Aladdin (soundtrack)
Encyclopedia
Arabian Nights
"Arabian Nights", performed by The Peddler (Bruce AdlerBruce Adler
Bruce Adler was an American Broadway actor. After debuting on the Broadway stage in the 1979 revival of Oklahoma!, he went on to a career that saw him nominated for Tony Awards as Best Featured Actor in a Musical for Those Were the Days and Crazy for You...
), opens the film. Initially a longer composition, Howard Ashman and Alan Menken's 1990 score treatment incorporated several reprises allowing The Peddler to comment on plot developments.
The original lyric "Where they cut off your ear/if they don't like your face" received complaints from the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee
American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee
The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee states that it is the largest Arab American grassroots civil rights organization in the United States. According to its web page it is open to people of all backgrounds, faiths and ethnicities and has over 40 chapters in 24 states and members in all...
(ADC) and other groups upon the film and soundtrack's initial release. A new lyric, "Where it's flat and immense/and the heat is intense", was recorded for subsequent soundtrack pressings and home video releases. The subsequent line, "It's barbaric, but hey, it's home," was left intact.
An alternate version of the song utilizing lyrics from the original demo was later featured in The Return of Jafar
The Return of Jafar
The Return of Jafar is a 1994 American animated film that is a direct-to-video sequel to the 1992 animated film Aladdin, both produced by The Walt Disney Company. The film was released on May 20, 1994 and serves as the origin of the Aladdin animated series...
, performed by Brian Hannan. This version was also used as the main titles theme for the Aladdin television series
Aladdin (TV series)
Aladdin is an animated television series made by Walt Disney Television which aired from 1994 to 1995, based on the original 1992 feature. Coming on the heels of the direct-to-video sequel The Return of Jafar, the series picked up where that installment left off, with Aladdin now living in the...
.
Aladdin and the King of Thieves
Aladdin and the King of Thieves
Aladdin and the King of Thieves is a 1996 animated film that is the second direct-to-video sequel to the Disney animated feature Aladdin...
features a reprise performed by Adler originally recorded for the first film.
"Arabian Nights" pops up in the movie's underscore quite often, primarily used as a theme for Jafar.
One Jump Ahead
"One Jump Ahead" is sung by Aladdin (Brad KaneBrad Kane
Bradley Caleb Kane is a singer, actor, and writer.-Career:Kane began to act when he was three years old, with a small role in the movie Six Weeks. At the age of eight, he obtained the role of one of the four chorus boys in the Broadway musical Evita...
) while he escapes from the guards carrying a stolen loaf of bread, explaining that this is the life he lives, he has no choice but to steal, much as he does not wish to. It replaced "You Can Count On Me", a song that would be used to introduce Aladdin but was considered too pokey.
Tim Rice and Alan Menken's biggest inspiration for "One Jump Ahead" was another cut song, "Babkak, Omar, Aladdin, Kassim", that would feature Aladdin and three friends removed from the film. During the writing, Rice and Menken also came to a ballad
Ballad
A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads were particularly characteristic of British and Irish popular poetry and song from the later medieval period until the 19th century and used extensively across Europe and later the Americas, Australia and North Africa. Many...
in the same vein, used in a later scene as "One Jump Ahead (Reprise)". The reprise, titled, "One Jump Ahead (Reprise)", is also used in the score as the theme for Aladdin.
A slow version of the song (the reprise, specifically) is heard in the underscore frequently as a theme for Aladdin.
Friend Like Me
"Friend Like Me" is sung by the Genie (Robin WilliamsRobin Williams
Robin McLaurin Williams is an American actor and comedian. Rising to fame with his role as the alien Mork in the TV series Mork and Mindy, and later stand-up comedy work, Williams has performed in many feature films since 1980. He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance...
) while he shows off his powers to Aladdin in a Cab Calloway
Cab Calloway
Cabell "Cab" Calloway III was an American jazz singer and bandleader. He was strongly associated with the Cotton Club in Harlem, New York City where he was a regular performer....
-like musical, telling him that he is a friend unlike any other. It was the first scene in Aladdin to have its animation finished, and features some differences in character design. This song was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song
Academy Award for Best Original Song
The Academy Award for Best Original Song is one of the awards given annually to people working in the motion picture industry by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences . It is presented to the songwriters who have composed the best original song written specifically for a film...
