The live-action of 'The Little Mermaid' has not yet been released, but several controversies already gravitate around the film. In addition to discussions regarding the casting of actress and singer Halle Bailey to live Ariel, composers of the songs in the feature film revealed that they changed the lyrics of some of the songs in the disney classic.
The information was published by Vanity Fair magazine. In an interview, Alan Menken and Lin-Manuel Miranda stated that some of the songs in the film had to have their content changed so that the rhymes were not confused with sexual harassment.
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Changes had to be made, mainly in the music kiss the girl. “There were some changes in the lyrics of the song because people were very sensitive to the idea that he [Prince Eric, the mermaid's love interest] would somehow force [the little lady],” said Alan Menken.
In classic animation, the song plays when Ariel and Eric go for a romantic walk. A passionate kiss between the two characters is expected to break the sea witch's spell. It is sung:
“You don't know why, but you want to try,
Do you want to kiss the girl,
Yes, you want her
[…]
There's only one way to ask her,
Don't need words,
Any word,
Just go and kiss the lady”
In addition to kiss the girl, Poor Unfortunate Souls, sea witch Ursula's solo music also had alterations. In the original lyrics, still according to the composer, there are some passages in which it is implied that, somehow, “girls should not speak out of turn”.
Even before the film was announced, there was controversy involving the casting of actress and singer Halle Bailey to live Ariel. That's because the artist is a black woman, while the animation character is white with blue eyes and red hair.
On social media, the argument was that the producers wanted to drastically change what was done in the 1989 animation. However, there were those who argued that The Little Mermaid, was actually adapted from a children's tale of the same name. And, in the text, there is nothing that points out that the mermaid is white.
The live-action film is scheduled for release on May 26, 2023.
Graduated in Social Communication at the Federal University of Goiás. Passionate about digital media, pop culture, technology, politics and psychoanalysis.