Gaston (Disney song)

Gaston is a song from the 1991 Disney animated film Beauty and the Beast. A short reprise is performed later in the musical.

Production

While Gaston is merely a boastful song, Gaston (Reprise) is the villain song of the film, sung when he is out of the public eye and can show his true colors.

Synopsis

Gaston sees Gaston and the village people singing about how great he is. Gaston (Reprise) sees Gaston hatch a plan with the help of LeFou to send Maurice to an insane asylum.

Composition

The Globe and mail described the song as a "Lerner and Loewe-flavoured drinking song".^[1]

Critical reception

MDTheatreGuide deemed it "one of the highlights of the show".^[2] The Herald Sun noted the song "delivers the punches of humorous lyrical accomplishment as well as memorable choreography".^[3] In a review of the musical version, The Glibe and mail said it "stops the show midway through Act 1".^[4] ColumbiaUnderground called it "the second best song and dance number of the musical".^[5]

SputnikMusic wrote "Ever one to recognize a true gem, Disney then decided to employ White and Corti for the subsequent song "Gaston" and its reprise as well. These numbers are from the scene in the local tavern just after Belle's capture by the Beast, and are perhaps best remembered for being the manliest songs in the entire film. White manages to come across as a pure paragon of maleness, sporting rippling musculature and bristling chest hair all at once. Herein, White comfortably busts out lines like "As you see I've got biceps to spare!" and "I'm especially good at expectorating - ptooey!" with much gusto. The gaggle of incompetent, second-rate buffoons in the background do a stunning job too, rolling out accompanying refrains like "No one plots likes Gaston!/Takes cheap shots like Gaston!/Likes to persecute harmless crackpots like Gaston!" to rousing effect. Take it from me - it's ridiculously hard to come out of this one without having the burning desire to eat five dozen eggs per day and become roughly the size of a barge."^[6]

Soundtrackgeek wrote "For me...not much can beat the musical and lyrical genius of Belle and Gaston and their respective reprises. The two greatest character pieces in Disney's canon, these tracks introduce the story and style of the film staggeringly well, showing brilliant lyrical detail and hilarity, as well as giving a sublime showcase for Menken's talents".^[7]

References