Mamas Uncut

30 Best Disney Songs That Bring the Magic

Shutterstock

One thing is certain, Disney movies often come with some of the best movie music on the planet. You can always bet that you’ll hear at least one amazing song in every movie. There are a ton of Disney songs as well. Think about it. The first Disney film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was released in 1937. That means that Disney’s composers have been cranking out Disney songs for nearly a hundred years now! But, don’t worry, we’ve decided to take a look back at some of the most beloved songs ever.

From classics like Lady and the Tramp to new offerings from Coco, we’re going to take a survey through the years of some of the most touching anthems, toe-tapping showstoppers, and everything in between. We want to caution you before starting this list that Disney songs are serious earworms and you will come away with at least one song stuck in your head for days to come. Don’t say we didn’t warn you! Now, let’s have some fun and listen to some great Disney songs.

Enjoy the Top 30 Disney Songs Below:

“Be Our Guest” – Beauty and the Beast

YouTube

We can think of no better Disney song to kick off our list than “Be Our Guest” from Beauty and the Beast. The song was created by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken (you will see these names several times as the list goes on). Notable performers on the song include Jerry Orbach and Angela Lansbury as Lumière and Mrs. Potts.

This song was nominated for the Golden Globe and Academy Award for Best Original Song, and was performed by Orbach live at the 64th Oscars, but lost both to the film’s title song.

“Part of Your World” – The Little Mermaid

YouTube

“I wanna be where the people are!” This song was written by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken (hello, again!) for 1989’s The Little Mermaid. The vocals are performed by Jodi Benson in the main role of Ariel. This is the ultimate Disney power ballad. Since its release in the late 1980s, the song has been performed by countless performers and it’s seen as an empowering song about embracing who you really are. Naturally, this one is beloved by members of the LGBTQIA+ community.

“Let’s Go Fly a Kite” – Mary Poppins

YouTube

“Let’s Go Fly a Kite” was composed by the Sherman Brothers for Mary Poppins. It’s a joyous song that is performed at the end of the film when George Banks (David Tomlinson), realizes that his family is much more important than his work. He fixes his son’s kite and takes his family on a fun day out. Dick Van Dyke even joins in. If you saw Saving Mr. Banks, you know that the song played a more emotional role in the movie’s climax.

“Gaston” – Beauty and the Beast

YouTube

Beauty and the Beast really was a banger and there are so many excellent Disney songs in it. “Gaston” is sung by Jesse Corti and Richard White in their voice roles of Le Fou and Gaston. The song is a riotous romp for the film’s main villain. Lovers of this song that’s sung after Belle rejects Gaston, will remember that he can consume a very large quantity of eggs. Yikes!

“Go the Distance” – Hercules

YouTube

Let’s go that distance! This song from the 1997 film Hercules, was written by Alan Menken (he’s behind so many Disney songs) and David Zippel, it was recorded by Roger Bart in his film role as the singing voice of Hercules. Both Michael Bolton and Ricky Martin recorded pop versions of the song. Bolton’s version played as the end credits of the movie rolled. Martin recorded a Spanish language version of the tune.

“Baby Mine” – Dumbo

YouTube

We’re going way back for this Disney song. Dumbo was released in 1941! This emotional and sweet song was written by Frank Churchill and Ned Washington. Singer Betty Noyes recorded the vocals for the original film version of it. The creators of this song were nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1942. It’s so special!

“Portobello Road” – Bedknobs and Broomsticks

YouTube

A personal favorite, “Portobello Road” is an energetic and fun tune from 1971’s Bedknobs and Broomsticks. This track was written by the Sherman Brothers about Portobello Road in London. In the film, David Tomlinson sings all about the famed market to the kids and it’s just such a blast. If you’ve never seen this classic, do yourself a favor and venture into this older live-action Disney movie. It’s a magical one!

