Go the Distance

"Go the Distance" is a song from Disney's 1997 animated feature film, Hercules. It was written by composer Alan Menken and lyricist David Zippel, and originally recorded by American actor Roger Bart in his film role as the singing voice of Hercules. American singer-songwriter Michael Bolton recorded a pop version of the song for the film's end credits, which was also included on his 1997 album All That Matters. In the Spanish version, the song is performed by Hercules voice actor Ricky Martin, both in the movie and in the credits; this version is included on Martin's album Vuelve. Both the song and its reprise featured in a stage production of Hercules, performed upon the Disney Wonder during 2007/2008.

For other uses, see Going the Distance.
"Go the Distance"
Song by Roger Bart
from the album Hercules: An Original Walt Disney Records Soundtrack
ReleasedMay 27, 1997
RecordedJanuary 1997
GenrePop, show tune
Length3:14
LabelWalt Disney
Composer(s)Alan Menken
Lyricist(s)David Zippel
Producer(s)Alan Menken

Production

"Go the Distance" was one of two songs written for Hercules in the film, the second being "Shooting Star", which failed to make the final cut. However, "Shooting Star" is included on the Hercules soundtrack CD, sung by Boyzone. The score for the original version of the song can be found in the Alan Menken Songbook.

Critical reception

Christian Clemmensen of Filmtracks deemed "Go the Distance" to be Hercules's "only redeeming song" out of an unsatisfactory soundtrack. However, he criticized Roger Bart's version for his "whiny voice", which Clemmensen expressed had a tone that is "remarkably irritating", while he considered Michael Bolton's pop version to be "finely tuned".[1]

The book Ways of Being Male felt that the phrase "go the distance" is a prime example of the way themes are "couched in the language of sport and competition" throughout the film.[2] Den of Geek deemed it "one of Disney's great anthems/motivational mantras for all aspiring athletes and deities."[3] MoviePilot suggests that the shooting star during "Go the Distance" is actually Aladdin and Jasmine's magic carpet ride.[4] The Globe and Mail likened it to Duddy's Leaving St. Urbain Street,[5] while BoingBoing compared it to Pocahontas's "Just Around the Riverbend".[6] Vulture deemed it "inspiring".[7]

Awards and chart placings

The song was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song and the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song. Both awards, however, went to "My Heart Will Go On", a song by Celine Dion from Titanic, a film directed by James Cameron. "Go the Distance" peaked at #24 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and went to #1 on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart, Bolton's ninth song to top this chart.[8]

Versions

Film version

The song was recorded by American actor Roger Bart in his film role as the singing voice of Hercules.

"Go the Distance" is performed in the film by Hercules (age 15) who possesses god-like strength and finds it increasingly hard to fit in with his peers. The song serves as Hercules' prayer to the Gods to help him find where he truly belongs. His prayers are answered, as he is revealed to be the long-lost son of Zeus, king of the gods. Hercules is also told that he must become a true hero in order to rejoin his father on Mount Olympus. The number is later reprised when Hercules sets off on his quest to become a true hero, proclaiming that he wants to "go the distance" in order to prove himself.

Credits and personnel

Charts
Chart (1997) Peak
position
Billboard Hot 100[9] 24

Ricky Martin version

Ricky Martin recorded a Spanish-language version of "Go the Distance" from Hercules soundtrack, called "No Importa la Distancia" (English: "No Matter the Distance"). It was released as a single on July 1, 1997. Later, it was included on Martin's 1998 album Vuelve. A music video was also released. The song reached number ten on the Latin Pop Songs in the United States.

Charts
Chart (1997) Peak
position
US Latin Pop Airplay (Billboard)[10] 10
Formats and track listings

European CD single

  1. "No Importa la Distancia" performed by Ricky Martin – 4:51
  2. "Já Não Há Distancia" performed by Ricky Martin – 4:45

European CD maxi-single

  1. "No Importa la Distancia" performed by Ricky Martin – 4:51
  2. "Já Não Há Distancia" performed by Ricky Martin – 4:45
  3. "Go the Distance" (Cast Version) performed by Roger Bart – 3:13

We Love Disney

The song was covered in different languages for the series We Love Disney by:

Other appearances

In 1998, this song was used in a tribute video to honor New York Knicks center Patrick Ewing of the NBA at Madison Square Garden minutes before Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Indiana Pacers.

In 2000, The Lettermen covered the song on their Greatest Movie Hits album.

The barbershop quartet Vocal Spectrum recorded a four-part arrangement as the last track of their 2008 album, Vocal Spectrum II.

"Go the Distance" is featured in the Triumph portion of the Happily Ever After fireworks show at the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World.

In April 2020 during COVID-19 pandemic, Disney Broadway Stars performs Go the Distance while self-isolating.[15]

An a capella chorale arrangement of the a single chorus of the song is featured in the stage musical adaptation of the Disney Channel's Descendants franchise, sung by the "Auradonian Choir".

See also

List of Billboard Adult Contemporary number ones of 1997

References
  1. Clemmensen, Christian (December 17, 2006). "Hercules". Filmtracks. Filmtracks Publications. Retrieved January 9, 2021.
  2. Stephens, John (18 October 2013). Ways of Being Male: Representing Masculinities in Children's Literature. Routledge. ISBN 9781135363918. Retrieved 26 April 2018 – via Google Books.
  3. "Lost in translation: when Disney lyrics turn Italian". denofgeek.com. Archived from the original on 6 October 2017. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  4. http://moviepilot.com/posts/2015/03/18/did-hercules-really-witness-a-whole-new-world-the-night-before-going-the-distance-2792680?lt_source=external,manual%5B%5D
  5. "The incredible, unbelievable, meshuga story of The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz: The Musical". Archived from the original on 13 March 2017. Retrieved 26 April 2018 – via The Globe and Mail.
  6. "All of Disney's "I Want" songs, ranked / Boing Boing". boingboing.net. Archived from the original on 31 May 2017. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  7. "Disney's Hercules Is an Underrated Masterpiece". vulture.com. 25 July 2014. Archived from the original on 7 October 2017. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  8. Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–2001. Record Research. p. 36.
  9. "Michael Bolton - Chart history | Billboard". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2019-07-29.
  10. "Ricky Martin Chart History (Latin Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  11. "We Love Disney di Various Artists su iTunes". iTunes. Archived from the original on 2016-11-03. Retrieved 2016-11-01.
  12. "We Love Disney 2 di Multi-interprètes su Apple Music". iTunes. Archived from the original on 2016-11-03. Retrieved 2016-11-01.
  13. "We Love Disney (Deluxe) di Various Artists su Apple Music". iTunes. Archived from the original on 2016-09-09. Retrieved 2016-11-01.
  14. "We Love Disney (Latino) di Various Artists su Apple Music". iTunes. Archived from the original on 2016-09-24. Retrieved 2016-10-12.
  15. https://nerdist.com/article/broadway-stars-go-the-distance-virtual-performance/
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