Friday, August 1, 2014

Best Disney Songs

Of the Animated Classics series, here are the top Disney songs, with one song per movie allowed. Only original compositions were considered (sorry Chicken Little...)


47. Where the Dream Takes You – Atlantis: The Lost Empire

Atlantis is not the worst Disney film (see entry #39) but the lackluster score surely didn't help.

46. No Way Out – Brother Bear

Phil Collins can be great, but when he's bad, he's really, really, bad.

45. Tomorrow Is Another Day – The Rescuers

I'm generally not very fond of this film, but the soundtrack was the worst part.

44. Goodbye May Seem Forever – The Fox and the Hound

I used to consider this the worst-ever Disney song - not so much sad as saccharine.

43. The Tummy Song – Winnie the Pooh

Why they made this short little film, I don't know. The songs are pointless, matching a pointless plot.

42. I’m Still Here – Treasure Planet

Honestly I feel this should be lower. Then I relisten to the preceding tracks.

41. You’ll Be in My Heart – Tarzan

More Phil Collins!

40. Another Believer – Meet the Robinsons

I enjoyed Meet the Robinsons, but Rufus doesn't add much.

39. Will the Sun Ever Shine Again – Home on the Range

This terrible, unwatchable movie at least has a decent Bonnie Raitt song. And nothing else.

38. Bug Hunt – Wreck-It Ralph

The only instrumental on the list, and Skrillex to boot. Disney has come a long way.

37. My What a Happy Day – Fun and Fancy Free

This is a dumb song, but I find myself singing it when I walk down the road.

36. That’s What Makes the World Go Round – The Sword in the Stone

Of the admittedly dopey songs in Sword in the Stone, this is the best.

35. Barking at the Moon – Bolt

Sort of pointless, as movies go, but not a bad song.

34. Hawaiian Rollercoaster Ride – Lilo and Stitch

One of my favorite Disney movies, the soundtrack is dominated by Elvis. But there's also this.

33. The World’s Greatest Criminal Mind – The Great Mouse Detective

The only reason this is so high is 'cause I sang it a lot as a kid.

32. Blue Shadows on the Trail – Melody Time

Roy Rogers - the country phenomenon wasn't just the early aughts.

31. Mother Knows Best – Tangled

Perhaps an unusual choice for Tangled, another villain's song.

30. Little April Shower – Bambi

Annoyingly, infectiously, catchy.

29. The Wonderful Thing About Tiggers – The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

From the better Pooh movie. It's...bouncy.

28. Sing Sweet Nightingale – Cinderella

Although a slow-paced film, this scene was the slowest. Which is unfortunate since it can take 'Bitbbity Boppity Blegch' any day.

27. Painting the Roses Red – Alice in Wonderland

This song is just so fun. It's quirky and upbeat, and, again, as a kid I loved it.

26. Saludos Amigos – Saludos Amigos

A Latin-tinged little number.

25. He’s a Tramp – Lady and the Tramp

Peggy Lee!

24. Perfect World – The Emperor’s New Groove

Really amusing, the best shot at groove the movie had.

23. Why Should I Worry – Oliver and Company

I don't like the movie, but I do like Billy Joel.

22. Johnnie Fedora and Alice Bluebonnet – Make Mine Music

The Andrews Sisters did a lot of music for Disney in the 40s, but this is their best offering.

21. Down in New Orleans – The Princess and the Frog

It's hard not to like the New Orleans sound, after all.

20. Colors of the Wind – Pocahontas

I have not seen this movie. I don't want to see this movie. But, dammit, it's a good song.

19. Ev’rybody Wants to Be a Cat – The Aristocats

The opening is probably slower than you remember, but the rest is jazzy enough to make it up.

18. You Can Fly – Peter Pan

Who didn't want to try to fly after this song?

17. A Whole New World – Aladdin

Clearly a sex metaphor. But the rest of Aladdin's songs are pretty lame.

16. The Bells of Notre Dame – The Hunchback of Notre Dame

It's so freaking epic.

15. Cruella De Vil – 101 Dalmatians

If you don't like this song, I'm going to be slightly concerned.

14. Nowhere in Particular – The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad

The sentiment of this song is what I like so much about it, as well as the upbeat acceptance of life's adventures.

13. When I See an Elephant Fly – Dumbo

Obviously a controversial choice. I can't change the times the movie was made in, but I stand by the song, not the circumstances that surround its creation.

12. Part of Your World – The Little Mermaid

The showpiece of my least favorite renaissance film is an admitted show-stopper.

11. Zero to Hero – Hercules

The best part of a good film.

10. Let It Go – Frozen

The top ten. Let It Go is sort of old now, but ten years from now people will still love it, with good reason.

09. Baia – Three Caballeros

For my money this wins the combo for most beautiful song and most beautiful animation combo.

08. I’m Wishing/One Song – Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

The one that started them all. One Song is very underrated - its the best prince's song.

07. I’ll Make a Man Out of You – Mulan

Increasingly of questionable PC content, I have had my students break out into this song so many times... probably 'cause its so good.

06. When You Wish Upon a Star – Pinocchio

Pinocchio has some winners, but none compare to this classic.

05. Oo De Lally – Robin Hood

Roger Miller! Tough call, with 'Whistle Stop', but Oo De Lally just barely takes it.

04. Be Our Guest – Beauty and the Beast

I defy you to dislike this song. It is the definition of happiness.

03. I Wanna Be Like You – The Jungle Book

Disney's best foray into jazz, aided immensely by Louis Prima. Read into the scene what you will.

02. The Circle of Life – The Lion King

NANTS INGONYAMA BAGITHI BABA!

01. Once Upon a Dream – Sleeping Beauty

The All-Time Greatest Disney song. Hands down.

2 comments:

Jessica said...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZ44x0GnKh4

I'm a little sad Don Bluth films don't count. Because Dark of the Night is clearly one of the best villain songs ever: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ocm8QdNR_d8

If instrumentals count, shouldn't Rescuers Down Under be on here? Black Cauldron? Dinosaur? No Firebird for Fantasia? ;)

Jessica said...

How would Firebird count as an original composition? And, yeah, the only reason I allowed Bug Hunt is b/c it is pop music, unlike the tracks from Down Under, etc. ~ R