HM: 'The Phony King of England' - Robin Hood (1973)
Just one of the most enjoyable songs in the Disney canon. I love the film for all its hijinks and fun, and I think this song wonderfully encompasses the cheeky humorous touch the film treats the Robin Hood legend (and the supposed infamy of Prince John) with such entertaining levity. Pnil Harris, the one and only, carries this song beautifully.
20. 'Poor Unfortunate Souls' - The Little Mermaid (1989)
A great villainous ditty, Pat Carroll's Ursula is one of the most obvious and least subtle villains in animated film history, which is just fine because this bombastic song is just perfect for her interpretation of the character. It's so catchy but also so menacing, and makes for quite the unforgettable musical interlude, and the animation here is so on point, although you do get a bit irritated I guess at how easily Ariel is ensnared into all this.
19. 'Pink Elephants on Parade' - Dumbo (1941)
A trippy song to put it mildly, this song influenced so many other great psychedelic Disney songs, most notably Heffalumps and Woozles, but as is usually the case the first is the best. It's a delightful journey through Dumbo's disorientated mind, and is like the song above so creepy and catchy at the same time. It's technically not necessary to the film, and I shudder to think what Tim Burton will do with this sequence if he goes to an excess once again, but it's a great sequence. The use of surreal imagery and the snappy tune makes for quite something.
18. 'Can You Feel the Love Tonight' - The Lion King (1994)
This would be placed higher if not for the fact that I don't think the scene is quite perfect, it's not executed in the perfect moment (would have liked a bit more time for Simba and Nala to reconnect), and is perhaps a bit too short for my liking. Of course, nitpicks, nitpicks, because it really is quite something when it kicks into high gear. Elton John and Tim Rice's work makes this romantic ballad a particularly grand and epic one. It's effective in both its quiet and louder bits, and hits the emotional sweet spot rather well.
17. 'Out There' - The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996)
Tom Hulce is actually a pretty good singer, IMO, and this is one of my favourite 'something more' songs. It hits just the right number of heartbreaking and inspirational notes while also just being a wonderful little tune about breaking free. Doesn't hurt that it's set to some absolutely stunning animation.
16. 'When You Wish Upon a Star' - Pinnochio (1940)
A simple sequence, and it wouldn't have gotten on here if not for the fact that it's such a perfect encompassing theme song to a masterpiece. Cliff Edwards, your voice has stayed with so many of us through all the years as perhaps the defining voice of Disney-dom.
15. 'Part of That World' - The Little Mermaid (1989)
Another 'something more' song, and while Ariel's upwards aspirations may be slightly less sympathetic than Quasimodo's, I'd say this can be quite easily forgotten by how extremely good this song is. I love, love, love how this song builds up to quite a powerful peak in such a casual way, all the while carrying such a refreshing air of innocence and lack of pretension that endears you to Ariel (Jodi Benson's voice is quite something).
14. 'You'll Be in My Heart' - Tarzan (1999)
I love Phil Collins, and I have no shame in saying that. This song is one of the most iconic from what I'd call a fairly underrated film, and really gives such a powerful connection in such a brief time to foster mother and son (Glenn Close's voice is great too). Here's hoping we can hear a rendition of this in War For the Planet of the Apes.
13. 'Reflection' - Mulan (1998)
A clever variation on the 'something more' tune, as this one is more about an individual being at loss in where she is, and unable to find anywhere else to go. It's an incredibly powerful song in such an unassuming way, and I absolutely love every second of it. It totally invests you in Mulan's desire to make something of herself beyond society's constraints, and bonus points for how it beautifully ends with a tender father-daughter moment. Lea Salonga is a Broadway legend, and I'm guessing this is a good enough example of why.
12. 'Hellfire' - The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996)
Brilliant song in how it starts off almost like 'Stars' from Les Mis, so calm and serene and at one with God, before spiralling out of control into quite the haunting, hateful hymn against the gypsy woman who has caused Frollo to fall into despair at his own lust for her. Tony Jay's vocal performance in this is absolutely tremendous, and I think he brings more weight to this animated breakdown of one of the most complex villains ever than most live-action actors could (except of course Cecil Hardwicke).
11. 'Kiss the Girl' - The Little Mermaid (1989)
Blasphemy to put this so high, perhaps, but this just hits every spot perfectly. It's the perfect little scene that makes up for some of the underwriting of the relationship between the Prince and Ariel. I can't really explain why one loves this song so much, I just do.
10. 'The Bare Necessities' - The Jungle Book (1967)
One of the most iconic Disney songs for a very good reason, it's an absolute banger. You'll just want to dance along and relax with Baloo and Mowgli after listening to this simple but really, quite brilliant song that makes the Jungle seem like heaven on Earth.
9. 'Be Prepared' - The Lion King (1994)
Very, very close to being the greatest Disney villain song of all-time. Whoever thought up the idea of getting Jeremy Irons to do some singing was a genius, his eloquent, velvety voice (unparalleled amongst any living actor I'd argue) making for such a sensuous invocation to partaking in such terrible deeds in his name. This song is the scene where Scar reveals what he's all about, and I love how it starts in such a playful fashion, before descending into an extremely bitter and hateful rant against the world and decades of denial.
8. 'The World's Greatest Criminal Mind' - The Great Mouse Detective (1986)
Who could top Jeremy Irons but Vincent Price? The horror icon's casting in this (I must say this again) incredibly underrated cartoon reimagining of Sherlock Holmes as effectively, a rat (but don't call him that) Moriarty, Rattigan, is pitch-perfect. The song is so whimsical and catchy to begin with, even quite moving in the middle, switches over into quite the scary (for a kid's film) sequence, and I absolutely love how it just carries on afterwards, but with just a touch more sick menace to its tune after showing what a callous bastard Rattigan can be. It's a grand tune that should be more beloved than it is.
