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Kiss the Girl

"Kiss the Girl" is a song written by lyricist Howard Ashman and composer Alan Menken for Walt Disney Pictures' animated film The Little Mermaid (1989). Originally recorded by American actor Samuel Wright in his film role as Sebastian, "Kiss the Girl" is a romantic calypso love song; the song's lyrics encourages Prince Eric to kiss Ariel before it's too late.

"Kiss the Girl"
Song by Samuel E. Wright
from the album Disney's The Little Mermaid: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Released1989
Recorded1988–1989
GenreCalypso, pop
Length2:43
LabelWalt Disney Records
Composer(s)Alan Menken
Lyricist(s)Howard Ashman
Producer(s)
  • Menken
  • Ashman
  • Robert Kraft

"Kiss the Girl" had a mostly positive reception. The song was nominated for both an Academy and Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song, but lost both to "Under the Sea", another song from The Little Mermaid soundtrack.

Background and composition

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The song takes place during Ariel's second day as human. Ariel and Eric are in a boat and Sebastian tries to set a romantic mood in order to inspire Eric to kiss Ariel.

Lyrics

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The lyrics of the song are written in 6 stanzas of 7 verses each, each stanza closing with the refrain sung as a slight variation of expressing the expectation of what happens when "You kiss the girl". The variations of the single verse refrain start with "You wanna kiss the girl", going through slight variations in each stanza until the closing stanza which sings the refrain as "You gotta kiss the girl". The song closes with an outro which repeats each version of the refrain one after the other.[1] The song's lyrics express the expectations of a boyfriend about to bestow a first kiss to his romantic interest.[2] For the 2023 live-action film, some of the lyrics were updated in response to viewers who have gotten "sensitive about the idea that [Prince Eric] would, in any way, force himself on [Ariel]."[3]

Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[4] Silver 200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[5] 2× Platinum 2,000,000‡

‡ Sales streaming figures based on certification alone.

Cover versions

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Soul II Soul

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In 1991, Soul II Soul released a version for the compilation Simply Mad About the Mouse: A Musical Celebration of Imagination. Their version also appeared in part one of the Family Matters episode "We're Going to Disney World" during the montage with Stefan Urquelle (played by Jaleel White) and Laura Winslow (played by Kellie Shanygne Williams) in Disney World.

Little Texas

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Country music band Little Texas recorded a version on the 1996 album The Best of Country Sing the Best of Disney. This rendition peaked at number 52 on the Hot Country Songs charts.

Stellar Kart

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Christian Punk band Stellar Kart covered "Kiss the Girl" on their 2012 complimentary A Whole New World EP.

Peter André

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"Kiss the Girl"
 
Single by Peter Andre
ReleasedJuly 13, 1998
Recorded1997
GenrePop, calypso
Length2:52
LabelMushroom Records
Composer(s)Alan Menken
Lyricist(s)Howard Ashman
Producer(s)Peter Andre
Peter Andre singles chronology
"All Night, All Right"
(1998) 		"Kiss the Girl"
(1998) 		"Mysterious Girl (2004)"
(2004)
Licensed audio
"Kiss the Girl" on YouTube
Licensed audio
"Kiss the Girl" on YouTube

When The Little Mermaid was re-released in cinemas, Peter André recorded a version of the song, which reached #9 on the UK Singles Chart.

Music video

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The video shows Andre performing the song in a recording studio. Scenes from the film are intercut with the video or shown on a backdrop behind Andre and the backing singers. There are slight references to water and the undersea world in the video. As Andre performs a beautiful girl comes in carrying water. Andre sees her and is immediately taken with her. He helps her clean up the water as she spills it and follows her into the next room where they gaze at each other through a fishtank. Andre tries to kiss the girl but she backs away. He follows her again as she goes outside and they kiss.

Track listing

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CD1
  1. "Kiss The Girl" - 2:52
  2. "Mysterious Girl (1998)" (feat. Shaggy) - 4:14
  3. "Just For You" - 5:02
CD2
  1. "Kiss The Girl" - 2:52
  2. "Kiss The Girl" (Original Disney Version) - 2:49
  3. "Best Of Me" - 4:03
Cassette / 7" vinyl
  1. "Kiss The Girl" - 2:52
  2. "Mysterious Girl (1998)" (feat. Shaggy) - 4:14

