"Go the Distance" | |
---|---|
Song by Roger Bart | |
from the album Hercules: An Original Walt Disney Records Soundtrack | |
Released | May 27, 1997 |
Recorded | 1996 [1] |
Genre | Show tune |
Length | 3:14 |
Label | Walt Disney |
Composer(s) | Alan Menken |
Lyricist(s) | David Zippel |
Producer(s) | Alan Menken |
"Go the Distance" is a song from Disney's 1997 animated feature film Hercules . It was written by composer Alan Menken and lyricist David Zippel, and originally recorded by American actor Roger Bart in his film role as the singing voice of Hercules. American singer-songwriter Michael Bolton recorded a pop version of the song for the film's end credits, which was also included on his eleventh studio album All That Matters (1997). Puerto Rican singer and actor Ricky Martin performed the Spanish version of the song, both in the movie and in the credits; this version is included on Martin's album Vuelve . Both the song and its reprise featured in a stage production of Hercules, performed upon the Disney Wonder during 2007/2008.
"Go the Distance" was one of two songs written for Hercules in the film, the second being "Shooting Star", which failed to make the final cut. However, "Shooting Star" is included on the Hercules soundtrack CD, sung by Boyzone. The score for the original version of the song can be found in the Alan Menken Songbook.
Christian Clemmensen of Filmtracks deemed "Go the Distance" to be Hercules's "only redeeming song" out of an unsatisfactory soundtrack. However, he criticized Roger Bart's version for his "whiny voice", which Clemmensen expressed had a tone that is "remarkably irritating", while he considered Michael Bolton's pop version to be "finely tuned". [2]
The book Ways of Being Male felt that the phrase "go the distance" is a prime example of the way themes are "couched in the language of sport and competition" throughout the film. [3] Den of Geek deemed it "one of Disney's great anthems/motivational mantras for all aspiring athletes and deities." [4] Moviepilot suggests that the shooting star during "Go the Distance" is actually Aladdin and Jasmine's magic carpet ride. [5] The GlobeandMail likened it to Duddy's "Leaving St. Urbain Street", [6] while Boing Boing compared it to Pocahontas's "Just Around the Riverbend". [7] Vulture deemed it "inspiring". [8]
The song was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song and the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song. Both awards, however, went to "My Heart Will Go On", a song by Celine Dion from Titanic , a film directed by James Cameron. "Go the Distance" peaked at #24 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and went to #1 on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart, Bolton's ninth song to top this chart. [9]
The song was recorded by American actor Roger Bart in his film role as the singing voice of Hercules.
"Go the Distance" is performed in the film by Hercules (age 15), who possesses god-like strength and finds it increasingly hard to fit in with his peers. The song serves as Hercules' prayer to the Gods to help him find where he truly belongs. His prayers are answered, as he is revealed to be the long-lost son of Zeus, king of the gods. Hercules is also told that he must become a true hero in order to rejoin his father on Mount Olympus. The number is later reprised when Hercules sets off on his quest to become a true hero, proclaiming that he wants to "go the distance" in order to prove himself.
"Go the Distance" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Michael Bolton | ||||
from the album Hercules: An Original Walt Disney Records Soundtrack and All That Matters | ||||
Released | May 20, 1997 | |||
Recorded | 1997 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 4:42 | |||
Label | ||||
Composer(s) | Alan Menken | |||
Lyricist(s) | David Zippel | |||
Producer(s) |
| |||
Michael Bolton singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Licensed audio | ||||
"Go the Distance" on YouTube |
American singer-songwriter Michael Bolton recorded a pop version of the song for the film's end credits. This version, produced by Walter Afanasieff and Bolton himself, was later included on Bolton's eleventh studio album, All That Matters (1997). Bolton's version was released as a commercial single by Walt Disney Records on May 20, 1997. It peaked at number 24 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
The accompanying music video for Bolton's version was directed by Dani Jacobs. Sections of it were filmed in the Great Hall of the Brooklyn Museum and feature Bolton performing the song, intercut with scenes from Hercules. [10] Vocal Spectrum did a cover version of this Bolton's version.
