I mean he was even directing the BREATHS she took between words and how important they were to the intensity he was trying to keep subtle and immense at the same time. Phenomenal director.
That would be Howard Ashman. He isn’t really the director. He wrote the lyrics to all the great Disney songs Little Mermaid Aladdin Beauty and the Beast. Sadly he died from complications from AIDS in 1991. Beauty and the Beast is dedicated in his Memory with the dedication reading “He gave a mermaid her voice and a beast his soul.”
Yeah absolutely, the breaths and emotion put in was vital. Without a good relationship the person would probably get really frustrated and stressed out lol. The hardest part is getting what you have in your head out into the audio, and usually it’s done through someone else.
The fact that she understood and took impossible directions is what made this so epic. Art is easier done than communicated, so it’s awesome that they were able to vibe together to make this so epic.
The directions were very understandable, but you gotta understand music and acting which is what he was conveying to her. She's a musical theater performer, so she's used to projecting her voice to 1,500 people, lol. Meanwhile he keeps reminding her, remember... intimate. Soft voice. Everything you do is BIG. He was taking a very powerful singer and fine tuning her. You can tell when she performs this live that she still has that full on singing tendency, which is fine for a live performance. But for the purpose of the film, he wanted a more sing songy intimate style of musical expression.
“Inner intensity”. YES!! It’s absolute magic when she lets go of the idea that she’s singing and comes from her heart. Such a cliche I know. But you hear it.
Oh wow, you can really see Ashman try to pull Jodi towards the version we end up seeing in the final animation. Without his instruction we might have ended up with a really different feel to that scene.
This is one of the hardest song of all the Disney princess movies to sing live. I got the role to play her in a musical theatre once and it was really hard to sing live. Bow down to her though, she made it sound so effortlessly beautiful i haven't sound as good as her singing this song.
Not only is Howard's direction so meticulous, but I'm also so touched by his professionalism in these clips. He's throwing a lot of seemingly contradictory asks at her very quickly and you can see her getting anxious, but he's very gentle and supportive. He uses positive reinforcement throughout and puts her comfort level first. He knows that his job isn't to drain her to exhaustion trying to find what he wants but help her get to an area where she can understand that vision and act on it. Just really cool seeing respect and kindness in a world where a lot of people believe that actors should be treated like brutalized animals.
Wow. Yup- I just teared up! It was watching this song sung live by the actual singer and definitely the memories of the past and also seeing her passion for it.
Yes! This is exactly why I've liked the live action remakes but haven't loved them like I did the original animated ones. They're going big in the new ones and not just letting the emotion of the songs and the stories shine through. Bigger isn't better sometimes.
@@sarahtherunner I can not stand the singing in the live action. Where is the vision and soul of the work? Did they throw away all the notes from the seminal original? They own it all! So clearly it was a choice to set it aside. Yet another reason Disney is tanking.
Howard Ashman, you left the world too soon. He deeply loved and cared about his work and made lyrics that will be timeless. He was one of the greatest.
It wasn’t submitted, but really should have been... Filmmakers can submit 2 songs and the production team chose Under the Sea (won the Oscar) and Kiss the Girl (was also nominated).
Same here, I guess there were too much talent in those years that was hard to choose between. But here we are in 2023 and “peaches peaches peaches” is about to be nominated 😂
@@iago07 first they considered cutting out this song from the movie, now I learned they didn’t even submit Part of Your World for Oscar at all? They’re really a bunch of morons running the company
As a 33 year old grown man, this song completely breaks me down every time. What an incredible performance, and such a treat to watch the original recording session as it happened 30+ years ago. Thanks for posting!
@@AnIdiotsLantern Howard Ashman brought her in because he had worked with her while directing the musical "Smile". It was his vision to cast Broadway actors.
AnIdiotsLantern They usually do pick good actors and singers nowadays. Idina Menzel was perfect for Elsa, and actually, everyone was good in Frozen, Tangled, and Wreck-It-Ralph. They all fit the characters movements, inflections, and overs character.
@@neveroddoreven6597 I wore my Wicked T shirt to see Frozen in Idina’s honor at the El Capitan Theater. I was excited when I heard she was going to do the movie alongside Kirsten Bell.
It is fascinating to watch Howard Ashman. He must be what folks like to call "an actor's director" - his vision was so specific and singular. Disney owes an enormous debt to his all-too-missed talents.
@@meeksanimationstudios He doesn't just say "Ariel is sad here, be sadder," he gives really specific directions about intonation of certain lines and what vocal quality he wants Ariel to have. On Broadway you're projecting larger-than-life volume and emotion to reach an audience in a larger space. Howard wanted more intimacy in this setting of voice acting for the screen. He was able to coax it out of her because he knew exactly what he wanted. Listen to his demo of this song on TH-cam. The way the lines are delivered all sound very similar.
Rebecca Froehlich excuse me I am French and I love cinema and animation. I would love to do this job. What is the name in English please ? Because I am looking for my university and ect. And it is very difficult to search a job like this in 🇫🇷. I study music 🎶 and I have a little diplom ( 6years )
@@internetual7350 Thanks anyway ! it s crazy i do not remember writing this comment. I am currently a film student. I have just remembered that I used to have a big interest in movies score (which I still have but I dont want to pursue in this field) 😀
The whole song is so emotive but that line and the “bright young woman” line are my favorite moments. That look when she says “ right young women” is just iconic and the pure feeling when she sings that word “burn”. So beautiful
@@CeeBee781its absolutely perfect how she starts completely defeated and merely day dreaming, but by the end she has more resolve and I think the dream feels a little more possible to her 😢
They're preparing the scene where Ariel sings, "Part of Your World," in the cavern in the movie, "The Little Mermaid." It's hard to believe that that scene almost got cut from the film! Some members on the production team thought it should be cut because they felt that it would slow the movie down but Howard insisted that it stay in because it's necessary, it shows that Ariel has other reasons to want to be in the human world besides just being in love with Eric. Roy Disney also backed Howard up 100% on this. Roy also insisted that the scene should stay in the movie because it was an important scene. Roy said that sometimes a movie has to be slowed down and added that if his Uncle Walt was here, he'd also be siding with Howard. So it was agreed that the scene should stay and it turned to be a good thing, too.
