The Little Mermaid (1989 soundtrack)
The Little Mermaid: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is the soundtrack to the 1989 Disney animated feature film, The Little Mermaid. It contains the songs from the film written by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman, as well as the film's score composed by Alan Menken. The score was orchestrated by Thomas Pasatieri. The album has achieved multi-platinum sales and won the Grammy Award for Best Recording for Children. The album includes recordings of the music that won the Grammy for Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture or for Television ("Under the Sea"), the Academy Awards for Best Original Score and Best Original Song ("Under the Sea") and the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score.
| The Little Mermaid: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Soundtrack album by Various Artists | ||||
| Released | October 19, 1989 (original release) October 22, 1991 (re-release)[1] October 14, 1997 (re-release) October 31, 2000 (Special Edition Double Pack) October 3, 2006 (2-Disc Special Edition) November 24, 2014 (Legacy Collection) | |||
| Recorded | 1988–1989 | |||
| Genre | Broadway musical-style soundtrack, film score, classical music, calypso | |||
| Length | 43:18 (1989, 1991 and 1997 releases) 1:47:13 (Legacy Collection) | |||
| Label | Walt Disney | |||
| Producer | Alan Menken Howard Ashman Robert Kraft | |||
| Walt Disney Animation Studios chronology | ||||
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| 1997 Re-release | ||||
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| 2006 Special Edition | ||||
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| Singles from The Little Mermaid: Original Walt Disney Records Soundtrack | ||||
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| Singles from The Little Mermaid: An Original Walt Disney Records Soundtrack (Special Edition) | ||||
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The soundtrack was first released by Walt Disney Records on October 19, 1989, on both CD and cassette tape.[2] The album was also included in a four-disc box set entitled The Music Behind the Magic: The Musical Artistry of Alan Menken, Howard Ashman & Tim Rice, which was released on November 22, 1994.[3] The box set included work tapes and demos intertwined into the finished original soundtrack.[4] The soundtrack (without the demos and work tapes) was re-released with different artwork, on October 14, 1997,[5] and it was released internationally on October 31, 2000, in a double pack with The Little Mermaid II soundtrack.[6] On October 3, 2006, a new two-disc special edition version of the soundtrack was released to correspond with the two-disc Platinum Edition DVD release of The Little Mermaid. The first disc remains identical to the original release, yet with remastered audio while the newly added second disc is composed of various newly recorded versions of the film's songs by different artists, such as Ashley Tisdale, Raven-Symoné, The Jonas Brothers, and Jessica Simpson. It also included two music videos, as well as new cover art.[7] The Legacy Collection: The Little Mermaid was released as a two-disc album on November 24, 2014, to coincide with the film's twenty-fifth anniversary.[8]
Reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [9] |
| Filmtracks |  [10] |
As of February 2007, the album is certified 6× Platinum by the RIAA.[11] In 2010, Rhapsody called it one of the all-time great Disney and/or Pixar soundtracks.[12]
Track listing
All lyrics are written by Howard Ashman; all music is composed by Alan Menken
| No. | Title | Recording artist(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Fathoms Below" | Ship's Chorus | 1:41 |
| 2. | "Main Titles" (Score) | 1:26 | |
| 3. | "Fanfare" (Score) | 0:27 | |
