Beauty and the Beast (Disney song) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids "Beauty and the Beast" |
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| Song by Angela Lansbury | |
| from the album Beauty and the Beast: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack | |
| Released | October 29, 1991 |
| Genre | Show tune |
| Length | 2:44 |
| Label | Walt Disney |
| Songwriter(s) | |
| Producer(s) |
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"Beauty and the Beast" is a famous song from the Disney animated movie Beauty and the Beast (1991). It was written by Howard Ashman (lyrics) and Alan Menken (music). This beautiful song is the main theme of the movie.
The first version was sung by British-American actress Angela Lansbury. She voiced the character Mrs. Potts, an enchanted teapot. The song describes the special connection between the two main characters, Belle and the Beast. It shows how they learn to accept each other's differences. The lyrics also suggest that love is a "tale as old as time," meaning it's timeless.
You hear Lansbury's version during the famous ballroom dance scene. A shorter choir version plays at the end of the film. Angela Lansbury was not sure about singing the song at first. She felt her voice was too old for it. But she ended up recording it perfectly in just one try!
Later, Canadian singer Celine Dion and American singer Peabo Bryson recorded a pop version of the song. This version was released as a single from the movie's soundtrack in November 1991. Disney wanted a radio-friendly version to help promote the movie. They chose Celine Dion, but since she was new in the U.S., they added Peabo Bryson to sing with her. This pop duet plays during the movie's end credits.
Both versions of "Beauty and the Beast" were very successful. They won a Golden Globe and an Academy Award for Best Original Song. They also won Grammy Awards. Angela Lansbury's singing was praised by everyone. The Dion-Bryson version became a big hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It helped bring Disney songs back to the pop charts after many years. This success also boosted Celine Dion's career, making her a huge star.
"Beauty and the Beast" is considered one of Disney's best and most popular songs. Many artists have covered it. In 2004, the American Film Institute listed it as one of the greatest songs in American film history.
The song is also in the 2017 live-action movie. Emma Thompson sings it as Mrs. Potts in the film. Ariana Grande and John Legend sing a duet cover for the end credits. Their version pays tribute to the original Dion and Bryson cover.
Contents
Creating the Song: A Tale of Music and Teamwork
How "Beauty and the Beast" Was Written
The song "Beauty and the Beast" was created by lyricist Howard Ashman and composer Alan Menken in 1990. They wanted the song to be very simple and took inspiration from Broadway music. Ashman was not well, so some of the movie's early work happened near his home in New York. Menken spent the most time on this title song compared to others for the movie.
Angela Lansbury's Recording Journey
The first person to record "Beauty and the Beast" was Angela Lansbury. She was the voice of Mrs. Potts, the enchanted teapot. The songwriters gave her a demo (a practice recording) and asked if she would sing it.
Lansbury was an experienced performer. She had sung for Disney before in Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971). However, she usually sang faster songs. She was unsure about this slower, more rock-style ballad. She liked the song but worried her older voice wasn't strong enough. She even suggested they find someone else. But the songwriters insisted she sing it her way.
On October 6, 1990, Lansbury recorded the song in New York City. A live orchestra played with her. This was because the songwriters liked to record everyone together. On the day of her recording, Lansbury's flight was delayed due to a bomb threat. The filmmakers were worried and almost rescheduled. But Lansbury finally called when she arrived safely. She recorded her version in just one take, and that's the one used in the movie! Producer Don Hahn said she "just nailed it." Her performance made everyone in the studio emotional.
The Magical Ballroom Scene: Where Love Blooms
Bringing Belle and the Beast Together
The scene where "Beauty and the Beast" is heard is very important. It's when Belle and the Beast finally show their true feelings for each other. The scene takes place in the Beast's castle ballroom. Mrs. Potts sings the song, explaining love to her son Chip. She calls love "a tale as old as time."
As the song plays, Belle teaches the Beast to waltz. He gracefully dances with her across the floor. The music continues as they go to the balcony for a romantic dinner. This scene is seen as the "centerpiece" that brings them together. It shows what both characters are thinking. The Beast realizes he wants to tell Belle he loves her. Belle also starts to fall in love with him. Director Kirk Wise called it "the culmination of their relationship."
How the Ballroom Scene Was Created
The filmmakers wanted this scene to feel more like a live-action movie. This idea came from story artists Brenda Chapman and Roger Allers. They suggested building the ballroom using computers. Jeffrey Katzenberg, a Disney executive, wanted a "wowie" moment in the movie. The ballroom scene became that moment.
The scene was designed to make the audience feel swept away. Allers and Chapman wanted a space where the characters could linger. They were surprised by how much freedom the animators gave them. The animators agreed to change the camera's view as it moved. Allers decided to raise the camera to see the dancers from above. Chapman rotated the camera around Belle's skirt as they danced.
Beauty and the Beast was one of the first animated films to use computer-generated imagery (CGI). This technology is clearly seen in the ballroom scene. Author Thomas D. Rossing said the filmmakers wanted a "moving perspective." This would follow the dancers and show the strong emotions of the scene.
Animating the Dance
The ballroom was first made as a simple cube using computers. It was the first full 3D computer-generated background in history. Unlike earlier Disney CGI, this ballroom was very detailed. Animators worked only with computers to create, animate, and color the scene. CGI supervisor Jim Hillin said computers allowed for special lighting and "sweeping" camera views. This brought live-action movie techniques to animation.