Ashley Tisdale

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"Kiss the Girl"
Promotional single by Ashley Tisdale
from the album Disney's The Little Mermaid: An Original Walt Disney Records Soundtrack (Special Edition) and Disneymania 5
ReleasedSeptember 4, 2006 (Radio Disney)
Recorded2006
GenrePop rock
Length3:23
LabelWarner Bros. Records
Composer(s)Alan Menken
Lyricist(s)Howard Ashman
Licensed audio
"Kiss the Girl" on YouTube
Licensed audio
"Kiss the Girl" on YouTube

In 2006, when The Little Mermaid was re-released on DVD as a 2-Disc Platinum Edition, another rendition of the song was recorded by Ashley Tisdale. It was included on the Special Edition re-release of the film's soundtrack.[6] It was later included on DisneyMania 5.[7]

Music video

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The music video, released on September 6, 2006, consists of a girl at a school dance. As she hangs out with her friends, she notices a boy repeatedly glancing at her. The boy's friend encourages him to talk to Tisdale, but every time he gets close, she goes somewhere else. The video ends with Tisdale asking him to dance, and then at the end she kisses him on the cheek. Tooth Tunes included the song in one of their products.[8] The music video is included as a bonus feature on the 2006 Platinum Edition release of the film.[9]

Charts

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In the first week of April 2007, Tisdale's version of "Kiss the Girl" debuted on the Billboard's Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles at #16. One week later, the song debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at #81.

Chart (2007) Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[10] 81
U.S. Billboard Pop 100[10] 74
U.S. Billboard Hot Digital Songs[10] 68
UK Singles Chart 86

Brian Wilson

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Brian Wilson included a cover on his 2011 album In the Key of Disney.

DisneyMania

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Suburban Legends

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Suburban Legends covered the song on their Disney covers EP, Dreams Aren't Real, But These Songs Are, Vol. 1, in 2013. The band regularly performs the song on tour and at Disneyland's Tomorrowland Terrace.

Disney - Koe no oujisama

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The 2012 album Disney - Koe no Oujisama Vol.2, which features various Japanese voice actors covering Disney songs, contains a version of this song covered by Hiro Shimono.

Descendants 2

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"Kiss the Girl"
Song by Dove Cameron, Sofia Carson, Cameron Boyce, Booboo Stewart, China Anne McClain and Thomas Doherty
from the album Descendants 2
Recorded2016
GenreElectropop, R&B
Length2:44
LabelWalt Disney
Composer(s)Alan Menken
Lyricist(s)Howard Ashman

The main cast of Descendants 2 covered the song in the film's soundtrack. The song also is featured during the film's credits.

BYU Vocal Point

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The members of Vocal Point including the three vocalists; Zack Dalley, Carson Trautman, & Nathan Moser, covered the song for the 2022 album Magic: Disney Through Time.

References

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  1. ^ "Kiss the Girl" lyrics. Lyrics on demand. Retrieved 2.22.2022. [1]
  2. ^ "Kiss the Girl" lyrics. Lyrics on demand. Retrieved 2.22.2022. [2]
  3. ^ "How Alan Menken, Disney's Most Prolific Composer, Inspired a Generation of Songwriters". Vanity Fair. 31 March 2023.
  4. ^ "British single certifications – Samuel E Wright – Kiss the Girl". British Phonographic Industry.
  5. ^ "American single certifications – Samuel E. Wright – Kiss the Girl". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
  6. ^ "The Little Mermaid: Alan Menken, J.A.C. Redford, Ashley Tisdale, Daughters of Triton, Jessica Simpson, Jodi Benson, Jonas Brothers, Pat Carroll, Raven-Symoné, Rene Auberjonois, Samuel Wright, Ship's Chorus: Music". Amazon. Retrieved 2011-11-02.
  7. ^ "Disneymania 5: B5, Everlife, Go-Go's, Keke Palmer, Drew Seeley: Music". Amazon. Retrieved 2011-11-02.
  8. ^ "Kiss the Girl on Tooth". Archived from the original on 2009-02-20.
  9. ^ "The Little Mermaid (Two-Disc Platinum Edition): Rene Auberjonois, Christopher Daniel Barnes, Jodi Benson, Pat Carroll, Paddi Edwards, Buddy Hackett, Jason Marin, Kenneth Mars, Edie McClurg, Will Ryan, Ben Wright, Samuel E. Wright, Hamilton Camp, Kimmy Robertson, Mickie McGowan, Jim Cummings, Tim Curry, Jennifer Darling, Gerrit Graham, Malachi Pearson: Movies & TV". Amazon. 3 October 2006. Retrieved 2011-11-02.
  10. ^ a b c Ashley Tisdale's Billboard Charts
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