A Whole New World

This article is about a single from the soundtrack of Aladdin. For the Katie Price and Peter Andre album, see A Whole New World (album). For the young adult novel by Liz Braswell, see A Whole New World: A Twisted Tale.

"A Whole New World" is the signature song from Disney's 1992 animated feature film Aladdin, with music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Tim Rice.^[2] A duet originally recorded by singers Brad Kane and Lea Salonga in their respective roles as the singing voices of the main characters Aladdin and Jasmine, the ballad serves as both the film's love and theme song. Lyrically, "A Whole New World" describes Aladdin showing the confined princess a life of freedom and the pair's acknowledgment of their love for each other while riding on a magic carpet.

"A Whole New World"
Song by Brad Kane and Lea Salonga
from the album Aladdin: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Released	October 31, 1992 (1992-10-31)
Recorded	1991[1]
Genre	Show tune
Length	2:40 (soundtrack version)
Label	Walt Disney
Composer(s)	Alan Menken
Lyricist(s)	Tim Rice
Producer(s)	Menken Rice Chris Montan

The song garnered an Academy Award for Best Original Song at the 65th Academy Awards,^[3][4] a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song at the 50th Golden Globe Awards,^[5] and a Grammy Award for Best Song Written Specifically for a Motion Picture or for Television at the 36th Grammy Awards, as well as a Grammy Award for Song of the Year, the only Disney song to do so.^[6][7] In the same year, the pop version sung by Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle was also nominated for Record of the Year and Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals, winning the latter.^[6][7][8]

Mena Massoud and Naomi Scott performed the song in the live-action version of Aladdin (2019).^[9] Zayn Malik and Zhavia Ward did their version of the song for the end credits.

Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle pop duet version

"A Whole New World (Aladdin's Theme)"
Single by Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle
from the album Aladdin: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, Passion, and Through the Fire
B-side	"After the Kiss" (instrumental)
Released	November 5, 1992 (1992-11-05)
Genre	Pop[10]
Length	4:03 (single version) 4:05 (soundtrack version)
Label	Walt Disney Columbia [11]
Composer(s)	Alan Menken
Lyricist(s)	Tim Rice[2]
Producer(s)	Walter Afanasieff
Peabo Bryson singles chronology
"You Are My Home" (1992) "A Whole New World (Aladdin's Theme)" (1992) "By the Time This Night Is Over" (1993)
Regina Belle singles chronology
"Better Together" (1992) "A Whole New World (Aladdin's Theme)" (1992) "If I Could" (1993)
Licensed audio
"A Whole New World (Aladdin's Theme)" on YouTube

A single version of the song was released that same year and was performed by American recording artists Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle. This version is played over the film's end credits and is referred on the soundtrack as "Aladdin's Theme".^[2] The version peaked at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart for a week, ending on March 6, 1993,^[12] replacing Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You", which had spent a then-record 14 weeks at the top of the chart. It went gold and sold 600,000 copies domestically.^[13][14] The track peaked at number 12 in the UK Singles Chart in 1993.^[15]

The song is the first song from a Disney animated film to top the US Billboard Hot 100. It was the only Disney song to achieve this feat until "We Don't Talk About Bruno" from Encanto reached the summit in 2022. The single version was later included on Belle's studio album Passion (1993) and on Bryson's studio album Through the Fire (1994).^[16][17]

Critical reception

Alan Jones from Music Week gave the song five out of five. He wrote, "The theme from Aladdin is a huge appealing big ballad duet. A melodic tour de force with wide ranging appeal, it is wisely tipped as the Christmas number one."^[18]

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1993–1994) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[19] 10 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[20] 14 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[21] 6 Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[22] 1 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[23] 24 Germany (GfK)[24] 70 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[25] 2 Ireland (IRMA)[26] 11 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[27] 18 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[28] 14 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[29] 8 UK Singles (OCC)[15] 12 UK Airplay (Music Week)[30] 8 US Billboard Hot 100[31] 1 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[32] 1 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[33] 21 US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[34] 1 US Rhythmic (Billboard)[35] 18 US Cash Box Top 100[36] 2

Year-end charts Chart (1993) Position Australia (ARIA)[37] 50 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[38] 56 Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[39] 6 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[40] 37 US Billboard Hot 100[41] 18 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[42] 6 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[43] 98 Chart (1994) Position Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[44] 34

Certifications

Kane and Salonga version

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Japan (RIAJ)[45] digital	Gold	100,000*
Japan (RIAJ)[46] physical	Platinum	100,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[47]	Platinum	600,000‡
United States (RIAA)[48]	2× Platinum	2,000,000‡
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Bryson and Belle version

