"Beauty and the Beast (Movie)" Soundtrack Lyrics

"Beauty and the Beast (Movie)" Soundtrack Description

Questions and Answers

Is there an official soundtrack album for the 2017 live-action film?

Yes. Beauty and the Beast (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) was released March 10, 2017 by Walt Disney Records; it features new recordings of the classics plus three new songs.

Who wrote the new songs unique to this version?

Alan Menken composed the music; Tim Rice wrote new lyrics for “Evermore,” “Days in the Sun,” and “How Does a Moment Last Forever.”

Which version of the title song plays over the end credits?

Ariana Grande & John Legend’s duet covers the classic theme over the end credits; Emma Thompson sings the in-film ballroom version.

Does the Beast have a solo number in this film?

Yes—“Evermore,” performed by Dan Stevens after he frees Belle.

Are there deluxe editions?

Yes. A 52-track Deluxe Edition expands the score cues and alternates; the standard album runs ~53 minutes.

How did the album perform on charts?

It debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 in March 2017.

Additional Info

• Three new numbers—“How Does a Moment Last Forever,” “Days in the Sun,” “Evermore”—were written for this version.
• Céline Dion returns on a brand-new end-credit song: “How Does a Moment Last Forever (End Title).”
• The title theme over the credits is a contemporary duet by Ariana Grande & John Legend; a Dave Meyers–directed video accompanied its release (as reported by Time magazine).
• Deluxe editions stack 50+ cues, including overture, prologue parts, and expanded orchestral material.
• The album bowed at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and helped reignite chart love for Disney musicals (according to Billboard).
• Dan Stevens’ “Evermore” mirrors Broadway’s Beast ballad tradition while standing as an original film song.
• Emma Thompson performs the ballroom “Beauty and the Beast” in-story; the pop ballad closes the film.

Overview

What changes when a fairy-tale musical trades ink and paint for flesh and fabric? In 2017’s Beauty and the Beast, the soundtrack keeps the skeleton of the 1991 classic—then adds connective tissue. Legacy showtunes return with new orchestrations and vocal colors, while three originals widen character POV: Maurice’s grief (“How Does a Moment Last Forever”), the castle’s collective memory (“Days in the Sun”), and the Beast’s private ache (“Evermore”).

Alan Menken’s score stitches old motifs to new lyrics (Tim Rice) without breaking the spell. You can hear the production’s logic: preserve what the story needs, extend what live action invites. The end-credit strategy doubles down on crossover—Ariana Grande & John Legend’s title duet for radio; Céline Dion’s reflective ballad as the album’s emotional coda. (as stated in Rolling Stone coverage of Dion’s contribution)

Genres & Themes

• Broadway-schooled orchestral pop ↔ Character exposition: “Belle” re-introduces the village with brighter, thicker textures for Watson’s lighter timbre.
• Music-hall pastiche ↔ Hospitality as theater: “Be Our Guest” leans into tap-happy brass and coloristic winds; spectacle becomes persuasion.
• Lyric ballad ↔ Interiority: “Evermore” turns the Beast’s decision into a sustained, through-sung confession—less roar, more resolve.
• Nostalgic waltz ↔ Mythic romance: The ballroom “Beauty and the Beast” keeps the lullaby warmth, now voiced by Emma Thompson with maternal hush.
• Ensemble chorale ↔ Shared history: “Days in the Sun” paints the servants’ backstories and longing into one candlelit hymn.

Key Tracks & Scenes

“Belle” — Emma Watson & Ensemble
Where it plays: Opening village sequence—bookshop, bakers, gossip (early minutes). Mostly non-diegetic musical storytelling with diegetic fragments.
Why it matters: Re-establishes Belle’s outsider status and inventiveness; the arrangement accommodates Watson’s lighter voice while keeping Ashman’s lyrical map. (according to NME’s film coverage)

“Gaston” — Luke Evans, Josh Gad & Ensemble
Where it plays: Inside the tavern after Maurice’s warnings; LeFou rallies the room.
Why it matters: Crowd-pleasing machismo that later hardens into “The Mob Song,” a musical echo of how charm can sour into menace.

