Disney songs have played such an integral role in the pop culture zeitgeist since 1937, the year the first Disney animated feature, Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs, was released. Everyone knows at least one or two by heart, but some people know heaps of them from memory. Some people are obsessed while some people simply have a deep appreciation for them. For me, it's time to share what I believe are the Disney movies that have the most memorable songs.
A few weeks ago, one of my friends, who is extremely knowledgeable and embedded in pop culture and movies, mentioned on Twitter that Moana had the best music out of all of the Disney movies. While I appreciate and respect his opinion, I simply do not agree with that sentiment. Moana does have a couple of memorable hits ("How Far I'll Go" is great obviously), but that doesn't mean that it's the best out of all the Disney movies that have ever existed. "You're Welcome" is fun, but man, The Rock can NOT sing. Other than that I remember nothing (I remember the crab sang a song, but it's pretty forgettable in my opinion). Thanks to my friend, I've been mulling about this for a couple weeks now and have gone on a Disney song rampage, seeing what tickles my fancy and seeing what really sticks out to me personally. I've made my own list of the top ten Disney movies with the most memorable songs. Now remember, this is all my own personal opinion, so like me to my friend, you may not agree with my list, and that's quite alright. I have broken down each movie into their three greatest hits, who composed each of their hits, and a small analysis. I've also only limited this to animated movies, because if that wasn't the case then Enchanted would for sure be on here. So without further ado, here's the hits: 10. Tangled Greatest hits: "I See The Light", "Mother Knows Best", "When Will My Life Begin" Music: Alan Menken Lyrics: Menken and Glenn Slater Analysis: This will certainly not be the last time you see Alan Menken's name on this list, but in short, Menken is a musical genius, responsible for many of Disney's greatest hits. His ear for melody and harmony is simply unmatched in the realm of Disney songs (except maybe for the top composers on this list). Menken does double duty with lyricist Glenn Slater and delivers some great and memorable music in the process. Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi's vocals blend wonderfully on one of the most underrated gems in the Disney songbook "I See the Light" and Donna Murphy is deliciously wicked on the villainous romp "Mother Knows Best". Of course, can't forget about the wonderful "When Will My Life Begin", sung with perfect wide-eyed wonderment by Moore. 9. Oliver and Company Greatest hits: "Once Upon a Time in New York City", "Why Should I Worry", "Streets of Gold" Music: “Once Upon a Time in New York City: Barry Mann and Howard Ashman, “Why Should I Worry?”: Dan Hartman and Charlie Midnight, “Streets of Gold”: Dean Pitchford and Tom Snow Analysis: Okay okay, hear me out: the songs in Oliver and Company rule. What other Disney movie starts out with a gorgeous sprawling New York City landscape and a goosebumps-inducing ballad by none other than Huey Lewis? ("Once Upon a Time in New York City") In what other Disney movie are you going to have one of the most fun and underrated songs sung by Billy Joel? ("Why Should I Worry") Name me another movie that has one of the grooviest songs in the Disney discography sung by Ruth Pointer from the Pointer Sisters. ("Streets of Gold"). Oh right, you can't. Is all of this painfully 80's? Yeah. Does it sound kind of outdated? Sure. Do I love it? Absolutely. It brings me back to my childhood when I would listen to this cassette tape on repeat and watch the movie constantly. It gives me a feeling of comforting nostalgia, so perhaps I'm speaking through rose-tinted glasses. One thing's for sure though, I will never ever forget these songs and for that this makes the top 10 for me. 8. Tarzan Greatest hits: "Strangers Like Me", "You'll Be In My Heart", "Two Worlds" Music and lyrics: Phil Collins Analysis: I may be biased on this one because I love Phil Collins. However, not turning Tarzan into a full on musical and allowing Collins to create the songs and sing them himself instead was a dynamite move. The final product fits extremely well with the story of Tarzan and his journey of love and self-discovery with songs like "Strangers Like Me" and "Two Worlds" and of course the beautiful ballad "You'll Be In My Heart". This collaboration proved to be successful, so much so that Disney asked Phil Collins to do another movie, albeit the utterly less memorable and extremely forgettable Brother Bear. For this movie though, the music is pure gold. 7. Mulan Greatest hits: "I'll Make a Man Out of You", "Reflection", "True To Your Heart" Music: Matthew Wilder Lyrics: David Zippel Analysis: A one hit wonder for Matthew Wilder, but man, did he and lyricist David Zippel really hit it out of the park with "I'll Make a Man Out of You". This song alone should propel Mulan to the top 5, but frankly the rest of the songs aren't as strong. With that being said, the songs are still terrific, which include the powerful ballad "Reflection" (fun fact: this was Christina Aguilera's first single) and the delightfully funky "True To Your Heart". Nothing will ever top "I'll Make a Man Out of You" though. 