Analysis of the opening song of Galavant called... "Galavant" By Dan

The song introducing the character by the name of Galavant

Several years ago, me and Joe were looking on Netflix wanting to watch something, and as we were distracted, we left the cursor on this show called “Galavant” for a minute too long, when suddenly, the opening song in the prologue episode started, and we were entranced by the music, by the lyrics, and the entire show tune feel to it. The story starts off as Galavant being the hero, and having won the fair maiden… Only to have her kidnapped by the evil King Richard, so he could forcibly wed her. Seems cliché, but then we develop a different twist to the tale. All of  this is told in the opening song, which you should go listen to.

Catchy isn’t it? Most songs of this series have quite the spirit, but let us focus on the original song. There are also two Reprises to the song, Which are called “Galavant Rides” and “Galavant (Isabella Reprise)”, but we’ll save those for later. Now let us start the analysis. The narrator has quite the beautiful voice, though.

Way back in days of olde

There was a legend told

About a hero known as Galavant

Here is a start that is very “Once upon a time…”, indicating to us a lot about the setting. This is a medieval story, about a legendary knight named Galavant. He is hailed as a mighty hero who saved many people.

We then cut to a village, which helps us get an idea where the retired hero Galavant lives, and how the people care for him, and idealize him, as they pick up the various lines.

Peasant Woman #1: Square jaw and perfect hair...

Peasant Man #1: Cojones out to there...

Peasants: There was no hero quite like Galavant

Now we see how a lot of people generally see him. Women want him, and men want to be like him. Beautiful and brave are how they’d describe him. The first stanza told us who the main character was and the setting. Now we are getting to know who he is, as the people view him.

Blacksmith: Tough, plus every other manly value...

Children: Mess with him, he'll disembowel you.

Peasant Woman #2: Yay!

He ruled in every way!

Peasant Man #2: A fairy tale cliché!

Peasants: And people called him Gaaaaaaa-laaaaaaa-vaaaaaaaaaaaant!

Now this is a rather funny stanza, considering the second line. Blacksmiths are often known to be very masculine men, because of their hard work, so for this strong older man, fantasizing about how Galavant embodies all the traditional, and positive male traits, which shows us that he is very masculine. The next line sung by three children is probably one of the most bloodthirsty lines of the first season. Disemboweling is not a clean way to kill someone, and for children to sing that… Yikes. On the other hand, children, especially boys at the age of the children shown do involve in imaginative play that does involve warriors slaying enemies, and sometimes the concept of death does present itself. This also shows that children idolize him, regardless of faults, and dream of performing his deeds, real or exaggerated. It is also noted that historically, women and children were the ones that enjoyed the shows of execution, far more than the men. After a cheer, they mentioned how he ruled. Many would ask if he was a Lord or nobleman, but we see that he lives modestly later in the song, so I would surmise that at most, he was someone consulted in the village, but I think it’s more the slang term that we see in the modern world. “He Rules!” “He’s awesome!” “He’s totally cool!” And maybe it’s a double meaning.

The man we're speaking of

He had a lady love

And Madalena, she was one fair maiden

Long legs and perfect skin

A body built for sin

With cleavage you could hold a whole parade in!

Now we are introduced to Madalena, who is Galavant’s girlfriend, and describing her in a rather suggestive way. And she is very attractive. She is described like your usual princess in distress. She is beautiful, she has long legs and perfect skin, and a body that can launch a thousand ships, and who is very… endowed. We also see that the Narrator is lusting after her, which breaks the separation between him singing the song, and his reliability as a narrator. On one hand, he has shown who Galavant is, and maybe the Narrator is also showing us Galavant’s view of her. Plus, he sings about how she is very endowed. Have I emphasized that already?

Ah, true love was never this ecstatic

Nor as wildly acrobatic!

Yes! He loved her to excess

Thrice daily more or less

And she'd be screaming...

Madalena: Gaaaaaa-laaaaaa-VA—!

And now we see that the two had an active love life. A VERY active love life, and there’s a very hungry appetite. This is very healthy in a relationship, although I don’t know if three times daily is healthy. Although that doesn’t explain Peter Parker and his wife Mary-Jane.

One tiny problem

Soon would arise

Richard, a nearby king

Of wealth and stature

He watched Madalena

Lust in his eyes

And he asked her for her hand...

Well, more like a demand...

Well, more like had his henchman snatch her

Madalena: Galavant, help!

Next we see the inciting action, and what starts the story. King Richard comes in and falls in lust at first sight. So he asks… no commands… nay, he outright kidnaps her, like he is Bowser taking Peach away to his castle. This is a very interesting storytelling mechanism to show how evil both Richard and Gareth are, in order to contrast them with Galavant. And it is silly seeing all three scenes in the video. Makes me laugh a little every time.

Which brings us to today

The Royal Wedding Day

No one can stop it now but Galavant

Poor Madalena waits

Behind King Richard's gates

For the arrival of her Galavant

The Narrator now details the start of the story, about how Galavant needs to stop the wedding and save the lady love. We have the setting, we then explore the character and how he is viewed by everyone, we also see the village he resides in, and we meet Madalena, the beloved damsel in distress. Now we have Galavant who is in a race against time to stop her from being forcibly married to King Richard. This is a story we all know very well, and all of us guys have probably fantasized or played the scenario as a child. 

Now, at last begins a true adventure

Epic! Wild! A real butt-clencher!

So, Huzzah and tally-ho!

Sit back and here we go!

Attend the tale of...

Madalena and company: Gaaaaaaaaaaa-laaaaaaaaaaa-vaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaant! 

Now that the Narrator has introduced all the main (or almost all) characters of the story, and their roles, he is now trying to hype us all up for the story and series, to convince us to continue, with such an addictive energy and preparing us for the humour of the series, and concluding the first part of the song. He is leading us directly into the show, and sets up for the next part of the song, “Galavant Rides”. 

There are also a few other versions that have been presented. The original trailer described Madalena a little bit differently.

The man we're speaking of

He had a lady love

A total goddess known as Madalena

Long legs and perfect skin

A body built for sin

Plus more than just a touch of nymphomania

Ah, romance could hardly get much hotter

All day long, he'd you-know-what her!

Then, they'd you-know-what again

Three times or even ten

And she'd be screaming...

Madalena: Gaaaaaa-laaaaaa-VA—! 

As we can see, it’s a bit more raunchy, calling her a nymphomaniac, even raising the daily times her and Galavant would make love to ten times! Even Ares in Hercules Legendary Journeys couldn’t handle that much! This one makes it that the Narrator is lusting a lot more, and fantasizing about her in very… intimate ways. This also plays into the perception of how men want their damsels to be like after they save her, as the song goes through it like a male power fantasy that we’ve all had.

This song is so unbelievably addictive, and it should have probably won an Emmy. This is the telling of every Arthurian knight story. Very Robin Hood. I don’t want to spoil too much, but let’s just say that it is very unexpected what happens, and we have a very different story that comes out, and once we meet our next character, Isabella, in her Reprise, we will have met our entire primary cast of characters. I really enjoyed how much of a musical each episode is in the series. 

Also, there is an animated Typographical version of the opening. Here it is, and enjoy it.

Now to get this blasted song out of my head for the next week. Dum duh-dum duh-dum…