Original Ariel Jodi Benson Says Updating Little Mermaid’s Song Lyrics ‘Was a Must’

Original Ariel Jodi Benson Says Updating Little Mermaid’s Song Lyrics ‘Was a Must’

Disney’s recent remake of The Little Mermaid has sparked controversy surrounding its revised song lyrics. While the live-action adaptation retains most of the beloved tunes from the original animated film, a few have undergone subtle alterations. One such song is “Kiss the Girl,” where certain lyrics from the original version raised concerns about consent, prompting the filmmakers to make adjustments. Similarly, the song “Poor Unfortunate Souls,” performed by Ursula, has been updated to avoid conveying the message that young girls should refrain from expressing themselves out of turn, as songwriter Alan Menken clarified.

These modifications have ignited passionate reactions on social media, with strong opinions being expressed. However, the original voice of Ariel, Jodi Benson, fully supports the changes. She believes that this evolution was necessary, as societal norms and perspectives have evolved since the original songs were penned for The Little Mermaid in 1989. In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, Benson explained the importance of making these adaptations to the song lyrics.

Related – Halle Bailey Surprises Families at Disneyland with Ariel Makeover & Movie Premiere

As Benson explained:

“We’re talking about starting our [voiceover] sessions in ’86 [for the original film]. It’s 2023, so we have to grow, we have to learn, we have to be aware of our surroundings. We’ve got to be aware of our growth as humans and what’s important now and what maybe isn’t as important. Things change. We’ve got to roll with that. I think that Rob [Marshall] and John [DeLuca] have done a beautiful job of doing that, and still paying tribute and honor to our original film. But you’ve got to have growth. It’s very important to stay relevant with where we are, what’s going on around us. We need to be aware. So the adjustments and the fine-tuning that they needed to do, it was a must, but it was done in a beautiful way, and I’m very, very thrilled with it.”

Jodi Benson

Heartwarming Moment at ‘The Little Mermaid’ Premiere: Halle Bailey and Jodi Benson Unite

The premiere of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” was graced with a heartwarming moment as Halle Bailey, the talented singer-actress portraying Ariel, shared a special connection with Jodi Benson, the original voice of Ariel from the animated classic.

The two enchanting performers came together, spreading joy and nostalgia among the attendees. Directed by visionary filmmaker Rob Marshall, this highly anticipated live-action adaptation is set to captivate audiences nationwide.

Check out the video below.

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