A Whole New World hits again

Hearing A Whole New World in the soundtrack of the motion picture Aladdin way back in 1992 was a transfixing moment. The song was composed by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice as the love theme for the Disney animated feature film and it was performed by Lea Salonga and Brad Kane as the on-screen singing voices of Princess Jasmine and the street rat Aladdin. The pop single release was a duet by Regina Belle and Peabo Bryson.

I still get goosebumps when I hear the song. Not only because it is a soaring, uplifting piece but also because it is Lea singing. She was then fresh off her triumph in Miss Saigon and an established star on Broadway and the West End and she was Filipino. A Filipino singer was tapped to be the voice of a Disney princess. We all felt proud. It was cause for celebration.

Of course, Lea did an excellent job. In fact, A Whole New World won the Academy Award in 1992 for Best Original Song from a Motion Picture and the Grammy Award for Song of the Year. And some years later, Disney once again asked her to be the voice of another princess. That was the Chinese warrior Mulan and the song with a pop version that made Christina Aguilera was Reflection.

Twenty-seven years later, with the Disney promo machine turned on full-blast to ensure that the live action version of Aladdin would be a success, A Whole New World is once again a hit. The new recording of the song by ex-One Direction Zayn Malik and singer-actress Zhavia Ward is now in the Top 10 of YouTube’s Top 30 tunes of the week.

Quite good. And it was rather refreshing to hear Zayn take on an inspiring ballad. The kid sings OK and Zhavia also does well. But then, it is quite a tall order for them to step into the shoes of the smooth magnificence of Peabo and Regina. Likewise for Mena Massoud as Aladdin and Naomi Scott as Jasmine in the soundtrack of the movie. Their duet of A Whole New World is just so-so and totally lacks the charming innocence and showstopping quality of Brad and Lea’s.

But why complain. The new Aladdin done with all live actors is a hit at the box-office and cheers to Disney that made sure everything was right. The script was carefully structured to be politically correct at all times and should please all peoples from everywhere and of every persuasion. The cast is truly multi-racial. I love watching Will Smith whatever color he is and as we have already proven lots of times, Disney never skimps on the spectacle. So everybody enjoy. 

And now here is the week’s Top 30 hit tally from YouTube. Which I am happy to announce has three original Pinoy tunes on top: Dalaga or Dalagang Pilipina by the hip-hop group Allmo$t; Kahit Ayaw Mo Na by the sensational This Band; Pauwi Na Ko by the Panty Droppaz League; Kill This Love by the Korean girl group Blackpink; Buwan by JK Labajo; Me! by Taylor Swift ft. Brendan Urie of Panic! at the Disco; Boy With Luv by the K-pop international sensation BTS ft. Halsey; A Whole New World by Zayn and Zhavia; I Don’t Care by Ed Sheeran and Justin Bieber; Kakayanin Kaya by Maymay Entrata.

Kung Din Rin Lang Ikaw by the December Avenue; Sunflower from the soundtrack of Spider-Man into the Spider-Verse by Post Malone and Swae Lee; If I Can’t Have You by Shawn Mendes; Sucker by the Jonas Brothers; Sa Ngalan Ng Pag-ibig by December Avenue; Talk by Khalid; Here With Me by Marshmellow and CHVRCHES; Dancing With A Stranger by Sam Smith and former Fifth Harmony Normani; I’m So Tired by Lauv & Troye Sivan.

Hindi Na Nga again by This Band; Who Do You Love? by the Chainsmokers ft. 5 Seconds of Summer; Love Someone by Lukas Grahame; 7 Rings by Ariana Grande; Bagay Tayo also by AllmoSt; Con Calma by Daddy Yankee, the Katy Perry remix ft. Snow; Bad Guy by Billie Eillish; Earth by Lil Dicky; Cool also by the Jonas Brothers; and I Am So Hot by the Korean group MOMOLAND.