7.'I Wan'na Be like You' - The Jungle Book (1967)
Now I thoroughly enjoyed Christopher Walken's rendition of this in last year's live-action remake, but this version is still king. Louis Prima's King Louie has such a unique singing voice that's impossible to recreate, and makes this song so one-of-a-kind, and when Phil Harris' Baloo comes on scene to go head-to-head, it's kinda like Pacino and De Niro meeting in Heat in its pure awesomeness.
6. 'Under the Sea' - The Little Mermaid (1989)
My thoughts on this are essentially like the song above. I can't imagine how anyone wouldn't want to live under the sea after listening to this song which is just pure joy on all levels. Samuel E. Wright's creation of Sebastian is just one-of-a-kind, and I really don't see how a live-action remake, when they come around to inevitably making it, can possibly work when they have this song to live up to.
5. 'Beauty and the Beast' (both versions) - Beauty and the Beast (1991)
I should note I think the new version of Beauty and the Beast by Emma Thompson is one of the weaker songs in the remake. It's okay but feels very much like a pale imitation of something great. This, however, the real deal, is quite amazing. The animation in this scene is first and foremost absolutely stunning, especially for its time. The song is grand and elagant but also very warm, and the great Angela Lansbury makes it the perfect summation of a great film. Plus, the pop version by Celine Dion and Peabo Bryson is awesome, too!
4. 'Circle of Life' - The Lion King (1994)
An epic, awesome, upbeat, rousing start to what is essentially an animated Shakespearean epic. What's not to like? The perfect alarm song as well if I may add.
3. 'A Whole New World' - Aladdin (1992)
The best Disney romantic ballad of them all, this is technically a song about two young lovers flying around on a magic carpet, yet the song beyond just conveying the beauty of that moment in time, seems like it's about something much greater. It gives such a vast sense of power and awe-inspiring joy at discovering a whole new world. Just great stuff.
2. 'Son of Man' - Tarzan (1999)
For the final two it came to a head-to-head of montages. This montage featuring the growth of young Tarzan into a man, is an incredible song and a great example of Phil Collins' talents as a musician. It perfectly captures what makes Tarzan king of the jungle so concisely and eloquently, and more importantly the stunning animation and great tune complements one another perfectly.
1. 'I'll Make a Man Out of You' - Mulan (1998)
One of the greatest songs of all-time, and I'd argue that this actually rivals Rocky in the 'inspirational training montage' stakes. In fact, I think the film (which is good but not great) is enhanced in my opinion by this scene alone, which makes Mulan's journey against the odds at training camp something so powerful to root for. I love how the song begins as a truly inspirational ode to the army, has some hilarious comedic interludes by its comic relief trio, becomes quite sad as we watch Mulan fail at all the military tasks, and end on such a high note by her incredibly upwards climb to gaining the respect of her fellow soldiers.
- 'I'll Make a Man Out of You' - Mulan (1998)
- 'Son of Man' - Tarzan (1999)
- 'A Whole New World' - Aladdin (1992)
- 'Circle of Life' - The Lion King (1994)
- 'Beauty and the Beast' (both versions) - Beauty and the Beast (1991)
- 'Under the Sea' - The Little Mermaid (1989)
- 'I Wan'na Be like You' - The Jungle Book (1967)
- 'The World's Greatest Criminal Mind' - The Great Mouse Detective (1986)
- 'Be Prepared' - The Lion King (1994)
- 'The Bare Necessities' - The Jungle Book (1967)
- 'Kiss the Girl' - The Little Mermaid (1989)
- 'Hellfire' - The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996)
- 'Reflection' - Mulan (1998)
- 'You'll Be in My Heart' - Tarzan (1999)
- 'Part of Your World' - The Little Mermaid (1989)
- 'When You Wish Upon a Star' - Pinnochio (1940)
- 'Out There' - The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996)
- 'Can You Feel the Love Tonight' - The Lion King (1994)
- 'Pink Elephants on Parade' - Dumbo (1941)
- 'Poor Unfortunate Souls' - The Little Mermaid (1989)
- 'The Phony King of England' - Robin Hood (1973)
- 'Something There' - Beauty and the Beast (1991)
- 'Friend Like Me' - Aladdin (1992)
- 'I Just Can't Wait to be King' - The Lion King (1994)
- 'Let Me Be Good to You' - The Great Mouse Detective (1986)
- 'Two Worlds' - Tarzan (1999)
- 'Welcome' - Moana (2016)
- 'Strangers Like Me' - Tarzan (1999)
- 'Be Our Guest' - Beauty and the Beast (1991)
- 'Gaston' - Beauty and the Beast (1991)
- 'How Far I'll Go' - Moana (2016)
- 'Everybody Wants to be a Cat' - The Aristocats (1970)
- 'Heffalumps and Woozles' - Winnie the Pooh (1977)
- 'Whistle-Stop' - Robin Hood (1973)
- 'Cruela de Vil' - 101 Dalmatians (1961)
- 'Heigh-Ho' - Snow White and the Seven Dwarves (1937)
- 'The Siamese Cat Song' - Lady and the Tramp (1955)
- 'The Sorcerer's Apprentice' - Fantasia (1940)
- 'Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah' - Song of the South (1946)
- 'The Wonderful Thing About Tiggers' - Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day (1968)
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