It had to be in the movie because it's an amazing song which gives us the heart and soul of the central character and elevates the movie to classic status! Cutting this song would be like removing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" from the Wizard of Oz!
@@Scripture-Man Exactly! Very good comparison! Howard would've agreed with you on that. Howard explained that the first, second or sometimes the third song in a musical is sung by the main character and it makes you fall in love with them. "Part of Your World," is that song in The Little Mermaid.
@@alexanderpytko5394 Especially since it's Ariel's "I want" song. It's how the audience connects to her character and without it that connection wouldn't be the same
@@lutzaby1997 Professional singers can sound amazing, but there's artistic flair and personality here, a polish that goes above and beyond. To a trained ear the difference is obvious, and that is undoubtedly why she got the part over other pro singers and voice talents.
She looks old. Even back then if they would have made a live version of the movie she would still have been the voice behind the character. Voice yes, looks ? Nah 👎🏾
Howard having Jodi in a small room, with not much light because he knew it would get her into character as Ariel is supposed to sing this song in an enclosed cavern with only a little light shining in. Howard really knew how to get actors into their character. Brilliant man.
@@manuelorozco7760 He didn't. By the time they had casted the voice actors for Aladdin, Howard had already passed away. He started working on Aladdin right after The Little Mermaid and got part way through he had written some of the story and 3 of the songs but then Disney wanted him to be in charge of Beauty and the Beast so Aladdin was put on hold. And as we know, Howard died before Beauty and the Beast was fully completed.
Fun fact: The lights were dimmed in the recording studio so that the atmosphere would be right for Jodi. They wanted every single thing to be perfect ☺️
Her voice is the best voice Disney has ever had. Hands down. Her talent and understanding of music and the emotion behind it is unmatched. She inspired my love of singing ❤
Howard Ashman, RIP, doing his best to massage Jodi's beautiful voice down to a more gentle conversational monologue. You can see his frustration in his eyes in trying to be as polite as possible. What this shows is that true visionaries know what they want. That's the difference, they're not winging it.
Well, he's working with a musical theater performer, and she is not used to the whole "less is more" concept in performing. She doesn't have that luxury, so she kept asking for feedback if her intensity has dropped enough. They're both professional and working well despite the constant tweaking and directing. They're both amazing in their collaboration.
@smarts It's not an eyeroll. It's more like his eyes go up in a slight wince. Like he's thinking to himself "No that's not quite what I'm looking for."
Reminds me of my daughter. I sang this to her everytime she was upset since she was a newborn. Always bought her Ariel dolls, and stuffed toys. We got gifted Disney tickets when she was 15 months old. The girl was so uninterested in every single princess. Cinderella? Boring. Snow White? Boring. Rapunzel? Boring. But when we got to Ariel…her little face 😭 She smiled, talked to her, it made me cry. She knew that was Ariel. Ariel said “we’ll you’re the cutest little guppy I’ve ever seen” Thinking of it brought tears to my eyes. Those pictures are my absolute favorite, and sure to cheer me up in my darkest moments.🥹❤️
If i'm not mistaken, The Little Mermaid was released in 1989 - so that means he died only 2 years after its release? So sad. He didn't quite get the chance to see how this song impacted a generation of people, not just little girls. He was a perfectionist, that's very apparent here. But without demanding for perfection, the entire song would have been completely different from the one we all know & love today. R.i.P.
She's so magical, the remake can't come close to the magic of this one. Her emotions just hit you so hard, you feel her joy and sadness at the same time, about wanting something that's impossible to get.
I can’t WAIT to see the new one. I always thought this would make a beautiful live action. I just hope they change it d ouch to let this be the classic it is and let the new one be something new. I hate when they just copy the animated film almost line for line and just make it live. Lame and disrespectful to the original
It's less "rehearsed" and "sing-y". I think it's very evident in the directions she's given here and the distinction between this take and the final version that made it into the movie. The final version is a lot more raw, real, human, full of character and emotion. It's like what Howard Ashman's saying here: "Every little breath you take is enormous [and] registered... It's about emotion and not letting it out..." It's more about the inner intensity instead of the "noise". Had Jodi Benson chose to belt throughout the entire song, the magic and the human quality of the piece will be lost. It will be entirely pointless. Which is why I absolutely love Disney's Renaissance era and Part of Your World; everything was executed with such integrity and respect for the art and was done to the essence of Disney. Part of Your World is one of the best musical character studies I know; it's such a good "I want" song and it tells the audience everything they need to know about Ariel. That burning desire to get to the shore and explore another world which she loves so very much, getting held back by her father and own circumstances and having all that emotions, passion, joy, desperation, anguish built up to that very point. Ariel (Jodi) gasps and takes such exhilarating breaths full of wonder and excitement when she sings about all the gadgets she has collected from the world she so very wants to be a part of; it's all about that human emotion and it's absolutely beautiful. This take in the video sounds beautiful musically and Jodi has a wonderful voice, but it pales in comparison to the take they chose for the movie.
