Genesis of a Song: Alan Menken Shares How He Wrote ‘Go the Distance’ for Disney’s Hercules

[@lindaandcara]

All those songs in his head. Even the ones that haven’t seen the light of day, in a show. What a genius and a national treasure!

[@leif1075]

I want that many songs in my head..how can i be like him??

[@ericmago4110]

@@leif1075 Gotta keep playing man

[@manuelorozco7760]

Who would have thought?

[@livelaughlove0209]

Alan Menken has so much talent I love him so much he honestly an inspiration!

[@GerardoTonella]

The fact that he made the melody “muscular”. This man is my genius. 💖

[@NathanRBradfordMusic]

Such a legend. So sad that most people don’t know him by name.

[@kingdingaling6516]

Imagine being an aspiring songwriter and you get a chance to actual learn under him as his pupil...that would be amazing.

[@FindingMomo2317]

To anyone wondering who's the David he mentioned, he's referring to David Zippel, the man who wrote the lyrics to the songs in Hercules. He also wrote the lyrics to the songs in Mulan with Matthew Wilde.

[@manuelorozco7760]

And did the lyrics for the Swan Princess

[@mikelombard21]

What an insight. The way he thinks and conceptualized music is astounding. This man is a legend.

[@justess797]

1:36 he plays it like it is nothing

[@xenablossom4682]

As soon as he plays it, goosebump city, man.

[@jwicks747]

Its so fun to watch him! He's so happy when he plays!

[@mikelombard21]

exactly! you can see the joy on his face.

[@manuelorozco7760]

The first time I saw him play on piano was an interview he did for Tangled

[@princepeterwolf]

I think Alan never got the recognition he rightfully deserves, all his songs are timeless, beautiful and moving. I don't know any other composer quite like him

[@andrepugosa7088]

He literally has 8 oscars the most out of any living person

[@jeremyjohnfauvel]

This guy is very underrated in his role in our favorite Disney movies.

[@jamienewstart1756]

Wasn't aware until recently Alan Menken was behind so many great childhood Disney songs growing up, an amazing talent.👏 ❤

[@MrGabeanator]

Of all the great songs Alan has written in his career and trust me there’s a lot of em go the distance has got to be one of the best and one my favorites

[@enriquesinghjr]

Hercules may not be that popular of a movie, but I love that movie's comedy (also The Emperor's New Groove) and "Go The Distance" is among my favorite Disney movies perhaps because it's one of the most masculine songs in the entire Disney catalogue. The movie shares a lot in common with Superman (1978) and the Rocky movies (both of which I'm a huge fan of).

[@manuelorozco7760]

I prefer Snow White, Cinderella, Wreck It Ralph, Big Hero 6, Moana, Raya and the Last Dragon and Encanto. But Hercules and Groove are two of those Disney movies I would watch all the time on VHS until they went extinct

[@alainninodequina9704]

❤️💯🥂

[@havidman]

Hercules was famous in Indonesia..

[@PS-DLMA]

Menken scored the theme to one of the Rocky movies....

[@ArchiduquesaMA]

I wish they'd make songs like this for female characters

[@TheGg6422]

Such a humble guy who seems to be able to capture the feel of almost any drama/toon! You're an inspiration!

[@nrahman3439]

shooting star is beautiful!

[@Sarah_Joyce]

I like that shooting star song, kind of sad it didn’t make it in

[@RosalindPeters]

Sarah Joyce if you listen to the beginning motif though, we re use it when they arrive in Thebes. (Me? An obsessive Hercules geek? What makes you say that...!?)

[@animalanimation5110]

@@RosalindPeters That melody is also heard when baby Pegasus is sleeping

[@leif1075]

Why didnt it

[@ESPHMacD]

It's on my copy of the CD Soundtrack, along with some covers of the Muses songs. Probably one of the best songs on there, honestly.

[@stephenmccollum1391]

This song is wonderful. Alan is incredible.

[@ArchiduquesaMA]

This song makes me feel like a peasant boy who wants to become a great hero

[@KurtBarcelona]

the lyrics that defined me as an adult

[@colleeneriksen4740]

One of my favourites.

[@silentsmurf]

I never noticed how thematically similar Go the Distance and How Far I’ll Go are until now

[@manuelorozco7760]

I prefer Moana over Hercules

[@aquirkyduck3959]

WE STAN YOU BRO!!!

[@ddespair]

The way he plays the songs really reveal how he liked his original song better. He slams the keys on the winner but he plays with heartfelt emotion on the loser.

[@ayanamiayachanJ]

My favourite Disney song

[@FaithAutumn]

I wish I met him in person

[@manuelorozco7760]

He’s still alive

[@turtleislandlac1490]

Amazing and underrated songs in Hercules. Zero to Hero should be an all time classic (I know in some fans' mind it is) but I don't think that soundtrack gets the credit it deserves.

[@manuelorozco7760]

I couldn’t agree more

[@lukeamerson3652]

Imagine getting to record an interview with Alan Menken and clipping all the audio

[@paul-zx5du]

Gorgeous music.

[@MrS-b9l]

it went from "feel sorry for me" to "just wait till you see what i can do"

[@maggiemag3569]

We absolutely stan

[@supercoolr9330]

I love to sing, and I love to write songs for Disney music.

[@raggedyhaggity250]

go the distance is olympic sports theme worthy. hated it as a kid but i love it now

[@manuelorozco7760]

I was neither

[@marcschndr]

Please come back for Disney

[@manuelorozco7760]

He’s having an Enchanted sequel coming out in November on Disney Plus

[@JustUsSystemInc]

Go the distance always reminded me of Alladin I can show you the world.

[@gamerviktor4963]

Anyone know where I can find material for my bachelor? Need to find out how they made decisions of the music in different Disney movies. How they ended up with gospel in Hercules, why did they choose Phil Collins in Tarzan... Need good sources 😉

[@caityl.charnoski7774]

It would be cool if they added Shooting Star to the live action remake 🤔

[@DanIel-fl1vc]

I'd like to know how he comes up with the "harmonic pallet" first then the melody. Maybe it's an ostinato pattern repeated in a chord sequence. When that sounds good he can put the melody on top and arrange it?

[@andyparker9871]

anyone getting “part of your world” vibes from the beginning of shooting star?

[@cbismarck07]

Just Around the Riverbend

[@musical_lolu4811]

Proud of your boy.

[@SelphieFairy]

I think it's because that's another very typical "I want" song. From his description, I think he initially wrote "shooting star" as just that until he realized it needed a bit more power to it.

[@samcotten2416]

I loved that movie as a kid, but now it seems pretty juvenile overall. This song, however, is the one really great thing about it.

[@manuelorozco7760]

Out of Alan’s work at Disney, I prefer Hercules, Enchanted, Tangled, Aladdin and Newsies. Go the Distance is one of those Mouse House songs that speak to me as an autistic individual. Trying to make the best of not being a boy anymore. The song’s message couldn’t be timelier 25 years later

[@silentsmurf]

Would love to hear Roger Bart sing Shooting Star

[@MegaAnimationFan]

You can actually see/hear it here kzbin.info/www/bejne/oKfWnqmZjbGdo5o

[@deedragongirl]

Boyzone brought me here!

[@ianteo-productionoutlet2969]

If the plagal cadence was the very reason, that I ended up changing my musical taste to Jocelyn Pook, then I have to thank a wardrobe malfunction for giving me the greatest opportunity to bridge bad jokes based on the act of wondering or wading.