“Bella Notte” – Lady and the Tramp

YouTube

We’re talking puppy romance, okay? “Bella Notte” was written for 1955’s Lady and the Tramp for its famous spaghetti dinner scene. The song was written by Sonny Burke, with lyrics by legendary singer Peggy Lee. Lee would go on to record her own version of the tune the same year. In the film, it is performed by George Givot, who also voiced the character Tony. We imagine a few Disney lovers consider this one “their song.”

“Under the Sea” – The Little Mermaid

YouTube

Fancy some Calypso flavor? “Under the Sea” is another one of the many songs on this list created by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman. The song was performed in the film by Samuel E Wright as Sebastian (your favorite crab). It won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1989. The song is just infectious and it was such a blast to see and hear for so many of us as children.

“Friend Like Me” – Aladdin

YouTube

Written for the Aladdin soundtrack, this song is performed by the late legend Robin Williams as the character Genie. It’s a big band-style number that was composed by, you guessed it, Alan Menken and Howard Ashman. Williams adds so much comedy to the performance that it’s one of the very best Disney songs ever. We are fans of Will Smith but his version of the song in the 2019 remake just didn’t have the same magic that Williams brought to it.

“I Just Can’t Wait to Be King” – The Lion King

YouTube

“I Just Can’t Wait to Be King” was written by Elton John and Tim Rice for The Lion King. Performed by Jason Weaver as the singing voice of young Simba and Rowan Atkinson and Laura Williams as Zazu and Nala, this song will make you want to roar with pride.

“Oo de Lally” – Robin Hood

YouTube

This short but sweet tune was written and performed by country music legend Roger Miller. In addition to lending his talents to this timeless ditty, Miller also voiced Alan-a-Dale, a performing rooster in Robin Hood. If you’re familiar with the film, you know that this song happens at the beginning of it with Robin Hood and Little John scooting about to it.

“When She Loved Me” – Toy Story 2

YouTube

We’ve got a tearjerker for you! “When She Loved Me” was written by Randy Newman and performed by Sarah McLachlan for 1999’s Toy Story 2. The song tells the backstory of Jessie who was once loved by her owner but was discarded after the child aged out of the toy. The song almost didn’t make it into the film but after conducting some screen tests, Newman decided it would be appropriate for the movie. The song was so good it earned a Grammy.

“A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes” – Cinderella

YouTube

This melodic offering was written and composed by Mack David, Al Hoffman, and Jerry Livingston for 1950’s Cinderella. In the film, Cinderella sings the song to her animal friends and encourages them to never stop dreaming. The song was sung by Ilene Woods. It was later recorded by Lily James in 2015 for the movie’s live-action remake.

RELATED: 45 Disney Tattoos that Bring the Magic

“The Bare Necessities” – The Jungle Book

YouTube

This jazzy little number from 1967’s The Jungle Book will get stuck in your head like no other. The song was written by Terry Gilkyson and performed by Phil Harris as Baloo and Bruce Reitherman as Mowgli. There was an earlier cut of the movie that had completely different songs than the ones you know and love from this animated classic. But, “The Bare Necessities” was the only song from the original that ultimately made it into the film. We’re glad it made it!

“Reflection” – Mulan

YouTube

Mulan was a huge deal in 1998 when it premiered. That’s in no small part to the movie’s incredible music. One of the most iconic Disney songs of all time, “Reflection,” is one of the very best from the animated feature. The tune was written by Matthew Wilder and David Zippel. In the film, the song is performed by Lea Salonga as the main character Fa Mulan, with a pop version recorded by Christina Aguilera as her debut single. She was just 17 at the time of the song’s release.

“Let It Go” – Frozen

YouTube

“Let It Go” became the smash hit from Frozen. It was written by husband-and-wife songwriting team Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez (put a pin in those names because you’ll see them again). Idina Menzel recorded the song in the film as her character Queen Elsa, with Demi Lovato recording the film’s end credits version. Menzel’s rendition was the first Disney song to break into the US charts since 1995. It won an Oscar and Grammy for Best Song and sold over 10 million copies! That’s not small potatoes.