| 4. | "Daughters of Triton" | Kimmy Robertson | 0:38 |
| 5. | "Part of Your World" | Jodi Benson | 3:13 |
| 6. | "Under the Sea" | Samuel E. Wright | 3:12 |
| 7. | "Part of Your World (Reprise)" | Jodi Benson | 2:15 |
| 8. | "Poor Unfortunate Souls" | Pat Carroll | 4:49 |
| 9. | "Les Poissons" | René Auberjonois | 1:33 |
| 10. | "Kiss the Girl" | Samuel E. Wright | 2:41 |
| 11. | "Fireworks" (Score) | 0:38 | |
| 12. | "Jig" (Score) | 1:32 | |
| 13. | "The Storm" (Score) | 3:18 | |
| 14. | "Destruction of the Grotto" (Score) | 1:52 | |
| 15. | "Flotsam and Jetsam" (Score) | 1:22 | |
| 16. | "Tour of the Kingdom" (Score) | 1:24 | |
| 17. | "Bedtime" (Score) | 1:20 | |
| 18. | "Wedding Announcement" (Score) | 2:16 | |
| 19. | "Eric to the Rescue" (Score) | 3:40 | |
| 20. | "Happy Ending" | Disney Chorus | 3:11 |
| Total length: | 43:18 | ||
| No. | Title | Recording artist(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21. | "Part of Your World" | Alana De Roma | 3:16 |
| No. | Title | Recording artist(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Fathoms Below/Main Title" (Demo) | Menken, Ashman | 4:41 |
| 2. | "Fathoms Below" (Final) | Ship's Chorus | 1:41 |
| 3. | "Main Title" (Final) (Score) | 1:26 | |
| 4. | "Fanfare" (Final) (Score) | 0:27 | |
| 5. | "Daughters of Triton" | Robertson | 0:38 |
| 6. | "Part of Your World" (Work Tape) | Menken, Ashman | 0:45 |
| 7. | "Part of Your World" (Demo) | Menken | 0:49 |
| 8. | "Part of Your World" (Final) | Benson | 3:13 |
| 9. | "Fireworks" (Final) (Score) | 0:38 | |
| 10. | "Jig" (Final) (Score) | 1:32 | |
| 11. | "Under the Sea" (Work Tape) | Menken, Ashman | 1:20 |
| 12. | "Under the Sea" (Demo) | Ashman | 2:34 |
| 13. | "Under the Sea" (Final) | Samuel E. Wright | 3:12 |
| 14. | "Sebastian and Triton" (Final) (Score) | 1:43 | |
| 15. | "Part of Your World" (Reprise) (Demo) | Menken | 1:34 |
| 16. | "The Storm" (Final) (Score) | 3:18 | |
| 17. | "Part of Your World" (Reprise) (Final) | Benson | 2:15 |
| 18. | "Silence Is Golden" (Demo) | Menken | 2:37 |
| 19. | "Poor Unfortunate Souls" (Demo) | Ashman | 5:07 |
| 20. | "Poor Unfortunate Souls" (Final) | Pat Carroll | 4:49 |
| 21. | "Les Poissons" (Demo) | Ashman | 2:09 |
| 22. | "Les Poissons" | René Auberjonois | 1:33 |
| 23. | "Kiss the Girl" (Demo) | Ashman | 1:05 |
| 24. | "Kiss the Girl" (Final) | Samuel E. Wright | 1:37 |
| 25. | "Bedtime" (Final) (Score) | 1:20 | |
| 26. | "Wedding Announcement" (Final) (Score) | ||
| 27. | Untitled | 2:16 | |
| 28. | "Eric to the Rescue" (Final) (Score) | 3:40 | |
| 29. | "Part of Your World/Happy Ending" (Work Tape) (Final) | Menken, Disney Chorus | 2:34 |
| No. | Title | Recording artist(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Kiss the Girl" | Ashley Tisdale | 3:25 |
| 2. | "Poor Unfortunate Souls" | Jonas Brothers | 2:29 |
| 3. | "Part of Your World" | Jessica Simpson | 3:29 |
| 4. | "Under the Sea" | Raven-Symoné | 3:16 |
| 5. | "Poor Unfortunate Souls" (Music Video Enhanced feature) | Jonas Brothers | 2:29 |
| 6. | "Making of "Kiss the Girl" Music Video" (Enhanced feature) | Ashley Tisdale | 1:03 |
| No. | Title | Performer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Fathoms Below" | Ship's Chorus | 1:42 |
| 2. | "Main Titles" | 1:26 | |
| 3. | "Fanfare" | 0:28 | |
| 4. | "Daughters of Triton" | Kimmy Robertson | 0:52 |
| 5. | "Intro Ariel" | 3:12 | |
| 6. | "Intro Ursula" | 2:38 | |
| 7. | "Triton Reprimands" | 1:49 | |
| 8. | "Sebastian's Dilemma" | 0:44 | |
| 9. | "Part of Your World" | Jodi Benson | 3:31 |
| 10. | "Fireworks" | 2:11 | |
| 11. | "The Storm" | 3:18 | |
| 12. | "Part of Your World (Reprise) / Ursula Plots" | Jodi Benson | 3:03 |
| 13. | "Ariel in Love" | 0:23 | |
| 14. | "Under the Sea" | Samuel E. Wright | 3:23 |
| 15. | "Sebastian and Triton" | 1:40 | |
| 16. | "Destroying the Grotto" | 1:55 | |
| 17. | "Flotsam and Jetsam" | 1:47 | |