6. Hercules Greatest hits: "Go the Distance", "I Won't Say (I'm in Love)", "Zero to Hero" Music: Alan Menken Lyrics: David Zippel Analysis: Will I go and say that these are the most memorable songs to the general public in this day and age? Unfortunately probably not, which is a damn shame because these are some of the most unique songs in the Disney songbook. Infused with a gospel feel, Menken (making his third appearance on this list) and Zippel (his second and final) gives the Hercules soundtrack a distinctive sound that stands out from the rest of the Disney soundtracks. "I Won't Say (I'm in Love)" and "Zero to Hero" are great examples of the eclectic group of tracks on this criminally underrated soundtrack, but "Go the Distance", the always-necessary power ballad, stands out above the rest, which is given even more depth by Michael Bolton herculean vocals. 5. Beauty and the Beast Greatest hits: "Beauty and the Beast", "Be Our Guest", "Gaston" Music: Alan Menken Lyrics: Howard Ashman Analysis: Alan Menken's third inclusion on this list (and it's certainly not his last) and the first inclusion of brilliant lyricist Howard Ashman, a life tragically cut too short from AIDS. Menken and Ashman were a dynamic duo, crafting one of the greatest musical streaks in Disney movie history - hell, probably just cinematic history in general - with The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin. Their music for Beauty and the Beast captures the essence of the timeless enchanting story perfectly, with the ballad "Beauty and the Beast", the show stopping "Be Our Guest", and the jaunty swaggering "Gaston", all of which are memorable and catchy. 4. The Little Mermaid Greatest hits: "Part Of Your World", "Under the Sea", "Kiss the Girl" Music: Alan Menken Lyrics: Howard Ashman Analysis: Menken and Ashman's second entry on this list is their first collaboration, delivering some of the best songs in the legendary duo's songbook. The Little Mermaid boasts an extremely impressive lineup, with the expressive power ballad "Part Of Your World" being my personal favorite, sung by the wonderful Jodi Benson. However, one cannot forget the calypso powerhouses "Under the Sea" and "Kiss the Girl", songs that are so unforgettable that they have truly stood the test of time. 3. Aladdin Greatest hits: "A Whole New World", "Friend Like Me", "Prince Ali" Music: Alan Menken Lyrics: Howard Ashman Analysis: The last Menken/Ashman collaboration entry on this list is by and far their best and most memorable work, but I think it's also quite possibly because of the inclusion of one of the most memorable characters in all of Disney cinematic history: Robin William's eccentric Genie. Williams is responsible for bringing not one but two beloved songs to life ("Friend Like Me", "Prince Ali"), and without his charisma and Menken and Ashman's musical prowess, the songs would not have breathed the same sort of life. As I'm a sucker for Disney power ballads, my favorite of the bunch would have to be "A Whole New World", a perfect goosebumps-inducing piano-driven ballad that is one of my favorite songs of all time. It's a shame that we'll never get to have another Menken/Ashman collaboration. Nothing but sheer musical brilliance. 2. The Lion King Greatest hits: "Circle of Life", "Can You Feel the Love Tonight", "Hakuna Matata" Music: Elton John Lyrics: Tim Rice Analysis: The Lion King has the absolute complete package: a compelling story, splendid and unforgettable voice acting, beautiful animation, impressive moments of tension, and probably the single greatest start to any Disney movie ever. That beginning would not be possible without Sir Elton John and Sir Tim Rice's marvelous "Circle of Life", which perfectly establishes the iconic first shot of the movie and sets the tone and atmosphere for the rest of the movie. Coupled with the romantic ballad "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" and the iconic "Hakuna Matata", John and Rice certified this movie and its soundtrack to be a bonafide classic forever. P.S. "Be Prepared" also rules. 1. Frozen Greatest hits: "Let It Go", "Love is an Open Door", "Do You Wanna Build a Snowman?" Music and lyrics: Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez Analysis: Could there have been any other movie to top this list? Can you think of another Disney soundtrack recently that turned into this kind of global smash/phenomenon? I haven't seen a song completely blow up like "Let It Go" since "My Heart Will Go On". It had undeniable inescapability: it played at talent shows, award shows, the radio, cookouts, band concerts, etc. But while Idina Menzel (or Adele Dazeem) may have sung it, that staying power was made entirely possible by the musical talents of husband and wife duo Robert and Kristen-Anderson Lopez, who some might recognize as the Tony Award-winning duo responsible for beloved broadway musicals Avenue Q and The Book of Mormon. While Menken and Ashman may have the more impressive rap sheet, Lopez and Lopez crafted a monumental soundtrack that damn near redefined the musical landscape in cinema and set a whole new standard for Disney songs. "Let It Go" is without a doubt the standout of the group (how could it not be?), but "Love is an Open Door" and "Do You Wanna Build a Snowman" are absolute delights. Lopez and Lopez's soundtrack elevated the movie and without it, I believe that Frozen would've been just an average movie. Thankfully, that's not what happened and instead we got the most unforgettable soundtrack in the Disney catalogue. Seriously, I don't think anyone is going to forget about the Frozen soundtrack anytime soon, and the movie is almost 6 years old at this point. Bonus: My top 5 favorite Disney songs: 1. "I'll Make a Man Out of You" - Mulan 2. "A Whole New World" - Aladdin 3. "Part of Your World" - The Little Mermaid 4. "Beauty and the Beast" - Beauty and the Beast 5. "Once Upon a Time in New York City" - Oliver and Company.
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AuthorBuster Bigelow: 30 year old lover of movies, cinema, and music. Whether you agree or disagree with my reviews, I'd love to hear what you think in the comments! Archives
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