Disney Composer Alan Menken Breaks Down His Most Iconic Songs | PEOPLE

Disney legend Alan Menken looks back on the creation of some of the most beloved songs in animation history — from ‘The Little Mermaid’ and ‘Beauty and the Beast’ to ‘Aladdin’ ‘Pocahontas,’ ‘Hercules’ and beyond. Sitting at the piano, he reflects on the collaborators who shaped these classics, including Howard Ashman, Tim Rice and Stephen Schwartz, and revisits the moments that sparked songs like “Part of Your World,” “Beauty and the Beast” and “A Whole New World.” He shares the emotional journeys behind these works — from the hopeful, upward-reaching notes of Ariel’s ballad to the aching sense of time passing within Belle and the Beast’s love theme — and speaks candidly about writing through Howard Ashman’s terminal illness with AIDS, reinventing Hercules’ anthem for strength and discovering the first spark of ‘Pocahontas’ through “Colors of the Wind.” Menken also reflects on the simple joy that fuels his life’s work: the daily pull to sit at the piano and explore the possibilities of music, and the way a few notes can instantly transport us “like the smell of your favorite meal.” Timestamps 0:00 – Alan Menken Reflects on a Lifetime of Music 0:45 – The Little Mermaid (1989): “Part of Your World” 2:36 – Beauty and the Beast (1991): “Beauty and the Beast” 3:48 – Aladdin (1992): “Proud of Your Boy” 5:03 – Aladdin (1992): “A Whole New World” 6:17 – Pocahontas (1995): “Colors of the Wind” 7:02 – The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996): “Out There” 8:43 – Hercules (1997): “Go the Distance” 10:22 – Why Menken Still Loves Writing Music Subscribe to People ►► http://bit.ly/SubscribetoPeople CONNECT Web: 💻 https://people.com Facebook:   / peoplemag   Instagram:   / people   TikTok:   / people   PEOPLE App: 📱 https://bit.ly/3H0bthA PEOPLE remains the trusted authority at the center of pop culture. The PEOPLE brand features a unique mix of breaking entertainment news, exclusive photos, video, unparalleled access to the red carpet, celebrities, and in-depth reporting on the most compelling newsmakers of our time. Disney Composer Alan Menken Breaks Down His Most Iconic Songs | PEOPLE    / people