| 18. | "Ursula's Lair" | 2:17 | |
| 19. | "Poor Unfortunate Souls" | Pat Carroll | 4:49 |
| 20. | "She's Got Legs" | 1:22 | |
| 21. | "Sebastian Relents" | 0:28 | |
| 22. | "On Land" | 2:25 | |
| 23. | "Miss Manners" | 1:09 | |
| 24. | "Les Poissons" | René Auberjonois | 2:11 |
| 25. | "Crab On a Plate / Bedtime" | 2:20 | |
| 26. | "Tour of the Kingdom" | 1:26 | |
| 27. | "Kiss the Girl" | Samuel E. Wright | 2:40 |
| 28. | "Ariel Left Behind" | 4:09 | |
| 29. | "Poor Unfortunate Souls (Reprise)" | Jodi Benson | 0:31 |
| 30. | "The Truth" | 1:23 | |
| 31. | "Interrupting the Wedding / Ursula's Defeat" | 6:44 | |
| 32. | "Happy Ending" | 3:22 | |
| Total length: | 71:18 | ||
| No. | Title | Performer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Fathoms Below (Work Tape)" | Howard Ashman and Alan Menken | 2:15 |
| 2. | "Daughters of Triton (Synth Demo)" | Howard Ashman and Alan Menken | 0:56 |
| 3. | "Part of Your World (Synth Demo)" | Howard Ashman and Alan Menken | 3:15 |
| 4. | "Fireworks / Jig (Score Piano)" | Alan Menken | 2:10 |
| 5. | "The Storm (Score Piano Demo)" | Alan Menken | 2:35 |
| 6. | "Under the Sea (Synth Demo)" | Howard Ashman and Alan Menken | 4:42 |
| 7. | "Poor Unfortunate Souls (Basic Synth Demo)" | Howard Ashman and Alan Menken | 5:06 |
| 8. | "Poor Unfortunate Souls (Final Synth Mockup)" | Howard Ashman and Alan Menken | 5:31 |
| 9. | "Les Poissons (Work Tape Demo)" | Howard Ashman and Alan Menken | 2:09 |
| 10. | "Les Poissons (Synth Demo)" | Howard Ashman and Alan Menken | 2:03 |
| 11. | "Kiss the Girl (Synth Demo B)" | Howard Ashman and Alan Menken | 2:41 |
| 12. | "Happy Ending (Score Piano Demo)" | Alan Menken | 2:32 |
| Total length: | 35:55 | ||
Unreleased songs/score
Several pieces of music from the movie remained unreleased in any format from Disney until the release of "Walt Disney The Legacy Collection: The Little Mermaid" in December 2014 according to the 25th anniversary of the film. A fan-compiled complete score (including song instrumentals) does exist and can be heard/seen on video sharing websites.
- Fathoms Below (Instrumental) [1:41]
- Main Titles (Full version as heard over end credits – the last seven seconds have not been released commercially) [1:34]
- Sebastian's Fanfare [0:06]
- Daughters of Triton (Instrumental) [0:36]
- Daughters of Triton (Film Version) [0:36]
- Part of Your World (Film Version - The version heard in the film includes score while Ariel speaks before the song starts) [3:23]
- Part of Your World (Instrumental) [3:23]
- Part of Your World (Reprise) [Instrumental] [2:14]
- Under the Sea (Instrumental) [3:11]
- Poor Unfortunate Souls (Part 1 - Instrumental) / Ursula's Deal [2:15]
- Poor Unfortunate Souls (Part 2 - Instrumental) [1:14]
- Les Poissons (Instrumental) [1:32]
- Kiss the Girl (Instrumental) [2:40]
- Vanessa on the Beach (without vocal) [1:00]
- Poor Unfortunate Souls (Reprise) (Film Version - The version heard in the film includes different laughters by Vanessa and Ursula) [0:32]
- Poor Unfortunate Souls (Reprise) [Instrumental] [0:32]
- Interrupting the Wedding / Ursula's Defeat (with vocal) [6:45]
- Happy Ending (film version) [3:10]
- Happy Ending (sans Disney chorus) [3:10]
Score composition and orchestration
Alan Menken's first songs-and-underscore project garnered him an Academy Award for the Best Score of 1989. This would prove to give him a very high nomination-to-win ratio of awards. Menken was originally hired for the songs only, but after writing an underscore demo for the film's executives, his assignment grew. The following are some details on the film's score overall:
- The most common key signature in this score is G major (including "Main Titles", the beginning portion of "Happy Ending", "Les Poissons", "Bedtime", and most instances of Ariel's solo aria). "Tour of the Kingdom" alternates between G major and E major throughout.
