Background Information:
The story of Aladdin first appeared in the tales in the book One Thousand and One Nights written by the French Orientalist Antoine Galland in the 18th century who heard the story from Hanna Diyab and translated it into his book. It was then created into a movie by Disney in 1992. It was originally an animated movie until 2019 when it was made into a live-action movie.
A little background about the movie is that it is about a guy, Aladdin, who is a street thief who meets the princess of Agrabah, Jasmine, while she is out visiting the outside world away from the kingdom that she never leaves. Aladdin then finds a lamp where a genie is waiting for someone to release him. Soon, Aladdin and the genie start to become closer while the genie is granting Aladdin his three wishes. They soon bump into trouble with the Sultan's advisor Jafar who is the villain of the story.
In the movie, there are multiple songs sung throughout it. All the songs performed have their own very magical and unique sound to them. For example, in songs that are sung by Jasmine, the tempo is very slow and smooth with an elegant feeling to them. Another example would be when the Genie sings, his songs have an upbeat and fast-paced rhythm.
"Friend Like Me"
The song I will be focusing on is the song "
Friend Like Me" which is sung by the Genie when Aladdin first meets the Genie. This song was written by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman in 1992 in the United States. It was first sung by Robin Williams in the first movie Aladdin movie and then sung again by Will Smith in the recent live-action movie.
One way that the song can be interpreted is that the genie is mainly there just to entertain and serve the person who obtains the lamp and for no other reason. This can be seen in the lyric "Yes sir, we pride ourselves on service."
Although, I think there is a happier version of how to interpret the song. The song shows that friendship is very important. It describes that the friendship that you would receive from the genie is the kind that you want. It is implied by the lyric "You ain't never had a friend like me." The fast and bouncy tempo adds to the effect of friendship. Friendships are very playful and exciting just like this song.
I have always liked the movie Aladdin. It was very exciting to watch because of all the magic and cheerfulness to it. The song "Friend Like Me" was my favorite song to listen to from the movie. It is very catchy and joyful to hear as a child. Friendship is a very powerful and joyous thing during your childhood.
Sources:
Once I saw Addian I just had to read your blog. Loved the aminated movie when I was a kid but when the live action came out the amained version left my mind. For some reason I never knew that Robin Willams sang the song Freind Like Me on the amained movie. I love this blog.
ReplyDeleteAladdin is my favorite Disney animation movie! mostly because of it's soundtrack. In addition to its thematic richness, 'Friend Like Me' also serves as a musical testament to the versatility and magic embedded in Aladdin's narrative. The song becomes a dynamic expression of Genie's character, showcasing not only his willingness to serve but also the exuberance and zest he brings to the concept of friendship. The vibrant melody and upbeat rhythm capture the essence of the Genie's larger-than-life personality, making it an anthem for the joyous aspects of camaraderie. In essence, 'Friend Like Me' transcends its role as a mere musical interlude; it becomes a reflection of the emotional depth and timeless charm that Aladdin has brought to audiences over the years.
ReplyDeleteI couldn’t get on board with the live action. I’ve seen it, Smith’s version come across Pandora, but never Williams’ version. A live action was a wonderful idea, but this execution of it doesn’t turn my crank.
ReplyDeleteThe song is great, either version. The fast tempo, the symphonic harmonies, the sharp textures clashing with each other to be just so loud, not in mere volume but also in the radical stimuli of the whole execution. Both are awesome songs. Maybe I need to rewatch it, it could be one of them things that would grow on me.
I can’t even remember the live action Jafar, or Jasmine. Animated Jasmine was probably my second crush, after animated Pocahontas. Angelica Houston in The Addams Family might have been my third, or maybe a Klingon woman from Star Trek: The Next Generation.
Hi Winter! I haven't seen the live action Aladdin yet (or if I have, I don't remember it...), but the animated one is full of great moments! I didn't know what the story of Aladdin was based on. I would love to know what One Thousand and One Nights is about and how much of it is used Aladdin. I would also like to to know more about Hannah Diyab and what her connection to the story is. I like your comment on how the tempo adds to the aspect of friendship. I think it very interesting the difference between the William's version of the song and Smith's. William's is so comical and whimsical while Smith's is a lot more direct and straight. I feel like William's is more like YOU aint never had a friend like me and Smith's is more you aint never had a friend like ME, if that makes sense. Anyways, great blog post Winter! Thank you for sharing!
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