; it was Ashman's last nomination.
During the movie's end credits, an instrumental reprise of the song is featured.
Alvin and the Chipmunks
Alvin and the Chipmunks
Alvin and the Chipmunks is an American animated music group created by Ross Bagdasarian, Sr. in 1958. The group consists of three singing animated anthropomorphic chipmunks: Alvin, the mischievous troublemaker, who quickly became the star of the group; Simon, the tall, bespectacled intellectual;...
covered "Friend Like Me" for their 1995 Disney-themed album When You Wish Upon a Chipmunk
When You Wish Upon A Chipmunk
When You Wish Upon a Chipmunk is a 1995 music album by Alvin and the Chipmunks, released by Sony Wonder, and contains 10 tracks.The album features the Chipmunks singing songs from Disney's full-length animated feature films. The Walt Disney Company neither sponsored nor endorsed the album...
.
Prince Ali
"Prince Ali" is another flamboyant number sung by the Genie (Robin WilliamsRobin Williams
Robin McLaurin Williams is an American actor and comedian. Rising to fame with his role as the alien Mork in the TV series Mork and Mindy, and later stand-up comedy work, Williams has performed in many feature films since 1980. He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance...
) as he introduces Agrabah to Aladdin's royal alter ego, Prince Ali Ababwa with a giant caravan. During the song, Robin Williams imitates a Thanksgiving Parade commentor ("Don't they look lovely, June?
June Lockhart
June Lockhart is an American actress, primarily in 1950s and 1960s television, but with memorable performances on stage and in film too. She is remembered as the mother in two TV series, Lassie and Lost in Space. She also portrayed Dr...
"), Walter Brennan
Walter Brennan
Walter Brennan was an American actor. Brennan won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor on three separate occasions, which is currently the record for most wins.-Early life:...
, and Ethel Merman
Ethel Merman
Ethel Merman was an American actress and singer. Known primarily for her powerful voice and roles in musical theatre, she has been called "the undisputed First Lady of the musical comedy stage." Among the many standards introduced by Merman in Broadway musicals are "I Got Rhythm", "Everything's...
. The film version cut a conceived intro for the song and two extra verses in the middle.
Prince Ali (Reprise)
A parody of "Prince Ali" sung by Jafar (Jonathan Freeman), while the villain uses his newly gained powers to reveal Ali is only a street rat, and sending him to the ends of the earth. The filmmakers liked Jonathan Freeman's singing, and wanted to give Jafar a song of his own, but they rejected Menken and Ashman's original composition for the scene ("Humiliate the Boy") and a new piece composed by Tim Rice ("Why Me"), as they were too long. Instead, they used a reprise of "Prince Ali."Cut Songs
Howard Ashman and Alan Menken composed several songs for an initial story treatment of Aladdin prior to beginning work on Beauty and the BeastBeauty and the Beast (1991 film)
Beauty and the Beast is a 1991 American animated fantasy film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Pictures. The thirtieth film in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series and the third film of the Disney Renaissance period...
. This story treatment incorporated several plot elements from the original folk tale and additional characters that were eliminated during later story development. Three songs from this score - "Arabian Nights," "Friend Like Me" and "Prince Ali" - survive in the final film.
Menken composed several additional songs for the subsequent story revisions following Ashman's 1991 death, prior to Tim Rice's involvement with the project.
Work tape, demo and master recordings of cut songs have been released in several formats, notably on the 1994 The Music Behind the Magic
The Music Behind the Magic
The Music Behind the Magic: The Musical Artistry of Alan Menken, Howard Ashman & Tim Rice is a four-disc box set highlighting the creative evolution behind the music of Disney's The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin. Released in 1994 on Walt Disney Records, the set includes work tape...
box set, the 2004 special edition soundtrack and the 2004 DVD release of the film.
1990 Original Score - music by Alan Menken
Alan Menken
Alan Menken is an American musical theatre and film composer and pianist.Menken is best known for his numerous scores for films produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios. His scores for The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and Pocahontas have each won him two Academy Awards...
, lyrics by Howard Ashman
Howard Ashman
Howard Elliott Ashman was an American playwright and lyricist. Ashman first studied at Boston University and Goddard College and then went on to achieve his master's degree from Indiana University in 1974...
.