A "virtual camera" was used to make the scene special. It allowed animators to create the feeling of tracking and zooming. This helped set the mood and let audiences feel what the characters felt. The camera often flies and zooms around Belle and the Beast. It follows them as they enter, then pans back to focus on them.
The characters were first simple computer shapes to plan their dance. Later, they became "stiff, line-drawn" versions. Belle's main animator, James Baxter, animated both Belle and the Beast in this scene. He studied ballet dancers and took dance lessons to prepare. Belle moves like a ballerina throughout the movie.
A software called CAPS (Computer Animation Production System) helped animators color Belle and the Beast on computers. This was faster than painting by hand. Art director Brian McEntee suggested blue and gold for their costumes. Belle's gold gown matches the Beast's tuxedo trim and the ballroom. The Beast's blue outfit matches his eyes and the night sky. The whole scene took months to finish. It was hard to make the hand-drawn characters fit with the computer-animated background.
When the movie came out, many animators were impressed. They felt Disney was "pushing the envelope" with new technology. The ballroom scene is still seen as a classic and groundbreaking moment in animation. It "changed the game" for future animation. Angela Lansbury was "astonished" when she first saw the scene. Many remember it as the moment Belle and the Beast share a romantic dance. The golden ballgown Belle wears is now considered iconic.
The Pop Version: Celine Dion and Peabo Bryson
| "Beauty and the Beast" | ||||
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| Single by Celine Dion and Peabo Bryson | ||||
| from the album Beauty and the Beast, Celine Dion and Through the Fire | ||||
| B-side | "The Beast Lets Belle Go" (instrumental) | |||
| Released | November 25, 1991 | |||
| Recorded | October 1991 | |||
| Studio | The Power Station (New York City, NY) The Plant Recording Studios (Sausalito, California) |
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| Genre | Pop | |||
| Length | 4:04 (album version) 3:33 (radio edit) |
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| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) | Walter Afanasieff | |||
| Celine Dion singles chronology | ||||
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| Peabo Bryson singles chronology | ||||
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Why a Pop Version Was Made
Beauty and the Beast received three Academy Award nominations for Best Original Song. To help the main song win, Disney decided to release "Beauty and the Beast" as a single. Angela Lansbury's version was great, but it wasn't quite right for radio. So, Disney decided to make a pop version for the movie's end credits. This was a new step for Disney songs.
Producer Walter Afanasieff was hired to create this pop version. Composer Alan Menken praised him for making the song his own.
Choosing the Singers
Actress Paige O'Hara, who voiced Belle, wanted to sing the pop version. But Disney felt she was "too Broadway." Disney couldn't afford a very famous singer at the time. So, they chose the rising Canadian singer Celine Dion. Since she wasn't well-known in the U.S., they also hired the more famous American singer Peabo Bryson to sing with her.
Celine Dion had just started learning English. She was hesitant to join the project at first. This was because she had recently been replaced on another movie's theme song. But after hearing Angela Lansbury's beautiful performance, Dion agreed. Peabo Bryson joined through a Disney executive.
The music for the song was recorded first in California. Then, Celine Dion and Peabo Bryson quickly recorded their voices in New York. The song was released as a single on November 25, 1991.
The Music Video
The recording session of Dion and Bryson was filmed. This footage was mixed with scenes from the movie to create a music video. The video first aired on the music channel VH-1. This was new for audiences, as they weren't used to seeing animated characters on music channels.
Live Performances
At the 1992 Oscars, Angela Lansbury, Celine Dion, and Peabo Bryson sang parts of both versions. Celine and Peabo also performed the song at the Grammys and other awards shows. They reunited in 1996 for a TV special. All three artists have sung the song in their concerts over the years.
The Song's Big Impact
Changing Disney Music
The huge success of Beauty and the Beast is partly due to this song's popularity. It was the first Disney song to be fully rearranged for pop radio. After The Little Mermaid brought back Disney musicals in 1989, "Beauty and the Beast" made Disney songs chart-toppers.
The song ended a 30-year period where Disney songs didn't hit the charts. It inspired other famous artists like Elton John and Christina Aguilera to record pop versions of Disney songs. "Beauty and the Beast" is still considered one of Disney's most famous theme songs.
The Ballroom Scene's Legacy
The ballroom scene is still seen as one of Disney's greatest achievements. It's famous for mixing 3D computer animation with hand-drawn characters. This scene is now a classic and groundbreaking moment in animation history. It "changed the game" for modern animation. Many say it paved the way for new digital animation styles. Some even believe it helped the success of Pixar's computer-animated films.
The scene is also loved as a dance sequence. The golden ballgown Belle wears is now iconic. Vogue magazine even called it one of the most famous dresses in history.
Celine Dion's Rise to Stardom
The Beauty and the Beast: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is best known for the Dion-Bryson single. This song became an instant classic. Its success helped Celine Dion become a huge recording artist. Before this, Dion had been replaced on another movie song. But "Beauty and the Beast" became a much bigger hit.
Biography.com called "Beauty and the Beast" Dion's "real breakthrough into pop music stardom." After its success, young fans who didn't know her name would just call her "Beauty and the Beast." The song's success led to Dion signing a big record deal. She later sang theme songs for many other movies, like "My Heart Will Go On" from Titanic.
Peabo Bryson also became a mainstream artist because of this song. He later sang other Disney theme songs, like "A Whole New World" from Aladdin.
Both the movie and single versions of "Beauty and the Beast" have been included on many Disney music collections.
Images for kids
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The song has been parodied and referenced in many ways. This scene is from The Critic.
See also
In Spanish: Beauty and the Beast (canción) para niños
