The Little Mermaid [Special Edition]

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Binding: Audio CD EAN: 0094637810422 Label: Walt Disney Manufacturer: Walt Disney Number Of Discs: 2 Publisher: Walt Disney Release Date: 2006-11-06 Studio: Walt Disney
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Editorial Reviews: Before Broadway was Disneyfied and Times Square became a mall, the best Broadway musicals were being written for Disney animated features by Alan Menken and the late Howard Ashman. Their songs for The Little Mermaid created the mold from which their even more popular work (Beauty & the Beast, Aladdin) would be cast. Almost every tune in Mermaid has its (slightly inferior) counterpart in Beauty, for example. But there's no topping the Oscar-winning calypso show-stopper, "Under the Sea"--in which a Caribbean crab convinces you that "Darlin' it's better/Down where it's wetter." Other songs, just as delightful, are even more impressive in the context of the movie. The rapturous "Kiss the Girl" accompanies a scene in which, despite the whispered urgings of creatures all around, the romantic hero does not act on the title's advice! That's the kind of abstract dramatic (OK, comedic) conceit you'd expect from Harold Pinter rather than Disney. And the gruesomely hilarious "Les Poissons" gives us a fisheye view of a kitchen where the seafood chef is a sort of French Ed Gein--a sadistic murderer who brutally tortures and chops up his victims, then eats them! Who says Disney never did black comedy? "...I stuff you with bread/It won't hurt, 'cause you're dead/And you're certainly lucky you are...." Lyricist Ashman may not have been Cole Porter, but he was the next best thing. --Jim Emerson
Spotlight customer reviews: Customer Rating: Summary: More than worth the money Comment: I ordered this recording the other week. Disney is known for its award-winning soundtracks anyway (or it used to be until the 90s), but the soundtrack for The Little Mermaid has to be their best work. It's Alan Menken at his best. Jodi Benson is absolutely gorgeous as Ariel. The most memorable songs have to be 'Part of Your World', 'Part of Your World Reprise' and 'Under the Sea'. This may be obvious to some people, but the songs on this soundtrack are meant to stand by themselves, i.e. certain dialogues that are part of the songs in the movie may be missing here. CD 1 definitely gets 5 stars from me! As for CD 2, this one mainly features cover versions. Generally, I think there can't be enough cover versions of good songs. These ones, however, are more than inferior to the original versions and I don't think they spent a lot of time producing these versions in the studio. In other words, I don't recommend them. Still, they're a nice thing to have I suppose. Never complain about bonus material! Customer Rating: Summary: A must for Little Mermaid fans everywhere Comment: This soundtrack is not now available other than through import. Contains all the movies classic songs; Under The Sea, Part Of Your World, Poor Unfortunate Souls and others all beautifully sung, just as in the film. As well as all the well known music. This is an essential for anyone wanting to relive the film, again and again. I especially recomend it for children, but adult fans will love it too. Customer Rating: Summary: superb! Comment: If you like Disney movies The Little Mermaid is my personal favourite. The music is full of fun and happiness and singing. The second half is filled with orchestral music so it's great for young and old alike. If you are ever in a bad mood this CD is guaranteed to bring a smile to your face! Bernadette Compton More Reviews