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12 Facts About Disney Composer Alan Menken

Have you ever belted "Part of Your World" from The Little Mermaid? Or hummed to "Beauty and the Beast"? Or thought "A Friend Like Me" from Aladdin was absolutely hilarious? Then you owe a massive "thank you" to the real-life Disney Duo: Alan Menken and Howard Ashman.

Ashley Himmler

Mar 30, 2019

Jacksonville State University

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Alan Menken is a prominent member of the rather lengthy list of people who have inspired me to pursue a career in storytelling. Regardless of whether you recognize his name, if you've seen any movie from the period referred to as The Disney Renaissance, you are familiar with Menken's work. Have you ever belted "Part of Your World" from The Little Mermaid? Or hummed to "Beauty and the Beast"? Or thought "A Friend Like Me" from Aladdin was absolutely hilarious? Then you owe a massive "thank you" to the real-life Disney Duo: Alan Menken and Howard Ashman.

I've put together a short list of facts about Alan Menken so you can become familiar with a man whose creativity has shaped countless childhoods.

1. Menken is the son of a piano-playing dentist father and an actress/dancer/playwright mother.

2. He thought he would become a dentist like his father.

Instead, Menken graduated with a degree in Musicology in 1971.

3. He and Howard Ashman wrote a musical called "Little Shop of Horrors"

For the 1986 musical film adaptation, Menken received his first Oscar nomination.

4. Menken wrote the music for The Little Mermaid (1989)

Menkon won his first Oscar for "Under the Sea" and for Best Score.

5. Menken and Ashman wrote the music for Beauty and the Beast (1991)

Again, Menken won an Academy Award for Best Song and Best Score. Additionally, Ashman was awarded the Oscar for Best Song posthumously, as he had passed away before the premiere of Beauty and the Beast.

6. Alan composed the music for Aladdin (1992)

He was awarded the Oscar for Best Song (A Whole New World) and Best Score.

7. He composed the music for Pocahontas (1995)

He was awarded the Oscar for Best Song (Colors of the Wind) and Best Score for a Musical or Comedy.

8. He composed the music for "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" (1996) and "Hercules" (1997)

9. He composed the music for "Enchanted" (2007) and Tangled (2010).

Menken was again nominated for Academy Awards for his work on these films. More importantly, though, you can blame him whenever you get "That's How You Know" stuck in your head.

10. With 8 Academy Awards, only Alfred Newman and Walt Disney have received more than Menken.

11. Menken holds the record for most Oscar wins for a living person.

12. Menken was named a Disney Legend in 2001.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

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12 Facts About Disney Composer Alan Menken

Have you ever belted "Part of Your World" from The Little Mermaid? Or hummed to "Beauty and the Beast"? Or thought "A Friend Like Me" from Aladdin was absolutely hilarious? Then you owe a massive "thank you" to the real-life Disney Duo: Alan Menken and Howard Ashman.

1. Menken is the son of a piano-playing dentist father and an actress/dancer/playwright mother.

2. He thought he would become a dentist like his father.

3. He and Howard Ashman wrote a musical called "Little Shop of Horrors"

4. Menken wrote the music for The Little Mermaid (1989)

5. Menken and Ashman wrote the music for Beauty and the Beast (1991)

6. Alan composed the music for Aladdin (1992)

7. He composed the music for Pocahontas (1995)

8. He composed the music for "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" (1996) and "Hercules" (1997)

9. He composed the music for "Enchanted" (2007) and Tangled (2010).

10. With 8 Academy Awards, only Alfred Newman and Walt Disney have received more than Menken.

11. Menken holds the record for most Oscar wins for a living person.

12. Menken was named a Disney Legend in 2001.

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The Best Lines from the Fab Four

And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make

The sun is up, the sky is blue, it's beautiful and so are you

Love is old, love is new, love is all, love is you

There's nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be

Life is very short, and there's no time for fussing and fighting, my friend

He say, "I know you, you know me", One thing I can tell you is you got to be free

Oh please, say to me, You'll let me be your man. And please say to me, You'll let me hold your hand

It was twenty years ago today, Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play. They've been going in and out of style, but they're guaranteed to raise a smile

Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see

Can you hear me? When it rains and shine, it's just a state of mind

Little darling, it's been long cold lonely winter. Little darling, it feels like years since it' s been here. Here comes the sun, Here comes the sun, and I say it's alright

We danced through the night and we held each other tight, and before too long I fell in love with her. Now, I'll never dance with another when I saw her standing there

I love you, I love you, I love you, that's all I want to say

You say you want a revolution. Well you know, we all want to change the world

All the lonely people, where do they all come from. All the lonely people, where do they all belong

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends

Hey Jude, don't make it bad. Take a sad song and make it better

Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away. Now it looks as though they're here to stay. Oh, I believe in yesterday

And when the brokenhearted people, living in the world agree, there will be an answer, let it be.

And anytime you feel the pain, Hey Jude, refrain. Don't carry the world upon your shoulders

I'll give you all I got to give if you say you'll love me too. I may not have a lot to give but what I got I'll give to you. I don't care too much for money. Money can't buy me love

All you need is love, love is all you need

Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

Blackbird singing in the dead of night, Take these broken wings and learn to fly. All your life, You were only waiting for this moment to arise

Though I know I'll never lose affection, for people and things that went before. I know I'll often stop and think about them. In my life, I love you more

Obviously the best superpower.

There have been many lessons learned.

1. The importance of traditions.

2. How to be thankful for family and friends.

3. How to give back.

4. What the word "community" really means.

5. That it isn't about the destination, but the journey.

6. The consequences of making bad choices.

7. To trust people, until you have a reason not to.

8. To be welcoming and accepting of everyone.

9. How to be my own, individual person.

10. How to work for what I want.

11. How to be great at giving directions.

12. How to be humble.

13. To be well-rounded.

14. How to be great at conflict resolution.

15. The beauty of getting outside and exploring.

16. To be prepared for anything.

17. That you don't always have to do it alone.

18. How to be creative.

19. To brush off gossip.

I have never been so thankful to know you.

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

Don't freak out

Email the professor

Attend the first class

Keep attending class

Have a backup plan

Remember that everything works out at the end

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