The Little Mermaid (Live-Action)

[Disney's Divinity]

I wouldn’t be surprised if they give Ariel a new version of “Beyond My Wildest Dreams,” partly to give a little more spice to the land scenes leading up to “Kiss the Girl.” Somehow though, I have a feeling one of the new songs will be for Sebastian. Not because Sebastian needs another song, but because Miranda has expressed so much interest in the character; I don’t think he’d let this go by without getting to write his own song for Sebastian to stand beside “Under the Sea” and “Kiss the Girl.” :/ And since I think Eric getting a song like Beast and Jasmine did is likely, that's two. I'd be surprised if there are three new songs--maybe a new reprise of an old song?

I wonder if "Les Poissons" has a chance of getting cut like "Prince Ali (reprise)" did? Since Jafar in the live-action film just wasn't OTT enough to pull off that song, I can see "LP" similarly getting cut for being too comical to make room for other things.

[DisneyFan09]

I’ve always found Little Mermaid to be really unbalanced music-wise simply because the movie is about a girl with supposedly the most beautiful voice, but she only gets one song and one reprise. The problem is that Ashman was her voice. I genuinely can’t imagine anyone writing a song that will ever capture the character lyrically the way he did.

You know what? Lately I've realized this as well, that it's quite remarkable that Ariel's only numbers are Part of Your World and it's reprise (her singing during her transformations doesn't quite count). For a Disney Princess which stock trademark actually is singing, it's remarkable that her numbers are basically reduced. At least Aurora and Jasmine has their excuses for just having only one song, which in Aurora's case is overt and obvious At least Esmeralda and Megara had only one song numbers as well, which are justifiable due to them not being the lead characters.

[nomad2010]

I’ve always found Little Mermaid to be really unbalanced music-wise simply because the movie is about a girl with supposedly the most beautiful voice, but she only gets one song and one reprise. The problem is that Ashman was her voice. I genuinely can’t imagine anyone writing a song that will ever capture the character lyrically the way he did.

Agreed. It always amazes me how little Ariel sings, or for that matter, even Belle in Beauty and the Beast. Gaston sings more than Belle or Beast ever do.

It'll definitely be difficult for anyone else to come up with worthy material for Ariel after Ashman. There aren't really any scrapped songs for her that he created, except maybe the demo reprise of POYW and the finale reprise, both of which were cut. Aladdin gets two reprises of his I Want song so they could easily give Ariel more with Ashman's original music. I don't think Eric is nearly as important as Beast or Jasmine to get his own song, but I wouldn't mind a duet in the vein of Something There, with both characters singing introspectively.

That honestly may be how they make Kiss the Girl work if they’re so concerned about the silly people who think it’s not politically correct... add a verse sung by Ariel about how she wants kissed and a verse by Eric about how he wants to kiss her but doesn’t know if she wants kissed. I’m only half serious but I feel like that would be both enough to qualm those offended but actually an interesting addition to the song. And some harmony with them and Sebastian could be stellar.

[JeanGreyForever]

That honestly may be how they make Kiss the Girl work if they’re so concerned about the silly people who think it’s not politically correct... add a verse sung by Ariel about how she wants kissed and a verse by Eric about how he wants to kiss her but doesn’t know if she wants kissed. I’m only half serious but I feel like that would be both enough to qualm those offended but actually an interesting addition to the song. And some harmony with them and Sebastian could be stellar.

I could see the song being expanded or at least modified with verses like you described. If the song has to be altered, I'd be quite content this way rather than anything too radical.

You know what? Lately I've realized this as well, that it's quite remarkable that Ariel's only numbers are Part of Your World and it's reprise (her singing during her transformations doesn't quite count). For a Disney Princess which stock trademark actually is singing, it's remarkable that her numbers are basically reduced. At least Aurora and Jasmine has their excuses for just having only one song, which in Aurora's case is overt and obvious At least Esmeralda and Megara had only one song numbers as well, which are justifiable due to them not being the lead characters.

Esmeralda at least had two deleted songs. Ariel didn't even get that. What's in the final movie is all that was ever produced for her.

Sleeping Beauty also has the case that the songs have to match up to the ballet score so the fact that she still gets two songs is quite impressive.

[Disney Duster]

I know they probably won't import it, but If Only is a magical song, and it would be lovely if it could be contained within the film.

That's my favorite song from the musical, and I would love the original, beautiful, heart-wrenching version of it in, but they never use the Broadway songs.

