The “Tale as Old as Time” is getting a modern voice, and it sounds absolutely magical.
After weeks of anticipation and a few sneaky leaks, Disney has finally gifted fans with the first official listen of Emma Watson singing as Belle in the highly anticipated live-action Beauty and the Beast.
The -second snippet, which debuted on the film’s verified X (formerly Twitter) account, features Watson performing the classic track “Something There.” The song, originally written by the legendary Alan Menken for the animated masterpiece, is a pivotal moment where Belle realizes there might be more to her beastly captor than she first thought.
The clip quickly went viral, racking up thousands of likes and retweets within minutes as fans flooded social media to gush over Watson’s sweet, clear vocals.
“I have chills! Emma is the perfect Belle,” one fan raved on Instagram, while another noted on TikTok that her voice perfectly captures the “innocence and curiosity” of the beloved bookworm.
The release of the official audio comes as a relief to many “Disnerds” who recently thought they heard a snippet of the song via a leaked recording from a tie-in Hasbro doll. Now that the high-quality version is here, the consensus is clear: Watson is ready for her Broadway-style debut.
While the original s version featured the iconic powerhouse vocals of Paige O’Hara, Watson’s rendition stays incredibly faithful to the spirit of the Academy Award-winning soundtrack.
In the animated film, “Something There” accompanies the heartwarming scene where Belle teaches the Beast to be gentle while feeding birds in the snow. While we haven’t seen the full scene in the live-action version yet, trailers have teased a familiar red cloak that hints director Bill Condon is staying true to those nostalgic roots.
This is just the tip of the iceberg for the film’s musical landscape. In addition to classics like “Be Our Guest” and “Gaston,” Alan Menken has returned to compose brand-new tracks alongside lyricist Tim Rice.
Following the massive success of live-action hits like Cinderella and The Jungle Book, Disney seems to have another winner on its hands. If this snippet is any indication, the full soundtrack is going to be on repeat for a long, long time.
Beauty and the Beast hits theaters early next year, and we already have our tickets ready!
Would you like me to find the latest trailer so you can see Emma in the iconic yellow dress?
