Deep Dive Disney: Wes's Top 20 Disney Songs (20-11)

Welcome friends to a very special two part article, one I’ve been looking forward to for a very long time now. If you read our previous article… or the title of this one, then you’ll know that today, we’re going to start counting down our Top 20 Disney Songs. As we’ve said, the Walt Disney company has produced some of the most celebrated musicals in cinematic history and as a lover of musicals myself, naturally, I find myself drawn to several of these songs. As you saw with that list of honorable mentions I posted, there are a LOT of Disney songs out there, so narrowing down this list took a lot of time and careful consideration and I still don’t know if I’m one hundred percent satisfied with the final product, but I still think what we ended up with is pretty solid. I tried my best to include all of my favorites while still having a wide variety spanning multiple films. Also, keep in mind a few things. Since we already made a list for villain songs, none of those will appear on this list. Also, I want to emphasize as I do with every list such as this that this is my opinion. This is in no way, shape or form a definitive ranking, simply a list of my favorites. Your list will probably look quite different, but this list is mine. That out of the way, let’s do this!

20. Oo De Lally (Robin Hood)

We start with one of the chillest numbers in any Disney musical ever. All that really happens is just Robin Hood and Little John walking through the forest, much like the song says, but the tune is so impossibly catchy and it gives you a good idea of Robin’s relaxed and nonchalant personality. Even after they get ambushed by the Sheriff and his goons, the song is still pretty chill, again highlighting how Robin is so relaxed and confident in his abilities that he doesn’t really see the Sheriff as much of a threat. The song itself is performed by the talented folk singer Roger Miller, who handles most of the soundtrack and voices the character of Allan-A-Dale the minstrel. I actually like Miller’s work and this song nicely matches his fun and lighthearted style. Personally, I love this song and I’m glad I could kick off the list with it. But for our next entry, we fast forward a few decades to the introductory song of one of Disney's funniest comic relief characters.

19. Friend Like Me (Aladdin)

You know, this year will mark the thirtieth anniversary of Disney’s Aladdin, and I think the more time passes, the more The Genie’s statement of how he’s often imitated but never duplicated has become more and more true. Disney really captured lightning in a bottle with this character and every attempt by lesser movies to replicate that success has fallen flat on its face more often than not. Robin Williams really was a once in a lifetime comedic genius and his presence in the world has been greatly missed since his tragic passing in 2014. Without him, the Genie character would never have worked. This song is when we really see the full scope of what the Genie is all about. He's really just an all-powerful goofball but he’s overjoyed to finally be out of the lamp after ten thousand years (it gives you such a crick in the neck) so he wants to celebrate with this fun and bouncy Las Vegas style number. You really do get the sense of the chaotic magic and endless possibilities the Genie is capable of, all of it presented by the brilliance of Robin Williams. Aladdin really was a musical triumph for Disney, but it would be their next film that would really make them the main event like no studio was before.

18. I Just Can’t Wait to be King (The Lion King)

The Lion King may have one of the greatest soundtracks in Disney history. Almost every song on the soundtrack is a household tune in its own right. This one is definitely a personal favorite and a good look at young Simba’s mindset. He loves the idea of being a king, he just hasn’t matured enough to understand exactly what that means. Simba is a kid, not concerned with the responsibility of leadership, he just wants to get his way all the time and have fun. Zazu tries to explain it Simba, but no one listens to Zazu. In a way, this is one of Simba’s last true moments of innocence before his life is forever changed by his father’s murder. As for the song itself, what can I say, it’s amazing. As soon as you hear that opening riff, you’re hooked. Even though you know Simba’s is wrong, we were all kids once and we’ve all imagined what it might be like to be a king or a president or whatever without the ability to understand the gravity what that actually means, so this song is very relatable to the younger crowd. And, at its core, The Lion King is a coming of age story that shows Simba grow from the innocence of youth to the responsibility of adulthood. This is a great song that’s been an ear worm in my head for years, even to the point where I’d run around the room while playing it on cassette tape when I was five. However, if you want a real ear worm, join us in our next entry.

