It is a specific kind of magic. You hear those first few notes of the "Prologue"—that haunting, celeste-driven melody—and suddenly you aren't sitting in your car or at your desk. You're in a "quiet village" in 18th-century France.
Honestly, the music from Beauty and the Beast did something that most people forget. It saved Disney. It wasn't just a catchy soundtrack; it was the moment the movie musical stopped being a "cartoon" thing and started being a "theatre" thing again. When Howard Ashman and Alan Menken sat down to write these songs, the studio was actually in a weird spot. People weren't sure if audiences still wanted characters to burst into song. Turns out, they did. They really, really did.
The 1991 film became the first animated movie ever nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars. Most critics at the time, including the legendary Roger Ebert, pointed directly at the score. It wasn't just background noise. The music was the script.
The Ashman and Menken Chemistry
You can't talk about these songs without talking about Howard Ashman. He was a genius. Period. Ashman came from a theater background (Little Shop of Horrors), and he brought that "I want" song mentality to Belle.
Think about the opening number, "Belle." It’s basically a six-minute operetta. It introduces the protagonist, the villain, the setting, and the conflict all before the title card even hits the screen. That’s incredibly hard to do. It’s dense. It’s fast. It’s got a baker with a tray of rolls and a bookshop owner and a whole town judging a girl for reading.
Most people don't realize that Ashman was actually dying while writing this music. He was battling complications from AIDS during the production. If you listen to the lyrics of "Kill the Beast," you can almost hear the metaphor for the fear and stigma surrounding the epidemic at the time. The mob, the torches, the "we don't like what we don't understand" mentality—it’s heavy stuff for a "kids' movie."
Alan Menken provided the melodic bones. He’s a master of pastiche. He can write a French music hall number, a Broadway showstopper, and a sweeping Romantic-era ballad without breaking a sweat. Together, they created a sonic world that felt lived-in.
Why "Be Our Guest" Almost Didn't Happen for Maurice
Here is a weird bit of trivia: "Be Our Guest" was originally written for Maurice, Belle’s dad.
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Can you imagine? It was supposed to be the objects welcoming this eccentric old man to the castle. But the songwriters realized it was a waste. The energy was too high for a secondary character. They moved it to Belle's arrival, and suddenly, it became the centerpiece of the entire film. It’s a Busby Berkeley-style spectacle that uses every culinary pun in the book.
Speaking of puns, "Gaston" is a masterclass in wordplay.
- "In a wrestling match, nobody bites like Gaston!"
- "I use antlers in all of my decorating!"
It’s hilarious, but it’s also character-building. It shows us exactly why the town loves him even though he’s a jerk. He’s charming. The music makes you want to grab a beer and sing along with a villain. That’s a very clever trick.
The Title Track and the Angela Lansbury One-Take Wonder
Then there's the big one. "Beauty and the Beast."
Angela Lansbury originally didn't want to sing it. She told the producers she thought her voice was too old or that a different style would suit the song better. They talked her into doing one "safety take" just in case. She walked into the booth, sang it start to finish, and that is what you hear in the movie. One take. Everyone in the room was reportedly in tears.
The song is simple. It doesn't try too hard. It’s just a few observations about how things change.
"Certain as the sun, rising in the east."
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It’s the emotional anchor. Without that specific melody, the relationship between a girl and a CGI (or hand-drawn) buffalo-man just doesn't work. The music does the heavy lifting for the suspension of disbelief.
The Broadway Expansion and the 2017 Remake
When Disney decided to move into theater, the music from Beauty and the Beast had to grow. You can't have a two-hour stage play with only 40 minutes of music.
This is where "If I Can't Love Her" comes in. This song is, frankly, better than some of the movie tracks. It gives the Beast a soul. It’s a massive, sweeping power ballad that ends Act One. If you’ve ever seen a regional or Broadway production, that’s the moment the audience realizes the Beast is the one they should be rooting for.
Fast forward to 2017. The live-action remake had a tough job. How do you add to perfection?
Alan Menken returned, this time working with Tim Rice because Ashman had long since passed away. They added "Evermore," which served as the cinematic equivalent of the Beast's stage ballad. It’s a different vibe—more desperate, more cinematic—but it fits. Dan Stevens actually has a great baritone for it. They also added "Days in the Sun," which gives more backstory to the enchanted objects. Some fans think it slows the movie down, but it adds a layer of melancholy that the original didn't quite have room for.
Technical Nuance: Why the Music Works
If you analyze the score, Menken uses a lot of leitmotifs. A leitmotif is just a fancy way of saying a recurring musical theme associated with a person or idea.
- The "Enchantment" theme is cold and mysterious.
- The "Belle" theme is bright and moves upward.
- The "Gaston" theme is brassy and arrogant.
When these themes clash or blend, your brain understands what’s happening emotionally before the dialogue even starts. When the Beast is dying at the end, the music isn't playing "Kill the Beast"—it’s playing a slowed-down, tragic version of the title theme. It tells you that love is what’s at stake, not just a fight.
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Common Misconceptions About the Soundtrack
People often think Celine Dion was the first person to sing the title track. She wasn't. She sang the pop version for the radio. While that version was a massive hit and helped launch her career in the States, the "real" version is Angela Lansbury’s.
Another weird one? People think "Human Again" was written for the 2017 movie or the Broadway show. It was actually written for the 1991 movie but got cut because it caused pacing issues. It involved a whole sequence of the objects cleaning the castle. They eventually finished the animation and put it back into the "Special Edition" IMAX release in 2002. It's a fun song, but you can see why they cut it—it takes the focus away from Belle and the Beast for too long.
How to Experience This Music Today
If you really want to appreciate the music from Beauty and the Beast, don't just put on a playlist. Try these specific ways to listen:
- The Legacy Collection Soundtrack: This includes the demo tapes. Hearing Howard Ashman sing the parts of Sebastian or Gaston (he worked on The Little Mermaid too) is a masterclass in acting through song. You can hear his passion and his specific comedic timing.
- The Instrumental Score: Listen to the track "The West Wing." It’s basically a piece of classical music. The way it builds tension using strings and low woodwinds is incredible.
- Live to Film Concerts: Many orchestras now perform the score live while the movie plays on a big screen. If one comes to your city, go. Hearing a 60-piece orchestra play the "Transformation" music at the end is a religious experience for any Disney fan.
The influence of this score is everywhere. It paved the way for Aladdin, The Lion King, and even modern hits like Frozen. It proved that the "Integrated Musical"—where songs move the plot instead of stopping it—was the gold standard.
Practical Next Steps for Fans
To get the most out of your next listen, keep these things in mind:
- Pay attention to the lyrics in "Gaston": They are significantly more clever than your average pop song. Look for the internal rhymes.
- Compare versions: Listen to the 1991 "Prologue" and then the 2017 version. The 2017 one uses a lot more harpsichord to emphasize the period setting.
- Watch the "Human Again" sequence: If you've only seen the original theatrical cut, find the Special Edition. It changes the vibe of the second act completely.
- Study the "Transformation" scene: Watch it with the sound off, then with just the music. You’ll realize the music is doing about 90% of the emotional work.
The music isn't just a part of the movie. It is the movie. Whether it's the Broadway stage, a local high school production, or a 4K Blu-ray, these melodies are baked into our culture now. They aren't going anywhere.