I was 4 years old when the Disney film Aladdin came out. I remember watching it in theaters and instantly falling in love. At such a young age, I’m pretty sure I couldn’t comprehend much of the story, but what DID stick with me instantly and permanently was the music. I’m sure I’m not the only one who got excited at the opening number as Aladdin ran away from the palace’s guards, or laughed as The Genie introduced us to Prince Ali. But the song that everyone became immediately attached to was A Whole New World. 

There are so many reasons that that sequence is absolute cinematic and musical perfection: The simple and beautiful piano opening hooked us in and never let go. Getting taken on a magic carpet ride was the first time a lot of us got to experience what it felt like to fly. The sweeping orchestration and magical harmonies that bring the song to a close. It’s also the first time us as kids got to see two people genuinely fall in love before our eyes! Perfection.

I also had a personal connection with Aladdin because people always said I looked like him. I mean, I did and still do. I was also called Princess Jasmine for such a long time in elementary and junior high school cuz of my name (kids are dicks). I’d actually cry a lot because people were constantly picking on me about it and then I would watch the VHS on a loop all night to make me feel better and it always did. Aladdin taught me to be brave, to stand up for what I believed in, and to go after what you wanted even in the face of adversity (one thing I never learned was how to roll an apple off your elbow. How does he do that?!?!). But it was always A Whole New World that took me to another place and taught me to dream and made me fall in love with music! I owe SO MUCH of who I am and what I stand for to that movie. I’ll fight anyone who calls me a weirdo for thinking this!

When I went to watch Lea Salonga tonight, the woman who was the singing voice of not only Jasmine but also Mulan, originate Kim in Miss Saigon (for which she won a Tony), and played Eponine and later Fantine in Les Miserables, I could not contain myself. I’ve grown up listening to her music, in English and Tagalog, and look up to her as a living legend. Hearing her sing I Dreamed a Dream in person was definitely near the top of my musical theatre bucket list and I could have left with only that and been happy forever! But when she finally got to A Whole New World and asked for a guy to come onstage to sing for her, my hand shot up instantly and she fucking picked me! So I found myself standing onstage, with my mic in hand and lyrics in the other (which I didn’t want to look at to be cool but did anyway so I didn’t look inept), singing A Whole New World with the lyrics and orchestration of Grammy and Academy Award winning musicians while standing across from the woman who sang this song to me through my headphones everyday as a kid. All I told myself was, “You better not forget the harmonies at the end! There are only about 3 of them dammit and you can not look like a jackass in front of Lea Sa-fricking-longa!” I didn’t forget the harmonies at the end :D

I don’t care how I sounded. I don’t care that I flubbed a lyric in the first chorus. I don’t care that I almost passed out once she started singing her part. Being able to sing my favorite song with the woman who originated it is beyond words. An indescribable feeling.