I love the fact that Ashman is directing her and telling her exactly what needs to be done. He had a clear vision of what impact this scene/song needed. Also the fact that she's willing to take criticism and work with him shows that she cares just as much. Not like nowadays where they say, "Yeah just sing the song. It'll be fine. No acting necessary". In these live-action remakes, they cast great singers but when there's no actual acting and direction involved, the songs fall incredibly flat. Zero emotion from the singer = Zero impact on the audience.
It’s because in the remakes they’re just imitating the work of the earlier songwriters, whereas here, you see Howard Ashman meticulously directing Benson to give the perfect performance because he- the songwriter- knows exactly how he wants it done. Nowadays they’re just imitating and it shows. The passion of a Howard Ashman to get the most out of every little detail is gone.
At this time Jodie Benson was an unknown actor/singer in her mid twenties and just landed her dream role. Amazing to see her in the studio working on this song when she has no idea how special it will be and that people are still captivated by it and singing along with it 35 years later and it’s ranked by many media outlets as one of the greatest Disney songs of all time.
The songs from The Little Mermaid are probably among the best songs Disney ever put out. Howard Ashman was such an awesome songwriter. He left us way too soon.
As a 37 year old man, I didn't connect with the little mermaid as a child, but seeing the singer and her support staff work through this is more touching than what I experienced as a child. They were artists and trying to communicate something deeply human.
Benson’s voice and Ashman’s directing... what a combination. The final version had such a building emotional intensity. It’s amazing to see how painstaking of a process it was to get it to that point, because the finished product comes across so effortless.
Props to him he was very correct to push for the energy that was captured in the film. No one would care for the song if she did it all broadway and super technical. He wanted something raw and authentic and that’s what we got and adore.
Jodi admitted that she tends to sing it loudly because she is a musical theater person, but she's happy that she achieved what Howard and Alan wanted, intensity without being to loud.
To me its still the most beautiful Disney song ever, always gets me fuzzy. Jodi Benson is the voice of Ariel always and forever. Thank you for gifting us with it all these years. Amazing directors also.
It's amazing to see this voice I grew up with come to life like this. She was under so much pressure to sing in such a way, but in the end it came out perfectly, so much emotion in it. She did so well!
Timeless. Perfect. Never to be matched ! Howard working with Jodi on every single detail, every single breath, word, phrase, sentence - to make it perfect and translate into something meaningful and magical… Talent, perfection and execution merging into one-of-a-time recording. I’m still amazed after all those years and countless performances 😊
I never knew who the singer was until now, 33 years later. Her voice, the music, and the whole story were a perfect combination to become my favorite childhood movie. Thank you, Ms. Jodi Benson and the whole team of filmmakers... The Little Mermaid has always been my favorite and my children know it.
@@manuelorozco7760 I don't know about your knowledge of the usage of the titles "Ms. and Miss" but for clarity, Ms. can be used whether she's married or not. I specifically used "Ms." because I didn't know her marital status but thank you for the information.
I've never heard this song without holding back my tears. It's just so powerful. The breathy verses, the ascending energy, the yearning in her voice. I know she's acting, she's an actress, that's what she does, but it's so perfectly executed that it can make anyone crumble
She is so talented, to have that voice and also be able to also act so well with just her voice. And to be able to deal with the micromanaging perfectionists and translate their direction into such beautiful and meaning filled nuances in the song. Amazing.
It was an honor to perform Candlelight at Disney World with Jodi when she was our reader one night. Her vocals here are so beautiful that I'm crying. I would be sobbing through this song if I had to sing it, idk how she does it.
If you listen to the final version they really did keep a lid on that bright tone she's producing here... It works tho the producer got exactly what he wanted
I remain obsessed with how effortlessly she emits one of the most beautiful sounds I've ever heard in the first few seconds of this clip. A bravura performance while they're not even taping.
This is why people can’t compare the live action and 1989 cartoon. They let hailey hit the high notes and show off her voice, while they cared more about the pure emotion in 1989 because the stage wasn’t set yet.
The amount of subtle direction to get the exact level of emotion and intensity, WITHOUT trying to be too performative. Holy crap, this is one of my favorite videos ever
Watching the brilliance of Ashman at work and the raw talent of Jodi Benson is just amazing. You can really see why these films are timeless. I see a few comments saying it's a bit perfectionist, well with the results they end up with, can you argue with it?
Jodi is gallantly GOR-geous in this video. It's amazing, this is the moment the magic was captured. Every expression on her face she just pulls me in closer. She makes it look effortless, and along with Howard's direction, she just feeds off it. Nothing tops this backstage glimpse. Watching her, the expressions, every thought, feeling, emotion, and curiosity, and how it shows by her performance, was a huge service to humanity. Thanks to whomever had the idea of taping this and publicizing it later in the bonus content of Disney stuff. Howard was JUST getting started. What wonders might we have been blessed with if there was the kind of treatment there is now back then. To what heights would he have gone to. What a loss.
I love clips like this. Especially from movies from when I was a kid because it's like seeing a live movie. I'm excited for the new version that's in theatres right now but Jodi has an iconic voice.
It’s been a long time since I’ve watched this look at the recording session. Happy belated 59th birthday to Jodi. She has one of the most beautiful voices ever!
The direction is so interesting to watch. Howard Ashman is so locked into Ariel’s character and trying to communicate that quiet desperation for the outside world, and Jodi Benson is young, talented, hard working and trying to translate his direction into concrete singing techniques (more/less sing-y etc). You can tell they really had to work to get to the end product we all know, but the results were worth it. It’s a shame Ashman passed away when he did.
This footage is so incredible. Howard’s direction was so specific yet so gently delivered, and Jodi was just a willing piece of clay. And look at what this collaboration produced - one of the most memorable songs of the entire Disney canon.
I mean he was even directing the BREATHS she took between words and how important they were to the intensity he was trying to keep subtle and immense at the same time. Phenomenal director.
