Alan Menken helped define Disney animation sound for decades, helping to record some of the company’s most beloved renaissance films, and changing their soundtracks forever with The little Mermaidestablishment of the song “I Want”. But the legendary composer just hitched an Emmy for his work with the studio, and it’s for a Disney soundtrack you’re probably sleeping on.
Over the weekend, Menken and lyricist Glenn Slater were hooked on the Daytime Emmy for Best Original Song on a children’s, youth or anime show for their work at Disney. Rapunzel’s tangled adventure, the animated follow-up to the 2010 film. The victory went to “Waiting on the wings“From the second season of the program, sung by Eden Espinosa, who plays Rapunzel’s maid / guard captain / best friend / casual friend, Cassandra, in the series.
Although Menken had previously received an honorary Primetime Emmy in 1990 for Cartoon All-Stars to the RescueThis is his first victory in a competitive Emmy category, making him the 16th person to achieve the laudable claim of “EGOT” which is to win an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Award. Menken has won eight Oscars and 11 Tonys for his work on Disney movies, namely The little Mermaid, Pocahontas, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdinand the original Tangled up, and won a Tony Award in 2012 for the theatrical production of Newsies (but sadly, he didn’t win for the Disney movie itself!). Therefore, it is appropriate that you close your EGOT career with another Disney score, and for one that is actually really good.
Rapunzel’s tangled adventure (it used to be just titled Tangled: the series) has been operating since 2017 before wrapping up his third and final season earlier this year. Apart from being a surprisingly great continuation where the movie came from, the soundtrack, with original Menken songs and a Kevin Kliesch score, is packed with some killer songs that would be the highlight of any Disney movie, let alone come into existence as a regular occurrence on a Disney Channel children’s show. Seriously you don’t have lived until you’ve heard Jeremy JordanNewsies and Supergirl star!) and the rest of the cast, including Espinosoh he stars returning from the movie—Create “Ready as I’ll always be”.
It’s great! It is almost what you could consider a “shame” that they are being used on the show, rather than on the big screen, but hey: throughout its three seasons, we got many more songs than we would have gotten from a Tangled 2: Rapunzel Boogaloo. At least the work of Menken, Liesch and Slater is getting the recognition it deserves.
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Check out this year’s full list of children’s daytime, lifestyle and animation Emmy winners here.
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