Kiss the Girl

"Kiss the Girl" is a song written by composer Alan Menken and lyricist Howard Ashman for Walt Disney Pictures' 28th animated feature 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 ballad; 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 soundtrack
Released1989
Recorded1988-1989
GenreCalypso, pop
Length2:43
LabelWalt Disney Records
Songwriter(s)Alan Menken, Howard Ashman
Producer(s)Alan Menken, Howard Ashman

"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

This song is written in the key of C Major. 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.

Stage and live versions

On a two-part 1995 episode of Family Matters, "We're Going to Disney World", the song was played in the background on some love scenes between Stefan Urquelle (Played by Jaleel White) and Laura Winslow (Played by Kellie Shanygne Williams) throughout Disney World.

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[1] Silver 200,000

sales+streaming figures based on certification alone

Cover versions

Simply Mad About The Mouse

In 1991, Soul II Soul released a version for the compilation Simply Mad About the Mouse: A Musical Celebration of Imagination.

Little Texas

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

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

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

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

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
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
"Kiss the Girl"
Promotional single by Ashley Tisdale
from the album Disney's The Little Mermaid soundtrack (special edition) and Disneymania 5
ReleasedSeptember 4, 2006 (Radio Disney)
Recorded2006
GenrePop rock
Length3:23
LabelWarner Bros. Records
Songwriter(s)Alan Menken, Howard Ashman

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 re-release of the film's soundtrack on October 3, 2006.[2] It was later included on DisneyMania 5.[3]

Music video

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.[4] The music video is included as a bonus feature on the 2006 Platinum Edition release of the film.[5]

Charts

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 [6] 81
U.S. Billboard Pop 100 [6] 74
U.S. Billboard Hot Digital Songs [6] 68
UK Singles Chart 86

Brian Wilson

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

DisneyMania

Suburban Legends

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

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
"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
Songwriter(s)Alan Menken, 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.

References
  1. "British single certifications – Samuel E Wright – Kiss the Girl". British Phonographic Industry.
  2. "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.com. Retrieved 2011-11-02.
  3. "Disneymania 5: B5, Everlife, Go-Go's, Keke Palmer, Drew Seeley: Music". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2011-11-02.
  4. "Kiss the Girl on Tooth". Archived from the original on 2009-02-20.
  5. "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.com. Retrieved 2011-11-02.
  6. Ashley Tisdale's Billboard Charts
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