where Ash [[spoiler: brings himself to kill his possessed girlfriend]] and "It's Time", where Ash finally mans up into the demon-slayer we know and love. "Look Who's Evil Now" also counts for [[spoiler: Shelly]]. |
| 95 | * Carmen has "In L.A." in the musical version of ''Theatre/{{Fame}}'', which is about how she moved to L.A., [[spoiler: got hooked on drugs, and slept with producers for money/drugs]]. Doubles as a BSODSong. |
| 96 | * TheMusical adaptation of ''ComicBook/FunHome'' has "Changing My Major", in which Alison accepts her sexuality for the first time and stops trying to bottle her true feelings up. |
| 97 | * ''Theatre/{{Hamilton}}'' has "The Room Where It Happens", where Hamilton goes from a rash, impulsive politician to one who knows how to play the game. It is also somewhat of an inversion: instead of Hamilton singing about the change himself (except for one small part at the beginning), it's Burr singing about it from the perspective of an outsider (and thus is framed as his IWantSong). |
| 98 | * ''Theatre/IntoTheWoods'' has "It Takes Two" for the Baker and the Baker's Wife. |
| 99 | --> ''We've changed\ |
| 100 | We're strangers\ |
| 101 | I'm meeting you in the woods!'' |
| 102 | ** "I Know Things Now" shows how much more street-wise Little Red Riding Hood is becoming after her run-in with the Wolf. |
| 103 | * ''Theatre/JekyllAndHyde'' gives us "Alive", about the good doctor becoming the monster within. |
| 104 | * Elle has several in ''Theatre/LegallyBlondeTheMusical'' from "Chip On My Shoulder" to the reprise of "Legally Blonde". "So Much Better" in particular stands out as almost being this play's answer to "Defying Gravity" in terms of codifying Elle's metamorphosis. |
| 105 | * In ''Theatre/LittleShopOfHorrors'', Audrey's part in the duet "Suddenly Seymour", is about how she believes that Seymour is making her a better person. |
| 106 | * ''Theatre/LesMiserables'': |
| 107 | ** "What Have I Done" is Valjean rejecting his life as a criminal in favor of redemption. |
| 108 | ** Cosette's version of "In My Life" combines a grown-up IWantSong with I Am Becoming Song. She sings about her longing for new horizons and love, and closure with the past - and how she's growing up and delighted to do so. |
| 109 | * In ''Theatre/NatashaPierreAndTheGreatCometOf1812'', "Dust and Ashes" is about Pierre realizing he is ready to experience real love, not the artificial lust he once held for his wife Hélène. Doubles as an IWantSong. |
| 110 | * "La Monture" ("My Heart If You Will Swear") from ''Notre-Dame de Paris'': the devoted, virginal Fleur-de-Lys tells her cheating fiancé Phoebus that she will remain faithful to him... as long as he has Esmeralda executed. In the French lyrics, she sings that she has thrown her girlhood dreams "to the wolves" and that her heart is "hardening." |
| 111 | * In ''Theatre/ThePhantomOfTheOpera'', "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again," Christine's lament for her father, ends with a declaration that she will try to put his memory behind her and live unburdened by the pain of her past. |
| 112 | * "I'm Gonna Be a Producer" from ''Film/TheProducers'' is an [[IAmSong Am]], [[IWantSong Want]], ''and'' Becoming song all in one. |
| 113 | * In "An Organized Life (1974)" from the musical version of ''Vanities'', Kathy sings about her [[HeroicBSOD nervous breakdown]] and journey of self-discovery, also making it a BSODSong. Also, "Friendship Isn't What it Used to Be" from the same act, and "Looking Good", the finale for the [=TheatreWorks=] Palo Alto and off-Broadway versions. |
| 114 | * In ''Theatre/TheRingOfTheNibelung'' tetralogy of operas by Music/RichardWagner, the song Siegfried sings while reforging anew Nothung, the shattered sword of his dead father, is a climactic piece in the whole cycle and taken as his rite of passage from boy to man. |
| 115 | * ''Theatre/{{Shucked}}'': "Woman of the World" is about Maizy realizing that she has become more than just a small-town girl from Cob County. |
| 116 | * The titular song "Six" from ''Theatre/SixTheMusical'' has each of Henry VIII's ex-wives have come into their own as a person and pursued new dreams outside of being defined by the King. |
| 117 | * Probably the biggest one of these from ''Theatre/SweeneyTodd'' is "Epiphany", where Sweeney makes his transformation from vengeful AntiHero to SerialKiller VillainProtagonist. It also doubles as a BSODSong due to coming right on the heels of his failure to kill Judge Turpin. |
| 118 | ** Also the "Johanna Quartet" for the title character. |
| 119 | * In ''Theatre/ThoroughlyModernMillie'', the song "Gimme, Gimme" is when Millie officially decides that she wants to be with her LoveInterest Jimmy, even if he isn't rich. [[spoiler: Luckily for Millie, he secretly is]]. |
