My Top 20 Disney Movie Songs

I previously shared my top 10 Pixar movie songs with you here; so now I thought I’d share some of my favourite Disney ones with you. It was impossible for me to choose only 10 but my excuse is there are a lot more general Disney films than Disney Pixar films 😛 So I have managed to get it down to 20 and even that was hard! Like my Pixar list, these are not in a specific order; they are just 20 that I really love ❤ Once again, let me know if you agree with any of my choices or if you think I am crazy for missing certain songs out 🙂 There are quite a few quite key films that I haven’t included a song from so I think some of you may find the ones I have missed off quite surprising 😉

1. Belle (Beauty & the Beast) – Paige O’Hara, Richard White et. al.

The opening sequence from Beauty and the Beast is one of my favourites in a film ever and the accompanying song is just fantastic. I love how it rally introduces us to the character of Belle and I love all the interactions between her and the other villagers etc. I also love to whistle and this song is a great one to whistle to XD

2. Friend Like Me (Aladdin) – Robin Williams

Robin Williams is one of my most favourite actors of all time and even though we only hear him in the role of Genie (as opposed to seeing him also), he manages to put so much of his unique humor and style into the role and this is so evident in Friend Like Me. He is just so funny and you just really get the feeling that he had such fun recording it which makes it such a joy to listen to. Its also incredibly catchy which is always a plus!

3. Give A Little Whistle (Pinocchio) – Cliff Edwards & Dickie Jones

As mentioned earlier, I love whistling myself so I have always enjoyed this song because it involves actual whistling XD. However, I also love the meaning behind it and the interaction between Jiminy and Pinocchio is wonderful ❤

4. Hakuna Matata (The Lion King) – Nathan Lane, Ernie Sabella, Jason Weaver, and Joseph Williams

I don’t know anyone who doesn’t love this song because it is just so fun and can’t help but make you smile. Timon and Pumbaa are one of the greatest double acts from a Disney film ever and this song is just so comical, yet it has a great meaning behind it. I especially love Pumbaa’s part in the song, it really made me laugh so much as a child, and still makes me chuckle now 🙂

5. I’ve Got A Dream (Tangled) – Brad Garrett, Jeffrey Tambor, Mandy Moore, Zachary Levi, and Ensemble

I had a hard time choosing between this song and “I See the Light” but in the end, I just had to go for this one because it’s so funny and catchy and just makes me smile whenever I hear it. I also love the message behind it and hearing the somewhat surprising dreams of the bar “thugs”, showing us that you can’t judge by appearances.

6. I’ll Make a Man Out of You (Mulan) – Donny Osmond, Jerry Tondo, Harvey Fierstein, Matthew Wilder, Eddie Murphy, Lea Salonga & Chorus

The Mulan soundtrack is another one where I have multiple favorites but the ultimate is definitely I’ll Make a Man Out of You. I love the score and its so inspirational; I often listen to it when I have to do something tedious (like cleaning lol) as it really gets me in a “doing” mood XD I think anyone who says they don’t join in at full volume for “let’s get down to business” is fibbing 😛

7. Jolly Holiday (Mary Poppins) – Dick Van Dyke and Julie Andrews

If I could choose this entire soundtrack for my list I would, as I adore literally every single song on it; however, I wanted to make sure my list had only one song per fillm I featured and if you really made my choose, this would be my ultimate favourite from Mary Poppins. I just love the whimsicality of it and if you listen to some of the lyrics these days, they just make me chuckle (when Mary says you needn’t fear when Burt is near because basically he won’t assault you XD). Its also special to me because my grandmother was called Mary and I used to sing this to her when I was little ❤

8. Just Around the Riverbend (Pocahontas) – Judy Kuhn

It was a toss up between this one and Colors of the Wind for my favourite song from Pocahontas but in the end, I had to go with this one. I love the lyrics and the symbolism behind them, and it sounds silly but as mentioned before, I love to whistle, and this one has some fantastic melodies in it that I really enjoy when I whistle along to it ❤

9. Ma Belle Evangeline (The Princess and the Frog) – Jim Cummings

This is yet another film whose soundtrack ranks as one of my very favourites as a whole so again, it was hard to pick one song to feature but in the end it had to be Ray’s song. I just find it so sweet and romantic, yet so sad, especially after seeing the film the first time, because we know that Ray will get to join his love, but not in the way we would hope 😦 His little voice is just so adorable too ❤

10. Thats What Makes the World Go Round (The Sword in the Stone) – Karl Swenson and Rickie Sorensen

I think this is one of Disney’s most underrated films because it is so charming and funny yet it hardly ever gets the recognition it should with regards to merchandise available etc. As such, its soundtrack is also hugely overlooked in my opinion, and you’ll rarely find any of its songs on Disney compilation CDs for example, despite the fact that it has several cracking songs in it! My favourite though would have to be this one because its so jolly and I love the interaction between Merlin and Wart. Its a really fun sequence to watch within the movie also.

