"Friend Like Me" is the song from Disney's 1992 animated feature film Aladdin, performed by Robin Williams in his role as the Genie.
Some elements of this concept remain (for instance, when the Genie scats, in typical Calloway moves), but after Robin Williams was cast it was expanded as a more comedic, pop-culture-filled song.
ScreenCrush stated that remnants of the previous version of the film can be seen in this sequence: Aladdin's original design was younger, more cartoony, and loosely based on actor Michael J.
But Jeffrey Katzenberg wanted the design changed, fearing that Aladdin wasn't a suitable leading man for the beautiful Jasmine.
[2] In a review of the Broadway version of the film, BuzzFeed wrote that the "seven-and-a-half minute 'Friend Like Me' is easily this season's best production number, and a jaw-dropping athletic feat.