That honestly may be how they make Kiss the Girl work if they’re so concerned about the silly people who think it’s not politically correct... add a verse sung by Ariel about how she wants kissed and a verse by Eric about how he wants to kiss her but doesn’t know if she wants kissed. I’m only half serious but I feel like that would be both enough to qualm those offended but actually an interesting addition to the song. And some harmony with them and Sebastian could be stellar.

But people want her to show she gives consent! It can't just be in her mind!

[nomad2010]

But people want her to show she gives consent! It can't just be in her mind!

Which is hilarious because she is literally leaning in and puckering at the end of the song. Have these complainers ever been kissed? Did every one of their first kisses begin with “Would you like to be kissed by me on the mouth?” “Why yes, indeed, I would. Kiss away”...

“Sha la la la la la
My oh my
Even if she’s shy
You wait to kiss the girl

Whoa ooo whoaaa

Just wait until the girl give consent
No internal argument
Before you kiss the girl”

Really captures the magic of romance, I think.

[Disney Duster]

OMG EXACTLY lol

[Sotiris]

Which is hilarious because she is literally leaning in and puckering at the end of the song. Have these complainers ever been kissed? Did every one of their first kisses begin with “Would you like to be kissed by me on the mouth?” “Why yes, indeed, I would. Kiss away”...

You joke but isn't this exactly how Kristoff and Anna kissed? And people were praising it for being so progressive and explicitly consensual?

“Sha la la la la la
My oh my
Even if she’s shy
You wait to kiss the girl

Whoa ooo whoaaa

Just wait until the girl give consent
No internal argument
Before you kiss the girl”

Really captures the magic of romance, I think.

[Atlantica]

Serious about all this Kiss The Girl talk ... I love how in all the political correctness of it all, they've glossed over the fact Ariel is under a time constraint from a magical sea witch and all her friends are trying to help her by singing the song ?! If anything, Eric should be the one getting the support as he is being coerced into a kiss

I do agree with Ariel not having another song. But then, I have never noticed that in the film whilst watching it. Like, I've never sat there and thought, 'hey, you know what this film is missing ? Another song for Ariel !'. Which I think shows how excellent the pacing and storytelling was, and how impactful POYW & the Reprise actually is. With Broadway they expanded so there was opportunity for Ariel to be given more songs which I agree would be lovely for the film. Something like 'Beyond My Wildest Dreams' sung internally whilst getting used to her legs, and then a 'Something There' style duet, again internally would really work.

[DisneyFan97]

I found an interesting article about the search for a voice forUrsula.It's very interesting everyone should read if they are Disney fans.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/which-19 ... IviEpivnPy

[nomad2010]

Which is hilarious because she is literally leaning in and puckering at the end of the song. Have these complainers ever been kissed? Did every one of their first kisses begin with “Would you like to be kissed by me on the mouth?” “Why yes, indeed, I would. Kiss away”...

You joke but isn't this exactly how Kristoff and Anna kissed? And people were praising it for being so progressive and explicitly consensual?

I don’t think I realized that was ever made into a big deal! It’s a very sweet moment, and I understand why it would be so. I’m over here imagining a world where everyone has to give verbal consent before every kiss instead of using social cues. It’s just funny to me how easily generalized and often almost hyper critical people are of these movies. Almost more so than any other film. Though I guess in the age of Twitter, even the smaller group of people can be made out by the media to be a huge movement.

Serious about all this Kiss The Girl talk ... I love how in all the political correctness of it all, they've glossed over the fact Ariel is under a time constraint from a magical sea witch and all her friends are trying to help her by singing the song ?! If anything, Eric should be the one getting the support as he is being coerced into a kiss

I do agree with Ariel not having another song. But then, I have never noticed that in the film whilst watching it. Like, I've never sat there and thought, 'hey, you know what this film is missing ? Another song for Ariel !'. Which I think shows how excellent the pacing and storytelling was, and how impactful POYW & the Reprise actually is. With Broadway they expanded so there was opportunity for Ariel to be given more songs which I agree would be lovely for the film. Something like 'Beyond My Wildest Dreams' sung internally whilst getting used to her legs, and then a 'Something There' style duet, again internally would really work.

I was just thinking that last night! We all know Ariel wants kissed, what if Eric doesn’t! He’s over here being coerced

And I agree with you as well. If there’s one Disney Princess whose voice you can conjure in your head, it’s Ariel’s, and she only sings one song and reprise. I think that truly shows just how elevated in quality the material is, both in the songwriting and her casting in general. It’s going to make casting her in this movie very tricky.

