Go the Distance
"Go the Distance" | |
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Song by Roger Bart from the album Hercules: An Original Walt Disney Records Soundtrack | |
Released | May 27, 1997 |
Genre | Film music, Show tunes |
Length | 3:14 |
Label | Walt Disney |
Writer | David Zippel |
Composer | Alan Menken |
Producer | Alan Menken, David Zippel |
Cover versions | |
Michael Bolton, Lucas Grabeel, Ricky Martin, Tarkan, K-Ci & JoJo |
"Go the Distance" is a song from Disney's 1997 animated feature film, Hercules. It was written by composer Alan Menken and lyricist David Zippel, and originally recorded by American actor Roger Bart in his film role as the singing voice of Hercules. American singer-songwriter Michael Bolton recorded a pop version of the song for the film's end credits. In the Spanish version, the song is performed by Hercules voicer Ricky Martin, both in the movie and in the credits; this version is included on Martin's album Vuelve. Both the song and its reprise featured in a stage production of Hercules, performed upon the Disney Wonder during 2007/2008.
Production
"Go the Distance" was one of two songs written for the film, the second being "Shooting Star", performed by Boyzone, which failed to make the final cut. However, "Shooting Star" is included on the Hercules soundtrack CD. The score for the original version of the song can be found in the Alan Menken Songbook.
Critical reception
Ways of Being Male felt that the phrase "go the distance" is a prime example of the way themes are "couched in the language of sport and competition" throughout the film.[1] Den of Geek deemed it "one of Disney's great anthems/motivational mantras for all aspiring athletes and deities."[2] MoviePilot suggests that the shooting star during "Go the Distance" is actually Aladdin and Jasmine's magic carpet ride.[3] The Gobe and Mail likened it to Duddy’s Leaving St. Urbain Street,[4] while BoingBoing compared it to Pocahontas's "Just Around the Riverbend".[5] Vulture deemed it "inspiring".[6]
Awards and chart placings
The song was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song and the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song. Both awards, however, went to "My Heart Will Go On", a song from Titanic, a film directed by James Cameron. "Go the Distance" peaked at #24 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and went to #1 on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart, Bolton's ninth song to top this chart.[7]
Versions
"Go the Distance" | ||||
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Single by Michael Bolton | ||||
from the album Hercules: An Original Walt Disney Records Soundtrack | ||||
Released | 1997 | |||
Format | CD single | |||
Genre | Pop rock | |||
Length | 4:41 | |||
Label | Columbia | |||
Writer(s) |
Alan Menken (music) David Zippel (lyrics) | |||
Producer(s) |
Walter Afanasieff Michael Bolton | |||
Michael Bolton singles chronology | ||||
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"No Importa la Distancia" | |||||||
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European 1997 maxi-single | |||||||
Single by Ricky Martin | |||||||
from the album Vuelve | |||||||
Released | July 1, 1997 | ||||||
Format | CD single | ||||||
Recorded | 1997 | ||||||
Genre | Latin pop, pop rock | ||||||
Length | 4:55 | ||||||
Label | Sony Music Latin, Columbia | ||||||
Writer(s) | Alan Menken, David Zippel, Renato López, Javier Pontón | ||||||
Producer(s) | K. C. Porter, Draco Rosa | ||||||
Ricky Martin singles chronology | |||||||
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Film version
The song was recorded by American actor Roger Bart in his film role as the singing voice of Hercules.
"Go the Distance" is performed in the film by Hercules (age 15) who possesses god-like strength and finds it increasingly hard to fit in with his peers. The song serves as Hercules' prayer to the Gods to help him find where he truly belongs. His prayers are answered, as he is revealed to be the long-lost son of Zeus, king of the gods. Hercules is also told that he must become a true hero in order to rejoin his father on Mount Olympus. The number is later reprised when Hercules sets off on his quest to become a true hero, proclaiming that he wants to "go the distance" in order to prove himself.
Michael Bolton version
American singer-songwriter Michael Bolton recorded a pop version of the song for the film's end credits.
