The Little Mermaid composer Alan Menken has revealed that there will be some lyric changes in the upcoming live-action remake.
While speaking with Vanity Fair, Menken was asked if anything from the original movie had to be changed or redone. The composer said that some lyrics were altered due to how perceptions of certain aspects of the songs have changed after over 30 years.
“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],’ Menken explained. “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.”
Disney’s animated The Little Mermaid made over $211 million at the box office and became a bestseller on home video, popularizing songs like “Under The Sea” and “Part of Your World.” The upcoming film is based on the short story by Hans Christian Andersen and the 1989 Disney animated film by Ron Clements and John Musker.
