

Originally written for Aladdin to sing to his mother, "Proud of Your Boy" was discarded once the mother character was written out of the film. But we are artists, and artists do works that reflect their times." However, producer Don Hahn refuted popular claims that Ashman had intentionally written "Proud of Your Boy" about their relationship, explaining, "Was it underneath the topic? Yeah, probably. Director Ron Clements agreed that the ballad "meant a lot to Ashman because of his own relationship with his mother". Actress and singer Jodi Benson, with whom he had worked on Disney's The Little Mermaid (1989), described the lyricist as an underdog struggling to believe in himself and believes Ashman wrote "Proud of Your Boy" out of a constant desire to please his parents. Ashman is believed to have written "Proud of Your Boy" about his own parents. Particularly fond of Aladdin's mother, Ashman had strong feelings towards the song. The nature of their relationship is explored in "Proud of Your Boy", during which Aladdin promises to change for the better. In early drafts of Aladdin's screenplay, the character of the same name's mother is alive and central to the film's plot, expressing disappointment in her son's behavior. "Proud of Your Boy" was one of the first few songs written for Aladdin (1992), after "Arabian Nights" and " Friend Like Me". "Proud of Your Boy" was written by lyricist Howard Ashman and composer Alan Menken. Although most fans discovered the song via the musical, it had already become a cult favorite upon release of its demo, being considered a popular audition song among the musical theatre community. "Proud of Your Boy" premiered on stage to mostly positive reviews from critics, some of whom named it the show's best new addition it has since become the musical's signature song. When Aladdin's stage adaptation was green-lit, "Proud of Your Boy" was one of the first songs Menken and playwright Chad Beguelin prioritized including in the musical, which Aladdin sings in memory of his late mother. Actors Scott Weinger and Brad Kane auditioned for the film using the song both were ultimately cast as Aladdin's speaking and singing voice, respectively. Disney executive Jeffrey Katzenberg eventually insisted that both the mother and song be eliminated altogether, much to the disappointment of several crew members. Following Ashman's death during the film's production, the role of Aladdin's mother grew increasingly inconsequential as the story was revised. Some of Ashman's collaborators theorize that the lyricist based the song on his relationship with his own mother. "Proud of Your Boy" was one of the first songs Ashman and Menken wrote for Aladdin, of which Ashman was particularly fond. Lyrically, "Proud of Your Boy" is about a young man promising his mother that he will change his mischievous ways and ultimately make her proud. The song was eventually restored for the film's stage musical adaptation in 2011, originally performed and recorded by American actor Adam Jacobs.

After being discarded, "Proud of Your Boy" remained largely undiscovered by audiences until Walt Disney Records released Ashman and Menken's demo on a compilation album in 1994, after which it gradually gained popularity. Originally intended for Disney's animated film Aladdin (1992), the song was omitted when Aladdin's mother was written out of the story. " Proud of Your Boy" is a song written by lyricist Howard Ashman and composer Alan Menken. From "A Whole New World" to "Under the Sea," it is time for us to dive deep into the best original songs Alan Menken has composed for Disney.Song written for Disney's Aladdin "Proud of Your Boy"įrom the album Aladdin: Original Broadway Cast Recording For such a timeless genre of music, Menken has been able to compose music that captures what Disney is all about.

Disney is a place where all of our wildest dreams come to life, and there is nothing more magical than the music that holds it all together. He is responsible for writing the melodies and lyrics we cannot stop listening to even after decades of initially hearing them. However, for Disney, the music is unmatched.Īlan Menken is a writer and composer for countless titles in Disney movies. Even in movies that are not musicals, the backing track of an epic action sequence or a really emotional death can make or break a movie. Music acts as a sort of backbone that brings a scene to life.
Aladin disney song movie#
However, a frequently forgotten aspect of making a movie happens to be a good soundtrack. Some of the best movies today have impeccable costumes and set designs, the biggest actors, and big-name directors attached to them.
