Here's is the reprise of "Wonderful Ways to Say No" from the multi-network drug-abuse prevention animated special Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue. With music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Howard Ashman, the song was written by the duo at the request of Roy E. Disney, producer of the special. The special (and song) features the vocal performances of Russi Taylor, Frank Welker, Lorenzo Music, Jim Cummings, Ross Bagdasarian, Janice Karman, Paul Fusco, Townsend Coleman, and Laurie O'Brien.
Works by Ashman and Menken titled "Life Begins the Day You Say No" and "Life Begins the Day You Learn to Say No" can be found in the ISWC database, and may be alternate titles for this reprise.
On his official website, Alan says of the song, "Back in the late 60's I would not have been the poster boy for this cause, but when we were asked to write ‘Wonderful Ways to Say No’ how could we say ‘no’?”
In a 1990 letter, Howard shared his thoughts on the special with his university professor Richard Moody, writing, "Well, we wrote a song and sent it to them and they loved it. And then I watched the show! Not one word was intelligible! All of these squeaking, screeching 'cartoon' voices were making garbled sounds in inappropriate keys at the top of their animated lungs. It was amazing."
The special chronicles the exploits of Michael, a teenager who is using marijuana and stealing his father's beer. His younger sister, Corey, is worried about him because he started acting differently. When her piggy bank goes missing, her cartoon tie-in toys come to life to help her find it. After discovering it in Michael's room along with his stash of drugs, the various cartoon characters proceed to work together and take him on a fantasy journey to teach him the risks and consequences a life of drug use can bring.
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LYRICS
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WHEN THE GOING GETS ROUGH
AND THERE'S TIMES THAT IT WILL, AS YOU GROW,
KEEP THESE WORDS IN YOUR HEART
AND THEY'LL HELP YOU COME THROUGH LIKE A PRO
IF THE OLD YOU STARTS TO SLIDE,
THERE'S A STRONGER YOU INSIDE
SAYING, "HANG ON KID.
HOLD TIGHT, DON'T EVER LET GO!
AND REMEMBER ALL THOSE WONDERFUL WAYS TO SAY NO ..."
AND AS YOU GET TALLER
YOU'LL SEE
THAT STRONGER AND STRONGER
YOU'LL BE
THAT'S HOW THE WORLD WORKS, KID
THAT'S HOW IT'S DESIGNED
YOU'LL EVEN OUTGROW US
ONE DAY
FORGET THAT YOU KNOW US,
YOU MAY,
BUT PROMISE YOU'LL KEEP WHAT
WE SAY
IN THE BACK OF YOUR MIND
WHEN THE GOING GETS ROUGH
YOU'LL NEED SOMEONE TO HELP YOU PULL THROUGH
WELL, YOU'LL ALWAYS HAVE SOMEONE
GUESS WHAT, KID -- THE SOMEONE IS YOU!
BUT WE HOPE THAT, EVEN SO,
YOU'LL LOOK BACK ON LONG AGO
TO REMEMBER US
AND HOW WE CAME TO SHOW YOU ...
YOUR LIFE BEGINS
THE DAY YOU LEARN TO SAY ...
NO!
14 окт 2024