| 120 | * ''Theatre/{{Urinetown}}'' has "Look at the Sky" for Bobby Strong, who is no longer willing to be complicit in the surveillance and terrorizing of the poor for the [[MegaCorp Urine Good Company]]. |
| 121 | * ''Theatre/{{Wicked}}'': |
| 122 | ** After Elphaba finds out that what she assumed was the ultimate force for good[[spoiler:--the Wizard--]]isn't, she knows she has to help the Animals [[spoiler:without him]]. "Defying Gravity" echoes her IWantSong, 'The Wizard And I', now with her asking for Glinda's partnership [[spoiler:instead of the Wizard]]'s. |
| 123 | ** ''Wicked'' is ''full'' of these, including [[BSODSong "No Good Deed,"]] [[HeelRealization "Wicked Witch Of The East,"]] and "For Good" also count. |
| 124 | [[/folder]] |
| 125 | |
| 126 | [[folder:Video Games]] |
| 127 | * An example of the "both inner and external metamorphosis" type: if his boss battle is won with paint instead of thinner, the Mad Doctor from ''VideoGame/EpicMickey2ThePowerOfTwo'' will survive his fall in the thinner pit, and finally understanding what heroism is about for having saved by Mickey and Oswald, he sings ''That's What Heroes Do'' (also known as ''I'm a Toon Again''), where he vows to become good, in answer to which the magical Guardians change him into a real toon[[note]] (he was a {{Cyborg}} for much of the game, much to his dismay.)[[/note]] |
| 128 | --> '''Mad Doctor''' (singing): "I'm a toon again!? I'm a toon again! Can it be, I'm a toon again?! Thank you, thank you, my dear friends! Now on this you can depend: from here on in, I'll be good again!" |
| 129 | * In ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsIII'', [[WesternAnimation/Frozen2013 "Let It Go"]] is used in identical context to the original movie. |
| 130 | [[/folder]] |
| 131 | |
| 132 | [[folder:Web Animation]] |
| 133 | * The ''[[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirlsRainbowRocks Rainbow Rocks]]'' short "My Past Is Not Today" is basically "Let It Go" written for Sunset Shimmer, about leaving her former self behind for a more promising future. |
| 134 | [[/folder]] |
| 135 | |
| 136 | [[folder:Web Original]] |
| 137 | * ''WebVideo/DoctorHorriblesSingAlongBlog'': Where to begin? The musical could be described as Dr. Horrible's [[spoiler:StartOfDarkness]]. Some specifics: |
| 138 | ** 'My Eyes': Penny, the girl Billy has been trying to achieve a verbal connection with for...a while, is going out with Captain Hammer. This pushes him towards [[BecomingTheMask Dr.]] [[SplitPersonalityTakeover Horrible]]. |
| 139 | ** 'Brand New Day': Yes, Captain Hammer is dating Penny [[spoiler:''specifically to spite Billy'']]. [[spoiler:Murderous rage and planning ensue.]] |
| 140 | ** Billy's part in 'So They Say' as he puts the finishing touches on his plans to [[spoiler: kill Captain Hammer.]] |
| 141 | ** 'Slipping' is this, to an extent. It is more what Billy is ''claiming'' he is. He's fusing an IWantSong and an I Am Becoming Song--and failing. When the time comes to finish his plan, he falters. |
| 142 | ** 'Everything You Ever' is partly this trope, partly I Want To Become. [[spoiler:It solidifies Billy as Dr. Horrible, and [[LyricalDissonance it's almost a triumph]]...]] |
| 143 | [[/folder]] |
| 144 | |
| 145 | [[folder:Western Animation]] |
| 146 | * The first song in ''WesternAnimation/TheLionGuard'' Season 3 premiere is "New Way To Go," where a confused and disturbed Janja sings about how he's changed because of Jasiri, how he's no longer satisfied working for Scar, and wonders if he should join her. [[spoiler:He does by the end of the episode.]] |
| 147 | * In the episode "The Answer" from ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'' Ruby and Sapphire sing "Something Entirely New" about becoming Garnet. |
| 148 | --> ''"Where did we go?\ |
| 149 | What did we do?\ |
| 150 | I think we made\ |
| 151 | something entirely new.\ |
| 152 | And it wasn't quite me,\ |
| 153 | and it wasn't quite you,\ |
| 154 | I think it was\ |
| 155 | someone entirely new."'' |
| 156 | ** The song "Change" from ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverseTheMovie'' is about Steven's capacity to change. |
| 157 | --> '''Steven:''' ''"I can make a promise.\ |
| 158 | I can make a plan.\ |
| 159 | I can make a difference.\ |
| 160 | I can take a stand.\ |
| 161 | I can make an effort\ |
| 162 | if I only understand\ |
| 163 | that I, I can make a change."'' |
| 164 | ** "Independent Together" is a similar moment for Pearl in the movie. |
| 165 | --> '''Pearl:''' ''"Nothing is holding me back now.\ |
| 166 | No one can push me around.\ |
| 167 | Who do I want to be?\ |
| 168 | I'm the master of me.\ |
| 169 | And isn't the thought enough\ |
| 170 | to lift me off of the ground!"'' |
| 171 | [[/folder]] |
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