- In darker moments, and for Ursula's theme, the key of G minor is prominent ("Poor Unfortunate Souls (Reprise)", most of "The Storm", "Eric to the Rescue" among others).
- The French horn is used to symbolize King Triton (listen to "Destruction of the Grotto"), the oboe is used to symbolize Prince Eric (the beginning of "The Storm", as well as "Happy Ending" when Ariel is looking at Eric on the shore). Usually, the brass section represents Ursula and the flute almost always portrays Ariel's vocal aria. Clarinets represent Scuttle.
- Synthesizers and electric pianos are used quite often in the orchestration (namely for the songs, such as "Part of Your World"), but the grand piano is almost never used.
- Scuttle's leitmotif can be heard in the beginning of "Wedding Announcement", the scene after Ariel becomes a human and was the basis for "Beyond My Wildest Dreams" in the 2007 broadway production. The Scuttle leitmotif is presented in a minor key variation during the Stalling the Wedding scenes.
- Ursula's leitmotif is most obvious in the track "Flotsam and Jetsam" but it comes from the melody notes for the chorus of "Poor Unfortunate Souls". This theme is also used while Ariel is being transformed, and it is played fast and supported by a harsh brass section.
Cue List
The following is a list of the official cue names and numbers as used in the handwritten orchestra score for recording purposes. In the Legacy Collection soundtrack version, some cues were merged into one track (i.e. 9m1, 9m2, 9m2a, 9m3, 9m4 and 9m5 are one track titled "The Truth").[14]
| Cue List |
| 1M1 Fathoms Below |
| 1M2 Opening Credits |
| 1M3S Fanfare |
| 1M5 Daughters of Triton |
| 1M6 Triton (Sting) |
| 1M7 Intro Ariel |
| 1M7A Shark Chase |
| 2M0 Intro Scuttle |
| 2M1 Intro Ursula |
| 2M2 Triton Reprimands Ariel |
| 2m2 Insert |
| 2m3 You're Just the Crab |
| 2m3 Insert |
| 2m4 Sebastian's Dilemma |
| 2m5 Sebastian Discovers |
| 2m5 Sebastian Discovers (ver 2) |
| 2m6 Part of Your World |
| 3m1 Fireworks |
| 3m2 Gigue |
| 3m3 She's Out There |
| 3m4 Storm |
| 4m1 Is He Dead? |
| 4m2 Part of Your World (Reprise) |
| 4m3 Ursula Plots |
| 4m3a Bucolic |
| 4m4 Ariel in Love |
| 4m5 Under the Sea |
| 4m5a Under the Sea (Tag) |
| 5m1 Sebastian and Triton |
| 5m2 It's a Surprise |
| 5m3 Destroying the Grotto |
| 5m4 Flotsam and Jetsam |
| 6m1 The Deal (Insert) |
| 6M1 The Deal |
| 6m1r (To Ursula's Lair) |
| 6m1a (alternate) |
| 6m1a Insert |
| 6m2 Poor Unfortunate Souls (Part 1) |
| 6m3 Poor Unfortunate Souls (Part 2) |
| 6m4 Poor Unfortunate Souls (Part 3) |
| 6m4a Beluga Sevruga |
| 6m5 Fife 1 |
| 6m6 She's Got Legs |
| 6m7 Sebastian Relents |
| 7m1 Eric Finds Ariel |
| 7m2 The Bath |
| 7m3 Dead Fish (Sting) |
| 7m4 Miss Manners |
| 7m5 (Louis Singing) |
| 7m6 Les Poissons |
| 7m6a Can-Can |
| 7m7 Button |
| 7m8 Crab on the Plate |
| 7m9 Bedtime |
| 7m10/8m0 Messenger and Triton |
| 8m1 Tour of the Kingdom |
| 8m2 (Scuttle Singing) |
| 8m3 Kiss the Girl |
| 8m4 Ursula Transforms |
| 8m5 Fife 2 |
| 8m6 Eric Hears Maiden |
| 8m7 Wedding Announcement |
| 8m8 Ariel Left Behind |
| 8m9 (Scuttle Singing) |
| 8m10 Poor Unfortunate Souls (Reprise) |
| 9m1 The Truth |
| 9m2 Wedding March |
| 9m2a Almost There |
| 9m3 The Attack |
| 9m4 Ariel's Voice Returns |
| 9m5 You're Too Late |
| 9m6 Eric to the Rescue |
| 9m6a Ursula Rising |