“‘You’ll Be In My Heart” – Tarzan

YouTube

Phil Collins was hired by Disney for the Tarzan soundtrack because he was a drummer. Producers “wanted a strong jungle beat to accompany Tarzan’s adventures.” Ultimately, Collins was asked to perform the songs in the film, while also serving as the narrator. He had originally written this for his daughter Lily who was ten at the time. It became a big hit and won Collins a Golden Globe and an Oscar.

“You’ve Got a Friend in Me” – Toy Story

YouTube

If one song comes to mind when you think of Toy Story, it’s likely the tender tune, “You’ve Got a Friend in Me.” The song was created by Randy Newman (this is not his first nor the last time on the list). The sweet song became the theme of the Toy Story movies and it’s featured in all of the sequels except for Toy Story 2. “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” was nominated for both the Academy Award for Best Original Song and the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song but lost to the next song on our list.

“Colors of the Wind” – Pocahontas

YouTube

“Colors of the Wind” is a powerfully moving song written by Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz (they’re behind so many of your favorites) for 1995’s Pocahontas. It was originally recorded by actress Judy Kuhn in her role as the singing voice for Pocahontas. The themes in the piece lean heavily on Native American culture and the animous that Native Americans faced from colonizers. The song won the Academy Award for Best Original Song and also won a Grammy and Golden Globe (sorry, Toy Story).

“The Beauty and the Beast” – Beauty and the Beast

YouTube

We’re serving you romance with this next Disney song. We have lyricist Howard Ashman and composer Alan Menken to thank yet again for this wonderfully romantic theme song for Beauty and the Beast. It was first recorded by Angela Lansbury in her role as the voice of Mrs. Potts. Lansbury’s version is heard during the film’s famous ballroom sequence between Belle and the Beast. But, she’s not the only one to have a go at it.

Celine Dion and Peabo Bryson did a pop duet version of the song that became an international hit in its own right.

“Can You Feel the Love Tonight” – The Lion King

YouTube

This exceptional ballad won Elton John and Tim Rice an Oscar and Golden Globe for Best Original Song in 1995. The song was performed in the film by Kristle Edwards, Joseph Williams, Sally Dworsky, Nathan Lane, and Ernie Sabella. Elton John also recorded another version in the film’s closing credits. His version became an international hit. We could not pick one version over the other in this circumstance. They’re both perfect.

“I Wan’na Be Like You” – The Jungle Book

YouTube

None other than a jazz band leader, Louis Prima, provided the voice of King Louie in The Jungle Book. After suggesting that Louis Prima could play King Louie, the Sherman brothers flew out to Las Vegas and perform the song for him. Once Prima was invited to do the song, he mockingly joked with the Shermans: “You want to make a monkey out of me? You got me!”

“How Far I’ll Go” – Moana

YouTube

“How Far I’ll Go,” was written by none other than the musical Hamilton‘s creator Lin-Manuel Miranda. In the film, it is performed Auliʻi Cravalho in her role as Moana with Alessia Cara recording it for the movie’s soundtrack. The tune was nominated for many awards after it premiered in 2016.

“Hakuna Matata” – The Lion King

YouTube

Timon and Pumbaa’s catchphrase, “Hakuna Matata” is the basis for this lively Disney song that’s all about “no worries.” The Swahili phrase takes on a percussive quality in the song that finds the characters singing to Simba following the death of his father. It’s a bright moment in The Lion King following a rather dark one and that makes it stand out so much.

“Almost There” – The Princess and the Frog

YouTube

Written by Randy Newman for 2009’s The Princess and the Frog, this jam was originally recorded by actress and singer Anika Noni Rose in the leading role of Tiana. The song is all about Tiana finally realizing her dream of opening her own restaurant. The spectacular tune was nominated for an Academy Award for best original song.

“Remember Me” – Coco

YouTube

Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez wrote “Remember Me” for the 2017 Pixar film Coco. The song is performed at different times within the film by Benjamin Bratt, Gael García Bernal, Anthony Gonzalez, and Ana Ofelia Murguía. Further, Miguel and Natalia Lafourcade recorded a pop version of the song and it won Best Original Song at 2018’s Academy Awards. This sentimental lullaby will pull at your heartstrings every time you hear it.

