# Aladdin (2019 soundtrack)
**Aladdin (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)** is the soundtrack album to Disney's 2019 live-action remake of *Aladdin*, released in May 2019 alongside the film. It contains new recordings of the songs from the 1992 animated feature, written by composer [Alan Menken](https://www.edgepedia.org/alan-menken) with lyricists [Howard Ashman](https://www.edgepedia.org/howard-ashman) and [Tim Rice](https://www.edgepedia.org/tim-rice), together with new material written by Menken and the songwriting team Benj Pasek and Justin Paul.[1](https://movies.disney.com/aladdin-2019) • [2](https://d23.com/a-to-z/aladdin-live-action-film/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Release | Soundtrack appeared on YouTube on May 22, 2019, ahead of the film's May 24, 2019 theatrical release[3](https://www.classicfm.com/discover-music/disney-aladdin-new-soundtrack-listen/) • [2](https://d23.com/a-to-z/aladdin-live-action-film/) |
| Composer | Alan Menken, the original 1992 composer, returned and also served as a music producer[1](https://movies.disney.com/aladdin-2019) |
| New songwriters | Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (La La Land, Dear Evan Hansen, The Greatest Showman) collaborated with Menken on new material[4](https://d23.com/disney-legend-alan-menken-on-making-new-musical-magic-in-aladdin/) |
| Signature new song | "Speechless," a power ballad sung by Naomi Scott as Jasmine, praised by some reviewers as the album's highpoint[3](https://www.classicfm.com/discover-music/disney-aladdin-new-soundtrack-listen/) |
| Pop end-credits versions | "A Whole New World" recorded by Zayn Malik and Zhavia Ward; "Friend Like Me (End Title)" with DJ Khaled and new rap verses by Will Smith[5](https://www.allmusic.com/album/aladdin-2019-original-motion-picture-soundtrack--mw0003268911) |
| Reception context | The film scored 57% on the Tomatometer against a 94% audience score, and a Metascore of 53[6](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/aladdin) • [7](https://www.metacritic.com/movie/aladdin-2019/critic-reviews/) |
## Background
The 1992 animated *Aladdin* had one of the most celebrated soundtracks of the [Disney Renaissance](https://www.edgepedia.org/disney-renaissance), with music by Menken and lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice; Ashman died during production, and Rice stepped in to complete the songs, including "A Whole New World," which won the Best Original Song Grammy at the 36th [Grammy Awards](https://www.edgepedia.org/grammy-awards).[8](https://www.grammy.com/news/songs-are-love-aladdin-songwriters-look-back-whole-new-world/) For the 2019 remake, Disney brought Menken back to write the score and produce new recordings of the original songs, and paired him with [Pasek and Paul](https://www.edgepedia.org/pasek-and-paul), the Oscar- and Tony-winning songwriters behind *La La Land*, *Dear Evan Hansen*, and *The Greatest Showman*.[1](https://movies.disney.com/aladdin-2019) • [4](https://d23.com/disney-legend-alan-menken-on-making-new-musical-magic-in-aladdin/)
The album follows the remake's general approach: the same script and song framework as the 1992 film, with expeditious trims and additions. One change drew attention before release: a contentious lyric about ear-cutting was dropped from "Arabian Nights."[9](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/aladdin-review-guy-ritchie-polishes-disneys-lamp) The film also infuses a hip-hop sensibility into some of the musical numbers and gives Jasmine a stronger arc, which the new songs support.[10](https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/article/aladdin-first-reviews-will-smith-makes-the-genie-his-own-but-its-jasmine-who-steals-the-show/)
## New and revised songs
Two songs were added to the score. A new version of "Arabian Nights" opens the film, sung by [Will Smith](https://www.edgepedia.org/will-smith) as the [Genie](https://www.edgepedia.org/genie-disney) and the narrator, and "Speechless" gives Princess Jasmine a solo number she lacked in the 1992 film.[2](https://d23.com/a-to-z/aladdin-live-action-film/) Menken described the original "Arabian Nights" as somewhat "vaudevillian," a soundtrack for Aladdin dancing his way out of trouble, and the 2019 arrangement reworks that opening number.[4](https://d23.com/disney-legend-alan-menken-on-making-new-musical-magic-in-aladdin/)
**"Speechless."** Written by Pasek and Paul in collaboration with Menken, the ballad is sung in the film by [Naomi Scott](https://www.edgepedia.org/naomi-scott) as Jasmine and was described by Classic FM as the definite highpoint of the soundtrack.[3](https://www.classicfm.com/discover-music/disney-aladdin-new-soundtrack-listen/) AllMusic's review called it Scott's breakthrough moment, showcasing her vocals on a dramatic climax, and the "diamond in the rough" that makes the collection worthwhile.[5](https://www.allmusic.com/album/aladdin-2019-original-motion-picture-soundtrack--mw0003268911) Not all listeners agreed on its fit: some critics and viewers found it a modern pop song that sits awkwardly beside the rest of the score.[11](https://www.teenink.com/img/TeenInkSample.pdf)
**Revised originals.