| 9m6b Whirlpool |
| 10m1 Peace Returns |
| 10m2 Happy Ending |
Chart positions
| Year(s) | Chart | Peak position |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | US Billboard 200[15] | 32 |
| 1991 | Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[16] | 25 |
| 2006, 2012 | US Top Soundtracks (Billboard)[15] | 4 |
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Canada (Music Canada)[17] | 3× Platinum | 300,000^ |
| Germany (BVMI)[18] | 3× Gold | 750,000^ |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[19] sales since 1992 |
Gold | 100,000^ |
| United States (RIAA)[20] | 6× Platinum | 6,000,000^ |
|
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
- "Alan Menken, Howard Ashman - The Little Mermaid". Retrieved 2023-06-19.
- CD and cassette tape reference:
- "The Little Mermaid (Audio Cassette): Various Artists: Music". Amazon. Retrieved 2011-11-02.
- "Little Mermaid: Various Artists: Music". Amazon. Retrieved 2011-11-02.
- "Music Behind Magic: Menken / Ashman / Rice". Amazon. Retrieved 2013-05-31.
- "Music Behind Magic: Menken / Ashman / Rice: Track Listings". Amazon. Retrieved 2013-05-31.
- "The Little Mermaid: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack". Amazon. Retrieved August 24, 2011.
- "The Little Mermaid & Little Mermaid II (Special Edition Double Pack)". Amazon. Retrieved August 23, 2011.
- "The Little Mermaid: Alan Menken, J.A.C. Redford, Ashley Tisdale, Daughters of Triton, Jessica Simpson, Jodi Benson, Jonas Brothers, Pat Carroll, Raven-Symoné, Rene Auberjonois, Samuel Wright, Ship's Chorus: Music". Amazon. Retrieved 2011-11-02.
- "Walt Disney Records To Release Into The Woods Collectible Music Products Exclusively At Newly Launched Disney Music Emporium Site" (Press release). Burbank, California: PRNewswire. November 24, 2014. Retrieved November 29, 2014.
- Hobart, Tavia. "The Little Mermaid [Original Soundtrack] - Alan Menken". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2011-11-02.
- "The Little Mermaid (Alan Menken)". Filmtracks. Retrieved 2011-11-02.
- "RIAA – Gold & Platinum". RIAA. Retrieved 2010-12-07.
- Dedina, Nick (2010-06-15). "10 Essential Disney & Pixar Soundtracks - Rhapsody: The Mix". Blog.rhapsody.com. Archived from the original on 2011-10-02. Retrieved 2011-11-02.
- "The Little Mermaid: Music". Amazon. Retrieved 2013-08-22.
- Menken, Alan. The little mermaid (music score). Wonderland Music Co., c1989. LCCN 90754017.
- The Little Mermaid (Original Soundtrack) - Alan Menken - Awards. Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Accessed on August 9, 2013.
- "Swisscharts.com – Soundtrack / Alan Menken – The Little Mermaid". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 9, 2013.
- "Canadian album certifications – Various Artist - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack – The Little Mermaid". Music Canada. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
- "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Diverse; 'Walt Disney - Arielle')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
- "British album certifications – Walt Disney – Little Mermaid". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
- "American album certifications – Soundtrack – The Little Mermaid". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
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