That would be Howard Ashman. He isn’t really the director. He wrote the lyrics to all the great Disney songs Little Mermaid Aladdin Beauty and the Beast. Sadly he died from complications from AIDS in 1991. Beauty and the Beast is dedicated in his Memory with the dedication reading “He gave a mermaid her voice and a beast his soul.”
Yeah absolutely, the breaths and emotion put in was vital. Without a good relationship the person would probably get really frustrated and stressed out lol. The hardest part is getting what you have in your head out into the audio, and usually it’s done through someone else.
pretty common for vocal work... even for signers not in movies. but yes, cool nonetheless
I guess you never took a choir class before lol
That is not unusual.
If i have her voice, i'll sing all day
F Am She would make a great talk therapist for autistic people cope with their struggles
Billy Ray alright then?? Lol the fuck
*had her voice.
Only the witch had her voice
I made you're comment 1k likes
Jodi Benson and Lea Salonga is both a Disney Legend Princesses!
No, lea is only singing voice
@@balbalbulbul4971 hey shes still Jasmine
Aly Bernales Ilene Woods (Cinderella) was probably some motivation for her intimate singing
Aly Bernales LEGENDS
Balbal Bulbul and
The fact that she understood and took impossible directions is what made this so epic. Art is easier done than communicated, so it’s awesome that they were able to vibe together to make this so epic.
The directions were very understandable, but you gotta understand music and acting which is what he was conveying to her. She's a musical theater performer, so she's used to projecting her voice to 1,500 people, lol. Meanwhile he keeps reminding her, remember... intimate. Soft voice. Everything you do is BIG. He was taking a very powerful singer and fine tuning her. You can tell when she performs this live that she still has that full on singing tendency, which is fine for a live performance. But for the purpose of the film, he wanted a more sing songy intimate style of musical expression.
Holy fuck yes…you are so correct
They were vibing, she was feeding off his energy and him hers. Pushing her towards what he envisioned. Amazing.
“Inner intensity”. YES!! It’s absolute magic when she lets go of the idea that she’s singing and comes from her heart. Such a cliche I know. But you hear it.
@@Jl2damaxMagic ❤
Oh wow, you can really see Ashman try to pull Jodi towards the version we end up seeing in the final animation. Without his instruction we might have ended up with a really different feel to that scene.
The crazy thing is, the Disney excecs wanted to cut this song from the movie originally.
@@patrickmanway290 what😭
@@jonc3214 Fuck that kid hahah
@@jonc3214 unbelievable it’s the best scene in the film
Yup RiP Ashman DISNEY LEGEND
This is one of the hardest song of all the Disney princess movies to sing live. I got the role to play her in a musical theatre once and it was really hard to sing live. Bow down to her though, she made it sound so effortlessly beautiful i haven't sound as good as her singing this song.
well obviously the song was catered around her voice! she is the original obviously no one can hit her notes and sound as good.
oki cools yeah it makes sense when you put it like that
oki cools oh sis
Damnn Part of your world is hard song ;----;
Keira jenner hardest to sing period
Not only is Howard's direction so meticulous, but I'm also so touched by his professionalism in these clips. He's throwing a lot of seemingly contradictory asks at her very quickly and you can see her getting anxious, but he's very gentle and supportive. He uses positive reinforcement throughout and puts her comfort level first. He knows that his job isn't to drain her to exhaustion trying to find what he wants but help her get to an area where she can understand that vision and act on it.
Just really cool seeing respect and kindness in a world where a lot of people believe that actors should be treated like brutalized animals.
I mean, if actors are payed millions of dollars to just either memorize, act or sing, of course the person paying all that money wants perfection
That little laugh at 1:41 really encapsulates Ariel.
☺️
Yep! And unfortunately Halle won’t have those small inflections.
A R girl...stop being a racist
Archie Lamont can you like not lol
Bri truth hurts! She won’t pull it off 🤷🏻♀️
Idk why but her voice makes me cry
same
Me too
nostalgia 😭
It’s the nostalgia... we all have seen this movie as young children and we loved it so much!! 😭😭❤️❤️
Wow. Yup- I just teared up! It was watching this song sung live by the actual singer and definitely the memories of the past and also seeing her passion for it.
"intensity is better than enormous" is such an interesting point by Ashman, and one that modern artists would do well to remember
Yes! This is exactly why I've liked the live action remakes but haven't loved them like I did the original animated ones. They're going big in the new ones and not just letting the emotion of the songs and the stories shine through. Bigger isn't better sometimes.
@@sarahtherunner I can not stand the singing in the live action. Where is the vision and soul of the work? Did they throw away all the notes from the seminal original? They own it all! So clearly it was a choice to set it aside. Yet another reason Disney is tanking.
Gosh her voice is so good
The first time I heard her sing was in Thumbelina
Gawrsh *hiccup*
Nobody in this universe or in any other can replace jodie benson's work in the movie
Was*
@@-i_own_you_- that comment is like 4 years ago ☠️?
Howard Ashman, you left the world too soon. He deeply loved and cared about his work and made lyrics that will be timeless. He was one of the greatest.
As the tribute to him at the end of 'Beauty and the Beast' put it, "He gave a mermaid her voice, and a beast his soul."
He would have lived to be the Oscar Hammerstein II of Disney Animation
He's the man most responsible for the Renaissance era, in my view.
Bless him. I hope he Rests In Peace.
So much was lost when he passed all too soon. May he RIP.
I’m surprised this wasn’t nominated at the Oscar for best original song
So am I. It’s like Ariel got upstaged by Sebastian
It wasn’t submitted, but really should have been... Filmmakers can submit 2 songs and the production team chose Under the Sea (won the Oscar) and Kiss the Girl (was also nominated).
