A Whole New World

Last updated

"A Whole New World"
Song by Brad Kane and Lea Salonga
from the album Aladdin: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
ReleasedOctober 31, 1992 (1992-10-31)
Recorded1991 [1]
Genre Show tune
Length2:40 (soundtrack version)
Label Walt Disney
Composer(s) Alan Menken
Lyricist(s) Tim Rice
Producer(s)
  • Menken
  • Rice
  • Chris Montan

"A Whole New World" is the signature song from Disney's 1992 animated feature film Aladdin, with music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Tim Rice. [2] A duet originally recorded by singers Brad Kane and Lea Salonga in their respective roles as the singing voices of the main characters Aladdin and Jasmine, the ballad serves as both the film's love and theme song. Lyrically, "A Whole New World" describes Aladdin showing the confined princess a life of freedom and the pair's acknowledgment of their love for each other while riding on a magic carpet which they fall in love on and kiss.

Contents

The song garnered an Academy Award for Best Original Song at the 65th Academy Awards [3] [4] and a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song at the 50th Golden Globe Awards. [5] "A Whole New World" also won the Grammy Awards for Best Song Written Specifically for a Motion Picture or for Television at the 36th Annual Grammy Awards, as well as Song of the Year, the only Disney song to do so (as of 2023). [6] [7] In the same year, the pop version sung by Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle was also nominated for Record of the Year and Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals, winning the latter. [6] [7] [8]

Mena Massoud and Naomi Scott performed the song in the live-action version of Aladdin (2019). [9] Zayn Malik and Zhavia Ward did their version of the song for the end credits. The music video featuring Zayn Malik and Zhavia Ward was directed by Philip Andelman, photographed by David Devlin and supported the successful release of the 2019 live-action feature film Aladdin directed by Guy Ritchie.

Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle pop duet version

"A Whole New World (Aladdin's Theme)"
A Whole New World Cover.jpg
Single by Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle
from the album Aladdin: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack , Passion , and Through the Fire
B-side "After the Kiss" (instrumental)
ReleasedNovember 5, 1992 (1992-11-05)
Length
  • 4:03(single and album version)
  • 4:05(soundtrack version)
Label [10]
Composer(s) Alan Menken
Lyricist(s) Tim Rice [2]
Producer(s) Walter Afanasieff
Peabo Bryson singles chronology
"You Are My Home"
(1992)
"A Whole New World (Aladdin's Theme)"
(1992)
"By the Time This Night Is Over"
(1993)
Regina Belle singles chronology
"Better Together"
(1992)
"A Whole New World (Aladdin's Theme)"
(1992)
"If I Could"
(1993)

Certifications

Kane and Salonga version

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Japan (RIAJ) [44]
digital
Gold100,000*
Japan (RIAJ) [45]
physical
Platinum100,000^
United Kingdom (BPI) [46] Platinum600,000
United States (RIAA) [47] 2× Platinum2,000,000

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Bryson and Belle version

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Japan (RIAJ) [48]
digital
Gold100,000*
Japan (RIAJ) [49]
physical
Platinum100,000^
United States (RIAA) [50]
physical
Gold500,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Massoud and Scott version

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA) [51] Gold500,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Cover versions

Jose Mari Chan version

"A Whole New World"
Single by Jose Mari Chan
from the album Aladdin: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
B-side "A Whole New World"
Released1993
Genre
Length3:56
Label
Composer(s) Alan Menken
Lyricist(s) Tim Rice [2]
Producer(s) Rey Magtoto
Jose Mari Chan singles chronology
"A Perfect Christmas"
(1990)
"A Whole New World"
(1993)
"Is She Thinking About Me?"
(1994)

In the Philippines, a version of the song performed by Jose Mari Chan, a Filipino recording artist, was released as a single through Bell Films (a subsidiary of Universal Records) in 1993, coinciding with the Philippine theatrical release of Aladdin on April 30, 1993. [52]

Then-SM Rookies member Jaehyun, who later debuted as a member of boy group NCT and former member Seo Herin performed the song in Disney Channel Korea show Mickey Mouse Club in December 2015.

Other cover versions

See also

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