The New Little Mermaid Changes 2 Classic Songs to be Less Offensive
The Live-Action Little Mermaid is coming soon, and it is bringing with it waves of changes. Now, two classic songs from the original film have had makeovers.
Live Action The Little Mermaid
Over the past years, Disney has developed a habit of rebooting animated classics as live-action films. Among the movies that have received reboots are Beauty and the Beast, Mulan, Lion King, Aladdin, and Dumbo.
Disney's The Little Mermaid (1989), which was just named to the National Film Registry, is the next classic animated film in line to see its live-action remake's theatrical release come to fruition. Its release date is set for May 26, 2023. The movie's cast includes stars like Halle Bailey (Ariel), Melissa McCarthy (Ursula), Daveed Diggs (Sebastian), and Jonah Hauer-King (Prince Eric.)
Changes
The Live-Action Little Mermaid is already making waves with some of the changes to the storyline and characterization present in the 1989 version. Most notably, the director and creators say they are working to reframe outdated content and incorporate diversity. For example, Prince Eric himself is getting an entire backstory, which you can read about here.
And now, another change has been announced. This time, it affects the music.
Update to 2 Classic Songs
In an interview with Vanity Fair, composer Alan Menken shared changes that set the film apart from the 1989 animated classic. In fact, two of the original songs received updates.
"Kiss the Girl" is the first song to receive edits. Menken stated, "People have gotten very sensitive about the idea that (Prince Eric) would, in any way, force himself on (Ariel)."
Perhaps this change is in reference to the lyrics "It don't take a word/not a single word/go on and kiss the girl." Interestingly, in the animated film, the song "Kiss the Girl" is a manipulation tactic that Ariel's friends concoct to coerce the prince into kissing Ariel.
The second song to receive an update is Poor Unfortunate Souls. Menken stated that there are "lines that might make young girls somehow feel that they shouldn't speak out of turn, even though Ursula is clearly manipulating Ariel to give up her voice."
In the 1989 film, Ursula uses manipulative lines to coerce Ariel into signing her contract. These include, "Yes, on land it's much preferred/for ladies not to say a word" and "It's she who holds her tongue who gets a man." These lines seem to be likely candidates for the edits, although Menken did not cite them directly.
It will be interesting to see whether the updates also address lyrics that could be perceived as body shaming. But there was no mention of it in the interview.
New Music
Of course, the film will also have some new songs blended in with the songs from the animated film and the Broadway musical. Menken stated, "Clearly, everybody wants a new song for the live-action film for awards consideration."
Lin-Manuel Miranda came in to work on the new songs. These include a song for Prince Eric called "Wild Unchartered Waters," a song for Sebastian and Scuttle called "Scuttlebutt," and a song for Airel, sung completely in her head while she is voiceless. They also created a song for King Triton, but it will likely not make the theatrical cut.
Audiences will be able to see how it all comes together in a few weeks once the live-action version of The Little Mermaid hits theatres.
What do you think about the live-action adjustments to "Poor Unfortunate Souls" and "Kiss the Girl?" Let us know in the comments.
Source: Vanity Fair
Anyone who decides it’s a good idea to take life pointers from Ursula has a lot bigger problems than song lyrics.
And will probably tragically end up as sea weed in a witch’s garden.
Gross. Not doing a “woke” version of my favorite movie.
Very sad that Disney keeps changing/altering stories and storylines just to fit a narrative or check a box. Honestly, where does it stop??? We cannot keep changing everything because a few people might have their feelings hurt. The vast majority of people do not even think about what Disney is changing until they mention the changes they are making.
Your cultural appropriation is showing.
You know that this story is a folks tale from the Denmark? Perhaps you don't.
Frankly, ALL the live-action remakes have been horrible. To compare Will Smiths interpretation of the Genie in contrast to Robin Williams? Silly.
The original Mulan was AWESOME! The live action version...pale (the presentation itself) by comparison.
But to change a song about how 2 teenagers and their first kiss? Because the original didn't include "consent"? Seriously?
That. That is just stupid.
Like many of the comments about this being about empowering women more. The original already DID THAT.
Thank you. Animated versions were good. Leave them at that.
You know mermaids aren't real to begin with, right? Skin tone doesn't really matter, beyond your own racial bias.
Your bigotry may be showing a bit.
Why make any kind of movie Disney or others. Someone will always be offended. It's entertainment. It's a story. Let them watch All in the family and shows of the 70s. They would really ban it. It's just not important to please every living soul on the planet.
I think we should all boycott the movie since they used humans instead of actual merpeople.
Wokeness in full effect
Is this this another Desantis moral call? Sounds like it. If nobody makes a move, millions of couples would never get together.
As far as creativity goes, Disney is officially on life support. It's honestly just sad that they can't (or rather, *won't*) make new, original movies anymore. Nevermind that's what brought them to the top in the first place.
I'm with everybody else, it's time to stop.
Their is literally a still photo of Ariel in the new movie with a hand on Prince Eric's bare chest talk about consent of an unconscious person. This movie is just ridiculous at this point.
Disney screwed up on this remake, this is shameful. As others have said Eric is not forcing himself on to Ariel, that idea us just ludicrous. As for Ursula, she's dark and menacing and is a trickster.
As for the movie I'll never watch it. It is ridiculous that they think Ariel should suddenly change races. If they wanted to introduce a black mermaid fine,but make it a spin off of the original movie.
Just stupidity much like most of today's narrative.
Lmfao. Sad.
Out of all movies you’re gonna definitely murder this one.
If Disney is going to do remakes of the movies they should keep them exactly the same or if they change them, don't put the name of that movie as the title if it isn't exact to the other movie
I agree with you they are dying my favorite childhood movie
It hasn't prevented them from making big money of them so far
Why do Ariel’s friends want Prince Eric to kiss her? To save her life from evil Ursula. Plus it us something they both want but just a bit shy. He is no Gaston (B&B) trying to force her. And Ursula is evil, bad, the enemy: of course she would say terrible things. I agree with all the other comments. Leave it alone. Disney is going to lose money on these movies if they keep messing them up.
100% no changes needed. All enjoyed it as it was, so who needs changes! New songs, added lyrics, OK but don't change what made the films enjoyable and memorable!
If anything Ariel and her friends are manipulating prince Eric into a kiss he may not want, while that kiss is all Ariel wants.
First off...kiss the girl?? Eric and Ariel in this scene are both enjoying eachothers company...Eric isn't forcing himself at all, Ariel wants to kiss him it makes no sense. Second, Poor unfortunate souls is a villans song...it's gonna be evil sounding, and technically for the year and time frame they are in (medieval Germany) is a true fact. It's Ariels resolve and Eric's openess that shows it dosnt matter if she has a voice or not because he will listen.
This is getting out of hand, leave well enough alone. Nobody analiyzes frigging songs, they only enjoy the movie.let the classics be classics. If you don't like the way it was made don't watch it, better yet mute the music. Get a life people!!
Agreed! And, to begin with, stop making live action remakes of Disney classic animated movies. Come up with some new ideas!!!
Leave it alone!