Lost in the Woods

"Lost in the Woods"
Song by Jonathan Groff
from the album Frozen II
ReleasedNovember 15, 2019
Genre
Length3:01
LabelWalt Disney
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)

"Lost in the Woods" is a song written by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez for Disney's animated film Frozen 2 (2019), the sequel to the 2013 animated film. It was recorded by American actor and singer Jonathan Groff, who voices the character Kristoff, and produced by its songwriters with Dave Metzger and Tom MacDougall. The song was released by Walt Disney Records on November 15, 2019, as part of the film's soundtrack album. "Lost in the Woods" is a soft rock and glam rock ballad about relationship insecurities. Featuring piano keyboards and distorted electric guitars prominently throughout, the song's production and instrumentation distinguish it from the film's other musical numbers.

Due to Kristoff's non-musical personality, Groff hardly sings in the first Frozen film despite his musical theatre experience, which disappointed fans and critics. Anderson-Lopez and Lopez decided Kristoff's first proper song should depict him learning how to express his emotions for the first time, specifically how he feels about his girlfriend Anna, to whom he has been struggling to propose. "Lost in the Woods" ultimately replaced a duet that had been written for Kristoff and Anna. The songwriters were heavily inspired by rock songs and bands from the 1980s, specifically power ballads performed by male singers who were unafraid to express their innermost feelings through song, and cited musicians Bryan Adams and Jon Bon Jovi as inspirations. Groff provided all of the song's background vocals himself, recording at least 18 different vocal tracks. Delivered in a tongue-in-cheek manner, "Lost in the Woods" is both a sincere expression of Kristoff's feelings and parody of 1980s music; the song's accompanying musical sequence in the film was animated to resemble music videos from the same time period.

Most film and music critics have reviewed the song positively, praising its 1980s-inspired production, humor, and Groff's performance, while declaring it a standout among Frozen II's songs. Several reviewers commented on the song's appeal to older Frozen fans. American rock band Weezer recorded a cover of the song for the film's end credits, the release of which was accompanied by a music video starring actress Kristen Bell, who voices Anna, as lead singer Rivers Cuomo's love interest.