Honestly, it’s hard to imagine a world where "Be Our Guest" isn't the gold standard for a dinner party. We take it for granted now. But back in 1991, the songs in Beauty and the Beast Disney fans fell in love with were actually a massive gamble. Disney was coming off the success of The Little Mermaid, and they decided to lean even harder into the Broadway style. They didn't just want a movie with music; they wanted an animated operetta. Howard Ashman and Alan Menken were the geniuses behind this shift. Ashman was actually dying of complications from AIDS while writing these lyrics, which adds a layer of heartbreak to the "Human Again" sequence that most people don't even realize. He was writing about a longing for life and normalcy while his own was fading. That’s heavy. That’s why these tracks don't feel like "kids' stuff."
The Opening Number that Changed Everything
The movie starts with "Belle." It’s a six-minute monster of a track. Most animated films start with a quick 90-second "I want" song, but not this one. This is a complex, multi-layered introduction to a whole village. You’ve got the baker, the bookshop owner, the three "silly girls," and Gaston all weaving in and out of the melody. It’s incredibly dense.
It serves a specific purpose: it establishes Belle as an outsider. She’s "odd." She’s "dazed and distracted." We see her world through her eyes, and it feels small. Then Gaston shows up, and the music shifts. It becomes more bombastic, reflecting his ego. It's a masterclass in musical storytelling. If you listen closely, the orchestration is very traditional European musical theater. No synthesizers. No pop beats. Just pure storytelling.
That Ridiculous, Wonderful Pub Song
Then we get to "Gaston." This is arguably the funniest song in the entire Disney catalog. Jesse Corti (Lefou) and Richard White (Gaston) have this incredible chemistry that makes the whole thing feel like a beer-hall singalong.
The lyrics are genuinely hilarious. "I’m especially good at expectorating!" Who uses the word expectorating in a children's movie? Howard Ashman, that's who. He never talked down to the audience. He assumed kids were smart enough to get the gist, even if they didn't know the dictionary definition of every word. The song builds and builds until that final, triumphant note where Gaston basically declares himself a god of the tavern. It’s pure camp, and it works because it’s played so straight.
The Spectacle of Be Our Guest
You can't talk about songs in Beauty and the Beast Disney created without mentioning the dancing dishes. "Be Our Guest" was originally supposed to be sung to Maurice, Belle’s father. Can you imagine? The animators realized that the stakes were much higher if they were trying to impress Belle, the person who could actually break the curse. So they swapped it.
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Jerry Orbach, who voiced Lumiere, was a Broadway legend. He brought a "Maurice Chevalier" vibe to the performance that is just infectious. The song is a literal showstopper. It stops the plot dead for a Busby Berkeley-style dance number. It’s over-the-top. It’s colorful. It’s basically a fever dream involving grey stuff (which is delicious, by the way).
The Underappreciated Nuance of Something There
A lot of people skip over "Something There." They shouldn't. It’s the most important song for the character development of the Beast. Up until this point, he’s been a monster. Here, we hear his internal monologue.
- He’s nervous.
- He’s trying to be a gentleman.
- He’s genuinely surprised that someone could care for him.
Robby Benson’s vocal performance is so soft here. It contrasts perfectly with his earlier roaring. It shows the thaw. It’s the moment the audience starts rooting for the couple, not just because they want the curse to end, but because they actually like them together.
The Title Track and the Teacup
"Beauty and the Beast," the song performed by Mrs. Potts (Angela Lansbury), is the heart of the film. Fun fact: Angela Lansbury didn't think she was right for the song. She thought a more "urban" or contemporary voice should do it. She recorded one take just to have it on record, and that is the take they used in the movie. One take.
It’s a simple melody. It doesn't try too hard. It just describes a "tale as old as time." When that yellow dress starts swirling in the ballroom, and the camera pans down from the ceiling (one of the first major uses of CAPS, or Computer Animation Production System), it’s pure cinema. It’s the peak of the Disney Renaissance.
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The Darker Side: The Mob Song
Toward the end, the tone shifts drastically with "The Mob Song." This isn't a "fun" song. It’s scary. It’s about xenophobia and fear of the unknown. Gaston uses music to whip a crowd into a literal frenzy. "We don't like what we don't understand, in fact it scares us."
That line is more relevant today than it was in 1991. The percussion is heavy. The voices are low and aggressive. It’s the perfect foil to the lightheartedness of the earlier tracks. It sets the stage for the final confrontation on the castle rooftops. It’s gritty.
What the 2017 Live-Action Remake Added (and Lost)
When Disney did the live-action remake, they added three new songs: "How Does a Moment Last Forever," "Days in the Sun," and "Evermore."
"Evermore" is the standout. Dan Stevens has a surprisingly powerful voice, and it finally gives the Beast a big, sweeping solo. It fills a narrative gap. However, some fans feel like "Days in the Sun" is a bit too similar to "Human Again," which was cut from the original theatrical release but added back for the IMAX version and the Broadway show.
There's a debate here. Does the 2017 version have the same "soul"? Not quite. The original 1991 songs in Beauty and the Beast Disney animation used have a certain crackle. They feel alive. The new versions are polished, but sometimes they feel a bit too much like a "pop" production rather than a theatrical one.
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Why It Works: The Ashman/Menken Formula
The secret sauce was the collaboration. Menken provided the soaring, classical melodies, and Ashman provided the biting, witty, and deeply emotional lyrics. They treated the film like a stage play. They used "I Want" songs, "Villain" songs, and "11 O'Clock Numbers."
- The "I Want" Song: "Belle (Reprise)" where she runs into the field.
- The Comic Relief: "Gaston."
- The Romantic Core: The title track.
- The Call to Action: "The Mob Song."
It’s a structure that works every time. It’s why you can go to a karaoke bar today and everyone still knows the words to "Be Our Guest."
Actionable Takeaways for Music Lovers
If you're looking to dive deeper into this soundtrack, don't just stick to the standard Spotify playlist. There's a lot more to uncover.
- Listen to the Demos: Search for the Howard Ashman demo recordings. Hearing the lyricist sing these songs provides a totally different perspective on the intent behind the words.
- Watch the Broadway Cast Recording: The stage musical added several songs, like "Home" and "If I Can't Love Her," which add even more depth to Belle and the Beast.
- Check out the "Human Again" Storyboards: See why the song was originally cut (it was too long and complicated for the 1991 pacing) and how they eventually integrated it back in.
- Compare the Versions: Play the 1991 version and the 2017 version back-to-back. Notice the difference in the "Kill the Beast" sequence—the 2017 version is much more cinematic, while the 1991 version is more rhythmic and theatrical.
The enduring power of the songs in Beauty and the Beast Disney catalog lies in their emotional honesty. They aren't just background noise; they are the engine of the story. Whether it’s the tragedy of a man losing his humanity or a girl looking for adventure in the great wide somewhere, the music makes us feel every bit of it.
To truly appreciate the score, focus on the lyrics in "Belle." Notice how the townspeople’s mundane concerns (buying bread, fixing clocks) contrast with Belle’s desire for something "more than this provincial life." That contrast is the heart of the whole movie. Next time you watch, pay attention to the woodwinds during the quiet moments between the Beast and Belle; that’s where the real magic happens.