“Be Our Guest” — Ewan McGregor, Emma Thompson & Company
Where it plays: The enchanted staff welcome Belle with a banquet; full diegetic showstopper.
Why it matters: Hospitality as seduction. The orchestration scales up for live-action spectacle without losing the vaudeville snap. (according to uDiscoverMusic’s review)

“Days in the Sun” — Ensemble
Where it plays: Candlelit reflections from the castle residents; intercuts character memories.
Why it matters: A new choral thread that deepens the servants’ backstories and gives the film a hush between showpieces.

“How Does a Moment Last Forever” — Kevin Kline / Emma Watson; end-title by Céline Dion
Where it plays: Maurice’s music-box theme early; later reprised by Belle during the Paris flashback; Dion’s version in the credits.
Why it matters: Places Belle’s family history at the story’s core and lets the credits close on quiet grace. (as stated in 2017 news reports and Dion interviews)

“Evermore” — Dan Stevens
Where it plays: After the Beast releases Belle; a solo on the castle balcony as snow falls.
Why it matters: The film’s signature new ballad—an introspective pivot that honors Broadway lineage while being written for the screen.

“Beauty and the Beast” — Emma Thompson; end-title by Ariana Grande & John Legend
Where it plays: Ballroom waltz (in-film) and over end credits (pop duet).
Why it matters: One melody, two functions: mythic coronation in-story, contemporary crossover in the credits. (according to Time magazine’s coverage of the duet)

Track–Moment Index (approximate guide)

Music–Story Links (characters & plot beats as connected to songs)

• Belle’s agency → “Belle” + reprise: Faster village chatter frames her curiosity and inventiveness; the reprise is her signature pivot.
• Castle’s welcome → “Be Our Guest”: The staff courts Belle’s trust with spectacle—music legitimizes the castle as a character, not just a location.
• Servants’ longing → “Days in the Sun”: New material that personalizes the curse; the ensemble sound equals shared stakes.
• Beast’s sacrifice → “Evermore”: Harmony climbs as he chooses love over self; the melody holds on the final vow, not the loss.
• Community turn → “Gaston” → “The Mob Song”: Major-key bravado mutates into minor-key march; same crowd, different conscience.
• Romance crowned → “Beauty and the Beast”: A lullaby-waltz resets the story’s emotional center before the siege.

How It Was Made (supervision, score, behind-the-scenes)

Composer Alan Menken returned to adapt his classic score and songbook, this time collaborating with lyricist Tim Rice on three originals. Sessions captured a larger, glossier palette to fit Bill Condon’s live-action scale, while keeping the Broadway-friendly clarity that made the 1991 material so durable. (according to Billboard’s interview with Menken)

Release strategy mattered: Disney dropped the full album the week before opening, complete with a Deluxe Edition and a radio-ready title duet—marketing that helped the record debut high on the Billboard 200. (according to Glamour’s release report and Billboard chart notes)

Reception & Quotes

Critics generally praised the lush update and the smart addition of “Evermore,” with debate over some vocal casting choices. The end-credit duet drew wide mainstream coverage and streaming momentum. (according to Time and NME coverage)

“A sumptuous refresh that keeps the heart while widening the lens.” Review consensus, 2017 roundups

“‘Evermore’ gives the Beast a true interior monologue—and a modern classic.” Film-music commentary

“Grande & Legend’s title duet lands squarely in radio-friendly territory.” Industry coverage

Technical Info

• Title: Beauty and the Beast (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
• Year: 2017 (film released March 17; album March 10)
• Type: Movie soundtrack (live action)
• Composers/Lyricists: Alan Menken (music); Howard Ashman (legacy lyrics); Tim Rice (new songs)
• Key Performers: Emma Watson, Dan Stevens, Luke Evans, Josh Gad, Ewan McGregor, Audra McDonald, Emma Thompson, Kevin Kline
• End-credit Recordings: “Beauty and the Beast” (Ariana Grande & John Legend); “How Does a Moment Last Forever” (Céline Dion); “Evermore” (Josh Groban cover)
• Label: Walt Disney Records
• Album Editions: Standard (19 tracks, ~53 min); Deluxe (52 tracks)
• Chart/Availability: Debuted No. 3 on Billboard 200; widely available on major platforms.

Canonical Entities & Relations

Sources: Wikipedia (2017 soundtrack; film; individual song pages); Billboard (Menken interview); Time; Rolling Stone; Glamour; uDiscoverMusic; Disney Music Emporium; IMDb Soundtracks.

October, 23rd 2025