“A Whole New World” – Aladdin

YouTube

“A Whole New World” was composed by Alan Menken, with lyrics by Tim Rice. A duet was originally recorded by singers Brad Kane and Lea Salonga in their roles as the singing voices of Aladdin and Jasmine. And yes, it will have you wanting to ride on a magic carpet. The song won an Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1993. Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle recorded a single version of the tune that can be heard at the end of the movie. It was a huge hit!

“When You Wish Upon a Star” – Pinocchio

YouTube

This legendary song was written by Leigh Harline and Ned Washington for Walt Disney’s 1940 adaptation of Pinocchio. The original version was sung by Cliff Edwards in the character of Jiminy Cricket and you’ll hear it over the opening credits and in the final scene of the movie. It won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1940. It was also the first Disney song to ever win an Oscar.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: 175 Disney Quotes That Will Bring Back Childhood Memories

“Circle of Life” – The Lion King

YouTube

You have not lived until you’ve heard the opening of “Circle of Life” over the beginning of The Lion King. It’s one of the most magical things Disney has ever done. Written by Elton John, with lyrics by Tim Rice, the tune was performed by Carmen Twillie and Lebo M in the original film.

Rice said that he was impressed at the speed Elton John wrote the song: “I gave him the lyrics at the beginning of the session at about two in the afternoon. By half-past three, he’d finished writing and recording a stunning demo.”

We hope you enjoyed these amazing Disney songs and that you agree with our picks. We did our best to bring you a variety of music from many different movies. Every single person is going to have their own favorites but we really hope we covered several of your most beloved tunes. If you liked this Disney list, perhaps you’d also like to take a look at some of the most endearing Disney quotes of all time.

Check Out These Magical, Heartwarming Disney Quotes!

Walt Disney Quotes

175 Disney Quotes That Will Bring Back Childhood Memories
Disney / Instagram

Let’s kick things off with some Walt Disney quotes. After all, he’s the man who started it all!

More Walt Disney Quotes

Disney / Instagram

More Inspiring Walt Disney Quotes

Disney / Instagram

Learn Even More Walt Disney Quotes

Disney / Instagram

Walt Disney Quotes That Dazzle

Disney / Instagram

People Recorded a Ton of Walt Disney Quotes

Disney / Instagram

Even More Notable Walt Disney Quotes

Disney / Instagram

More Walt Disney Quotes

Disney / Instagram

Even More Walt Disney Quotes

Disney / Instagram

Disney Quotes from Characters In Movies

Disney / Instagram

Let’s switch gears and look at some notable Disney quotes that you will hear in many of your beloved childhood movies.

More Disney Quotes from Movies

Disney / Instagram

More Disney Quotes from Movies

Disney / Instagram

More Disney Quotes to Warm Your Heart

Disney / Instagram

Even More Lovable Disney Quotes

Disney / Instagram

RELATED: Stepmom Wants Break From Her ‘Spoiled’ Stepkids, Plans Disney Trip Without Them

More Brilliant Disney Quotes

Disney / Instagram

More Disney Quotes to Save for a Rainy Day

Disney / Instagram

More Excellent Disney Quotes

Disney / Instagram

More Disney Quotes from Your Favorite Movies

Disney / Instagram

Even More Disney Quotes to Know

Disney / Instagram

More Disney Quotes to Enjoy

Disney / Instagram

More Beloved Disney Quotes

Disney / Instagram

Keep Going with Even More Disney Quotes

Disney / Instagram

Learn Even More Disney Quotes Below

Disney / Instagram

More Incredible Disney Quotes

Disney / Instagram

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: 5-Year-Old with Cancer Gets Dreamy Disney Princess Photo Shoot

Final Disney Quotes

Disney / Instagram

There you go! Did you enjoy these fabulous Disney quotes? We hope you feel inspired by them and that some even took you back to a simpler time. Disney quotes have the weird ability to return us to our childhoods in the very best way. Keep several on hand for whenever you need a pick-me-up!

Exit mobile version