Chart (1997) | Peak position |
---|---|
US Billboard Hot 100 [11] | 24 |
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United States (RIAA) [12] | Gold | 500,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
"No Importa la Distancia" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Ricky Martin | ||||
from the album Hércules: Banda Sonora En Español and Vuelve | ||||
Released | July 1, 1997 | |||
Recorded | 1997 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 4:55 | |||
Label | ||||
Composer(s) | Alan Menken | |||
Lyricist(s) | Javier Pontón · Renato López | |||
Producer(s) | ||||
Ricky Martin singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Licensed audio | ||||
"Ricky Martin - No Importa La Distancia (Go The Distance) (audio)" on YouTube |
Ricky Martin recorded a Spanish-language version of "Go the Distance" from Hercules soundtrack, called "No Importa la Distancia" (English: "No Matter the Distance"). It was released as a single on July 1, 1997. Later, it was included on Martin's 1998 album Vuelve . A music video was also released. The song reached number ten on the Latin Pop Songs in the United States. [13] Martin's version was met with unfavorable reactions from music critics. AllMusic's Jose F. Promis called "No Importa la Distancia" "pure schmaltz" [14] In the San Antonio Express-News , Ramiro Burr found "No Importa la Distancia" to be "sappy", [15] while The Dallas Morning News editor Mario Tarradell criticized the song as an "unwelcome dose of sugary pap". [16]
Chart (1997) | Peak position |
---|---|
US Latin Pop Airplay ( Billboard ) [13] | 10 |
European CD single
European CD maxi-single
The song was covered in different languages for the series We Love Disney by:
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom (BPI) [21] | Silver | 200,000‡ |
United States (RIAA) [22] | Platinum | 1,000,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
In April 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, Disney Broadway Stars performed "Go the Distance" while self-isolating. [23]
Hercules is a 1997 American animated musical fantasy comedy film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation for Walt Disney Pictures. It is loosely based on the legendary hero Heracles, a son of Zeus in Greek mythology. The film was directed by John Musker and Ron Clements, both of whom also produced the film with Alice Dewey Goldstone. The screenplay was written by Clements, Musker, Donald McEnery, Bob Shaw, and Irene Mecchi. Featuring the voices of Tate Donovan, Danny DeVito, James Woods, and Susan Egan, the film follows the titular Hercules, a demigod with super-strength raised among mortals, who must learn to become a true hero in order to earn back his godhood and place in Mount Olympus, while his evil uncle Hades plots his downfall.
Jerrald King Goldsmith was an American composer, with a career in film and television scoring that spanned nearly 50 years and over 200 productions, between 1954 and 2003. He was considered one of film music's most innovative and influential composers. He was nominated for eighteen Academy Awards, six Grammy Awards, five Primetime Emmy Awards, nine Golden Globe Awards, and four British Academy Film Awards.
Michael Bolotin, known professionally as Michael Bolton, is an American singer and songwriter. Bolton performed in the hard rock and heavy metal music genres from the mid-1970s to the mid-1980s, both on his early solo albums and those he recorded as the frontman of the band Blackjack. His early career also saw him as a successful songwriter, co-writing hits like "How Am I Supposed to Live Without You" for Laura Branigan, which he later recorded as a solo single.
Vuelve is the fourth studio album by Puerto Rican singer Ricky Martin. Sony Discos and Columbia Records released it on February 12, 1998. Martin worked with producers KC Porter, Robi Draco Rosa, and Desmond Child to create the album. Following the worldwide success of the song "María" from his previous album, A Medio Vivir (1995), Martin returned to the studio and began recording material while on tour. Vuelve is a Latin record with Latin dance numbers and pop ballads. "María" caught the attention of FIFA, who asked Martin to write an anthem for the 1998 FIFA World Cup being held in France. Martin subsequently recorded "La Copa de la Vida", composed by Porter, Rosa, and Desmond Child for the World Cup.
Roger Bart is an American actor and singer. He won a Tony Award and a Drama Desk Award for his performance as Snoopy in the 1999 revival of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown.
"Beauty and the Beast" is a song written by lyricist Howard Ashman and composer Alan Menken for the Disney animated feature film Beauty and the Beast (1991). The film's theme song, the Broadway-inspired ballad was first recorded by British-American actress Angela Lansbury in her role as the voice of the character Mrs. Potts, and essentially describes the relationship between its two main characters Belle and the Beast, specifically how the couple has learned to accept their differences and in turn change each other for the better. Additionally, the song's lyrics imply that the feeling of love is as timeless and ageless as a "tale as old as time". Lansbury's rendition is heard during the famous ballroom sequence between Belle and the Beast, while a shortened chorale version plays in the closing scenes of the film, and the song's motif features frequently in other pieces of Menken's film score. Lansbury was initially hesitant to record "Beauty and the Beast" because she felt that it was not suitable for her aging singing voice, but ultimately completed the song in one take.
"I Won't Say (I'm in Love)" is a song written by composer Alan Menken and lyricist David Zippel for Disney's animated film Hercules (1997). Included on the film's soundtrack, the song is performed by American actress and singer Susan Egan in her role as Meg, Hercules' love interest, while singers Cheryl Freeman, Lillias White, Vaneese Thomas, LaChanze and Roz Ryan provide girl group-style backup vocals as the Muses.
