In the days leading up to the release of Beauty and the Beast you’ll be seeing a lot of press junket material and reviews. To keep things short regarding the latter, it’s an okay movie on a narrative level, but the chemistry between the cast, the music, and production design are out of this world. Of course, since the film is so faithful to the original, you can expect contemporary covers of songs like “Beauty and the Beast.”

Disney has released the official music video for the title song, this time sung by John Legend and Ariana Grande. Check it out below.

This new music video clearly was made for a new audience considering the two artists they chose to sing the song. Not that it is a bad thing. Just as the film got a few updates, so do the songs. It’s all up-to-date to fit for those who weren’t even around for the original. That being said, the dance choreography and production and costume design like Grande’s Rose-esque dress and Legend’s formal piano jacket are exquisite.

Peabo Bryson and Celine Dion sang the original rendition of “Beauty and The Beast” in 1991, with the latter returning to sing a new song called “How Does a Moment Last Forever” – it’s some pretty powerful stuff. Their version can also be found below for comparison. While I wasn’t so much a fan of this new iteration, the music had me under its spell, and I’m sure fans of the animated film will feel the same. The Beauty and the Beast soundtrack that will be available on March 10, 2017.

Here’s the official plot synopsis:

Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” is a live-action re-telling of the studio’s animated classic which refashions the classic characters from the tale as old as time for a contemporary audience, staying true to the original music while updating the score with several new songs. “Beauty and the Beast” is the fantastic journey of Belle, a bright, beautiful and independent young woman who is taken prisoner by a beast in his castle. Despite her fears, she befriends the castle’s enchanted staff and learns to look beyond the Beast’s hideous exterior and realize the kind heart and soul of the true Prince within.

Beauty and the Beast will be released in theaters on March 17, 2017.

Videos

[Source: Disney Music Vevo YT]