Disney took a massive gamble. Remaking a "perfect" movie like the 1991 Beauty and the Beast isn't just a business move; it’s basically an act of war against 90s nostalgia. When the live-action version dropped, the internet went into a tailspin, mostly because of the songs from 2017 Beauty and the Beast. Some people loved the lush, updated orchestral swells. Others couldn't get past the heavy Auto-Tune on Emma Watson’s voice.
It's been years, and we're still talking about it. Why? Because music is the soul of this story. You can’t just "redo" Alan Menken and Howard Ashman. You have to evolve it. Director Bill Condon knew that. He brought Menken back, but this time, Tim Rice stepped in to fill the void left by the late, legendary Ashman. The result was a soundtrack that felt massive, sometimes a little cluttered, but undeniably ambitious.
The Problem With "Belle" and the Shadow of 1991
Everyone knows the opening. "Little town, it's a quiet village..." It’s iconic. In the 2017 version, the song "Belle" tries to do way too much at once. It’s trying to be a Broadway stage production and a gritty period piece simultaneously.
Honestly, the biggest hurdle wasn't the arrangement. It was the "talk-singing." Emma Watson is a fantastic actress, but she’s not a powerhouse vocalist like Paige O'Hara. The production team leaned heavily on digital pitch correction to give her that crisp, pop-adjacent sound. It’s noticeable. If you listen closely to the layering during the "Provincial life" refrain, the vocals feel slightly detached from the acoustic environment of the village.
But here’s the thing: it works for the character. This Belle feels more like an inventor, more grounded. The song adds little character beats—like Belle teaching a young girl to read—that weren't in the original. It makes the song more of a narrative tool than just a "Look at me, I'm the protagonist" moment.
How "Gaston" Changed the Game
If there’s one song that actually improved in the remake, it’s "Gaston." Josh Gad (Lefou) and Luke Evans (Gaston) have legitimate musical theater backgrounds. You can hear the difference immediately. The energy is infectious.
They added a "lost" verse from Howard Ashman’s original notes that was deemed too "risqué" for the 1991 animated cut. Lines about Gaston’s hunting prowess and his less-than-gentlemanly behavior add a layer of dark humor. The tavern dance sequence is arguably the high point of the film’s choreography. It’s loud, it’s clunky in a good way, and it feels lived-in.
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The New Additions: "Evermore" and the Beast's Soul
We have to talk about Dan Stevens. For years, people complained that the Beast didn't have his own song in the original movie. He just sort of... growled and moped. The Broadway show fixed this with "If I Can't Love Her," but for the 2017 film, Menken and Rice wrote something entirely new: "Evermore."
This is the standout. Period.
It’s a massive, sweeping power ballad. The Beast sings it after letting Belle go to save her father. He’s standing on the castle turret, watching her ride away, and the camera does these dizzying sweeps.
- Emotional Weight: It gives the Beast a finished arc.
- Vocal Range: Dan Stevens used a deep, operatic baritone that was later modulated to sound "beastly," yet the raw emotion is still there.
- Narrative Function: It explains why he’s changed, rather than just showing him looking sad in a mirror.
"Evermore" has since become a staple in Disney concert setlists. It’s one of the few songs from 2017 Beauty and the Beast that feels like it has always belonged in the canon.
"How Does a Moment Last Forever"
This song is basically the connective tissue of the 2017 remake. It appears in several forms—first sung by Maurice (Kevin Kline), then by Belle, and finally by Celine Dion over the end credits. It’s a song about memory and loss.
It’s fine. It’s sweet. But let's be real: it exists to give the movie a "Prestige" feel. It helps flesh out the new backstory about Belle's mother dying of the plague in Paris. While the song is beautiful, some fans felt it slowed the movie down. It’s a bit of a "bathroom break" song for kids, though the lyrics are some of Tim Rice’s more poignant work.
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"Be Our Guest" and the CGI Sensory Overload
Then there's the big one. "Be Our Guest."
In 1991, this was a kaleidoscopic masterpiece of 2D animation. In 2017, it’s a fever dream of CGI plates, dancing napkins, and Ewan McGregor’s "is-it-French-or-is-it-Scottish" accent as Lumiere.
The 2017 version of this song is technically impressive but can be exhausting to watch. There is so much happening on screen that you almost lose the melody. However, the orchestral arrangement is lush. They used a massive live orchestra, and you can hear the richness of the brass section during the "culinary cabaret" climax. It’s a spectacle. It’s just... a lot.
Emma Thompson’s rendition of the title track, "Beauty and the Beast," also had big shoes to fill. Angela Lansbury is a legend. Thompson doesn't try to mimic her. She gives Mrs. Potts a more maternal, conversational tone. It’s less of a "performance" and more of a lullaby. It’s a smart choice. If she had tried to out-sing Lansbury, she would have lost.
Why the Soundtrack Matters More Than You Think
Disney’s live-action "renaissance" has been hit or miss. The Lion King felt too sterile. Aladdin felt like a music video. But the songs from 2017 Beauty and the Beast actually attempted to add depth to the source material.
The movie is long. Too long? Maybe. 129 minutes is a lot for a fairy tale. A big chunk of that extra time comes from these musical extensions. "Days in the Sun," another new track, replaces "Human Again" from the Broadway show. It’s a melancholy look at the servants' lives before they were cursed. It’s sad. It’s gorgeous. It gives Audra McDonald and Stanley Tucci something to actually do.
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Critics often point to the "over-processing" of the vocals as a major flaw. They aren't wrong. When you have Broadway vets like Audra McDonald and Ian McKellen in the cast, you want to hear the natural timbre of the voices. The 2017 soundtrack sometimes feels like it’s hiding the actors behind a wall of digital polish.
The Real Legacy
If you're looking for the "definitive" version, most people will still point to the 1991 cassette tape in their basement. But the 2017 soundtrack did something important: it modernized the soundstage. It made these songs feel "big" enough for modern Dolby Atmos theaters.
It also gave us "Evermore," which is worth the price of admission alone.
Whether you love the 2017 versions or find them a bit "uncanny valley," you can't deny the craft. Alan Menken hasn't lost his touch. The way he weaves the "Rose Theme" through the entire score is a masterclass in leitmotif.
Actions to Take for the Best Listening Experience
To truly appreciate the nuances of the 2017 soundtrack, don't just stream it on crappy phone speakers.
- Listen to the "Deluxe Edition": It includes the demo tracks by Alan Menken. Hearing the composer sing these songs on a piano gives you a totally different perspective on the songwriting process.
- Compare "Evermore" to "If I Can't Love Her": If you're a musical theater nerd, listen to them back-to-back. They cover the same emotional ground but in completely different musical styles.
- Watch the "Gaston" Sequence Separately: Pay attention to the percussion. The use of mugs and table thumping as actual instruments is a great piece of foley work integrated into the music.
- Check Out the Celine Dion End Credits Version: It’s a full-circle moment for the franchise, and her vocal performance is, as expected, flawless. It’s a reminder of why the original 90s era was so special.
The 2017 soundtrack isn't a replacement for the original. It’s a companion piece. It’s a more "grown-up," slightly more cynical, but ultimately beautiful reimagining of a story that, frankly, we’re never going to stop telling.