Picture from Disney Movies official website
Beauty and the Beast (1991) is an animated musical film produced by Disney that is considered a success. It introduces a new Disney princess, joining Snow White, Cinderella, and Ariel to the bandwagon—she is Belle. With its unforgettable soundtrack composed by Alan Menken and lyrics written by Howard Ashman, the film won an award for “Best Music, Original Song” in 1992 for the song “Beauty and the Beast” (Sarkisian, 2024). At the 64th Academy Awards in 1991, Beauty and the Beast was nominated for six Oscars, including “Best Picture” (Byrge, 2016). Beauty and the Beast proves how music can be more than entertainment—it can be the emotional core of a story. The music and songs in Beauty and the Beast play important roles in showing the characterisation of characters, doing conversation, building a romantic and magical atmosphere, expressing the characters’ emotions, and enriching the storyline.
Beauty and the Beast tells the story of Belle, a book-loving and independent, young, beautiful lady who finds herself in an enchanted castle after sacrificing her freedom to save her father. The castle is ruled by a mysterious and fearsome Beast, a young prince who is under a spell to become a beast as he has treated an old woman, who offers him a single rose in return for a shelter, very badly because he is repulsed by her haggard appearance. The spell can only be broken if he learns to love and be loved in return before the last petal of the rose falls. As Belle and the Beast spend time together, their relationship grows, and both of them change for the better. With the help of the enchanted staff—Lumière, Cogsworth, Mrs. Potts, and Chip—Belle discovers the kind soul behind the Beast’s monstrous exterior. Their love eventually breaks the spell, proving the story’s main message: true beauty lies within.
The songs in Beauty and the Beast are used to tell the characteristics of some characters in the film. For example, the opening song, “Belle”, holds more than one important role in the film. This song is mainly used for replacing the villagers’ monologues and Belle’s monologues with singing. It is used to show the characteristics of Belle, to show how she sees the village, and how the people around the village think of what kind of girl she is.
First, the song starts with Belle doing a monologue to share her thoughts about the village. She begins the song by describing her daily routine, walking through the town and visiting the bookstore. In this section, Belle sings about how every day is the same. “Little town, it’s a quiet village. Every day like the one before.” These lyrics reflect how Belle views her life as monotonous and repetitive. The peaceful but unchanging atmosphere of the village is not enough for her, and she desires something more. She finds the townspeople and their way of life uninteresting. Therefore, phrases such as “little town, full of little people” show that Belle feels out of place in her environment. She continues, “There must be more than this provincial life!” This line reveals Belle’s longing for adventure and a life beyond the ordinary. She dreams of excitement and knowledge, which shows her as a curious and imaginative person. Through this song, it becomes clear that Belle is not satisfied with the limitations of her current environment and hopes for a future that offers more than what her village can provide.
Next, the song “Belle” also functions as what the people around the village think of what kind of girl she is. Most of their lyrics focus on how different she is compared to everyone else because she reads too much and does not show interest in things that other girls in the village might care about, such as romance or fashion. They see her as different, and they do not understand her passion for stories and imagination. The use of cheerful music contrasts with their judgmental and stereotypical words, showing how the townspeople are quick to label what they do not understand. The lyrics “Now it’s no wonder that her name means ‘Beauty’. Her looks have got no parallel. But behind that fair façade, I’m afraid she’s rather odd very diff’rent from the rest of us,” reinforce the idea that Belle is an outsider in her own community. The villagers find Belle odd because she prefers reading and thinking deeply, rather than following the typical life expected of a young woman in their town. She is only admired for her beauty but not appreciated for her intellect or imagination. Near the end of the song, there is a little part of Gaston, the film’s villain who is narcissistic and obsessed with Belle. It shows how he sees Belle as the most beautiful girl in town, but nothing besides that. He even takes the book from Belle’s hand, showing that he never cares for Belle’s interest at all.
