Disney's THE LITTLE MERMAID live-action movie musical - News & Discussion Thread — Page 2

I 100% agree. It shows she knows the original melody but can also play with it and make it her own. I love it and it represents who she is as an artist in the role. My students are so excited for this project a lot of them are black girls are so excited to see themselves represented as a Disney Princess in a live remake!

Why do they find it necessary to add an intrusive and completely unnecessary riff instead of singing it as it is written? If you want to make it your "own," make it your own by carefully considering your acting choices and channeling them in your singing instead of distrusting the material. It doesn't feel modern. It feels amateurish.

Dancingthrulife2 said: "Why do they find it necessary to add an intrusive and completely unnecessary riff instead of singing it as it is written? If you want to make it your "own," make it your own by carefully considering your acting choices and channeling them in your singing instead of distrusting the material. It doesn't feel modern. It feels amateurish."

It sounds completely intentional and great, if you ask me.

Dancingthrulife2 said: "GiantsInTheSky2 said: "Dancingthrulife2 said: "Why do they find it necessary to add an intrusive and completely unnecessary riff instead of singing it as it is written? If you want to make it your "own," make it your own by carefully considering your acting choices and channeling them in your singing instead of distrusting the material. It doesn't feel modern. It feels amateurish."


It sounds completely intentional and great, if you ask me."

In context, this is before Eric's ship sinks and Ariel makes a deal with Ursula to be able to do what she sings in the song. Therefore, although Ariel sings the I want song and seems quite excited about what lies on land, there is no way to achieve any of the things she actually wants to do. Keep the song the way it is written delivers a sense of defeat that is both poignant and makes you as an audience member empathize and care about her. The riff here, while intentional as it might seem, takes away the nuances that have been there in the material and makes the moment more like a show-off than one of very well crafted characterization."

This. It turns one of the most emotional, poignant moments of the song into “look how great I can vocalize.” Good musical theatre performers usually know when to hold back on things like that - Halle is a pop singer who wants to show off her vocals and I can feel that in the performance. She has a lovely voice, but it doesn’t feel like musical theatre to me, it feels like a music video.

Dancingthrulife2 said: "GiantsInTheSky2 said: "Dancingthrulife2 said: "Why do they find it necessary to add an intrusive and completely unnecessary riff instead of singing it as it is written? If you want to make it your "own," make it your own by carefully considering your acting choices and channeling them in your singing instead of distrusting the material. It doesn't feel modern. It feels amateurish."

It sounds completely intentional and great, if you ask me."

In context, this is before Eric's ship sinks and Ariel makes a deal with Ursula to be able to do what she sings in the song. Therefore, although Ariel sings the I want song and seems quite excited about what lies on land, there is no way to achieve any of the things she actually wants to do. Keep the song the way it is written delivers a sense of defeat that is both poignant and makes you as an audience member empathize and care about her. The riff here, while intentional as it might seem, takes away the nuances that have been there in the material and makes the moment more like a show-off than one of very well crafted characterization."

I think it’s probably because Jodi Benson couldn’t do a vocal run (as lovely as her voice was as Ariel).

You seem very upset over a two minute trailer. It's her interpretation and it's really not that deep.

Lolz. Sorry, allow me to clarify. You freaking out and complaining many times about a TRAILER which is not the live show and doesn't represent exactly what she is going to do is pretty ridiculous. Which is why you are getting called out by several people.

It's not that serious. Go touch grass.

^ 100%

Dancingthrulife2 said: "RippedMan said: "Anyone hating on her riff is probably a vocalist who can't riff and therefore doesn't understand how it can add to any sort of characterization. (Example: See "I'm Here" Color Purple"

Are you sure you are not projecting here? I cannot riff and I certainly am not a vocalist but thank you for your conjecture.

Sutton Ross said: "Lolz. Sorry, allow me to clarify. You freaking out and complaining many times about a TRAILER which is not the live show and doesn't represent exactly what she is going to do is pretty ridiculous. Which is why you are getting called out by several people.

It's not that serious. Go touch grass."

Sorry my response was too deep. The first sentence of my original response was being intentionally sarcastic and the one that follows was intended as a tell of me being sarcastic in the first one. I think that was pretty obvious for someone who can't wait to jump to ad hominem on things you don't agree with (review your own post history please)."

I actually can riff, but am, surprisingly, anti-riff if it doesn't make sense. I hate just riffing to riff. But here, it seems emotional, so I think it works. Also, it works in the sense of, if she sang it as the original, then what's the point of this remake? Just a live action version of the cartoon? I'm happy she's doing something different and sounds beautiful doing it.

RippedMan said: "Dancingthrulife2 said: "RippedMan said: "Anyone hating on her riff is probably a vocalist who can't riff and therefore doesn't understand how it can add to any sort of characterization. (Example: See "I'm Here" Color Purple"

Are you sure you are not projecting here? I cannot riff and I certainly am not a vocalist but thank you for your conjecture.

Sutton Ross said: "Lolz. Sorry, allow me to clarify. You freaking out and complaining many times about a TRAILER which is not the live show and doesn't represent exactly what she is going to do is pretty ridiculous. Which is why you are getting called out by several people.

It's not that serious. Go touch grass."

Sorry my response was too deep. The first sentence of my original response was being intentionally sarcastic and the one that follows was intended as a tell of me being sarcastic in the first one. I think that was pretty obvious for someone who can't wait to jump to ad hominem on things you don't agree with (review your own post history please)."

I actually can riff, but am, surprisingly, anti-riff if it doesn't make sense. I hate just riffing to riff. But here, it seems emotional, so I think it works. Also, it works in the sense of, if she sang it as the original, then what's the point of this remake? Just a live action version of the cartoon? I'm happy she's doing something different and sounds beautiful doing it."

I think there's a big difference between "anti-riff" and "riff does not work for this piece here." And no, not riffing here does not mean copying the cartoon version. This is a Howard Ashman song and you can have your interpretation of it without being intrusive to the material.

Updated On: 9/10/22 at 02:34 PM

RippedMan said: "Anyone hating on her riff is probably a vocalist who can't riff and therefore doesn't understand how it can add to any sort of characterization. (Example: See "I'm Here" Color Purple"

I am a vocalist but I can riff, I just think it’s out of place where she put it. My reasoning is more along the lines of me being a massive Disney fan who just loves this song. I don’t mind riffs when they fit, I just don’t like this choice she made and that’s my prerogative - like some of you said, it’s not that deep, I just have an opinion. There’s a video on YouTube of Ashman directing Jodi Benson for this, and he’s very adamant that he doesn’t want the song to be too “sing-y”, specifically directing her not to sound like she’s singing to a huge audience but to keep the song very intimate. It’s an interesting watch: https://youtu.be/AWTJkyLWgrk

I think she looks and sounds beautiful!! I’m very excited to hear and see the full song. Although I have to agree with some - I feel the ending riff takes some of the punch out of the pining/hurting “I want.” I’m reminded of the videos of Howard Ashman coaching Jodi Benson through the og recording session and encouraging her to hold back, use less voice, and to act more than sing (which I’m realizing as I write this that someone already posted this clip lol). That said, this is a new interpretation and only a few seconds of it. I think Halle Bailey is an inspired choice for the part.

Updated On: 9/10/22 at 04:03 PM