The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996 film) and say 'Things just aren't happening.'". Ultimately, the directors desired to portray Quasimodo with a younger voice different from the previous portrayals since "[Victor] Hugo described Quasimodo as 20". Additionally, Hulce was permitted to do his own singing after performing a demo recording of "Out There". Desiring a huskier voice different from the leading Disney heroines, Demi Moore was cast as Esmeralda, and met with Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz on singing. After several singing demos, the actress said "You'd better get someone else,'" according to Schwartz. New York City cabaret singer Heidi Mollenhauer was selected to provide the singing
The Bells of Notre Dame Morality: The Rhetoric of Disney Animated Film" says it is a "dark, emotional scene". "Disney Voice Actors: A Biographical Dictionary" describes the number as "one of the most potent musical openings of any Disney film". "The Oxford Companion to the American Musical: Theatre, Film, and Television" says the song "combines character and narrative beautifully". The Bells of Notre Dame "The Bells of Notre Dame" is a song from the 1996 Disney film, "The Hunchback of Notre Dame", composed by Alan Menken, with lyrics by Stephen Schwartz. It is sung at the beginning of the film by the clown-like gypsy, Clopin.