Another example for a song used by the director of the film to describe a character is the characterisation of Gaston, another character in the film in the song “Gaston.” Gaston is a villager who is full of himself and obsessed to marrying Belle. In contrast to Belle’s thoughtful personality, the song “Gaston” is used to showcase Gaston’s ego and how others in the village praise him, even when his qualities are exaggerated. This song takes place after Belle rejects Gaston’s marriage proposal. LeFou, Gaston’s sidekick, starts the song with the line, “No one’s slick as Gaston / No one’s quick as Gaston / No one’s neck’s as incredibly thick as Gaston.” These lyrics emphasise Gaston’s physical strength and confidence. The villagers continue to sing his praises, creating a comedic effect as they exaggerate his abilities. Gaston himself sings, “As a specimen, yes, I’m intimidating!” and “I use antlers in all of my decorating!” These ridiculous yet catchy lines show that Gaston is proud of his appearance and strength, but lacks depth and humility. His song, unlike Belle’s, focuses entirely on appearances and status. It highlights his selfishness and how blindly admired he is by those around him, despite his flaws.
Songs are also used as conversation. For example, the song “Belle” shows the conversation amongst the villagers. Rather than using ordinary spoken dialogues, the film uses the lyrics of the song to represent how the townspeople communicate. For instance, one villager sings, “Look there she goes, that girl is strange, no question / Dazed and distracted, can’t you tell?” which then be followed by another who adds, “With a dreamy, far-off look, and her nose stuck in a book / What a puzzle to the rest of us is Belle.” These lines are not just the background narration; they are characters expressing their thoughts aloud to one another, creating a conversation-like structure within the song. Through this musical interaction, the audience learns how the villagers perceive Belle. They view her as odd and different because of her love for books and her tendency to get lost in her imagination. The fact that multiple villagers sing in response to each other makes the lyrics feel like a real conversation happening in the town square. This conversational style not only brings life to the scene but also allows the audience to understand the community’s collective opinion of Belle while advancing the story in an engaging and melodic way.
This film also uses instrumental music to help build a romantic and magical atmosphere. For example, it occurs during the ballroom scene, where Belle and the Beast share a dance. This moment is not accompanied by character dialogue or lyrics—instead, it relies entirely on the orchestral version of the film’s theme song, “Beauty and the Beast”, to create an emotional and magical atmosphere. The music begins softly and gracefully, with gentle strings and piano melodies that reflect the tenderness and vulnerability between the two characters. As they begin to dance, the music swells, adding layers of harmony and instrumentation that mirror the growing emotional connection between them. This wordless exchange allows the audience to feel the shift in their relationship—from awkward strangers to companions who are slowly beginning to understand and trust one another. The absence of spoken dialogue during this scene places even more emphasis on the music, allowing it to speak for the characters’ emotions. As a result, the music becomes a key element that represents the blossoming of love without needing a single word.
Later in the film, the song “Something There” is used to show Belle and Beast’s inner thoughts and emotions. The song is shown on screen when Belle and the Beast’s feelings start changing. This song gently shows that both characters are beginning to see each other in a new light. The lyrics are simple but deeply meaningful, allowing the audience to hear the characters’ thoughts as they start to question their feelings and recognize a mutual bond forming. For example, the opening line, “There’s something sweet and almost kind…” indicates Belle’s unexpected recognition that, beneath his frightening look, the Beast possesses a capacity for kindness— a quality that had been hidden by his initial behavior. At this moment, Belle starts to see the softer side of him, challenging her earlier judgments. Another line that stands out is when she reflects on his previously off-putting nature with, “…but he was mean, and he was coarse and unrefined…” Here, the lyrics recall their earlier conflicts and rough interactions, reinforcing that while his past conduct was harsh, there is now a hint of change. This sequence invites the audience to understand that transformation is possible even in someone who once seemed irredeemable.
