Quick Facts
| Title | The Little Mermaid (1989) |
| Type | Animated musical fantasy film |
| Directors | Ron Clements, John Musker |
| Composer | Alan Menken (music) |
| Lyricist | Howard Ashman |
| Based On | “The Little Mermaid” by Hans Christian Andersen |
| US Release Date | November 17, 1989 |
| Soundtrack Album Release | October 19, 1989 (Walt Disney Records) |
| Studio/Distributor | Walt Disney Feature Animation / Buena Vista Pictures Distribution |
Little Mermaid Soundtrack: The Little Mermaid is a 1989 animation, adventure, and family film directed by Ron Clements and John Musker.
The film’s screenplay was written and directed by Ron Clements and John Musker. Its songs were composed by Alan Menken (music) with lyrics by Howard Ashman, and the story is inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale of the same name.
It stars Rene Auberjonois, Christopher Daniel Barnes, Jodi Benson, Pat Carroll, Paddi Edwards, Buddy Hackett and more.
It is produced by Howard Ashman and John Musker with associate producer Maureen Donley.
The film came out in the United States on November 17, 1989, on Buena Vista Pictures Distribution.
Who composed the Little Mermaid Soundtrack?
Alan Menken composed the Little Mermaid Soundtrack. He is best known for his scores and songs for films produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios.
Other than Little Mermaid, he has also worked for Beauty and the Beast in 1991, Aladdin in 1992, and Pocahontas in 1995.
The Little Mermaid soundtrack
The soundtrack was released on October 19, 1989, by Walt Disney Records, and all the lyrics were penned by Howard Ashman and were composed by Alan Menken.
- Main Titles
- Fathoms Below
- Fanfare
- Daughters of Triton
- Part of Your World
- Under the Sea
- Part of Your World (Reprise)
- Poor Unfortunate Souls
- Les Poissons
- Kiss the Girl
- Fireworks
- Jig
- The Storm
- Destruction of the Grotto
- Flotsam and Jetsam
- Tour of the Kingdom
- Bedtime
- Wedding Announcement
- Eric to the Rescue
- Happy Ending
Additional Songs
Here is the list of some Additional Songs that came in Little Mermaid 1989.
- Bonus Track Song: Part of Your World
The Music Behind the Magic box set list:
- Fathoms Below/Main Title
- Fathoms Below
- Main Title” (Final)
- Fanfare” (Final)
- Daughters of Triton
- Part of Your World
- Part of Your World
- Part of Your World
- Fireworks” (Final)
- Jig” (Final)
- Under the Sea”
- Under the Sea”
- Under the Sea”
- Sebastian and Triton”
- Part of Your World” (Reprise)
- The Storm
- Part of Your World
- Silence Is Golden
- Poor Unfortunate Souls
- Poor Unfortunate Souls
- Les Poissons
- Les Poissons
- Kiss the Girl
- Kiss the Girl
- Bedtime
- Wedding Announcement
- Untitled
- Eric to the Rescue
- Part of Your World/Happy Ending
List of Disc Two Songs
- Kiss the Girl
- Poor Unfortunate Souls
- Part of Your World
- Under the Sea
- Poor Unfortunate Souls
- Making of “Kiss the Girl” Music Video” (Enhanced feature)
List of Legacy Collection Disc 1 Songs
- Fathoms Below
- Main Titles
- Fanfare
- Daughters of Triton
- Intro Ariel
- Intro Ursula
- Triton Reprimands
- Sebastian’s Dilemma
- Part of Your World
- Fireworks
- The Storm
- Part of Your World (Reprise) / Ursula Plots
- Ariel in Love
- Under the Sea
- Sebastian and Triton
- Destroying the Grotto
- Flotsam and Jetsam
- Ursula’s Lair
- Poor Unfortunate Souls
- She’s Got Leg
- Sebastian Relents
- On Land
- Miss Manners
- Les Poissons
- Crab On a Plate / Bedtime
- Tour of the Kingdom
- Kiss the Girl
- Ariel Left Behind
- Poor Unfortunate Souls (Reprise)
- The Truth
- Interrupting the Wedding / Ursula’s Defeat
- Happy Ending
You can enjoy the entire album, including its songs and scores, on popular streaming platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and YouTube. These platforms offer a variety of songs, and you can easily search for the album by name.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who wrote the songs for The Little Mermaid (1989)?
Alan Menken composed the music and Howard Ashman wrote the lyrics. It was their first collaboration with Disney and launched the studio’s late-1980s/1990s musical renaissance.
Who wrote The Little Mermaid’s screenplay?
Ron Clements and John Musker wrote and directed the film, adapting Hans Christian Andersen’s 1837 fairy tale of the same name.
When was The Little Mermaid soundtrack released?
Walt Disney Records released the soundtrack album on October 19, 1989, ahead of the film’s theatrical release on November 17, 1989.
What are the most famous songs from The Little Mermaid?
“Part of Your World,” “Under the Sea,” “Kiss the Girl,” and “Poor Unfortunate Souls” are the film’s best-known numbers. “Under the Sea” won the Academy Award for Best Original Song, and Menken also won Best Original Score.
Is there a Little Mermaid sequel or remake?
Yes. Disney released two direct-to-video follow-ups, “The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea” (2000) and the prequel “The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Beginning” (2008), plus a 2023 live-action remake with Halle Bailey as Ariel, again scored by Alan Menken with new songs co-written with Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Related reading: explore more movie soundtracks, browse the Disney+ streaming guide, or check our full streaming hub.