When making any sort of movie, musical, or play, you have to remember that not all ideas make it off the cutting room floor. The same can be said with Disney flicks and even some of their most ear-infecting songs. Before “Hakuna Matata” we had “Warthog Rhapsody” and before “Bibbidy-Bobbidy-Boo” we had the less impressive “Magic Song”. See where we’re going?
But Disney is never one to just throw away entirely. In fact, many songs weren’t discarded, but rewritten or changed to fit the film in question. Here are 10 famous songs that had to be reworked before we started singing them today.
Never Smile at a Crocodile
You’ll find few greater slapstick routines in all of Disney than Captain Hook and Tick-Tock Croc. At one point, the great, grinning, green reptile got his own little song. Unfortunately, it had to be cut due to time restraints. However, it was not removed from the film.
The song “Never Smile at a Crocodile” is still in the movie, but the lyrics have been removed entirely to give us a catchy little theme song that plays any time Tick-Tock is on screen. Though a lyrical version does exist, and is pretty funny to boot, it’s only on the film’s soundtrack.
Be Our Guest
“Be Our Guest” is without a doubt the big Broadway showstopper in Disney’s great romance, Beauty and the Beast. Aside from the film’s theme, it’s probably the most well-known song in the movie. It’s the song that welcomes Belle to the castle and makes her and the audience more comfortable in the intimidating setting. But it wasn’t always for Belle.
In the original script, it was Maurice who got the warm welcome into the Beast’s castle first, courtesy of Lumiere and his friends in the kitchen. Obviously, this made little sense since it was Belle who stayed in the castle, so the lyrics were changed to be sung for Belle instead of Maurice.
Arabian Nights
Though the unaltered version did make it to theaters, the song in question was changed for home and future releases. Most seasoned Disney fans know about the controversy that came with “Arabian Knights” from Aladdin, and it definitely turned a few heads at the time. If you don’t, allow us to explain.
The original version of “Arabian Nights” featured the verse “Where they cut off your ear if they don’t like your face / It’s barbaric, but hey, it’s home.” This ignited some racist imagery that upset quite a few people upon first release. So, naturally, it was changed for home video.
Savages
Yet another case of racial imagery that was cut from a Disney song, this time with the slightly more problematic Pocahontas. Despite not exactly aging well, the film is still pretty decent as far as Disney flicks go. However, there’s one song that still irks a few audience members even today.
“Savages” is a pretty interesting villain song, dealing with the point of view of two opposing groups of people. It still contains some prejudiced lyrics, but the soundtrack version was much worse. Governor Ratcliffe was never the shining example, but his original lyrics were a lot more hate-filled than misguided.
Beware the Jabberwock / Twas Brillig
You could fill a book with the songs, characters, and sequences that were cut or changed from Disney’s Alice in Wonderland. However, this is a song that wasn’t cut so much as it was repurposed and reassigned. Originally, Disney wanted to include a song based on Lewis Carrol’s Jabberwocky, but couldn’t find a place for it in the film.
As a result, the Cheshire Cat’s song “I’m Odd” was replaced by the first verse of Caroll’s original poem set to music. What was originally “Beware the Jabberwock” became “Twas Brillig” which was essentially the same lyrics but with a different melody.
Beyond the Laughing Sky/Second Star to The Right
Yet another case of a repurposed song from Wonderland, we have “Beyond the Laughing Sky”. In our humble opinion, we think the original version would have done wonderfully in the colorful dream-like atmosphere of Alice in Wonderland. But then, we wouldn’t have “Second Star to the Right”.
Even if you’ve never heard the title “Beyond the Laughing Sky” you’ve heard its tune every time you’ve watched Disney’s Peter Pan. Though the tune stays the same, the lyrics were rewritten and recycled for the 1953 adaptation. We can’t blame the studio for keeping the magical melody either way.
Land of Sand/Trust In Me
Last reused melody, we promise. We had to include this reworked number simply because it involves Walt Disney’s crowning achievement and his last animated feature. The song “Land of Sand” would have been involved in a scene featuring Mary Poppins and a magical hourglass. Since the scene was cut for time, the song lay dormant until work began on The Jungle Book.
The snake-charmer inspired melody was kept and given to our favorite serpent with psychedelic eyes, Kaa. The hypnotic rhythm and enchanting tune are definitely perfect for the character, and we’re delighted to know it was born from Walt Disney’s magnum opus.
Cinderella’s Work Song
Here’s a song that while well-thought-out and even going to story-boards was ultimately transformed into something more fitting for the feature. Originally, what was known as the “Working Song” was sung by Cinderella as she toiled away under the thumb of her wicked step-family. Though it had some lovely storyboards, it was a little depressing.
Thankfully, Disney pulled their always-available singing animal card and brought in Cinderella’s rodent entourage to sing a new “Working Song” known as “Cinderelly-Cinderelly” to the fans. It was a total makeover that definitely worked out for the best. It’s one we’re still humming anytime we do housework.
Higitus Figitus
It goes without saying that Merlin is almost everyone’s favorite character in Disney’s Sword in the Stone. Likewise, “Higitus Figitus” is perhaps the most memorable song in the entire film. However, before the final film was made, Merlin had a very different and less than lovable tune.
Despite being written by the multi-talented Sherman Brothers, the song “The Magic Key” was to have been Merlin’s big number about the importance of education. Demos of the song still exist, but it’s an ultimately clunky affair that we’re glad was rewritten into the marvelous magic spell we know and love.
Let It Go
Who knew a song’s rewrite could change the entire plot of a film? We certainly didn’t but that’s what happened with Disney’s most-played female power ballad, “Let it Go”. What was originally supposed to be a rocking villain song ended up being a complex ballad for a complex character.
Originally, Disney was keeping to the original motif of “The Snow Queen” by having Elsa be the villain and Anna coming to redeem her. But as Elsa’s character became more emotionally developed, the song evolved into the anthem Disney has practically had on repeat for years. Still, we can’t help but wonder what might have been.
