When Disney releases its live-action remake of Beauty and The Beast on March 17 of next year, viewers will hear three new ballads written by composer Alan Menken who penned the tunes for the original 1991 animated version with the late Howard Ashman and lyricist Tim Rice. These include a song performed by Emma Watsons Belle with her characters father Maurice (Kevin Kline), and another called For Evermore, sung by Dan Stevens Beast.
It ends up being a song called Our Song Lives On, and its done in a number of forms, says Menken of the former track. The first time its sung, its Belles father singing as hes completing a music box, and basically its [about], How does a moment live forever? How do you hang on to precious moments? Then, its reprised by Belle, and then its the song thats actually over the end credits at the end of the movie. Disney hasnt announced it yet, but theres going to be some wonderful singer on the end credits song.
 For Evermore is this moment where the Beast now loves Belle, and he realizes that she misses her father, and he acknowledges shes no longer a prisoner, and when she sees her fathers in trouble, he says, Go to him, go. And he voluntarily lets her go, Menken continues. Hes basically singing about how he now knows what love is, as he watches her leave, and hes climbing up the turret of the castle as she recedes into the distance, just watching her go further and further away.
The third new song is called Days in the Sun and, according to Beauty and the Beast producer David Hoberman, is a very special number indeed. When EW visited the films London set last year, Hoberman told us he believed the song is destined to win Menken a ninth Academy Award to go with the eight he already has for his work on The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Pocahontas, and the animated Beauty and the Beast.
Well, thats great of him to say that, admits Menken.  Days in the Sun is a moment when all of the objects in the castle and Belle are going to sleep. Basically, everybody in the castle is having memories of what it used to be when they had their days in the sun. Its sort of a combination of a lullaby and a remembrance of happier days for everybody.
Still not excited? EW can exclusively reveal that the new Beauty and the Beast will also feature a showcase for Broadway legend Audra McDonald, who plays the part of Madame De Garderobe.
Its a moment within the prologue, just before the spell befalls the castle, Menken says. Were actually at an event at the Princes castle, where the Prince is about to be turned into the Beast, and hes in his very selfish and self-indulgent phase of his life, and we see that, and we have the magnificent Audra McDonald singing this number.
