The Disney Song Encyclopedia - fieldi

198 “THERE’S A GREAT BIG BEAUTIFUL TOMORROW”
of the video when it is discovered that Bambi has survived a terrible fall
down a rocky slope.
“There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow” is the bouncy, optimistic
song written by Richard M. and Robert B. Sherman for the 1964 New York
World’s Fair exhibit General Electric’s Carousel of Progress, an idea of Walt
Disney’s that was built by his staff. The audience looked at American life at
four different times in the twentieth century as they sat in a revolving theatre
that moved spectators from one era to another. The peppy song, taken from
General Electric’s theme for the pavilion, was heard whenever the auditorium
revolved, each time looking forward to a new and improved lifestyle for Americans.
After the fair closed, the attraction was reassembled at Disneyland in
California and was a popular exhibit, as was the catchy song. When the attraction
was re-created at Disney World in Florida in 1975, the song was replaced
by “The Best Time of Your Life,” but the original number was fondly recalled
by many, so it was reinstated when the attraction was updated in 1993.
“There’s a Party Here in Agrabah” is the rousing song of celebration
written by David Friedman for the video sequel Aladdin and the King of
Thieves (1995). The Genie (voice of Robin Williams) leads Aladdin (Brad
Kane), Princess Jasmine (Liz Callaway), the parrot Iago (Gilbert Gottfried),
and the people of Agrabah in the exposition number about the impending
nuptials between Aladdin and Jasmine, with all the preparations for the
festivities. The young lovers later reprise a slower, more reflective version
of the song when they share their pre-wedding jitters.
“There’s Room for Everyone” is the insistent and repetitive song of
acceptance written by Joel Hirschhorn and Al Kasha for the partially animated
movie Pete’s Dragon (1977). The lighthouse keeper’s daughter Nora
(Helen Reddy), the runaway youth Pete (Sean Marshall), and a chorus of
schoolchildren sing the optimistic number that encourages listeners to accept
everyone for who they are.
“These Are the Best of Times” is the lite-rock theme song for the television
series Good Morning, Miss Bliss (1987), about an Indianapolis junior
high school history teacher (Hayley Mills) and her students. The appreciative
number by Charles Fox (music) and Mark Mueller (lyric) takes the
point of view of the young students, who already know that these years are
the best and will stand the test of time. After a season, the series was sold
to NBC and was retitled Saved by the Bell. Only the three principal student
characters were retained, and a new theme song was written.