The Little Mermaid Is Worth Seeing Because The Singing Is Just So Incredible
"The Little Mermaid" was a vital turning point for Disney. Released in 1989, it was the first princess story in 30 years since "Sleeping Beauty," Ariel was a rebellious heroine like no other, and composer Alan Menken and lyricist Howard Ashman created a Broadway-style soundtrack. The songs have emotional depth, guide the story along, and communicate the characters' inner desires.
The incredible vocal talents of the original film made these songs treasures. Jodi Benson's sweet, crystalline voice — especially in her pivotal number "Part of Your World" — defined Ariel as an adventurous young woman and a new generation of princesses who would stop at nothing to get what they want. Samuel E. Wright's booming voice and vivacious energy are perfect for the overdramatic crustacean — especially the classic romp "Under the Sea." The dramatic, deep-throated performance of "Poor Unfortunate Souls" by Pat Carroll is delightfully wicked. These musical numbers are beloved classics, but the new live-action actors reinvigorate the songs with different vocal styles and interpretations.
Classic songs
Halle Bailey's voice has a transcendental power that conveys Ariel's determination to join the human world with every graceful note. "Part of Your World" is the linchpin of Ariel's story and Bailey's rendition is astonishing. She sings it an octave higher than the original and her strong, passionate belting gives you full-body chills. As /Film writer Vanessa Armstrong puts it in her "The Little Mermaid" review, "Bailey is royalty in her own right and on her way to becoming a major star." Halle Bailey's vocals are so divine that she has several more solo numbers and is also a part of "Under the Sea."
Daveed Diggs plays the anxious crustacean, Sebastian. His interpretation of the famous "Under the Sea" is more laid-back with Calypso influences. "I wanted it to feel like he was improvising and just having a great time," Diggs tells Cinema Blend, and the audience hears this in his loose and playful vocal style. Diggs also shines in "Kiss the Girl" which is now a trio featuring Flounder and Scuttle. Their dulcet harmonies are adorable and endow the song with a mesmerizing quality that brings Ariel and Eric together in a more intimate way.
It's impossible to top Pat Caroll's smoky-voiced performance as Ursula but Melissa McCarthy's vocals are just as theatrically devilish. She finds cunning, sinister humor in her modulations — gliding from snarky sarcasm to a haughtiness that resembles an overdramatic Shakespearean actor. Her brassy voice can also back up some of the bigger notes.
New songs
Lin-Manuel Miranda writes several new songs for the live-action adaptation. Jonah Hauer-King has a rich singing voice and dapper British accent that carries "Wild Uncharted Waters," Prince Eric's heartfelt appreciation of the sea and the mysterious siren that rescued him. Hauer-King's vocal articulation sounds very dignified, making the actor feel like a gentleman straight from the past. Although "Wild Uncharted Waters" is not as much of a soaring ballad as it wants to be, it's a rare treat to see a prince love song in a Disney movie.
Your appreciation of "The Scuttlebutt" will depend on your tolerance for Awkwafina as the gravelly-voiced Scuttle. This buoyant rap song about Prince Eric's upcoming marriage sticks out like a sore thumb against the Broadway-style Howard Ashman songs. Yet, it's appropriately obnoxious and catchy for Scuttle's garish character. The filmmakers couldn't waste Daveed Diggs' casting, so Sebastian spits out rhymes with Scuttle. Kids will most likely get a kick out of this fast-paced song and parents will go crazy with it stuck in their heads.
Unlike other Disney live-action films that rely on auto-tune, "The Little Mermaid" cast amazing vocalists who do justice to the beautiful songs from our childhood and the original additions that expand the story. This reimagined version is especially worth seeing because of Halle Bailey's enchanting performance.