Florence + the Machine: Call Me Cruella
“Oh, Pongo! It’s her,” said Perdita. “It’s that devil woman.”
And with that, we know exactly what to think about Disney’s ultimate villain, Cruella de Vil.
Syncopating With The De Vil
Image: Disney
The ubiquitous song, perhaps second on the all-time villainy charts to John William’s Imperial March for Darth Vader, “Cruella de Vil,” is tough to beat. Its show-stopping debut is one of the best-known of Disney’s classic age.
“Cruella de Vil. Cruella de Vil. If she doesn’t scare you, no evil thing will!” sings Ben Wright’s Roger to Lisa Davis’ Anita. “To see her is to take a sudden chill!
Image: Disney
“She’s like a spider waiting for the kill – lookout for, Cruella de Vil!”
Check out the 1961 classic:
No Longer Stuck In The Past
And now, Disney has a new Cruella song.
It starts off similarly to the 1961 version but diverts quickly (as it switches to first-person).
Image Credit: Walt Disney Studios
“Cruella de Vil. Cruella de Vil. She’s born to be bad, so run for the hills. Cruella de Vil. Cruella de Vil. The fear on your face, it gives me a thrill,” sings Florence Welch. “Who wants to be nice? Who wants to be tame?”
Florence adds:
Original. Criminal. Dressed to kill. Just call me, Cruella de Vil.”
It might not be as catchy as the original earworm (oft-covered by The Replacements and Los Lobos, among others), penned by Mel Leven, is a little more direct in its approach.
Image: Disney
Of the song, Welch told Katrina Rees of CelebMix.com, “Some of the first songs I ever learned how to sing were Disney songs. And the villains often got the best numbers.
“So to help create and perform a song for Cruella is the fulfillment of a long-held childhood dream. I’m so grateful to Nicholas Britell and Disney for allowing me so much creative freedom, and for trusting me with Cruella’s beautiful madness.”
Image: Disney
Britell is the composer behind the film’s score. He said to Rees, “I am a massive fan of Florence’s, so it was a true joy to collaborate with her on ‘Call Me Cruella.’ With both this song and the Cruella score itself, the goal was to really embrace the raw rock aesthetic of the ’60s and ’70s London.
“We recorded everything using all vintage gear and analog tape at Abbey Road and AIR Studios in London, melding orchestral elements with electric guitars and basses, organs, keyboards, and drums.”
Check out the new song below. Cruella debuts in limited engagements on May 27 and hits Disney+ and most theaters on May 28.
Feature: Disney/Vivo