Same. Its the one disney song that brings a LOT of people to tears.
Same here, I guess there were too much talent in those years that was hard to choose between. But here we are in 2023 and “peaches peaches peaches” is about to be nominated 😂
@@iago07 first they considered cutting out this song from the movie, now I learned they didn’t even submit Part of Your World for Oscar at all? They’re really a bunch of morons running the company
As a 33 year old grown man, this song completely breaks me down every time. What an incredible performance, and such a treat to watch the original recording session as it happened 30+ years ago. Thanks for posting!
Same and I am 37:)
Same I’m so grateful to witness this. I adore the song and the emotion throughout especially all her little gasps.
@@jacksrightarm Same and I am also 37.
I'm 33. And same. Ashman was a genius. Absolutely brilliant. Tragic what happened and what could have been.
29 here and still gives me goosebumps!
You’re watching Ashman create the aesthetic that defined Disney for the next 30 years. Amazing. RIP King.
You gotta admit theres occasions when Disney can pick em
She was a mostly unknown Broadway actress too. WHere they found her, I have no idea, but boy was she a find.
@@AnIdiotsLantern Howard Ashman brought her in because he had worked with her while directing the musical "Smile". It was his vision to cast Broadway actors.
AnIdiotsLantern They usually do pick good actors and singers nowadays. Idina Menzel was perfect for Elsa, and actually, everyone was good in Frozen, Tangled, and Wreck-It-Ralph. They all fit the characters movements, inflections, and overs character.
@@neveroddoreven6597 I wore my Wicked T shirt to see Frozen in Idina’s honor at the El Capitan Theater. I was excited when I heard she was going to do the movie alongside Kirsten Bell.
@@rfrolicarts I wish they still did that. Casting Broadway actors.
It is fascinating to watch Howard Ashman. He must be what folks like to call "an actor's director" - his vision was so specific and singular. Disney owes an enormous debt to his all-too-missed talents.
Specific...?
@@meeksanimationstudios He doesn't just say "Ariel is sad here, be sadder," he gives really specific directions about intonation of certain lines and what vocal quality he wants Ariel to have. On Broadway you're projecting larger-than-life volume and emotion to reach an audience in a larger space. Howard wanted more intimacy in this setting of voice acting for the screen. He was able to coax it out of her because he knew exactly what he wanted. Listen to his demo of this song on TH-cam. The way the lines are delivered all sound very similar.
Rebecca Froehlich excuse me I am French and I love cinema and animation. I would love to do this job. What is the name in English please ? Because I am looking for my university and ect. And it is very difficult to search a job like this in 🇫🇷. I study music 🎶 and I have a little diplom ( 6years )
@@valentinefontaine275 I'm literally 3 years late so you've probably graduated 💀but I think what you're looking for is "music director"
@@internetual7350 Thanks anyway ! it s crazy i do not remember writing this comment. I am currently a film student. I have just remembered that I used to have a big interest in movies score (which I still have but I dont want to pursue in this field) 😀
Her voice is so beautiful. It gives me chills..
It really is
I loved the intense version of Ariel, especially that vibrato on the “burn” word, yiiish gives me chills
I keep rewinding that part. It gives me chills too.
The whole song is so emotive but that line and the “bright young woman” line are my favorite moments. That look when she says “ right young women” is just iconic and the pure feeling when she sings that word “burn”. So beautiful
Yes! My favorite part of the song!
@@CeeBee781its absolutely perfect how she starts completely defeated and merely day dreaming, but by the end she has more resolve and I think the dream feels a little more possible to her 😢
They're preparing the scene where Ariel sings, "Part of Your World," in the cavern in the movie, "The Little Mermaid." It's hard to believe that that scene almost got cut from the film! Some members on the production team thought it should be cut because they felt that it would slow the movie down but Howard insisted that it stay in because it's necessary, it shows that Ariel has other reasons to want to be in the human world besides just being in love with Eric. Roy Disney also backed Howard up 100% on this. Roy also insisted that the scene should stay in the movie because it was an important scene. Roy said that sometimes a movie has to be slowed down and added that if his Uncle Walt was here, he'd also be siding with Howard. So it was agreed that the scene should stay and it turned to be a good thing, too.
It had to be in the movie because it's an amazing song which gives us the heart and soul of the central character and elevates the movie to classic status! Cutting this song would be like removing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" from the Wizard of Oz!
@@Scripture-Man Exactly! Very good comparison! Howard would've agreed with you on that. Howard explained that the first, second or sometimes the third song in a musical is sung by the main character and it makes you fall in love with them. "Part of Your World," is that song in The Little Mermaid.
@@alexanderpytko5394 Especially since it's Ariel's "I want" song. It's how the audience connects to her character and without it that connection wouldn't be the same
Thank you so much for this story, Alexander Pytko wherever you are!
Wild to me that they almost cut the main character’s “I Want” song from a musical!
Wow she's so young here. I love her voice, and it somehow still has the same quality after all that time.
johnny bravo yes it’s from 20-50 is young still
28 is young lol are you guys high
Random! It’s more the Johnny Bravo kid that’s so high something.
@@random7509 26 when this was recorded.
This is Broadway lead - level talent.
Shes got the voice, shes got the looks, and shes got the skills. Incredible.
@@lutzaby1997 Professional singers can sound amazing, but there's artistic flair and personality here, a polish that goes above and beyond. To a trained ear the difference is obvious, and that is undoubtedly why she got the part over other pro singers and voice talents.
I mean - they gave her a lead role in a huge Disney movie for a reason... :)
She has also literally starred on Broadway.
