Disney; everybody’s favourite sugary-sweet corporate giant. What started as a charming little animation studio a century ago is now a commercial giant, creating characters that we see every day, either plastered on billboards, on toy store shelves or even printed on the side of our cereal boxes. The Disney magic is everywhere, and while Mickey’s masterful marketing is largely at play, they’ve produced some incredible films and, more importantly for us here at The Mic, some incredible music. Time to get re-acquainted with your childhood with a ten-song introduction to Disney courtesy of Izzy Morris.
1. Heigh Ho! – Snow White and the Seven Dwarves (1937) Work
It’s only right to start at the very beginning, with Walt Disney Animation Studios’ first feature film, Snow White. Heigh Ho! offers a brilliant rousing call to work, ready to send you back down the mines for a hard day’s work, marching along with the clanging pickaxe percussion. It’s hard not to find yourself whistling along with the dwarf chorus, on a whimsical half-skip, half-march. I’d also like to give a special mention to the call and response of “in the mine!” which, while definitely out of my vocal range, is very fun to try and reach. The perfect song for any manual labour (or monotonous student jobs).
2). Bare Necessities – The Jungle Book (1967) Optimism
Forget about your worries and your strife, with this next pick. Bare Necessities sees the lovable bear Baloo offer young Mowgli some excellent advice; enjoy what you’ve got right here and now. If you’re turning to Disney for some simple childhood magic, this one is great for reminding yourself that there’s a great happiness to be found in the simplicity of the world. This deliciously jazzy number features the honey-smooth tones of Phil Harris, accompanied by a great array of brass instruments, and even a horn solo section, adding an energetic swing to the track. This swinging classic was originally written for a rejected version of the animation and was the only song left standing after the soundtrack was rewritten. You can completely understand why they thought that this one was a necessity.
3. Poor Unfortunate Souls – The Little Mermaid (1989) Villainy
Pat Carroll provides a masterclass in camp malevolence with this Broadway-burlesque-inspired villain song. In this number, Ursula lures Ariel into giving up her voice so that she can walk on the land to pursue Prince Eric (who yes, is an attractive animated character, but giving up your voice is a bit far). One thing that Disney and its actors do exceptionally well is character acting, and even without seeing an animated sea witch in front of you, that pure evil essence is entirely captured by the powerful shifts in tone and dynamics from Carroll, that build into a crescendo as Ariel makes that big trade. Lyrically, the song carries a sophisticated wit and offers an excellent leitmotif for the villainess easily recognizable throughout the film, creating a wonderful air of villainy wherever she goes.
4. Prince Ali – Aladdin (1992) Fun/Chaos
Featuring the genius comedic talents of the late Robin Williams, this grand entrance for Aladdin’s royal alter-ego screams grandiosity. This flamboyant number boasts and flaunts the incredible Prince Ali to the city of Agrabah, building from a marching parade to a full-blown, fast-paced, overwhelming spectacle. It’s bamboozling and chaotic in an entertaining and exciting way, with interjections from the Genie, one of Disney’s most beloved characters, to mock the Thanksgiving parade, adding that extra flair. This one is great to strut your stuff in, dressed up to the nines, as though you’re Prince Ali yourself.
5. Circle of Life – The Lion King (1994) Theatrics
Arguably Disney’s most iconic opener, Circle of Life has gone down in cinematic history for the incredible burst of energy it unleashes on audiences. The iconic Zulu chant at the start is instantly recognizable to so many people (although if you do go a quick Google and see what it translates to, the song does become slightly less impressive). Coming from the legendary Elton John and Tim Rice, it’s unsurprising that the track is intensely theatrical, fully utilizing a choir of reverberating voices with enough power to fill the savannah.
6. Go the Distance – Hercules (1997) Motivation
Another Menken masterpiece, Go the Distance is the perfect pick for some pre-gym motivation. Just as Hercules reassures himself that he’s capable of great things, this track is a great choice for drumming up courage and self-belief. This motivating and inspiring ballad is filled with the twinkling optimism necessary for any young protagonist to drive forth toward their goals. I think I’ll be pumping this one through my headphones when exam season comes around once again.
7. Reflection – Mulan (1998) Sadness
Now I’ll admit; this was my sad girl, ‘nobody understands me’ song as a child. But can you blame me when it fits the bill so perfectly? Having lent her vocal talents so beautifully to Princess Jasmine in Aladdin, Lea Salonga returns with even more Disney magic in Mulan to deliver this gorgeous ballad, showing off an awe-striking range. This emotionally resonant song expresses Mulan’s conflict between wanting to make her family proud and being her true self. Christina Aguilera also recorded a fantastic cover of this song, which eventually led to her gaining a record deal with RCA records, given how vocally challenging and impressive the track is. There’s true catharsis to staring at your reflection and singing along to this one, bonus points if you recreate that iconic frame with half of your make-up on and half off as Mulan does in the film.
8. I See the Light – Tangled (2010) Romance
Taking an acoustic turn that we don’t always get to see with Disney, this folk-pop song cannot be missed. The track perfectly sets the scene, accompanying an iconic and visually stunning scene of Rapunzel and love interest, Flynn Rider on a boat releasing lanterns into the sky. It’s irresistibly romantic, and so simple in terms of production that it feels delicate and vulnerable, allowing the vocal harmonies of Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi to weave together beautifully. Disney is no stranger to magical love songs, but this one stands out for the way that it combines the fragility of the romantic connection of the characters and the visual brilliance of the world around them, in a stunning composition that retains the effortless feel of acoustic accompaniment with the light touch of harps and orchestra. Soft, simple and swoon-worthy; it’s definitely an essential listen.
9. Let it Go – Frozen (2013) Broadway
This wouldn’t be a ten-song introduction to Disney without the absolute smash hit that is Let It Go. A few years ago, this was the bane of existence to so many parents, but you can completely understand why the song reached the incredible success that it did. Let It Go combines Broadway and pop in a welcoming package, with a catchy chorus and a sense of familiarity. Combine those things with the legendary talents of musical theatre icon Idina Menzel, and you’re onto a winner. The song acts as a turning point for Elsa, as she goes on a journey of self-discovery, leaving her life in Arendelle behind to accept her powers. That icy feeling is very much felt in the track with an explosive orchestral accompaniment to represent those powerful blasts of magic that she begins to unleash. A bold song requires someone equally as bold to attempt that belting ending, so it’s definitely a fun choice to take to karaoke.
10. We Don’t Talk About Bruno – Encanto (2021) Disney today
We Don’t Talk About Bruno is a mammoth hit created by creative titan, Lin Manuel-Miranda. Containing Miranda’s signature crazy harmonic layers, this ensemble number is taking the world by storm, giving space to develop the characters of the entire Madrigal family in one song. Each strand of the track brings together different musical styles in this musical celebration, with Latin, r&b, pop and electronic influences blending together to create this banger. This collaborative nature of the song has also meant that it has been wildly successful on TikTok, with different users taking on their favourite characters with others, launching the track to even higher heights. We might not talk about Bruno, but we’re certainly singing about him.
Izzy Morris
Edited by: Roxann Yus
Cover image courtesy of IMDb.
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