"Kiss the Girl" has some lyrics changes because people are becoming very sensitive to the idea that Prince Eric would force [Ariel] in any way.

Fans of "The Little Mermaid", can expect some changes to the iconic songs of the film in the live-action remake of the Disney classic.

Variety spoke with Alan Menken, the film's director, who revealed that some lyrics from the animated movie were changed because they could be considered offensive today.

After the film's release, the lyrics to the songs "Kiss the Girl” and "Poor Unfortunate Souls” will be updated. Menken said that the original "Kiss the Girl", as Menken has suggested, did not reflect the current understanding of consent.

"There are some lyrics changes in 'Kiss the Girl" because people have become very sensitive about the idea [Prince Eric] would in any way force himself on [Ariel]," the composer stated. "We made some changes to 'Poor Unfortunate Souls" regarding lines that could make young girls feel like they shouldn't speak out-of-turn, even though Ursula clearly manipulates Ariel to stop speaking her mind."

Jodi Benson voiced the original animated "The Little Mermaid", which was first released in 1989. Halle Bailey will play the role of Ariel in the live-action remake. She has made a deal to exchange her voice for legs with a sea witch.

Menken spoke in an interview with Lin Manuel Miranda, Entertainment Weekly. He revealed that the classic soundtrack will be accompanied by three new songs.

Ariel will also be singing "For the first time" Miranda and Menken revealed that the song will have many callbacks from "Part of Your World", and will show how Ariel will adapt to land life.

Miranda explained that "All the clues to what that song could possibly be are actually laid out in 'Part of Your World', which is one of Alan's greatest 'I want" songs that Howard Ashman wrote." "She is asking all these questions about life on land. My favorite song is "What's a Fire and Why Does It... What's the Word?" Burn?' "We thought about the possibility of her coming face-to-face with the realities on land, with (1) gravity (2) fire (3) clothes (4) how land people view sea creatures (5) and meeting the man she had fallen in love with."

The "Hamilton" composer in 1989 also gave Prince Eric his own power ballad, "Wild Uncharted Waters." Jonah Hauer King, a 27-year-old British actor, will play the role of the royal.

"We took our cues form David's screenwriter script. Miranda said that Eric's relationship with him has made him an explorer. Miranda said that Ariel and he share the same spirit in many ways. However, they are from two different biomes. He longs to see the other side of that horizon line, wherever it takes him. He is inextricably drawn to the ocean, and [Ariel] is inexplicably drawn to land. What does this mean for us?

The Little Mermaid's Director Reveals Why Harry Styles Disowned Prince Eric Role

Fans can also be excited to hear "Scuttlebutt", a song that was inspired by Scuttle, the seagull. Awkwafina will voice the song and it will feature Sebastian the crab from Daveed Diggs.

Miranda was inspired by the scattered speech patterns of the seagull and explained that there are no melodic patterns in the new track. Menken called "Scuttlebutt," an "accidental piece", after Miranda, the star of "In the Heights", mashed up his favourite parts of the Caribbean-style melody of the composer and wrote the lyrics.

Miranda said that she and Awkwafina were discussing the possibility of doing a double-time stunt at the end. It would be an additional button, an added icing to the cake. "I was thinking, "Let me think of some things they could rap really quickly."

He noted that it was the most delightfully ADHD runaway train thought. "There are tangents within tangents."

The Little Mermaid will be shown in theatres starting May 26.

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Title: Little Mermaid Live Action Remake to Change Offensive Lyrics in Two Songs
Sourced From: www.toofab.com/2023/04/05/little-mermaid-live-action-remake-to-change-offensive-lyrics-in-two-songs/
Published Date: Wed, 05 Apr 2023 22:49:14 +0000

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