The music video for Bolton's version was directed by Dani Jacobs. It was filmed in New York, and features Bolton performing the song, intercut with scenes from Hercules.[8]
Ricky Martin version
Ricky Martin recorded a Spanish-language version of "Go the Distance" from Hercules soundtrack, called "No Importa la Distancia" (English: "No Matter the Distance"). It was released as a single on July 1, 1997. Later, it was included on Martin's 1998 album Vuelve. A music video was also released. The song reached number ten on the Latin Pop Songs in the United States.
Charts
Chart (1997) | Peak position |
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US Latin Pop Songs (Billboard)[9] | 10 |
Formats and track listings
European CD single
- "No Importa la Distancia" performed by Ricky Martin – 4:51
- "Já Não Há Distancia" performed by Ricky Martin – 4:45
European CD maxi-single
- "No Importa la Distancia" performed by Ricky Martin – 4:51
- "Já Não Há Distancia" performed by Ricky Martin – 4:45
- "Go the Distance" (Cast Version) performed by Roger Bart – 3:13
Other notable covers
- K-Ci & JoJo performs the song on DisneyMania 4.
- Lucas Grabeel performs the song on DisneyMania 5.
- Tim Driesen performed the song in a stage production of Jack and the Beanstalk.
- Tarkan in the Turkish language version of the film.
- Dionysis Schinas in the Greek language version of the film.
- Alex Baroni in the Italian language version of the film.
- Michael Bolton performed the pop-release of the song and features on the movie's soundtrack as well as over the title credits.
- Fumiya Fujii performed this theme song in the Japanese Language version of the film. Single released on 18 July 1997.
- Mannheim Steamroller covered the song on their 1999 album, Mannheim Steamroller Meets the Mouse.
- Norm Lewis, Broadway actor and singer, covered the song on his 2008 debut solo album This Is the Life.[10]
- Jed Madela performed the song in the "Christmas with the Voice" concert during December 2, 2007.
- The Maccabeats, the all-male a cappella group of Yeshiva University recorded an a cappella version of the song on their 2010 album, Voices from the Heights.
- Vocal Spectrum covered this song on their 2008 recording titled Vocal Spectrum II.
- Darren Criss
- On 2012 album Disney – Koe no Oujisama, which features various Japanese voice actors covering Disney songs, this song was covered by Tomokazu Seki
- On 2014 album We Love Disney, which features various Australian singers covering Disney songs, this song was covered by Harrison Craig
Other appearances
In 1998, this song was used for a tribute video to honor New York Knicks center Patrick Ewing of the NBA at Madison Square Garden minutes before Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Indiana Pacers. The game was Ewing's first at home since returning from a nearly season-ending wrist injury. Ewing, then late in his playing career, had often stressed the importance of winning a championship (in effect, 'going the distance') before he retired. The Knicks won the game 83–76, and Ewing was the game's leading scorer with 19 points.
References
- ↑ https://books.google.com.au/books?id=gVaMAQAAQBAJ&pg=PA119&dq=%22Go+the+Distance%22+hercules&hl=en&sa=X&ei=g3FyVburKYOf8QWojIGABg&ved=0CC4Q6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=%22Go%20the%20Distance%22%20hercules&f=false
- ↑ http://www.denofgeek.com/movies/disney/35244/lost-in-translation-when-disney-lyrics-turn-italian
- ↑ http://moviepilot.com/posts/2015/03/18/did-hercules-really-witness-a-whole-new-world-the-night-before-going-the-distance-2792680?lt_source=external,manual
- ↑ http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/theatre-and-performance/adapting-duddy-kravitz/article24649544/
- ↑ http://boingboing.net/2015/04/17/all-of-disneys-i-want.html
- ↑ http://www.vulture.com/2014/07/disneys-hercules-is-an-underrated-masterpiece.html
- ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–2001. Record Research. p. 36.
- ↑ "Michael Bolton > Music Videos > go-the -distance". MTV. MTV Networks. 2004-09-13. Retrieved 2008-12-07.
- ↑ "Ricky Martin – Chart history" Billboard Latin Pop Songs for Ricky Martin. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
- ↑ "This Is The Life". normlewis.com. Retrieved 21 July 2011.
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