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Japan (RIAJ)[49] digital	Gold	100,000*
Japan (RIAJ)[50] physical	Platinum	100,000^
United States (RIAA)[51] physical	Gold	500,000^
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Massoud and Scott version

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[52]	Gold	20,000‡
United States (RIAA)[53]	Gold	500,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Zayn and Zhavia version

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[54]	2× Platinum	80,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Cover versions

Jose Mari Chan version

"A Whole New World"
Single by Jose Mari Chan
from the album Aladdin: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
B-side	"A Whole New World"
Released	1992
Genre	Pop R&B soul
Length	3:56
Label	Walt Disney Bell Films
Composer(s)	Alan Menken
Lyricist(s)	Tim Rice[2]
Producer(s)	Rey Magtoto
Jose Mari Chan singles chronology
"A Perfect Christmas" (1990) "A Whole New World" (1992) "Is She Thinking About Me?" (1994)

In the Philippines, a version of the song performed by Jose Mari Chan, a Filipino recording artist, was released as a single through Bell Films (a subsidiary of Universal Records) in 1993, coinciding with the Philippine theatrical release of Aladdin on April 30, 1993.^[55]

Then-SM Rookies member Jaehyun, who later debuted as a member of boy group NCT and former member Seo Herin performed the song in Disney Channel Korea show Mickey Mouse Club in December 2015.

Other cover versions

• In 1993, French singers Karine Costa and Daniel Lévi released a French-language version of the song titled "Ce rêve bleu" (English: "This Blue Dream"). This version peaked at number three on the French SNEP Singles Chart in January 1994, ending the year as the country's 21st-most-successful single.^[56][57]
• In 2018, Riff Raff and Jonathan Hay created a hip-hop cover of the song for the album The Hoodlum Ball.^[58]
• Zayn's vocals were also used for two English-Spanish versions of the song, "Un Mundo Ideal". The Spanish parts were sung for the Latin American market by American singer Becky G and for the Spanish market by Spanish singer Aitana.^[59][60][61]
• In 2020, Ben Platt and Idina Menzel performed it as part of the TV special The Disney Family Singalong: Volume II.^[62]
• In 2024, alt-rock band Yellowcard covered the song for a Disney compilation album titled A Whole New Sound, duetting with Chrissy Costanza from Against the Current.

See also

• List of Hot 100 number-one singles of 1993 (U.S.)
• List of number-one adult contemporary singles of 1993 (U.S.)
• List of Mainstream Top 40 number-one hits of 1993 (U.S.)