- Arabian Nights
- Arabian Nights (Reprise #1)
- Babkak, Omar, Aladdin, Kassim
- Arabian Nights (Reprise #2)
- Friend Like Me
- Proud of Your Boy – A demo version performed by Menken was featured on the 2004 special edition soundtrack. A pop version recorded by Clay AikenClay AikenClayton Holmes "Clay" Aiken is an American singer, songwriter, actor, producer and author who began his rise to fame on the second season of the television program American Idol in 2003. RCA Records offered him a recording contract, and his multi-platinum debut album Measure of a Man was released...
was included on the 2004 DVD release of the film. - How Quick They Forget
- Arabian Nights (Reprise #3)
- High Adventure – A demo version performed by Menken and Ashman was featured on the 2004 special edition soundtrack.
- Arabian Nights (Reprise #4)
Additional Menken/Ashman demos
- Call Me a Princess – A cover version was recorded by actress/singer Kerry ButlerKerry ButlerKerry Marie Butler is an American actress known primarily for her work in theatre.-Early life and career:...
and released on her first solo album, Faith, Trust & Pixie Dust in May 2008. - Humiliate the Boy
Menken solo demos
- Count On Me
Menken/Tim Rice
Tim Rice
Sir Timothy Miles Bindon "Tim" Rice is an British lyricist and author.An Academy Award, Golden Globe Award, Tony Award and Grammy Award-winning lyricist, Rice is best known for his collaborations with Andrew Lloyd Webber, with whom he wrote Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jesus...
demos
- My Time Has Come
- Why Me
The Score
Alan Menken's score for Aladdin follows the compositional method also used in The Little MermaidThe Little Mermaid (1989 film)
The Little Mermaid is a 1989 American animated film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and based on the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale of the same name. Distributed by Walt Disney Pictures, the film was originally released to theaters on November 14, 1989 and is the twenty-eighth film in...
and Beauty and the Beast
Beauty and the Beast (1991 film)
Beauty and the Beast is a 1991 American animated fantasy film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Pictures. The thirtieth film in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series and the third film of the Disney Renaissance period...
, with specific cues and motifs derived from the songs' melodies.
- Aladdin's theme echoes the melody of "One Jump Ahead." It prominently appears in the score cues "Street Urchins," "To Be Free" and "Aladdin's Word."
- Jasmine's theme is soft and sweet, but also sad-sounding, because she feels trapped. It is introduced in her first scene at the palace.
- The Sultan's Theme is a royal fanfare, though it sounds fairly goofy, because the Sultan is a silly king to begin with.
- Jafar's Theme is dark, like he is, an instrumental of "Arabian Nights."
- Genie's Theme is "To Be Free." It is surprisingly sweet for a comic character, to show that he truly means well and just wants freedom, similar to Jasmine. Although it is associated with Genie in the film, the tune was combined with Jasmine's theme and rewritten for Disney's Aladdin: A Musical SpectacularDisney's Aladdin: A Musical SpectacularDisney's Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular is a musical show with music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, that plays at Disney California Adventure. Based on the Disney film by the same name, the show plays inside Hyperion Theater in the Hollywood Pictures Backlot...
as "To Be Free," Jasmine's song.
When Aladdin and Jasmine are together, it is usually accompanied by "A Whole New World."
Unreleased Songs/Score
- “Arabian Nights” (Instrumental) [1:20]
- Legend of the Lamp (without narration) [1:17]
- Jafar Plots [0:31]
- Aladdin on the Run [0:31]
- “One Jump Ahead” (Instrumental) [2:22]
- “One Jump Ahead Reprise” (Instrumental) [1:01]
- Princess Jasmine / The Sultan Gives Away His Ring [3:22]
- Aladdin and Jasmine/The Guards Arrive [3:55]
- Jasmine Confronts Jafar / Jafar in Disguise [2:37]
- The Cave of Wonders (Full Version) (About 1 minute and 28 seconds of music wasn’t included on the commercial CD releases) [6:23]
- Aladdin Unconscious / The Genie [1:27]
- “Friend Like Me” (Instrumental) [2:25]
- Leaving the Cave of Wonders / The Sultan Upbraids Jafar / Iago's Idea [2:55]
- Aladdin’s First Wish / Creating Prince Ali [2:02]
- “Prince Ali” (Instrumental) [2:49]
- The Sultan's Magic Carpet Ride [0:55]
- On the Balcony [4:05]
- “A Whole New World” (Full Version) [2:45] (The version heard in the film includes about 15 seconds of score before the song starts)
- Aladdin Almost Drowns [1:58]
- Jasmine Chooses a Suitor / Jafar Knows Aladdin’s Secret / Aladdin’s Dilemma [1:05]
- “Prince Ali Reprise” (Instrumental) [1:05]
- Jafar as Sultan / Aladdin Returns... Again [2:18]
- "Friend Like Me" Reprise (Plays at the beginning of the end credits) [0:40]
Total time of unreleased score material excluding song instrumentals: 34 minutes and 29 seconds
Total time of unreleased score material including song instrumentals: 48 minutes and 51 seconds
Awards
1993 Academy Awards65th Academy Awards
The 65th Academy Awards were presented March 29, 1993 at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles. This was the fourth consecutive show hosted by Billy Crystal.Unforgiven won four Oscars out of nine nominations including Best Picture.-Awards:...
