Days in the Sun facts for kids

"Days in the Sun" is a song from the 2017 live-action movie Beauty and the Beast. It was written by famous composer Alan Menken and lyricist Tim Rice. This movie is a new version of Disney's classic 1991 animated film.

The song was first thought of in 2007 when Menken and Rice discussed making a live-action movie. Many actors sing it, including Adam Mitchell, Stanley Tucci, Ewan McGregor, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Ian McKellen, Emma Thompson, Emma Watson, Audra McDonald, and Clive Rowe. "Days in the Sun" is one of four new songs added to the 2017 film. It came out on March 10, 2017, as part of the movie's soundtrack.

In the movie, "Days in the Sun" is a flashback scene. It shows the sad story of how the Beast's mother died. The song's words show the Beast's servants and Belle remembering happier times in their lives. This song replaced "Human Again" from the Beauty and the Beast stage musical. Critics felt it was a more serious and sad song.

How the Song Was Made and Released

Alan Menken (pictured in 2013) helped create "Days in the Sun" with Tim Rice. They worked on it while planning the live-action Beauty and the Beast movie.

In 2007, composer Alan Menken and lyricist Tim Rice first thought of "Days in the Sun". This happened during early talks about making a live-action version of Disney's 1991 animated movie Beauty and the Beast. They wrote the song in London. Menken was there for the opening of his musical Sister Act.

Menken said the song is like a lullaby. It explores the memories of Belle, the Beast, and his servants. They all think about earlier, happier parts of their lives. Rice liked the idea because it helped show more about the characters' pasts. It also helped the audience feel more connected to them.

Menken likes to write songs with people in the same room. He said he wants "feedback" and to work on the "architecture of the song" together. Menken also produced the song while working with Rice on the lyrics.

"Days in the Sun" is one of four new songs in the 2017 live-action movie Beauty and the Beast. The other new songs are "Evermore", "Aria", and "How Does a Moment Last Forever". Menken only wanted to add new songs if they felt natural for the movie. David Hoberman, who produced the 2017 film, thought "Days in the Sun" might win Menken an Academy Award for Best Original Song.

A sneak peek of "Days in the Sun" was released on February 17, 2017. It came out with a part of Emma Thompson singing the 1991 song "Beauty and the Beast". The movie's director, Bill Condon, did not think "Days in the Sun" would work well as a single. Instead, a version of "Evermore" sung by Josh Groban was chosen as a single.

Before the movie came out, a set of nail polishes was released. A yellow nail polish was named after the song. "Days in the Sun" was released on March 10, 2017. It was a track on the Beauty and the Beast soundtrack. You could get it as an audio CD or a digital download.

What the Song is About

"Days in the Sun" is heard three times in the movie. First, Audra McDonald sings it during a fancy ball. Director Bill Condon said it was a lullaby the Beast's mother sang to him. The court chose their best singer to perform it for the Beast.

Menken called the song "a combination of a lullaby and a remembrance of happier days". It is sung again by Belle and the servants as they get ready for bed. The song's first words talk about the Beast's childhood. In the scene, the young Prince sings "Days in the Sun" to his dying mother. The lyrics include: "Days in the sun / When my life has barely begun / Not until my whole life is done / Will I ever leave you".

The song then moves to the servants. They talk about what they miss from their lives as humans. They also feel bad for not stopping the Beast from becoming spoiled and cursed. Emma Watson's part in the song mentions "A Change in Me". That song was written for the stage version of the original Disney film. "Days in the Sun" was also performed in a Disney Dream stage show.

"Days in the Sun" replaced the song "Human Again" from the stage musical. Many critics said the new song was much sadder. Bob Strauss from the Santa Cruz Sentinel called it "a melancholy remembrance of freer and/or more human past". "Days in the Sun" is played at a slow speed of 110 beats per minute. It is in the key of B-flat major. Seven people sing the song. A guitar and a piano play the music. One singer's voice goes from a low F₃ to a high G₅.

Different Version of the Song

The Blu-ray version of the movie has another take on the song. In this version, the Beast's mother sings to him. This original scene showed the Beast's mother singing to her sick child. It would have been mixed with the young Beast singing to his dying mother.

The scene and song were changed for the final movie. This was because a group of people who watched it early got confused. They thought the mother (played by Harriet Jones) was Agathe (played by Hattie Morahan). Director Condon said it was his "mistake". He explained that the actresses looked very much alike. So, they had to change the mother's look. Harriet Jones stayed in the film, but her character was given dark hair to avoid confusion. The actor playing the young Beast was also changed because Condon needed someone who could sing the part.