11. Once Upon a Dream (Sleeping Beauty) – Mary Costa, Bill Shirley & Chorus

This for me is my ultimate favourite romantic Disney song and quite possibly scene, in all of the Disney films. I just find the music and lyrics so beautiful and Mary Costa’s voice is absolutely wonderful. Prince Philip was “my” Prince when I was a little girl and I still find it incredibly romantic even now when he starts singing on the track ❤

12. Some Day My Prince Will Come (Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs) – Adriana Caselotti, Roy Atwell, Pinto Colvig, Billy Gilbert, Otis Harlan, & Scotty Mattraw

Another beautifully romantic song that I particularly adored as a young child. I like to listen to versions where they have included Snow White answering the dwarfs questions before she starts singing as their voices and interaction with her are just so adorable. I am always in awe of high incredibly high Adriana Caselotti was able to sing too! Just amazing!

13. The Bare Necessities (The Jungle Book) – Phil Harris and Bruce Reitherman

With many of Disney’s classic songs, its not until your are older that you really truly appreciate some of the meaning behind the lyrics and The Bare Necessities is one that I find incredibly wise when I listen to it now. I wish I could take some of Baloo’s advice and relax but its a lot harder than he make’s out XD I love the £prickly pear” part and again, its a lovely song to whistle to ❤

14. The Mad Tea Party/The Unbirthday Song (Alice in Wonderland) – Kathryn Beaumont, Ed Wynn & James Macdonald

On the official soundtrack listing this track also includes the Twinkle Twinkle, Clean Cup Move Down, and Mad Watch sequences but the version I most enjoy just listening to away from watching the film is one that includes just The Mad Tea Party and The Unbirthday Song parts. I particularly love all the different sounds and melodies used and its just so silly it can’t help but make you smile, plus I also love the concept of the Unbirthday 😛

15. Under the Sea (The Little Mermaid) – Samuel E. Wright

Another incredibly hard film to choose just one song from, especially as Jodi Benson’s singing voice is one of my absolute favorites; but Under the Sea is the song I always put on when I am feeling low because it instantly makes me feel happy again as it is just so joyful. As soon as I hear the steel drums at the beginning, I am smiling ❤ The sequence in the film is just so colorful and vibrant too.

16. You Can Fly! You Can Fly! You Can Fly! (Peter Pan) – Bobby Driscoll, Kathryn Beaumont, Paul Collins, Tommy Luske & Chorus

This scene/sequence has to be one of the most magical moments in a Disney film ever because what could be more magical and exciting to a child than learning how to fly? It amazed me when I was a child and I spent many hours leaping from walls and the sofa trying my hardest to think happy thoughts so I could do it too. If you asked me then if it ever worked, I’m sure I’d have said yes XD Anyway, the versions I like best of this as a song to listen to away from the film must include the spoken parts where Peter is instructing the children how to fly as its just so adorable, especially little Michael’s parts; but the whole song, in terms of the composition and lyrics is just magical.

17. We Know the Way (Moana) -Opetaia Foa’i & Lin-Manuel Miranda

Again, so hard to choose one favourite from this film as the whole soundtrack is absolutely stunning but I find this track really uplifting and inspirational. I really love traditional Polynesian music anyway and this track is just such a wonderful blend of traditional and modern. It gives me goosebumps when I see the sequence it is played with in the film; and I also adore its reprise at the end of the film.

18. What’s This? (The Nightmare Before Christmas) – Danny Elfman

First of all its important to state that Danny Elfman is a true master XD Not only did he write and compose this masterpiece of a song (well, whole soundtrack really!), he also provides the voice of our dear Jack of course and I seriously think this is one of the best “acted” Disney singing performances ever. The emotion in Jack’s voice is incredible as he is discovering the delights of Christmastown for the first time and you can’t help but feel excited and share the wonder with him as you listen.

19. When I See an Elephant Fly (Dumbo) – Cliff Edwards, Jim Carmichael, & the Hall Johnson Choir

This song absolutely cracks me up so it absolutely had to be included. I love silly puns so I find the lyrics hilarious (I seen a peanut stand, heard a rubber band, I seen a needle that winked its eye!) and the voice performances are just brilliant.

20. In Summer (Frozen) – Josh Gad

I couldn’t do the list without including a song from Frozen right? However, I think my choice probably isn’t one that people would typically expect. I just find Olaf’s song adorable and so innocent when he sings about his dreams of experiencing summer, not realizing how it would affect him being a Snowman and all… Josh Gad is one seriously talented dude too and he really brings the song and Olaf to life with his performance.