Audiences can’t wait for May 26 to see The Little Mermaid, and one reason is the movie’s catchy music. So, before fans start asking questions, composer Alan Menken has stepped up and explained why one song from the 1989 animated smash hit isn’t featured in the new live-action film, even though there are new songs in the film penned by Menken and Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Ariel’s sisters perform the song “Daughters of Triton” at the animated film’s beginning when King Triton discovers that his youngest daughter is not with the rest of the family as expected. But the beloved song is conspicuously absent from the live-action version.
Explaining to Comicbook.com why the Disney movie’s creative team made their decision, Menken said:
“I think the thought process was a) we didn’t it need in this particular version, and we definitely wanted the film to start with a much more of a live-action feel of the ocean and meeting Ariel, and then we wait a little bit, make you wait until we get to ‘Part of Your World.’ And I think that was, you know, it was an amazing choice because it just builds the power and anticipation.”
The award-winning composer continued,
“And part of that is also knowing you’re adapting something that’s already beloved. So you want to say, wait for it, wait for it, wait for it, and here it is. And when it comes, god.”
As an American composer, pianist, vocalist, music director, and record producer, Alan Irwin Menken is most well-known for his work on the scores and songs for Walt Disney Animation Studios films. With his eight Oscars, Alan Menken is second only to Alfred Newman regarding the number of Oscars he has won in the music categories. He also has a Tony, eleven Grammys, seven Golden Globes, and a Daytime Emmy.