She was on Broadway before
She looks old. Even back then if they would have made a live version of the movie she would still have been the voice behind the character. Voice yes, looks ? Nah 👎🏾
Howard having Jodi in a small room, with not much light because he knew it would get her into character as Ariel is supposed to sing this song in an enclosed cavern with only a little light shining in. Howard really knew how to get actors into their character. Brilliant man.
I would have liked to see how he worked with Robin Williams doing Friend Like Me
@@manuelorozco7760 He didn't. By the time they had casted the voice actors for Aladdin, Howard had already passed away. He started working on Aladdin right after The Little Mermaid and got part way through he had written some of the story and 3 of the songs but then Disney wanted him to be in charge of Beauty and the Beast so Aladdin was put on hold. And as we know, Howard died before Beauty and the Beast was fully completed.
@@alexanderpytko5394 Oh bummer
Fun fact: The lights were dimmed in the recording studio so that the atmosphere would be right for Jodi. They wanted every single thing to be perfect ☺️
Source? Otherwise you're just pulling facts out of your ass.
damn you're right
All the light fixtures back in 1989 were like that. Incandescent lights were cool, none of that energy saving (planet saving) LED nonsense like today.
It worked!
They literally said that in the video.
If I had her voice I would never shut up
Her voice is the best voice Disney has ever had. Hands down. Her talent and understanding of music and the emotion behind it is unmatched. She inspired my love of singing ❤
It’s been her and Lea Salonga for sure
Belle in the first B&B was best
Howard Ashman, RIP, doing his best to massage Jodi's beautiful voice down to a more gentle conversational monologue. You can see his frustration in his eyes in trying to be as polite as possible. What this shows is that true visionaries know what they want. That's the difference, they're not winging it.
@Marco Aguilera I dont see it
Well, he's working with a musical theater performer, and she is not used to the whole "less is more" concept in performing. She doesn't have that luxury, so she kept asking for feedback if her intensity has dropped enough. They're both professional and working well despite the constant tweaking and directing. They're both amazing in their collaboration.
@smarts It's not an eyeroll. It's more like his eyes go up in a slight wince. Like he's thinking to himself "No that's not quite what I'm looking for."
Shes too uptight. It required inner monologue. But god dang her voice is pretty.
"Not quite my tempo."
Brought tears to my eyes and chills down my legs. The Little Mermaid has always held a special place in my heart. Takes me back to being a kid
Hey, you’ve got 100 likes! Nice work!
This right here! 😭💝👏🏾
Me too🥺
Same I used to watch the little mermaid every single day 😢❤
Reminds me of my daughter. I sang this to her everytime she was upset since she was a newborn. Always bought her Ariel dolls, and stuffed toys. We got gifted Disney tickets when she was 15 months old. The girl was so uninterested in every single princess. Cinderella? Boring. Snow White? Boring. Rapunzel? Boring. But when we got to Ariel…her little face 😭 She smiled, talked to her, it made me cry. She knew that was Ariel. Ariel said “we’ll you’re the cutest little guppy I’ve ever seen” Thinking of it brought tears to my eyes. Those pictures are my absolute favorite, and sure to cheer me up in my darkest moments.🥹❤️
Even when she talks normally you can hear the Ariel voice
Well yeah cause she didn't really change it for the voice acting.
She's also Barbie in the Toy Story movies.
@@lozebel REALLY?!?!
@@lozebel really???
I mean.. thats her voice
RIP Howard Ashman (May 17, 1950 - March 14, 1991), aged 40
You will be remembered as a legend.
amen!
@@DaveFisher-cq2dr He died of AIDS.
He died so young..
@@tcrijwanachoudhury indeed he did
If i'm not mistaken, The Little Mermaid was released in 1989 - so that means he died only 2 years after its release? So sad. He didn't quite get the chance to see how this song impacted a generation of people, not just little girls.
He was a perfectionist, that's very apparent here. But without demanding for perfection, the entire song would have been completely different from the one we all know & love today. R.i.P.
She's so magical, the remake can't come close to the magic of this one. Her emotions just hit you so hard, you feel her joy and sadness at the same time, about wanting something that's impossible to get.
I can’t WAIT to see the new one. I always thought this would make a beautiful live action. I just hope they change it d ouch to let this be the classic it is and let the new one be something new. I hate when they just copy the animated film almost line for line and just make it live. Lame and disrespectful to the original
@@CeeBee781 What did you think of the remake?
@@CeeBee781 you thought the new one would be respectful? lol
I think the new one just lacks an emotionally clear directive.
@@minniemin1324what the fuck is that supposed to mean?
The minor notes she opts for on the words “people know” that make it to final version are pretty iconic to my ears. I wonder if that was an accident.
Interesting observation, thank you. Given this video I can only imagine it was deliberate, but curious minds wonder how that came about and why.
My favorite part. I view it not as going into minor but almost going into jazz singer style microtonal inflection
It's less "rehearsed" and "sing-y". I think it's very evident in the directions she's given here and the distinction between this take and the final version that made it into the movie. The final version is a lot more raw, real, human, full of character and emotion. It's like what Howard Ashman's saying here: "Every little breath you take is enormous [and] registered... It's about emotion and not letting it out..." It's more about the inner intensity instead of the "noise". Had Jodi Benson chose to belt throughout the entire song, the magic and the human quality of the piece will be lost. It will be entirely pointless. Which is why I absolutely love Disney's Renaissance era and Part of Your World; everything was executed with such integrity and respect for the art and was done to the essence of Disney. Part of Your World is one of the best musical character studies I know; it's such a good "I want" song and it tells the audience everything they need to know about Ariel. That burning desire to get to the shore and explore another world which she loves so very much, getting held back by her father and own circumstances and having all that emotions, passion, joy, desperation, anguish built up to that very point. Ariel (Jodi) gasps and takes such exhilarating breaths full of wonder and excitement when she sings about all the gadgets she has collected from the world she so very wants to be a part of; it's all about that human emotion and it's absolutely beautiful. This take in the video sounds beautiful musically and Jodi has a wonderful voice, but it pales in comparison to the take they chose for the movie.
