The Disney Song Encyclopedia - fieldi

“LET HER ALONE” 115
“Les Poissons” is the French-flavored character song for the chef Louis
(voice of René Auberjonois) that Alan Menken (music) and Howard Ashman
(lyric) wrote for the animated movie musical The Little Mermaid (1989). As
he prepares Prince Eric’s dinner, the sadistic Louis slices, chops, and boils
different sea creatures as he sings about how delicious fish is. The crab Sebastian
watches the scene in horror and barely escapes with his life. The music
is similar to a can-can number in tone, yet the frivolity is a bit too gruesome
for some tastes. In the 2008 Broadway version of The Little Mermaid, it was
sung by Louis (John Treacy Egan) and fellow chefs, the song turning into a
production number with added lyrics by Glenn Slater. A playful recording of
the number was made by Brian Sutherland, with backup vocals by Meredith
Inglesby, Andy Karl, Tyler Maynard, and Keewa Nurullah.
“Lesson Number One” is the clever musical lesson Jeanine Tesori (music)
and Alexa Junge (lyric) wrote for the animated video sequel Mulan II
(2005). Mulan (singing voice of Lea Salonga) has become a role model for
the village girls, who like to watch her train as a warrior, and they implore
her to teach them her skills. So she instructs them in the two most important
aspects of being a warrior: balance and flexibility. The song is split
into two parts: the sharper, more syncopated melody of “balance” and the
meditative, hypnotic melody of “flexibility.” Soon, Mulan has two groups of
girls, each trying to master one of the two aspects. The two groups sing the
song’s halves in a clever and humorous counterpoint. The song itself is a
foreshadowing of the problems Mulan will soon face in her own life, realizing
how different she and her fiancé Shang are.
“Lester’s Possum Park” is the hillbilly spoof written by Randy Petersen
and Kevin Quinn for the animated film A Goofy Movie (1995). While on a
family road trip, Goofy and his son, Max, stay overnight at a dumpy campsite
called Lester’s Possum Pond, where the nighttime entertainment is a
concert by ragtag mechanical creatures who sing about the glories of the
park even as they break down and fall apart. The fun number can be seen
as a satire of Disney entertainment attractions such as the Country Bear
Jamboree and the Hoop-Dee-Doo show. Songwriter Quinn provides the
lead vocals on the soundtrack for the silly country song.
“Let Her Alone” is the mournful yet urgent song written by Terry
Gilkyson for the nature adventure film Run, Cougar, Run (1972). When