Top 10 Disney Movie Songs
By Editorial Staff
Contributed by Robert Blaine, Catalogs.com Top 10 Guru
Disney movie songs. Ah! The soundtrack of nearly every child’s life. The jingles we’d memorized before we’d memorized our own names.
Face it, Disney movies have always been children’s MTV. For a good 70 years, Disney songs have enchanted us, entertained us, and maybe driven our parents crazy, as contagious as these songs have been in our heads. Looking back through all the years, many have stood out. Others have become favorites.
And yet others have made us wonder what life would have been like without them. Here are ten of the best songs to come out of Disney movies.
10. Heigh Ho – Snow White and the Seven Dwarves (1937)
“Heigh-ho! Heigh-ho! It’s home from work we go!” Quite frankly a song about rush hour, “Heigh-ho,” sung by the seven dwarves on the 1937 Disney classic Snow White, the first animated movie of all time, remains to this day one of Disney’s most treasured songs, easy to sing along with, widely recognizable and globally adored.
9. You can Fly! – Peter Pan (1953)
Thanks to “pixie dust,” people could really fly! Sounds like Haight Ashbury in the ‘60s, but guess again! Peter Pan’s 1953 theme song, featuring the voices of the Jud Conlon Chorus and the Mellomen, is a landmark in soundtrack history and one of Disney’s greatest hits.
8. Under the Sea – The Little Mermaid (1989)
Introducing the best underwater infomercial of all time. Under the Sea! In the movie, Sebastian the Crab used this song to persuade Ariel, the little mermaid to stay under the sea where she belonged. Although it wasn’t good enough to convince her, it was definitely good enough to captivate audiences worldwide.
7. Someday My Prince Will Come – Snow White and the Seven Dwarves (1937)
The song that fascinated hundreds of little girls cherishing their Snow White dressup costumes, this iconic Disney landmark proved to be a magical moment in movie history, when the delicate voice of Adriana Caselotti lifted Snow White and the Seven Dwarves to fame and gave us one of the greatest movie songs of all time.
6. A Whole New World – Aladdin (1991)
Chicks love magic carpets. “A Whole New World,” the duet sung by Aladdin and Princess Jasmine for their spectacular first date on a flying Persian rug, is even today considered a truly memorable ballad from Disney’s Renaissance.
5. Can You Feel the Love Tonight? – The Lion King (1994)
The soundtrack of the 1994 blockbuster The Lion King was already punch-drunk with hits. Yet “Can You Feel the Love Tonight?,” its softest hit, ended up being one of its hardest hits. This Oscar-winning ballad by Elton John, full of lofty ethnic chants and funny inserts from Nathan Lane and Ernie Sabella, enchanted millions who fell in love with its romantic charm and unique style. Disney scored huge with this one.
4. Beauty and the Beast – Beauty and the Beast (1991)
A teapot has never had a sweeter voice. Possibly the most heartwarming love song from a Disney movie, “Beauty and the Beast,” exploded to success, garnering an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, two Grammies as well as the long-lasting adulation of millions. With beautiful vocal performances by Angela Lansbury in the movie and Celine Dion and Peabo Bryson on the soundtrack, this ballad chronicling the moving romance of Disney’s Belle and the beast is quite simply a timeless work of art.
3. Chim-chim-cheree – Mary Poppins (1964)
Now, we know darn well that the life of a chimney sweep is far from glorious, let alone fun. If you’re a chimney sweep in the first place, you’re not “as lucky as lucky can be.” Unless you’re Dick Van Dyke, of course. “Chim-chim-cheree,” the Oscar-winning song from Disney’s 1964 classic Mary Poppins is nowhere short of a masterpiece, an example of artistic brilliance, and a magical, forever-lasting hymn to add to Disney’s impressive musical repertoire.
2. Hakuna Matata – The Lion King (1994)
Hakuna Matata! It’s probably the last excuse you want to give your boss, but one of the first things that come to our minds when we think of our favorite songs. The catchiest tune from The Lion King, “Hakuna Matata” meant “No worries for the rest of your days.” With vocal performances by Nathan Lane, Ernie Sabella and Joseph Williams, it’s unbelievable what an impact this song had made on ‘90s kids, what a motto it’s been for bums worldwide, and “what a wonderful phrase” it’s been not only for Disney history, but also for movie history.
1. When You Wish Upon a Star – Pinocchio (1940)
Possibly the most famous lullaby of the 20th century, easily one of the sweetest, most comforting songs of all time, and definitely Disney’s most beloved musical monument, “When You Wish Upon a Star,” was sung by Jiminy Cricket in the 1940 cartoon Pinocchio before it became the anthem of Walt Disney’s entire company. Since the movie’s release, this delightful song has become a part of our culture as one of the greatest movie soundtracks of all time and one of the most recognizable jingles for generations of children. Not many movie soundtracks can boast of such an accomplishment.
Popular Savings Offers
Honorable mentions:
* Whistle While You Work – Snow White and the Seven Dwarves (1937)
* Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah – Song of the South (1946)
* Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo – Cinderella (1950)
* Bear Necessities – The Jungle Book (1967)
* Kiss the Girl – The Little Mermaid (1989)
* Part of Your World – The Little Mermaid (1989)
* Be our Guest – Beauty and the Beast (1991)
* Circle of Life – The Lion King (1994)