** Menken put what AllMusic described as a heavier musical-theater spin on tracks such as "Arabian Nights" and "Prince Ali," adding illustrative verses to refresh the film's setting and characters.[5](https://www.allmusic.com/album/aladdin-2019-original-motion-picture-soundtrack--mw0003268911) A Paste review of the film heard music that "breathes new life to beloved songs with an emphasis on percussion and horns."[7](https://www.metacritic.com/movie/aladdin-2019/critic-reviews/) Will Smith, taking over the Genie role played by [Robin Williams](https://www.edgepedia.org/robin-williams), used his lyrical rap flow on "Friend Like Me" and stretched into soaring vocals on "Arabian Nights."[5](https://www.allmusic.com/album/aladdin-2019-original-motion-picture-soundtrack--mw0003268911)
**End-credits versions.** The 2019 "A Whole New World" recruits pop singers [Zayn Malik](https://www.edgepedia.org/zayn-malik) and Zhavia Ward. AllMusic judged that they do their best but cannot match the original end-credits performers [Peabo Bryson](https://www.edgepedia.org/peabo-bryson) and [Regina Belle](https://www.edgepedia.org/regina-belle), whose R&B-influenced 1992 version had been a radio hit.[5](https://www.allmusic.com/album/aladdin-2019-original-motion-picture-soundtrack--mw0003268911) • [12](https://time.com/4700367/11-classic-disney-songs-performed-flawlessly-by-famous-pop-stars/) "Friend Like Me (End Title)" receives a bombastic update with DJ Khaled and brand-new rap verses by Smith.[5](https://www.allmusic.com/album/aladdin-2019-original-motion-picture-soundtrack--mw0003268911)
## Critical reception
Reaction to the soundtrack was divided along the same line as the film itself: comparison with the 1992 original. The film's Tomatometer stood at 57 percent from 386 reviews while its audience score reached 94 percent, a gap reviewers attributed largely to the weight of nostalgia for the animated version.[6](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/aladdin) • [13](https://www.santamariasun.com/downloads/SUN_20.17_06.27.19.pdf) On Metacritic the film scored 53, mixed or average, from 50 critic reviews.[7](https://www.metacritic.com/movie/aladdin-2019/critic-reviews/)
AllMusic's verdict was that the album serves mostly as a karaoke-covers version of the beloved originals, with "Speechless" as the exception that makes the collection worthwhile.[5](https://www.allmusic.com/album/aladdin-2019-original-motion-picture-soundtrack--mw0003268911) A more negative review in the same vein found only "Arabian Nights" and "Friend Like Me" fully successful, noting that Smith's energy was largely missing from "Prince Ali."[14](https://thoroughlymodernreviewer.com/2019/05/25/aladdin-2019-review/) On the positive side, critics credited the music with helping the remake stand on its own: Rotten Tomatoes' critics consensus allowed that the film retells its source material with sufficient spectacle and skill, and audience appraisals singled out the soundtrack as one of the remake's strengths.[6](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/aladdin)
## References
1. [Aladdin 2019 | Disney Movies](https://movies.disney.com/aladdin-2019)
2. [Aladdin (film) - D23](https://d23.com/a-to-z/aladdin-live-action-film/)
3. [Disney has just released the new 'Aladdin' soundtrack, Classic FM](https://www.classicfm.com/discover-music/disney-aladdin-new-soundtrack-listen/)
4. [Disney Legend Alan Menken on Making New Musical Magic in Aladdin - D23](https://d23.com/disney-legend-alan-menken-on-making-new-musical-magic-in-aladdin/)
5. [Aladdin [2019] [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] Review, AllMusic](https://www.allmusic.com/album/aladdin-2019-original-motion-picture-soundtrack--mw0003268911)
6. [Aladdin | Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/aladdin)
7. [Aladdin critic reviews - Metacritic](https://www.metacritic.com/movie/aladdin-2019/critic-reviews/)
8. ["Songs Are Like Love": 'Aladdin' Songwriters Look Back On "A Whole New World", Grammy.com](https://www.grammy.com/news/songs-are-love-aladdin-songwriters-look-back-whole-new-world/)
9. [Aladdin review: Guy Ritchie polishes Disney's lamp, Sight and Sound, BFI](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/aladdin-review-guy-ritchie-polishes-disneys-lamp)
10. [Aladdin First Reviews, Rotten Tomatoes editorial](https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/article/aladdin-first-reviews-will-smith-makes-the-genie-his-own-but-its-jasmine-who-steals-the-show/)
11. [TeenInk review of Aladdin (2019)](https://www.teenink.com/img/TeenInkSample.pdf)
12. [11 Classic Disney Songs Performed Flawlessly by Famous Pop Stars, Time](https://time.com/4700367/11-classic-disney-songs-performed-flawlessly-by-famous-pop-stars/)
13. [Santa Maria Sun, June 27 - July 4, 2019](https://www.santamariasun.com/downloads/SUN_20.17_06.27.19.pdf)
14. [REVIEW: "Aladdin" (2019), Thoroughly Modern Reviewer](https://thoroughlymodernreviewer.com/2019/05/25/aladdin-2019-review/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Music › Musical works and recordings › Albums and recorded releases › Soundtrack albums (film, TV, games, and screen media) › Live-action film soundtracks › Song and compilation soundtracks*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license