Here's How The Lyrics To "Poor Unfortunate Souls" And "Kiss The Girl" Will Be Changed In The Upcoming "Little Mermaid" Adaptation
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Composer Alan Menken explained how some of the music in the upcoming Little Mermaid adaptation will differ from the 1989 animated version.
Alan, who was behind the music for the original movie alongside lyricist Howard Ashman, worked with Lin-Manuel Miranda on new songs for the live-action version. It's not the first time Alan has returned to his earlier work for a remake — he worked on the 2019 version of Aladdin, which also had lyrics changed and songs added, as well as the original.
Speaking to Vanity Fair about The Little Mermaid lyric changes, he said, "There are some lyric changes in 'Kiss the Girl' because people have gotten very sensitive about the idea that [Prince Eric] would, in any way, force himself on [Ariel]."
He added, "We have some revisions in 'Poor Unfortunate Souls' regarding lines that might make young girls somehow feel that they shouldn't speak out of turn, even though Ursula is clearly manipulating Ariel to give up her voice."
Although it's not specified which exact lyrics are being updated, it's possible that Alan is referring to the "Kiss the Girl" lyrics which read, "Yes, you want her / Look at her, you know you do / Possible she want you too, there is one way to ask her / It don't take a word, not a single word."
As for "Poor Unfortunate Souls," he appeared to be referencing the moment where Ursula says that "On land it's much preferred / For ladies not to say a word."
As for new songs, it came from what director Rob Marshall wanted: "One was the Prince Eric song, called 'Wild Unchartered Waters.' Then, there was the song for Ariel when she has her legs (doesn't have a voice), and she's singing her thoughts about all the firsts she is noticing for the first time."
There will also be a song called "Scuttlebutt" for Scuttle and Sebastian, which follows them "trying to figure out what's going on because they hear rumors that the prince has decided to marry. They think it must be Ariel, but of course it’s Ursula in the form of Vanessa." Alas, a King Triton song called "Impossible Child" with Javier Bardem was cut "only because dramaturgically we didn’t really need it."