References

1. Stockman, Tom (October 13, 2015). "WAMG Interview: Brad Kane – The Singing Voice of Disney's ALADDIN". We Are Movie Geeks. Lanier Media. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
2. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 137. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
3. "Best Original Song - The 65th Academy Awards (1993)". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. October 4, 2014. Archived from the original on February 2, 2018. Retrieved February 15, 2018.
4. "The 65th Academy Awards (1993) Nominees and Winners". oscars.org. October 4, 2014. Retrieved May 1, 2022.
5. "SEARCH – Aladdin". Hollywood Foreign Press Association. Archived from the original on July 13, 2010. Retrieved May 1, 2022.
6. Pareles, Jon (March 2, 1994). "Top Grammy to Houston; 5 for 'Aladdin'". The New York Times. Archived from the original on June 2, 2009. Retrieved May 1, 2022.
7. "36th Grammy Awards - 1994". Rock On The Net. Retrieved May 1, 2022.
8. "Nominees for 36th annual Grammy Awards". UPI. January 6, 1994. Retrieved May 1, 2022.
9. "'Aladdin' Soundtrack Details - Film Music Reporter". Filmmusicreproter.com. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
10. Breihan, Tom (January 31, 2022). "The Number Ones: Regina Belle & Peabo Bryson's "A Whole New World (Aladdin's Theme)". Stereogum. Retrieved August 2, 2024. [Walter Afanasieff] changes ["A Whole New World"] into standard-issue early-'90s adult-contempo pop.
11. Trust, Gary (January 31, 2022). "'Encanto' Song "We Don't Talk About Bruno" Hits No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
12. "The Hot 100 chart listing for the week of March 06, 1993". Billboard, Inc. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
13. "American certifications – Belle, Regina & Peabo Bryson – A Whole New World". Recording Industry Association of America.
14. "Best-Selling Records of 1993". Billboard. Vol. 106, no. 3. BPI Communications. January 15, 1994. p. 73. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
15. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
16. "Passion - Regina Belle". Allmusic. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
17. "Through the Fire - Peabo Bryson". Allmusic. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
18. Jones, Alan (December 11, 1993). "Market Preview: Mainstream - Singles" (PDF). Music Week. p. 12. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
19. "Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle – A Whole New World (Aladdin's Theme)". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
20. "Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle – A Whole New World (Aladdin's Theme)" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
21. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 1748." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
22. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 1023." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
23. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 11, no. 7. February 12, 1994. p. 15. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
24. "Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle – A Whole New World (Aladdin's Theme)" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
25. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (3.–9. febr. '94)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). February 3, 1994. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
26. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – A Whole New World". Irish Singles Chart.
27. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 5, 1994" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
28. "Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle – A Whole New World (Aladdin's Theme)" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
29. "Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle – A Whole New World (Aladdin's Theme)". Top 40 Singles.
30. "The Airplay Chart" (PDF). Music Week. January 29, 1994. p. 38. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
31. "Peabo Bryson Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
32. "Peabo Bryson Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
33. "Peabo Bryson Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
34. "Peabo Bryson Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
35. "Peabo Bryson Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
36. "Top 100 Pop Singles" (PDF). Cash Box. Vol. LVI, no. 24. February 20, 1993. p. 4. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
37. "ARIA Charts – End of Year Charts – Top 50 Singles 1993". ARIA. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
38. "The RPM Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1993". RPM. Retrieved April 15, 2019 – via Library and Archives Canada.
39. "The RPM Top 100 A\C Tracks of 1993". RPM. Retrieved April 15, 2019 – via Library and Archives Canada.
40. "End of Year Charts 1993". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
41. "Billboard Top 100 – 1993". Billboardtop100of.com. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
42. "The Year in Music 1993" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 105, no. 52. December 25, 1993. p. YE-46. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 27, 2021. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
43. "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 1993". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 3, 2015. Retrieved November 5, 2021.
44. "Árslistinn 1994". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). January 2, 1995. p. 16. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
45. "Japanese digital single certifications – Brad Kane & Lea Salonga – A Whole New World" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved February 27, 2021. Select 2016年6月 on the drop-down menu
46. "Japanese single certifications – Brad Kane & Lea Salonga – A Whole New World" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved February 27, 2021. Select 1993年10月 on the drop-down menu
47. "British single certifications – Brad Kane & Lea Salonga – A Whole New World". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
48. "American single certifications – Lea Salonga & Brad Kane – A Whole New World". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
49. "Japanese digital single certifications – Brad Kane & Lea Salonga – A Whole New World" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved February 27, 2021. Select 2018年5月 on the drop-down menu
50. "Japanese single certifications – Regina Belle & Peabo Bryson – A Whole New World" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved February 27, 2021. Select 1994年6月 on the drop-down menu
51. "American single certifications – Regina Belle & Peabo Bryson – A Whole New World". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
52. "Brazilian single certifications – Mena Massoud – A Whole New World" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
53. "American single certifications – Mena Massoud, Naomi Scott – A Whole New World". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
54. "Brazilian single certifications – Zayn – A Whole New World (End Title)" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
55. "Grand Opening Today!". Manila Standard. Kamahalan Publishing Corp. April 30, 1993. p. 19. Retrieved March 31, 2020. The Best Reviewed Film of the Year!
56. "Karine Costa et Daniel Levi – Ce rêve bleu". lescharts.com (in French). Retrieved March 17, 2024.
57. "Tops de L'année | Top Singles 1994" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
58. Guerra, Joey (January 24, 2018). "Premiere: Listen to Houston rapper Riff Raff on a remake of Aladdin tune 'A Whole New World'". Chron. Retrieved March 23, 2018.
59. "Zayn and Becky G Give 'Aladdin' Theme Latin Makeover on 'Un Mundo Ideal': Listen". Billboard. May 17, 2019. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
60. ZAYN, Becky G - Un mundo ideal (Versión Créditos) (De "Aladdín"/Official Video), May 31, 2019, archived from the original on November 18, 2021, retrieved June 11, 2019
61. ALADDÍN (2019) | Making of "Un Mundo Ideal" con Aitana, May 21, 2019, retrieved June 11, 2019
62. "Idina Menzel and Ben Platt Remind Us of the Outside with 'A Whole New World'". May 11, 2020.

External links

• New York recording session on YouTube