nothing is an accident, every breath is directed, the combination of these artists made it epic
I've played several transposed versions of sheet music, that part just feels weird in almost every transposed version
Jodi is such a legend. Her voice is out of this world
so was Howard Ashman, god rest his soul, gone too soon
I love the fact that Ashman is directing her and telling her exactly what needs to be done. He had a clear vision of what impact this scene/song needed. Also the fact that she's willing to take criticism and work with him shows that she cares just as much. Not like nowadays where they say, "Yeah just sing the song. It'll be fine. No acting necessary". In these live-action remakes, they cast great singers but when there's no actual acting and direction involved, the songs fall incredibly flat. Zero emotion from the singer = Zero impact on the audience.
It’s because in the remakes they’re just imitating the work of the earlier songwriters, whereas here, you see Howard Ashman meticulously directing Benson to give the perfect performance because he- the songwriter- knows exactly how he wants it done.
Nowadays they’re just imitating and it shows. The passion of a Howard Ashman to get the most out of every little detail is gone.
That's so incredible. His direction is so good
At this time Jodie Benson was an unknown actor/singer in her mid twenties and just landed her dream role. Amazing to see her in the studio working on this song when she has no idea how special it will be and that people are still captivated by it and singing along with it 35 years later and it’s ranked by many media outlets as one of the greatest Disney songs of all time.
The best, likely.
THIS will forever by the Arial that I will cherish and remember...
The songs from The Little Mermaid are probably among the best songs Disney ever put out. Howard Ashman was such an awesome songwriter. He left us way too soon.
yes indeed, awesome songwriter, left us too soon
@@DaveFisher-cq2dr He died of AIDS in 1991 at 40. His first BF had infected him in 1984.
My god, Howard Ashman was an absolute genius.
This was the song that made me fall in love with her voice! Literally got goosebumps.
I first heard her sing as Thumbelina
As a 37 year old man, I didn't connect with the little mermaid as a child, but seeing the singer and her support staff work through this is more touching than what I experienced as a child. They were artists and trying to communicate something deeply human.
I’ll be 30 next week and I didn’t connect with it as a kid either. I’ve seen better from Disney
Benson’s voice and Ashman’s directing... what a combination. The final version had such a building emotional intensity. It’s amazing to see how painstaking of a process it was to get it to that point, because the finished product comes across so effortless.
Part of your world is the single best vocal performance in the history of Disney Animation.
I actually think you're right.
Agreed. From a 59-year-old man who’s still enamored at the magic they created 30 years ago.
I miss you, Howard. You made the overall feel and identity of this song and it keeps going in 2023
Her vibrato and control is pure perfection ❤️
Props to him he was very correct to push for the energy that was captured in the film. No one would care for the song if she did it all broadway and super technical. He wanted something raw and authentic and that’s what we got and adore.
Ironically, this ended up becoming a broadway show
Jodi admitted that she tends to sing it loudly because she is a musical theater person, but she's happy that she achieved what Howard and Alan wanted, intensity without being to loud.
Howard was a genius. One of the greatest lyricists ever. My inspiration.
he sure was, he left us too soon
@@DaveFisher-cq2dr His previous BF infected him with AIDS around 1984. His Partner Bill Lauch reveals.
To me its still the most beautiful Disney song ever, always gets me fuzzy. Jodi Benson is the voice of Ariel always and forever. Thank you for gifting us with it all these years. Amazing directors also.
The giggle after she said 'feet' Idk why i loved it so much 🥹
Howard Ashman is a legend, even 34 years later Jodi Benson holds up this standard
Her voice is just so crisp and amazing, cuts through so cleanly.
It's amazing to see this voice I grew up with come to life like this. She was under so much pressure to sing in such a way, but in the end it came out perfectly, so much emotion in it. She did so well!
Hearing a Disney princess' voice in the making improved my life in some way. Sounds like magic.
Howard had such passion for the beautiful lyrics he wrote.
Timeless. Perfect. Never to be matched ! Howard working with Jodi on every single detail, every single breath, word, phrase, sentence - to make it perfect and translate into something meaningful and magical… Talent, perfection and execution merging into one-of-a-time recording. I’m still amazed after all those years and countless performances 😊
“Intimate.” This right here is why I love this version more than the new one. It’s sweet and subtle. It’s supposed to be.
Her singing voice is so beautiful... but... can we talk about her talking voice... is so sweet! That was a perfect cast. Perfect Ariel
Howard was a genius.
The joy and precious memories that this woman has given to generations of kids is untouchable. Jodi Benson will forever be a childhood icon.
I’ve been a fan of her since I’ve seen Thumbelina
2024 and still speechless. I’ll keep coming back. 😍🙌🏽🎉
Jodi is still the best of all time
wait 'til the little mermaid live will come out in theaters and this video will have more views
Alyssa Nicole Parreño YES
@D B Precisely
bet
Fact
Exactly.
A true Disney classic.
I never knew who the singer was until now, 33 years later. Her voice, the music, and the whole story were a perfect combination to become my favorite childhood movie. Thank you, Ms. Jodi Benson and the whole team of filmmakers... The Little Mermaid has always been my favorite and my children know it.
First of all it’s Mrs. Benson. Secondly I saw Thumbelina first then The Little Mermaid
@@manuelorozco7760 I don't know about your knowledge of the usage of the titles "Ms. and Miss" but for clarity, Ms. can be used whether she's married or not. I specifically used "Ms." because I didn't know her marital status but thank you for the information.
@@Lala58205 My bad
Iconic.