17. Let It Go (Frozen)

Look, I know what you are all probably thinking right now. Really? This song? Well, you’re goddamned right this song! Is it a little overrated? Yes. Was it overplayed? Hell yes! But here’s the thing, none of that makes this a bad song. It’s a beautiful, energetic and powerful number sung by the eternally incredible Idina Menzel (Not Adelle Dezeem, fuck you very much John Travolta). I remember that point in time when this song was playing on every radio station. It felt like you couldn't drive around for longer than ten minutes without hearing it. Well, let me tell you, I went out of my way to flip through radio stations until I could find it again and again because I love this song so much. In the film, it comes at one of the most pivotal moments in Elsa’s arc. Remember, Elsa has spent most of her life repressing her powers, afraid of the very thing that made her special. In a moment of stress, she accidentally exposes her powers and her worst fears come true as the people of Arendelle and the allied kingdoms see her as a monster. Elsa runs for it, but once she gets far enough away from the palace, it sets in that now that her secret is exposed, she doesn’t have to hide anymore. Sure, her new situation is scary, but there’s no turning back now, the secret’s out so she can finally use her powers with reckless abandon and learn to love herself. Let it Go is the start of a trilogy of songs that form Elsa’s character arc across the two films. This one is where she finally embraces her true nature, Into the Unknown shows that Elsa wants more than what she now has and Show Yourself is finally realizing the true extent of her potential. Together they form a fascinating arc for one of the most interesting female Disney protagonists in a long time and it all started here. There are some of you who probably aren’t happy that this song is so low on the list. If that’s the case, you won’t be happy about the next entry.

16. A Whole New World (Aladdin)

I would have to be insane not to include one of Disney’s most iconic love duets of all time. So let’s set the stage. Jasmine, for her entire life, has lived in the palace, never having seen the outside world. It seems her only lot in life is to be married off to some prince she’s never known in order to uphold her father’s traditions. Then, prince Ali comes along. At first, Jasmine thinks Ali is just like the others, here to win her like she’s some sort of prize. For Ali, or rather, Aladdin, he’s having a hard time of his own because he thinks Jasmine wants some spoiled prince, despite the Genie encouraging him to be himself. As we’ve discussed, one of the themes of Aladdin is recognizing one’s own worth. In this moment, Aladdin and Jasmine both let go of their fears, Jasmine’s fear that Ali is just another jerk of a prince and Aladdin’s fear that Jasmine will reject him and let themselves have fun on a magic carpet ride. The song that follows is beautiful and shows us Aladdin and Jasmine falling in love. The visuals are beautiful as well. I like how they fly all over the world, visiting Greece and China, possibly foreshadowing some later movies. I also like the moment right before the song where Jasmine gets her first hint at Aladdin’s true identity. Something about it really works for me. But anyway, let’s move on to another classic Disney protagonist discovering a whole new world.

15. Strangers Like Me (Tarzan)

A lot of people disparage the Tarzan soundtrack because they just don’t like Phil Collins. Well, as I explained back when we covered Tarzan, I grew up listening to Phil Collins and am a bit of a fan, so it never really bothered me. In fact, I would dare argue that the soundtrack to Tarzan is some of Phil Collins’ best work. Songs like Son of Man and Two Worlds were briefly discussed in our honorable mentions, but let’s talk about what I consider to be the best song in the entire movie, Strangers Like Me. In the past, I’ve compared Tarzan’s story to that of Ariel, only done much better, mostly because Tarzan isn’t a selfish moron prone to making Faustian bargains with clearly evil tentacle monsters. My point is, like Ariel, Tarzan is curious about the human world and longs to be a part of it. As such, this song is Tarzan’s Part of your world. But while Part of Your World was slow and lamenting, this song is energetic, powerful and almost triumphant. This is more akin to the scene where Ariel is experiencing the human world for the first time, which was my favorite scene in that movie. Here, we see Tarzan discover an entire world he’s never known and he’s not just fascinated by it, he’s downright enraptured by it. We wants to know everything there is to know about the world he comes from but never knew. The way his eyes light up at simple things like a bicycle or a projector is incredible and you feel the joy Tarzan feels right along with him. I especially like that it’s also a two way street and we get to see Jane experience the wonders of the jungle in a way that only Tarzan can show her. It’s a beautiful and powerful number so of course it belongs on this list. The song is about Tarzan discovering his ancestry, so let’s talk about a song where another Disney protagonist does just the same.

14. We Know the Way (Moana)

I’ve said on multiple occasions that Moana is an extremely strong contender for the best overall soundtrack of any Disney movie ever. What do you expect from the genius who brought us Hamilton, Mr. Lin-Manuel Miranda? Let’s set the stage. For her whole life, Moana has felt herself drawn to the ocean but has never truly understood why, much less why her father has always discouraged it. This is until Moana’s grandmother shows her the truth hidden in a cave full of old boats. Her ancestors were voyagers, seafaring nomadic explorers who loved the ocean and knew how to navigate it. Once she enters the cave, Moana is treated to a vision of her people before they came to Motunui. The song itself is beautiful, particularly the first verse which is sung in both Samoan and Tokelauan. I always appreciate it when Disney characters sing in their native languages so the use of the Polynesian languages is very much appreciated here. Once we get to the English version, we get to hear the unmistakable voice of Lin-Manuel Miranda himself. The dude is a great singer, so I’m glad he gets a chance to show off here. You really get a sense of history and pride as we see Moana’s people in their true glory. Suddenly Moana’s love of the ocean makes perfect sense. Seafaring and adventuring are in her blood, and this is what she was meant to do. The song is beautiful and feels so vindicating for Moana. Lin-Manuel Miranda is a hell of a song writer, so let’s move on to another movie where he had a hand in the soundtrack.

