The Little Mermaid. songs from the cartoon adapted to include the concept of consent

During the post era weather , Marked by women’s desire to stand up for their rights and demands, are cartoon songs suitable for children? Or would they not continue, on the contrary, to transmit sexist and homosexual ideas? That’s the question composer Alan Menken asked himself about the new live-action soundtrack. Little mermaidwhich will be in theaters on May 24, 2023. The man to whom we owe the original music of the famous Walt Disney cartoon released in 1989 has thus revised some of the lyrics of his songs, supported by composer Lin. Manuel Miranda.

Live on video Little mermaid

in an interview on March 31 Vanity Fair , Alan Menken said more about the upcoming changes. Two headings in particular will be amended to include the concepts of consent and women’s liberation; Kiss hersings Sebastian the Crab, and Poor unfortunate souls, by the witch Ursula. Regarding the former, the composer explains that “people have become very sensitive to the idea that Prince Eric might be abusing Ariel in some way.”

“He doesn’t say a word”

And if he didn’t outright reveal the verse in question, some are betting the chorus is particularly inspiring. “Make up your mind, son, and don’t wait for tomorrow / She won’t say a word / She won’t say a word until she’s kissed / Don’t be afraid / Think only of happiness / Go on, yes, kiss her; Do not delay. Because you know that’s all you think about,” sings Henri Salvador in particular in French.

Ditto for the words of the second title, which in turn would impress upon “young ladies that they should not speak amiss.” In the title Poor unfortunate souls, the witch Ursula “obviously manipulates Ariel into giving up her vote.” One passage, interpreted by Micheline Dax in the French version, says: “I can tell people don’t like chatter / That they think talkers are boring / When a woman knows how to hold her tongue / She’s always plenty. more charming / That, after all, what’s the point of learning / Besides, they have a holy dread of conversation / A gentleman does his best to avoid it / But he rolls and crawls around the feet of a demure woman / It’s the queen of silence who herself makes it popular.”

In the video: Kiss the girl, excerpt Little mermaid

Unpublished titles

Unreleased songs will liven up director Rob Marshall’s new feature film. “One of them is a Prince Eric song called Wild Unchartered Waters (Uncharted Wild Waters) There’s also a new song for Ariel when she has her legs (and that he is mute, Editor’s Note) He sings in his thoughts. There is a number called Scuttlebutt Performed by Eureka and Sebastien when they find out that the Prince is getting married and think it’s to Ariel. Lin-Manuel’s words are wonderful,” continued the composer. The role of Ariel for this new version is also played by the African-American actress Halle Bailey. The cast also includes Jonah Hauer-King, Melissa McCarthy and Javier Bardem. The film will be released in theaters on May 24.