Disney’s remake of Aladdin is arguably the strongest of all the live-action movies that Disney has remade in recent years. The movie was well cast and had tons of energy, just like the original. Of course, some of the songs in the original animated feature are amongst Disney’s best, so the soundtrack to the remake was always going to be a crucial element to its success or failure.
Thankfully, Disney knocked it out of the park with these songs. Bringing back the classics but with a new spin, while also injecting new music into the movie was a fantastic idea, and it created a brilliant set of songs that were distinctly unique to this version. But which were the best?
“One Jump Ahead (Reprise)”
This is only a small song in the movie and it is a follow-up to the more frantic and exciting original version. However, the reprise brings a little more emotion than the first version, seen when Aladdin is busy sprinting away from the guards as he tries to not get arrested.
This segment is well done and does a fantastic job of making it clear that there’s a lot more than meets the eye when it comes to this character, showcasing the heart that he has inside and making it an important part of the movie.
“One Jump Ahead (Reprise 2)”
That’s right, this song comes back for a second time in the movie, and this time it is packed full of more emotion and thought, making it even more enjoyable. This is the moment where Aladdin begins to question whether or not he should tell Princess Jasmine the truth about his identity, and therefore it’s a tough moment for him.
However, that is what makes it much stronger than the first reprise. The character has been fleshed out more by this point and has much more personality and heart, which is why people are more invested and able to connect with this one.
“Speechless (Part One)”
In the original movie, Princess Jasmine doesn’t have her own solo song, and that is something that the live-action addresses. She is given her own song in this movie, which is split into two parts, and it really does add a lot to her character.
Princess Jasmine has a much bigger role in this movie, regardless of the song, but this just brings a little more emotion into her character, which makes her far more relatable. It really pushes the difficulty and struggle she is facing, opening up her story a lot more.
“Arabian Nights”
This song is the one that kicks off the movie and welcomes audiences into Agrabah and it is actually better than the original version. Disney kicked this song up a level here and really gave it a lot more focus, with big instrumental moments as the song really rose in energy to build up the excitement.
It gave a great overlook of the situation, adding in the Cave Of Wonders, as well. Will Smith gives a great performance in this song, which really showcases his singing ability, rather than just his rapping, which is used at later points in the movie.
“One Jump Ahead”
This is one of Disney’s best-ever songs and is one that also suits Aladdin perfectly, so it was important for the remake to get it right. And it certainly did. The instrumental sections in this song really added something to the movie and suited the chase scene a lot more than the original.
In terms of singing, it doesn’t have the same energy as the original, but it’s not far off. But the way it is shot and the pacing that is put between the vocals, extending the song slightly, suits the scene a lot more. It gives the real fear of panic about what is about to happen and whether or not Aladdin will avoid the guards, which is excellent.
“Friend Like Me”
This song was sung with so much charisma by Robin Williams in the original that there were some nerves amongst fans about how Will Smith would deal with this. However, it’s fair to say he knocked it out of the park, putting together an amazing song that was perfectly him.
This song is so uptempo that it is impossible not to dance along with it, as it brings so much energy. The music is epic and Will Smith brings tons of fun into the performance, and adding a bit of his rapping talent is something that really makes this song his own, rather than just being a carbon copy.
“A Whole New World”
Of course, when it comes to Aladdin, this is the song that everybody typically thinks about first. It’s the big number in the movie between Aladdin and Princess Jasmine, and for the most part, the live-action didn’t change much with this one.
There were a few tweaks with the instrumentals, which weren’t quite as good as the original, and this version didn’t seem to have quite as much emotion. But the song is still beautiful and it was performed excellently here, making it just as epic as the original.
“Speechless (Part 2)”
While the original movie is all about “A Whole New World,” the remake really benefits from having Princess Jasmine’s own epic number. While the first part is good, it is part two of her song, “Speechless,” that really kicks up the emotion and creates an epic number that is simply unforgettable.
The song is packed with heart and passion, but it is also very catchy and a truly empowering moment for Princess Jasmine, as a character. This is where she stands up and shows her true feelings, taking control of the situation, which makes this version of the character even stronger than the animated version.
“Prince Ali”
Disney did a fantastic job with the major “Prince Ali” number in this live-action remake. This song is another that has a lot of energy and excitement about it, and somehow Disney managed to make it feel even bigger and more important here.
The actual scene is filmed brilliantly, with a lot going on to make Prince Ali look like the most exciting person possible. But it is Will Smith as The Genie that carries the song, with a great vocal performance while also acting as the MC, as he brings so many other people into the song to make it truly epic.