[DisneyFan97]

I think Ursula should get a second song. I think the remake should give her more screen time.

[DisneyFan97]

Well, he has some pretty strong credentials. Just at a glance, seems like actors tend carryover from project to project occasionally (Cruz from Nine to OST, Depp from OST to ItW, Blunt and Streep from ItW to MPR, etc.). And LMM is involved with MPR, too... *sigh* If he were younger, Ben Wishaw would be a decent Eric, imo. Chris Pine wouldn't be too bad either. I definitely wouldn't be bothered if any actors like Firth, Walters, Streep, or Lansbury found a way into this somehow.

I would love if Angela Lansbury was in this movie she should play the mermaid grandmother that was cut from the original movie but was in the original fairy tale and early drafts of the script.

[Disney's Divinity]

Other than the college story--which was more related to how those specific people used the song on their campus--I still haven't heard anything about this fabricated outrage over "Kiss the Girl." Nothing is going to happen.

I would love if Angela Lansbury was in this movie she should play the mermaid grandmother that was cut from the original movie but was in the original fairy tale and early drafts of the script.

Yes, I do hope they use the grandmother from the original story in some capacity, however small.

As for Ursula, I have a feeling that whether or not they’ll give her her own song will be dependent on who will be playing her. Gaga (who I hope is not cast, please God) would want a moment to shine similar to Beyonce getting her own song for The Lion King re-make. I’m not sure about an older star like Bette Midler; she doesn’t have anything to prove and “Poor Unfortunate Souls” is a great song.

[D82]

I thought there were only complaints about the kisses in Snow White and Sleeping Beauty because the protagonists were sleeping and couldn't give consent. I didn't know The Little Mermaid was also criticized for that. In my opinion, it doesn't make any sense. These people should also have a problem with every other Disney movie with a kiss then, because in none of them there's a verbal consent before the kiss.

I do agree with Ariel not having another song. But then, I have never noticed that in the film whilst watching it. Like, I've never sat there and thought, 'hey, you know what this film is missing ? Another song for Ariel !'. Which I think shows how excellent the pacing and storytelling was, and how impactful POYW & the Reprise actually is. With Broadway they expanded so there was opportunity for Ariel to be given more songs which I agree would be lovely for the film. Something like 'Beyond My Wildest Dreams' sung internally whilst getting used to her legs, and then a 'Something There' style duet, again internally would really work.

I've never had the impression Ariel doesn't get to sing much in the film either. I agree, though she only has one song, it's so good and so important to the story that I, for one, don't miss her having more musical numbers. I think one of the reasons she doesn't sing more is that she's mute during a big part of the movie. But, it's true; in this remake they could give her some songs to sing internally like in the Broadway musical.

I wonder if "Les Poissons" has a chance of getting cut like "Prince Ali (reprise)" did? Since Jafar in the live-action film just wasn't OTT enough to pull off that song, I can see "LP" similarly getting cut for being too comical to make room for other things.

I think that song is the likeliest to be cut, I wouldn't be surprised if even character of Louis was cut from the movie.

[Disney Duster]

Yeah Atlantica, the movie is so well done you don't miss Ariel singing more!

[Disney's Divinity]

I think part of the reason Ariel doesn't have another song in the film is because to some degree another song would distract from POYW being her theme, like if Dorothy had another big number near the end of The Wizard of Oz. I know there are films where the heroine has more than one song (Snow White, Anastasia, Thumbelina, Pocahontas), but I can believe Ashman in particular wouldn't want anything else to conflict with POYW. For a stage musical, it's not really a big deal to give her more to sing.

I can see any of the new songs they might write going the same way as "Desert Moon" for Aladdin ultimately, simply because the movie's already structured well in regards to its music. Still, I'm happy Menken's optimistic.

[disneyprincess11]

I don't know the actual link to the video, but I found a video on a IG story through mmdisney200 and Zendaya hints she could be Ariel after all.

Guy: Now I heard through the grapevine that you may be involved in a iconic remake.
Zendaya: If I tell you, I oughta kill you.

[Disney's Divinity]

[D82]

I think part of the reason Ariel doesn't have another song in the film is because to some degree another song would distract from POYW being her theme, like if Dorothy had another big number near the end of The Wizard of Oz. I know there are films where the heroine has more than one song (Snow White, Anastasia, Thumbelina, Pocahontas), but I can believe Ashman in particular wouldn't want anything else to conflict with POYW. For a stage musical, it's not really a big deal to give her more to sing.

That's also possible.