Both Jodi Benson AND Howard Ashman!
Wish they had recorded the entire session, I'd watch the whole thing. This is music history, and childhood history, for millions of people.
I've never heard this song without holding back my tears. It's just so powerful. The breathy verses, the ascending energy, the yearning in her voice. I know she's acting, she's an actress, that's what she does, but it's so perfectly executed that it can make anyone crumble
Our world had the best of best geniuses. We created things in the 80s and 90s the world will never replicate again
luv the way how she looks up, feeling ariel's desire so deeply in her heart
She is so talented, to have that voice and also be able to also act so well with just her voice. And to be able to deal with the micromanaging perfectionists and translate their direction into such beautiful and meaning filled nuances in the song. Amazing.
"Its about all that emotion, but NOT letting it out. Having it in here." Insane direction, was completely able to guide her into perfection
2023 still getting goosebumps
When she sang "up where thet walk up where they run up where they stay all the day in the sun" had me in tears
And out of the sea 🌊
It was an honor to perform Candlelight at Disney World with Jodi when she was our reader one night. Her vocals here are so beautiful that I'm crying. I would be sobbing through this song if I had to sing it, idk how she does it.
She was so gorgeous! Sometimes I wish I can go back in time and see people who are so different now then they were in 1980-90
I love this version the most. It’s just fantastic
This will always be my favorite little mermaid
Good for you lol
One of the most unique and beautiful voices ever…her tone was unmatched
If you listen to the final version they really did keep a lid on that bright tone she's producing here... It works tho the producer got exactly what he wanted
SHE HAS SANG TO EVERY LITTLE GIRL ON THIS PLANET... Even THIS 44yr old woman. SHE WAS MY FIRST DISNEY PRINCESS ❤
Same. I’m 43. Was instantly obsessed after seeing this in the theater (twice!) with my mom when I was 8.
I remain obsessed with how effortlessly she emits one of the most beautiful sounds I've ever heard in the first few seconds of this clip. A bravura performance while they're not even taping.
I’m doing this song for my singing grades and I practically can’t breath in it.
SHE DOESNT FRIKING LET ME BREATH
Benny the bunny lmao Goodluck
I try to sing this song, but I'm an alto.
@@normalperson659 Ditto
I could watch this ENTIRE process. I sing this song multiple times a day. It’s done beautifully and is just so SO good!!
This is why people can’t compare the live action and 1989 cartoon. They let hailey hit the high notes and show off her voice, while they cared more about the pure emotion in 1989 because the stage wasn’t set yet.
cartoons are more about emotion bc it’s not a real face so they have to over compensate
Exactly!
@@mwahhha226 Halle didn’t have face. She was far from an amazing actress. Her face barely changed the whole movie
@@kithaliethat’s what I’m saying!!! She has like two facial expressions 😭
@kithalie she honestly looked like an alien really
The amount of subtle direction to get the exact level of emotion and intensity, WITHOUT trying to be too performative. Holy crap, this is one of my favorite videos ever
She has such a melodious voice. This womans instrument is beautiful
Her voice always gives me chills.
Watching the brilliance of Ashman at work and the raw talent of Jodi Benson is just amazing. You can really see why these films are timeless. I see a few comments saying it's a bit perfectionist, well with the results they end up with, can you argue with it?
So much talent in just one video. Jodi singing this just brings me to tears.
Howard Ashman, your legacy lives on.
Jodi is gallantly GOR-geous in this video. It's amazing, this is the moment the magic was captured. Every expression on her face she just pulls me in closer. She makes it look effortless, and along with Howard's direction, she just feeds off it. Nothing tops this backstage glimpse. Watching her, the expressions, every thought, feeling, emotion, and curiosity, and how it shows by her performance, was a huge service to humanity. Thanks to whomever had the idea of taping this and publicizing it later in the bonus content of Disney stuff. Howard was JUST getting started. What wonders might we have been blessed with if there was the kind of treatment there is now back then. To what heights would he have gone to. What a loss.
I love Jodi! She made my childhood so bright I watched the story of PJ sparkles and the little mermaid every day over and over 😂❤
Rest in Peace Howard Ashman, what a legend.
To think, he was ill by this time, but he still kept up his work ethic
@@joewhitehead3 yes, only he knew he was ill, but nobody else knew
he sure was, a true legend
@@DaveFisher-cq2dr They didn’t even suspect, did they?
@@joewhitehead3 no, only Alan Menken, but it was very close to his last days alive, Alan said so in the making of Beauty and the Beast
I love clips like this. Especially from movies from when I was a kid because it's like seeing a live movie. I'm excited for the new version that's in theatres right now but Jodi has an iconic voice.
This is so beautiful to see young Jodi Benson singing Part Of Your World for the very first time
Because The Little Mermaid movie take me back this Recording
Thank you Jodi Benson bring us that beautiful voice~so much love
She's making me tear up. 🥹
My eyes started to water up 🥺
Her voice is fabulous !!
It’s been a long time since I’ve watched this look at the recording session. Happy belated 59th birthday to Jodi. She has one of the most beautiful voices ever!
When I was 9 years old, I fell in love.
I'm 38years old now. I love her.still..
The direction is so interesting to watch. Howard Ashman is so locked into Ariel’s character and trying to communicate that quiet desperation for the outside world, and Jodi Benson is young, talented, hard working and trying to translate his direction into concrete singing techniques (more/less sing-y etc).
You can tell they really had to work to get to the end product we all know, but the results were worth it. It’s a shame Ashman passed away when he did.
This footage is so incredible. Howard’s direction was so specific yet so gently delivered, and Jodi was just a willing piece of clay. And look at what this collaboration produced - one of the most memorable songs of the entire Disney canon.