What happens next is the Beast sings for the first time in the song, offering his own reflection. He sings, “She glanced this way, I thought I saw / And when we touched, she didn’t shudder at my paw.” His words reveal not only his hope, but also his deep insecurity about how he is seen by others. These lyrics also show the Beast’s astonishment that Belle is no longer afraid of him. He continues, “No, it can’t be, I’ll just ignore / But then she’s never looked at me that way before…” These lines reveal his internal conflict. He is hesitant to believe that Belle could truly see him as more than a beast. The idea that she might be starting to care for him is almost unbelievable to him, yet he cannot deny that her behavior has changed. This emotional push and pull shows the depth of his feelings and his fear of being hurt.
Together, the lyrics sung by Belle and the Beast form a quiet conversation of mutual realization. They do not speak to each other directly, but the song allows the audience to hear what they are both thinking. “Something There” is a turning point in the film; it shows that their connection is no longer based on obligation or fear, but on understanding and growing affection.
The main original soundtrack from Beauty and the Beast, which is “Beauty and the Beast”, is essential in enriching the storyline. It appears twice in the film, which make the song even more memorable and important. The first time it is heard is during the ballroom scene, where Belle and the Beast share their iconic dance. The music begins softly, with a beautiful orchestral arrangement that creates a magical atmosphere. As the lyrics begin—sung by Mrs. Potts, whose warm, maternal voice fills the space—the words “Tale as old as time, true as it can be” evoke a sense of timeless romance, signaling the shift in Belle and the Beast’s relationship. The gentle flow of the music mirrors the gradual, tender and mutual connection forming between the two characters, Belle and Beast.
The song’s reprise near the film’s end, after the Beast’s transformation and the resolution of their relationship, is even more powerful. The full orchestra, now blends with a richer harmony and melody, brings the song to life with a sense of fulfillment and joy. As the lyrics keeps repeating “Beauty and the Beast”, it highlights not only the literal transformation of the Beast into a prince but also the metaphorical change in their relationship, showing how both characters have grown emotionally. The repetition of the song serves as a musical thread throughout the film, connecting the beginning and end of Belle and the Beast’s journey together. The music, combined with the atmosphere of each scene, reinforces the magic of their love story.
Beauty and the Beast (1991) strongly stands as a timeless animated musical that uses music not only as entertainment but as a core element of storytelling. Through its richly compose music and songs, the film breathes life into its characters, expresses their thoughts and emotions, and advances the narrative in ways that dialogue alone could not. From the character-establishing opening number “Belle”, to the comedic exaggeration of “Gaston”, the heartfelt introspection in “Something There”, and the iconic title song “Beauty and the Beast”, each piece serves a distinct and meaningful purpose. The soundtrack, crafted by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman, blends seamlessly with the visuals to create a romantic and magical atmosphere that enhances the emotional weight of every scene. The songs allow the audience to truly understand the characters’ journeys and transformations, making the film resonate on a deeper level.
However, Beauty and the Beast has some weaknesses. For example, in the film, the backstory of the prince before turning into a beast was not explained enough. Viewers have the rights to know how he was like as a prince. Therefore, they could understand his character better and not just think of him as an abusive being. Another thing that is considered as a weakness of this film is the fact that it is a G-rated film yet it shows violence and brutality in many scenes. For example, the scene when the wolves attack, claw, and stabbed Beast or when the Beast gets furious is not appropriate for younger audiences. This can make the film, especially the Beast character, appear too scary for little children.
Nonetheless, Beauty and the Beast surely leaves a lasting impression to the audiences. This film uses musical elements very cleverly in the film. The musical elements, such as songs and instruments, make the film become more enjoyable and entertaining to watch. The music in this film takes a big part in developing and enhancing the storyline. This film also serves a timeless soundtrack which song has the same title as the film’s, “Beauty and the Beast”. The romance, musicals, and chemistry between all characters are very well-presented. All in all, this film is highly recommended for Disney enthusiasts, and it can also be a good start for anyone who is interested in watching Disney animated musicals.
References
Byrge, D. (2016). ‘Beauty and the Beast’: THR’s 1991 review. The Hollywood Reporter. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/beauty-beast-1991-review-949935/
Sarkisian, J. (2024). Oscars: How often does the same movie win both music awards? Gold Derby. https://www.goldderby.com/article/2024/oscars-song-score-same-movie/
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