13. What Else Can I Do? (Encanto)

I’m just going to come out and say it right now, this is the better version of Let It Go. Now, I love Let It Go. you all know that I love Let It Go. You just read a whole paragraph about how much I love Let It Go. However, this song takes everything that made Let It Go amazing and improves upon in many ways. Much like Elsa, Isabella has felt repressed her whole life. In a lot of ways, Isa is under a lot more pressure than Elsa since she doesn’t have the option of isolating herself. Instead, Isabella is constantly in the public eye and expected to live up to the impossible expectations that come with being a part of the family Madrigal. And the truly sad part is, Isabella must suffer in silence. At least with Elsa, the audience was aware of her plight, but up until this point, we don’t know what Isa is really going through. Throughout most of the movie, we’re led to believe she’s the perfect princess that she presents herself as. In fact, before this, one could almost think of her as an antagonist. Even Mirabel is visibly enraged at the thought that saving the magic means having to hug it out with her sister. Once Mirabel finally does confront her sister though, Isa finally loses it and explains all the pressure she’s felt her entire life, and in doing so, grows something other than a beautifully perfect flower. This simple act flips a switch in Isa’s mind, and she finally cuts loose and grows what she wants, not what’s expected of her. The moment is beautiful, both literally and figuratively. Finally, no more need to be perfect, just a need to be herself. The song itself is incredibly catchy and energetic. That’s Diane Guerrero, better known as Jane from DC’s Doom Patrol, and who knew, she’s a hell of a singer. It’s such a wonderful self-affirmation song that I absolutely love. Anywho, most of the songs on our list are from Disney, but let’s shift gears for a second and talk about Pixar.

12. Touch the Sky (Brave)

It honestly shocks me to no end that Brave often finds itself at the lower end of a lot of best to worst Pixar movie rankings because I absolutely love this movie. It’s honestly everything that worked about The Little Mermaid without the stupid parts that made me hate it. One thing that this movie does way better than other movies of its kind is how it shows just how much it must suck to be a princess. Sure, you’re royalty and that’s cool, but you’re expected to behave a certain way twenty-four seven and you rarely get a moment to yourself or even a moment to be yourself. Such is the case of Merida, who feels smothered by her royal life and we the audience feel every stifling moment of it. Only one day a week does Merida get to be truly free and go out into the woods and practice her archery on the back of her horse, Angus. And just as we feel how smothered she is, we likewise feel the sense of overwhelming euphoria when Merida finally feels free. The song itself is utterly beautiful and really revels in the Scottish vibe of the film. The singer, Julie Fowlis has a beautiful voice and the song evokes a lot of imaginative imagery. It sounds like a true adventure anthem talking about misty mountains, dark woods and deep waters. But one must brave these obstacles if one wishes to touch the sky. That’s what Merida really wants, adventure, freedom, to live as herself and not as who everyone expects her to be. It’s wonderful. Speaking of clever segways, I don’t have one for our next entry, but hey, why should I worry.

11. Why Should I Worry (Oliver & Company)

So, if you read my Deep Dive on Oliver & Company, you may recall I didn’t have a lot of nice things to say about Disney’s piss poor attempt at taking a Charles Dickens novel and adapting it for furries. It’s not so much that Oliver & Company is a bad movie, it’s just an aggressively uninteresting one. I tried desperately to find some kind of interesting thing to talk about in this snooze fest but my efforts bore very little fruit. Maybe I’m being a bit harsh, but when I started the Deep Dive Disney project, I promised myself that I would always present my honest opinion. Frankly, the only thing that kept this movie from being the equivalent of an hour and a half of static is this song which in my opinion, is the only part of the movie that’s worth remembering. After this, you can turn the movie off and nothing of value will be lost. Okay, that’s enough bashing the movie. Let’s talk about how awesome this song is. For as long as I’ve ever been able to remember, I’ve been a huge fan of Billy Joel. The dude is an amazing singer and musician and to his credit, he did a great job voicing Dodger. And through the sheer brilliance of his musicianship, the Piano Man made this film feel like more than ninety minutes of nothing. The song, for its part, is pretty awesome. It really evokes the idea of a streetwise New Yorker making his way around town without a care in the world and once it gets to the chorus it really starts to rock. One of the things that actually does work about Oliver & Company is how it feels like a love letter to New York City and that’s definitely on display here. The song is awesome, in fact, it's too awesome for this movie. It was almost good enough to make the top ten, but as you’ll see, there are more than a few strong contenders there.

And that will do it for the first half of this list. Thank you for joining me, and be sure to stay tuned for our the top 10, coming soon.