Overview
- In a new video recorded at his Upstate New York home, Menken revisits songs from The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Pocahontas and Hercules.
- He credits Howard Ashman with defining the 'I want' song, citing Ariel’s 'Part of Your World' for giving a contemporary voice to a classic character.
- He recalls completing Aladdin with Tim Rice, abandoning a dummy lyric for the love ballad that became 'A Whole New World.'
- He discusses songs that changed course, noting 'Proud of Your Boy' was cut from the Aladdin film but restored on Broadway and that Hercules’ 'Shooting Star' gave way to 'Go the Distance.'
- He reflects on writing during Ashman’s AIDS battle and emphasizes the enduring, daily joy of sitting at the piano to explore musical possibilities.