Cinderella “So This is Love” (1950)

In her new carriage, Cinderella finally arrives at the castle where the ball is already underway. The Prince stands at the head of a receiving line where every single maiden is being presented to him. Cinderella (in her sparkling Christian Dior-inspired dress) arrives and attracts the attention of everyone, particularly the Prince, who brushes right by Cinderella’s stepsisters and asks her for a dance. This leads to “So This is Love” also known as “The Cinderella Waltz.” Unlike Snow White’s songs, Cinderella isn’t exactly singing while she dances, the words reflect her thoughts as she dances with the man of her dreams. While this love scene goes on, several things happen at once. The King orders the Grand Duke to give the couple some privacy (as he is desperate to see his son married) and Lady Tremaine becomes suspicious about who this mysterious young lady is. But before she can get a closer look, the Grand Duke shuts the curtain and doesn’t let her get any closer to the pair.

Mmmmmm, Mmmmmm
So this is love, mmmmmm
So this is love
So this is what makes life divine
I’m all aglow, mmmmmm
And now I know

And now I know

The key to all heaven is mine

My heart has wings, mmmmmm
and I can fly

I’ll touch every star in the sky
So this is the miracle that I’ve been dreaming of

So this is love

In terms of tone (and placement in the film), “So This is Love” is Cinderella’s equivalent to “Someday My Prince Will Come.” Both are waltzes, and both come not long before the climax of the story. The song ends and the couple is clearly in love, but just as things are getting interesting, the clock begins to strike midnight! This is the part that always confused me. If they are truly in love (and the Prince may marry any eligible maiden he chooses), what does it matter if the spell breaks and Cinderella’s dress goes away?

The original concept for “So This is Love” involved Cinderella and the Prince appearing to dance in the clouds (a concept that eventually reappeared at the end of Sleeping Beauty). There was supposed to be a different song as well for this sequence, titled “Dancing on a Cloud,” the lyrics of which survive:

Dancing on a cloud
I’m dancing on a cloud
When I’m in your arms the world is a heavenly place

Dancing in a dream
I’m dancing in a dream
For how can I help but dream when I see your face
before me

 Love is on its way
And as we gently sway
The moon and the stars appear bringing romance
for two

I just can’t believe that I found you
I just can’t believe that it’s true
Yet here am I dancing high on a cloud with you
Dancing on a cloud, I’m dancing on a cloud

While the lyrics are different, the sentiments expressed in “So This is Love” are still present, Cinderella and the Prince are completely in love at first sight and they want this moment to last forever. Let me know what you think about “So This is Love” in the comments below and have a great day!

See also:

Cinderella “A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes” (1950)

Cinderella “Sing Sweet Nightingale” (1950)

Cinderella “The Work Song/Cinderelly, Cinderelly” (1950)

Cinderella “Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo” (1950)

Disney/Dreamworks/Pixar/etc. Soundtracks A-Z

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