10 Favorite Disney Songs
We talked about some of our favorite animated soundtracks, but let's talk Disney songs. This time, I included live action films as well. These are 10 of my favorite Disney songs. What are yours? Let us know in the comments.
“Colors of the Wind” from Pocahontas
This is a wonderful song written by Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz. The melody is beautiful, but the lyrics are what make this song special. There is so much imagery in the lyrics that it evokes all the senses. It's just such a great song.
“The Circle of Life” from The Lion King
From the opening call of this song, you can feel the sun rising and the animals gathering forth. We don't just get this from the visuals, but from the music as well. The chorus provide a sound reminiscent of a wheel...or a circle of life. The song is befitting a new prince.
“Part of your World” from The Little Mermaid
"Part of your World" is a song about rebellion and that want to break free. It's also the template for yearning songs moving forward. The song is a perfect blend of Alan Menken's melody with Howard Ashman's adept and playful lyrics. No matter what you think, one cannot deny how memorable this song truly is.
“Candle on the Water” from Pete’s Dragon
I fell in love with song watching it the theater. It made me so sad and hoped that Nora would one day find her long lost love. It's a great love song from the Disney canon.
“Out There” from The Hunchback of Notre Dame
The soundtrack to The Hunchback of Notre Dame are wonderfully complex songs written by Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz. "Out There" is probably the most accessible of them all being Quasimodo's yearning song. That said, it still has many of the complexities of the rest of the soundtrack.
“Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah” from Song of the South
I find this song to be absolutely magical. James Baskett's performance is just amazing. From the opening prologue of the song to the first "zip" and we are transported to an animated universe. You can feel Baskett's joy which gives the song a level of credibility. It's no wonder this song is a classic.
“A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes” from Cinderella
This is one of the ultimate yearning songs and an ultimate Disney classic song. The melody to the song is just beautiful, but it's Ilene Woods' velvety voice that makes the song so great. Whereas "Part of your World" inspired other princess film, this song, with its thematic use of dreams, inspired "Once Upon A Dream" from Sleeping Beauty.
“Feed The Birds” from Mary Poppins
It's no secret that this was Walt Disney's favorite song. And, it's for good reason. This lullaby is haunting and melancholy, yet, at the same time it's joyous. So much so that the kids are inspired to give to the little old bird lady.
“Reflection” from Mulan
This is, perhaps, the most melancholy of the yearning songs as there is never a resolution of what she will do next. But, it is a beautiful song that launched Christina Aguilera's career. Lea Salonga as the singing voice of Mulan does an amazing job in conveying the emotion of the song.
“Go The Distance” from Hercules
While Disney has had plenty of princess films, it did not have a lot of "hero" films (or guy films). Hercules helped break that mold and "Go The Distance" is a wonderful yearning song that leads to a triumphant outcome. It is the ultimate hero song.