Alan Menken is a bonafide genius. An eight-time Oscar-winner (and counting), whose movie scores and songs have soundtracked our lives. From Beauty and the Beast to Aladdin, Pocahontas and Tangled, Menken’s songs – written in collaboration with Howard Ashman, Tim Rice and Pasek and Paul – propelled the Disney renaissance.
As a new live action film of The Little Mermaid, starring Halle Bailey, Jonah Hauer-King, Javier Bardem and Melissa McCarthy is released, featuring brand-new songs written by Menken with Lin-Manuel Miranda, the musical maestro reveals the secrets of movie musicals and how the Disney golden age can continue.
Why did make such a splash when it was released in 1989?