- Won: Best Original ScoreAcademy Award for Best Original ScoreThe Academy Award for Original Score is presented to the best substantial body of music in the form of dramatic underscoring written specifically for the film by the submitting composer.-Superlatives:...
– Alan MenkenAlan MenkenAlan Menken is an American musical theatre and film composer and pianist.Menken is best known for his numerous scores for films produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios. His scores for The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and Pocahontas have each won him two Academy Awards... - Won: Best Original SongAcademy Award for Best Original SongThe Academy Award for Best Original Song is one of the awards given annually to people working in the motion picture industry by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences . It is presented to the songwriters who have composed the best original song written specifically for a film...
– Alan MenkenAlan MenkenAlan Menken is an American musical theatre and film composer and pianist.Menken is best known for his numerous scores for films produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios. His scores for The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and Pocahontas have each won him two Academy Awards...
(music) & Tim RiceTim RiceSir Timothy Miles Bindon "Tim" Rice is an British lyricist and author.An Academy Award, Golden Globe Award, Tony Award and Grammy Award-winning lyricist, Rice is best known for his collaborations with Andrew Lloyd Webber, with whom he wrote Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jesus...
(lyrics) for "A Whole New WorldA Whole New World"A Whole New World" is the Oscar winning featured pop single from the soundtrack to the 1992 Disney film Aladdin. It was composed by Alan Menken with lyrics by Tim Rice. The song is a ballad between the primary characters Aladdin and Jasmine about the new world they are going to discover together....
" - Nominated: Best Original SongAcademy Award for Best Original SongThe Academy Award for Best Original Song is one of the awards given annually to people working in the motion picture industry by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences . It is presented to the songwriters who have composed the best original song written specifically for a film...
– Alan MenkenAlan MenkenAlan Menken is an American musical theatre and film composer and pianist.Menken is best known for his numerous scores for films produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios. His scores for The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and Pocahontas have each won him two Academy Awards...
(music) & Howard AshmanHoward AshmanHoward Elliott Ashman was an American playwright and lyricist. Ashman first studied at Boston University and Goddard College and then went on to achieve his master's degree from Indiana University in 1974...
(lyrics) for "Friend Like Me"
36th Grammy Awards
Grammy Awards of 1994
The 36th Grammy Awards were held in 1994. They recognized accomplishments by musicians from the previous year. Whitney Houston is the Big Winner winning 3 awards including Record of the Year and Album of the Year.-Award winners:*Record of the Year...
- Won: Song of the YearGrammy Award for Song of the YearThe Song of the Year is one of the four most prestigious awards in the Grammy Awards ceremony, if not in all of the American music industry. It has been awarded since 1959 and unlike the Record of the Year award, which goes to the performer and production team of a single song, Song of the Year...
– Alan MenkenAlan MenkenAlan Menken is an American musical theatre and film composer and pianist.Menken is best known for his numerous scores for films produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios. His scores for The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and Pocahontas have each won him two Academy Awards...
& Tim RiceTim RiceSir Timothy Miles Bindon "Tim" Rice is an British lyricist and author.An Academy Award, Golden Globe Award, Tony Award and Grammy Award-winning lyricist, Rice is best known for his collaborations with Andrew Lloyd Webber, with whom he wrote Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jesus...
for "A Whole New WorldA Whole New World"A Whole New World" is the Oscar winning featured pop single from the soundtrack to the 1992 Disney film Aladdin. It was composed by Alan Menken with lyrics by Tim Rice. The song is a ballad between the primary characters Aladdin and Jasmine about the new world they are going to discover together....
