While writing up the best animated and non-animated lists, it occurred to me that what makes many of the films so attractive is the brilliant use of music. When Walt Disney began his studios so many decades ago, he recognized that movies with good acting, fantastic stories and memorable music would be hits. The majority of animated films that are successful feature soundtracks and scores that people hum years after their release. Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious anyone?
10 Great Disney Songs
To construct this list, I used the noggin. If the first few bars catapulted me back into the film’s moments as well as reminded me of all the words – then it qualified for a great Disney song. In no particular order, here are my picks:
- Be Our Guest (Beauty and the Beast) – Lumiere: Ma chere Mademoiselle, it is with deepest pride and greatest pleasure that we welcome you tonight. And now we invite you to relax, let us pull up a chair as the dining room proudly presents – your dinner!
- A Whole New World (Aladdin) – I can show you the world Shining, shimmering, splendid. Tell me, princess, now when did. You last let your heart decide?
- Under the Sea (The Little Mermaid) The seaweed is always greener; In somebody else’s lake; You dream about going up there; But that is a big mistake; Just look at the world around you; Right here on the ocean floor; Such wonderful things surround you; What more is you lookin’ for?
- Colors of the Wind (Pocahontas) You think I’m an ignorant savage; And you’ve been so many places; I guess it must be so; But still I cannot see; If the savage one is me; How can there be so much that you don’t know? You don’t know … You think you own whatever land you land on; The Earth is just a dead thing you can claim; But I know every rock and tree and creature; Has a life, has a spirit, has a name
- Circle of Life (The Lion King) From the day we arrive on the planet; And blinking, step into the sun; There’s more to see than can ever be seen; More to do than can ever be done; There’s far too much to take in here; More to find than can ever be found; But the sun rolling high; Through the sapphire sky; Keeps great and small on the endless round
- Supercalifragilisticexpiallidocious (Mary Poppins) When trying to express oneself, it’s frankly quite absurd; To leaf through lengthy lexicons, to find the perfect word. A little spontaneity keeps conversation keen. You need to find a way to say precisely what you mean. Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. Even though the sound of it is simply quite atrocious. If you say it loud enough, you’ll always sound precocious; Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. Um diddle um diddle um diddle ay; Um diddle um diddle um diddle ay
- Let’s Go Fly A Kite (Mary Poppins) With tuppence for paper and strings; You can have your own set of wings; With your feet on the ground; You’re a bird in a flight; With your fist holding tight; To the string of your kite
- Portobello Road (Bedknobs and Broomsticks) – Portebello road, Portebello road. Street where the riches of ages are stowed. Anything and everything a chap can unload. Is sold off the barrow in Portebello road. You’ll find what you want in the Portebello road.
- Beauty and the Beast (Beauty and the Beast) Tale as old as time; True as it can be; Barely even friends; Then somebody bends; Unexpectedly; Just a little change; Small to say the least; Both a little scared; Neither one prepared; Beauty and the Beast
- The Bare Necessities (The Jungle Book) – Look for the bare necessities. The simple bare necessities. Forget about your worries and your strife. I mean the bare necessities. Old Mother Nature’s recipes. That brings the bare necessities of life.
What is your favorite Disney song?