Hercules: An Original Walt Disney Records Soundtrack is the soundtrack to the 1997 Disney animated feature film Hercules. It contains the songs from the film written by Alan Menken and David Zippel, as well as the film's score composed by Alan Menken, and the score was orchestrated by Daniel Troob and Michael Starobin, with vocals performed by Lillias White, LaChanze, Roz Ryan, Roger Bart, Danny DeVito, and Susan Egan among others. The album also includes the single version of "Go the Distance" by Michael Bolton.
"At the Beginning" is a song by Donna Lewis and Richard Marx, released as the first single from the Anastasia soundtrack. It plays during the end credits of the film. It was released as a CD and cassette single on October 21, 1997, on Atlantic Records.
Puerto Rican singer, songwriter and actor Ricky Martin has released four video albums and appeared in sixty-two music videos, twelve films, thirteen television programs, and several television commercials. He ranks among the greatest music video artists of all time and is regarded as a video icon.
"Belle" is a song written by lyricist Howard Ashman and composer Alan Menken for Disney's animated film Beauty and the Beast (1991). Recorded by American actors Paige O'Hara and Richard White, "Belle" is a mid-tempo classical music-inspired song that borrows elements from Broadway and musical theatre. It was the first song Ashman and Menken wrote for Beauty and the Beast, which they feared Disney would reject due to its length and complexity, but the film's producers ultimately liked the song.
"God Help the Outcasts" is a song written by composer Alan Menken and lyricist Stephen Schwartz for Walt Disney Pictures' animated film The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996). A pop ballad, the song is performed by American singer Heidi Mollenhauer as the singing voice of Esmeralda on American actress Demi Moore's behalf, who provides the character's speaking voice.
"Come with Me" is a song recorded by Puerto Rican singer-songwriter Ricky Martin. It was produced by the Australian duo DNA Songs and IIan Kidron from The Potbelleez. "Come with Me" premiered on June 13, 2013, during The Kyle and Jackie O Show in Australia and was digitally released worldwide on June 14, 2013. The Spanglish version of the song was released on July 18, 2013, and the 7th Heaven remixes were released on September 16, 2013.
"Vida" is a song recorded by Puerto Rican singer Ricky Martin for the One Love, One Rhythm – The 2014 FIFA World Cup Official Album (2014). It was written by Martin, Salaam Remi, Elijah King, Afo Verde, Roxana Amed and produced by Remi. The song was chosen in a musical contest organized by FIFA and Sony Music which King won, and it was subsequently arranged for Martin to record the track. It was digitally released as the second single from the compilation album on April 22, 2014. "Vida" is a Latin pop song that features guitar, ukulele, percussion, horn and "exotic sounds with a Caribbean feel".
Hercules is a Disney media franchise comprising a film series and additional merchandise, starting with the 1997 animated Disney feature of the same name, directed by John Musker and Ron Clements.
Sebastián Obando Giraldo, known professionally as Sebastián Yatra, is a Colombian singer. He began as a Latin pop artist and has recorded many ballads, but has released several successful reggaeton singles. Yatra is noted for his romantic lyrics, melding traditional lyricism with modern reggaeton influences. He rose to prominence in Latin America in 2016 when he released the hit "Traicionera". He has released three studio albums and recorded with artists from a diverse range of musical genres throughout his career.
Hercules is a musical based on the Walt Disney Animation Studios 1997 film of the same name, with music and lyrics by Alan Menken and David Zippel, and a book by Kristoffer Diaz, Robert Horn and Kwame Kwei-Armah. The production is also loosely based on the legendary hero of the same name, the son of Zeus, in Greek mythology.
"Falta Amor" is a song recorded by Colombian singer Sebastián Yatra and Puerto Rican singer Ricky Martin. A solo version was originally included on Yatra's second studio album, Fantasía (2019). A few months after the release of the album, Martin joined Yatra to re-record the song. It was written by Andrés Torres, Mauricio Rengifo, and Yatra, while the production was handled by the former two. The duet was released as a single for digital download and streaming by Universal Music Latino on March 26, 2020.
"Shooting Star" is the song written from Disney's 1997 animated feature film Hercules. The song, with a central theme of feeling disconnected, was written by Alan Menken and David Zippel replaced by "Go the Distance". It was the first song that was written for the character of Hercules.
The Peanuts Movie (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the soundtrack album to the 2015 animated film The Peanuts Movie, directed by Steve Martino and produced by Blue Sky Studios. Based on Charles M. Schulz's comic strip Peanuts, it is the fifth full-length Peanuts film, and the first in 35 years. The original score is composed by Christophe Beck, with contributions from jazz pianist David Benoit and Meghan Trainor, who performed an original song titled "Better When I'm Dancin', released as a single on October 14, 2015. The soundtrack was digitally released by Epic Records and Fox Music on October 23, 2015.