Aladdin - You Can Count On Me

A song cut from Disney's Aladdin. Enjoy it.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Disney
• Aladdin

[BibleJoker2Face]

why was the song cut from the film?

[Nyogo]

@BibleJoker2Face the song would've been in it if Aladdin's mom was still in the movie, but they cut her out becuase they felt that she didn't have a good role in the story.

[jldraw]

I just wanted to go on record here to say it's complete BS that they cut so much of Menken and Ashman's work for this film. I know on the DVD they tell some kind of BS story about how Katz thought the film had "too many characters" and was confusing. The bottom line is they needed to find a way to sell this movie to young girls. So they placed more emphasis on Jasmine...cut some great music and a much more interesting story and sold a bunch of Jasmine Halloween costumes that year.

[Nyogo]

@jldraw Yeah, it was initially supposed to be a dramatic story, like in the tone of Hunchback of Notre Dame, but instead, we got a kid-friendly, for the most part, happy themed movie. It could have been really good. But at the same time, I like the finished product as well.

[TheITinFIT]

It's such a nice song, I know it was supposed to be an "I want" song for Aladdin, but seeing as how it was the first song Alan Menken after Howard Ashman's death, I can't help but think it was almost like a promise to him, "You can count of me..."

RIP Howard Ashman, You gave a mermaid her voice, a beast his soul, and started a boy's journey to becoming a prince. We will be forever grateful *sniff*

[Nyogo]

I can't believe this song was cut from the movie either. It's so powerful. A prequel really should be created, telling the story of Aladdin's determination to make his Mom proud of her boy, including the songs, "You Can Count On Me" and "Proud of Your Boy". I mean, why not!? The Little Mermaid is getting the same treatment.

[smilefumble]

@jldraw I totally agree! Did you know that only 3 of the 11 songs that Ashman wrote ended up in the film? It's too bad he died. If he hadn't I'm sure he wouldn't have let Katz butcher his film!

[jldraw]

@Bullsfan2008DR I actually think they are all underrated actually. Several years back when I got the box set I was amazed to read how much work Howard Ashman for example actually did from "Little Shop" to "Smile" to all different sorts of things. It was a true tragedy he was taken from us so soon.

[jldraw]

@Claricepretty The original story was more faithful to "Thousand and One Nights" or the original reading of Aladdin. They speak about it a bit on the DVD in that Aladdin had a mother and one of the major plot points was that he wanted to make her proud of him ("Proud Of Your Boy"). He was also portrayed as being younger, had a bunch of sidekicks (Babak, Omar, Kassim), there were multiple genies (genie of the lamp, genie of the ring) and less emphasis was placed on Jasmine.

[Bullsfan2008DR]

@jldraw Why is no one pointing out why this song is unique. I believe think it's the only Disney song where Menken wrote the music AND the lyrics. He's actually pretty good with lyrics. He's not in the same league as Ashman and Time Rice obvously, but Menken might be better than Stephen Schwartz.

[Claricepretty]

What WAS the original story, anyway? It sounds really interesting.

[quasimodoworld]

@BibleJoker2Face No, because the producters considered it too dark.

[FamGuyFreak100]

There's something nice and relaxing about Alan's solo-songs. And when I have my Ashman & Menken playlist on shuffle, the beginning ALWAYS gives me A Whole New World fake-out!

This is a great song, and I think Howard would be proud. :)

[Tacom4ster]

@BibleJoker2Face the Reprise of One Step Ahead did this emotional plot point better I guess