(Aladdin's Theme)" - Won: Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with VocalGrammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with VocalThe Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals was awarded between 1966 and 2011...
– Peabo BrysonPeabo BrysonPeabo Bryson is an American R&B and soul singer-songwriter, born in Greenville, South Carolina...
& Regina BelleRegina BelleRegina Belle is a singer-songwriter who first surfaced in the late 1980s. She is notable for her Grammy award winning duet with Peabo Bryson, "A Whole New World".-Biography:Regina Belle was born in Englewood, New Jersey...
for "A Whole New WorldA Whole New World"A Whole New World" is the Oscar winning featured pop single from the soundtrack to the 1992 Disney film Aladdin. It was composed by Alan Menken with lyrics by Tim Rice. The song is a ballad between the primary characters Aladdin and Jasmine about the new world they are going to discover together....
(Aladdin's Theme)" - Won: Best Song Written Specifically for a Motion Picture or TelevisionGrammy Award for Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual MediaThe Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media has been awarded since 1988 and is awarded to songs written for films, television, video games or other visual media...
– Alan MenkenAlan MenkenAlan Menken is an American musical theatre and film composer and pianist.Menken is best known for his numerous scores for films produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios. His scores for The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and Pocahontas have each won him two Academy Awards...
& Tim RiceTim RiceSir Timothy Miles Bindon "Tim" Rice is an British lyricist and author.An Academy Award, Golden Globe Award, Tony Award and Grammy Award-winning lyricist, Rice is best known for his collaborations with Andrew Lloyd Webber, with whom he wrote Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jesus...
for "A Whole New WorldA Whole New World"A Whole New World" is the Oscar winning featured pop single from the soundtrack to the 1992 Disney film Aladdin. It was composed by Alan Menken with lyrics by Tim Rice. The song is a ballad between the primary characters Aladdin and Jasmine about the new world they are going to discover together....
" - Won: Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture or for TelevisionGrammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual MediaThe Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack For Visual Media has been awarded since 1960. Until 2001 the award was presented to the composer of the music alone. From 2001 to 2006, the producer and engineers shared in this award...
– Alan MenkenAlan MenkenAlan Menken is an American musical theatre and film composer and pianist.Menken is best known for his numerous scores for films produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios. His scores for The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and Pocahontas have each won him two Academy Awards... - Nominated: Best Song Written Specifically for a Motion Picture or TelevisionGrammy Award for Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual MediaThe Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media has been awarded since 1988 and is awarded to songs written for films, television, video games or other visual media...
– Alan MenkenAlan MenkenAlan Menken is an American musical theatre and film composer and pianist.Menken is best known for his numerous scores for films produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios. His scores for The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and Pocahontas have each won him two Academy Awards...
& Howard AshmanHoward AshmanHoward Elliott Ashman was an American playwright and lyricist. Ashman first studied at Boston University and Goddard College and then went on to achieve his master's degree from Indiana University in 1974...
for "Friend Like Me"
External links
| Big Three Film Music Awards Film score A film score is original music written specifically to accompany a film, forming part of the film's soundtrack, which also usually includes dialogue and sound effects... (1992 1992 in film The year 1992 in film involved many significant films. -Top grossing films:-Awards:Academy AwardsGolden Globe AwardsNational Film Awards... ) |
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| Academy Award Academy Award for Original Music Score The Academy Award for Original Score is presented to the best substantial body of music in the form of dramatic underscoring written specifically for the film by the submitting composer.-Superlatives:... Aladdin |
Golden Globe Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score The Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score is one of several categories presented by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association , an organization of journalists who cover the United States film industry, but are affiliated with publications outside North America, since its institution in 1947... Aladdin |
BAFTA Award BAFTA Award for Best Film Music The Anthony Asquith Award for Film Music is an annual award given by British Academy of Film and Television Arts.-1960s:*1968 - The Lion in Winter - John Barry... Schindler's List Schindler's List (soundtrack) Schindler's List is the original soundtrack, on the MCA label, of the 1993 film Schindler's List starring Liam Neeson, Ben Kingsley, Ralph Fiennes and Caroline Goodall... |