| "Under the Sea" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Single bySamuel E. Wright | |
| from the albumThe Little Mermaid: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack | |
| Released | December 13, 1989 |
| Recorded | 1988 |
| Genre | |
| Length | 3:16 |
| Label | Walt Disney |
| Composer | Alan Menken |
| Lyricist | Howard Ashman |
| Producers |
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| Licensed audio | |
| "Under the Sea" onYouTube | |
"Under the Sea" is a song fromDisney's 1989animated filmThe Little Mermaid, composed byAlan Menken with lyrics byHoward Ashman.[3] It is influenced by thecalypso style of theCaribbean which originated inTrinidad and Tobago, as well asreggae, which originated inJamaica.[citation needed] The song was performed in the film bySamuel E. Wright. The track won theAcademy Award for Best Original Song in 1989,[3] the first for a Disney film since "Chim Chim Cher-ee" fromMary Poppins in 1964.[4] Additionally, the song won theGrammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media in 1991.[5]
The song is a plea by thecrabSebastian convincingAriel to remain sea-bound, and resist her desire to become a human in order to spend her life with Prince Eric, with whom she has fallen in love. Sebastian warns of the struggles of human life, while at the same time expounding the benefits of a care-free life underwater. However, his plea falls on deaf ears, as Ariel leaves before the end of the song.
The song is present throughout all theWalt Disney parks and resorts and theDisney Cruise Line.
The song was later performed byDaveed Diggs in the2023 remake.
The song was released as a 12" single in 1990 byHollywood Records. The record listed the artist as "Sebastian C."
US 12-inch single (ST-ED-66621A-SP)
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand (RMNZ)[6] | Platinum | 30,000‡ |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[7] | Platinum | 600,000‡ |
| United States (RIAA)[8] | 3× Platinum | 3,000,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
| "Under the Sea" | |
|---|---|
| Song byTituss Burgess | |
| from the albumDisney's The Little Mermaid: Original Broadway Cast Recording | |
| Released | February 26, 2008 |
| Genre | Pop,calypso,show tune,reggae |
| Length | 4:06 |
| Label | Walt Disney |
| Composer | Alan Menken |
| Lyricist | Howard Ashman |
| Producer | Alan Menken |
The song makes an appearance on theDisney Cruise Line shows "Disney Dreams: An Enchanted Classic" on theDisney Magic andWonder, as well as in "The Golden Mickeys" on theDisney Dream. The song was also performed bythe Resonanz Children's Choir during theWhen You Wish Upon a Star concert in 2019, accompanied by the Jakarta Concert Orchestra conducted by Avip Priatna.[9]
In 2007, theBroadway musical version used this as the featured production number, with the role of Sebastian played byTituss Burgess. For Burgess, a tenor (unlike the baritone Wright), the key of the song was raised from B-flat to D. On theOriginal Broadway Cast Recording, the placing of the song was also moved to after the scene in which King Triton destroys Ariel's collection of "human stuff". Later in some local productions after the Broadway production closed, the placing of the song is the same as it was in the original film. The key was lowered slightly to the key of C (in which Ashman and Menken recorded their initial demos forThe Little Mermaid). Areprise of the song was also featured in the Broadway musical.
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