Disney has released the soundtrack for The Little Mermaid with new songs and updated lyrics. Until now, we’ve seen several clips featuring musical numbers from the film. These have included portions of “Part of Your World,” “Under the Sea,” “Kiss the Girl,” and “Poor Unfortunate Souls.” Now we get to hear all the classic songs in their fullness, with some of them receiving updated lyrics. We also get some new songs performed by Halle Bailey (Ariel), Jonah Hauer-King (Prince Eric), and Awkwafina (Skuttle). This soundtrack comes just one week before The Little Mermaid’s release. Fans can now prepare themselves to sing along in the theater.
‘The Little Mermaid’ Soundtrack Features New Lyrics and New Songs
The question and controversy surrounding The Little Mermaid soundtrack regard the updated lyrics to “Kiss the Girl” and “Poor Unfortunate Souls.” The former song became controversial in the rise of the #MeToo movement, with many claiming it encouraged men to kiss women without consent. The original lyrics were as follows:
Possible she wants you too
There is one way to ask her It don’t take a word Not a single word Go on and kiss the girl
The updated lyrics are:
Possible she want you too
Use your words, boy, and ask her
If the time is right and the time is tonight
Go on and kiss the girl
You can listen to the whole song in the YouTube video below:
Alan Menken and Lin-Manuel Miranda have also updated the lyrics to “Poor Unfortunate Souls.” Menken said that certain lines “might make young girls somehow feel that they shouldn’t speak out of turn, even though Ursula is manipulating Ariel to give up her voice.” Therefore, the entire second verse and Ursula’s famous “body language” speech have been removed. There’s also a line implying that Ariel must offer Ursula a scale and a drop of blood instead of signing a contract. Listen to the full song below:
Most of the other original lyrics from The Little Mermaid soundtrack remain the same. We also get a new song on the soundtrack. “Wild Uncharted Waters” features Prince Eric eagerly longing for Ariel after she rescues him. “For the First Time” is sung in a mute Ariel’s mind as she experiences the world above the sea. And Skuttle raps about wedding rumors in “The Skuttlebutt.”
The Little Mermaid will release in theaters on May 26.