With Disney’s The Little Mermaid live-action remake set to release next month, fans are being treated to clippings from the movie, one by one. The latest addition to the list is Halle Bailey’s rendition of the iconic song, Part of Your World.
Songs are arguably the most anticipated parts of Disney’s live-action remakes, other than seeing your favorite characters come to life.
So, to give you a glimpse of what’s to come, here is a list of all songs in The Little Mermaid set to hit theaters on May 26, 2023.
Part of Your World
Music – Alan Menken
Lyrics – Howard Ashman
Performer(s) – Halle Bailey
Arguably one of the most iconic songs from the original film, Ariel’s Part of Your World makes a comeback in this live-action remake. It is the second song in the film and is sung by Ariel in her grotto full of her prized possessions, as she expresses her desire to be part of the surface world.
Other than this rendition, The Little Mermaid 2023 also features two reprise versions of this song, both performed by Halle Bailey.
Daughters of Triton
Music – Alan Menken
Lyrics – Howard Ashman
Performer(s) – Karolina Conchet, Simone Ashley, Lorena Andrea, Kajsa Mohammar, Sienna King, and Nathalie Sorrell
Daughters of Triton is an ensemble song of sorts and, in the original film, was supposed to be Ariel’s concert debut alongside King Triton’s six daughters. However, the concert is cut short when she fails to show up.
Fathoms Below
Music – Alan Menken
Lyrics – Howard Ashman
Performer(s) – Jonah Hauer-King, John Dagleish
Originally featured as the opening number, Fathoms Below is sung by Prince Eric’s sailors on their voyage as they introduce him to the – at the time mythical – creatures called merfolk.
Under the Sea
Music – Alan Menken
Lyrics – Howard Ashman
Performer(s) – Daveed Diggs
Sung by fan-favorite character Sebastian, Under the Sea comes on as Ariel’s pet-cum-best friend crab tries to talk her out of going to the surface world to see Prince Eric.
Les Poissons
Music – Alan Menken
Lyrics – Howard Ashman
Performer(s) – Lin-Manuel Miranda
One of the more visceral songs from The Little Mermaid, Les Poissons depicts Sebastian witnessing one of the many horrors of the surface world – seafood, but to him, his fellow sea creatures being dismembered. It is sung by Chef Louis, an ancillary antagonist, who also tries to cook Sebastian. (Spoiler alert/comforting disclaimer – he fails.)
Wild Uncharted Waters
Music – Alan Menken
Lyrics – Lin-Manuel Miranda
Performer(s) – Jonah Hauer-King
Wild Uncharted Waters is one of the four new songs in Disney’s live-action remake of the animation film. Thus, not much is known about the lyrics or context of the same. It has been sung by Jonah Hauer-King, who plays Prince Eric.
Poor Unfortunate Souls
Music – Alan Menken
Classic lyrics – Howard Ashman
New lyrics – Lin-Manuel Miranda
Performer(s) – Melissa McCarthy
Poor Unfortunate Souls is the “I’m so great” anthem of the film’s central protagonist, Ursula. The song is sung by the sea witch as she explains to Ariel that she must turn herself into a human to get Prince Eric, a task that only Ursula herself can help accomplish.
For the First Time
Music – Alan Menken
Lyrics – Lin-Manuel Miranda
Performer(s) – Halle Bailey
For the First Time is another original song featured in the 2023 live-action remake. Reportedly, Ariel sings the song as she makes her way to the surface world for the first time – in her human form – and gets to experience new things.
Kiss the Girl
Music – Alan Menken
Classic lyrics – Howard Ashman
New lyrics – Lin-Manuel Miranda
Performer(s) – Daveed Diggs
Another song sung by Sebastian, Kiss the Girl comes on as the crab tries to play cupid for Prince Eric and Ariel, who are on a boat ride together. Lyrics of this song were updated for the 2023 version as the filmmakers did not want the tone to be ambiguous about consent. According to Alan Menken, the composer for the film, this was done:
“Because people have gotten very sensitive about the idea that [Prince Eric] would, in any way, force himself on [Ariel]. “
The Scuttlebutt
Music – Alan Menken
Lyrics – Lin-Manuel Miranda
Performer(s) – Daveed Diggs and Awkwafina
The Scuttlebutt is the third original song for the film and is sung by Scuttle and Sebastian as they try to “figure out what’s going on because they hear rumors that the prince has decided to marry.” Reportedly, Daveed Diggs has also rapped in this song.
Others
As per IMDb, the 2023 film also features four other undisclosed songs. Out of the four original songs composed for the film, Impossible Child was cut from the final edit. However, Menken did tell Vanity Fair that the song the audience may get to “hear it as a DVD outtake”.
The Little Mermaid is set to release in theaters on May 26, 2023.
