Beauty and The Beast (Disney Song)

Beauty And The Beast (Disney Song)

"Beauty and the Beast" is a song by Canadian recording artist Celine Dion and American recording artist Peabo Bryson. It was written by lyricist Howard Ashman and composer Alan Menken for Walt Disney Pictures' thirtieth animated feature film Beauty and the Beast, and originally recorded by English actress Angela Lansbury in her film role as the character Mrs. Potts. The song was produced by American recorded producer and songwriter Walter Afanasieff, and included as the final track on the film's soundtrack album, from which it was released as a single on November 16, 1991. Additionally, the song was included on Dion's eponymous seventeenth studio album, released in March 1992. A down-tempo pop ballad, the song's lyrics describe the relationship between Beauty and the Beast main characters Belle and the Beast.

The song has been very well received by critics, who praised its dual role as both a musical number and a commercial single. "Beauty and the Beast" won an Academy Award for Best Original Song at the 64th Academy Awards. The song also won a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song, and was nominated for three Grammy Awards, winning one for Best Song Written for Visual Media. As a single, "Beauty and the Beast" was a commercial success, peaking at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 and becoming both Dion and Bryson's second top-ten hit in the United States.

The music video for "Beauty and the Beast" was directed by Dominic Orlando. It features Dion and Bryson performing the song in a vast recording studio, surrounded by a large orchestra. Shots of the singers frequently transition into various scenes from the film, which are being played simultaneously on a large overhead screen. Dion and Bryson have performed the song several times live, including at the 64th Academy Awards in 1992 and the 35th Grammy Awards in 1993. Both singers have also included the song on their respective greatest hit and compilation albums. "Beauty and the Beast" has been covered numerous times by various artists and musicians. American pop group Jump5 and American Idol-winner Jordin Sparks have each recorded pop covers of the song for the film's platinum and diamond edition re-releases; both versions feature their own music videos.