The 10 Most Popular Disney Songs Everyone Loves & 10 That Are Slept On
Are You a Fan of the Classics or the Under-Appreciated?
After so many decades of dazzling visuals and spectacular music, it’s hard to keep track of all those great songs that flew under the radar. Not anymore! We’re here to pay our respects to some of the best and some of the most underrated bops from Disney movies.
1. “The Circle of Life” (The Lion King)
Honestly, is there a more iconic song or opening scene? Well, maybe—bringing together masterminds like Hans Zimmer, Elton John, and Tim Rice is a feat all its own. Paired with stunning animation and our introduction to unforgettable characters, this song picked up several award nominations and remains a beloved favorite.
2. “Be Our Guest” (Beauty and the Beast)
There’s a lot to love about this soundtrack, but something stands out about this classic tune. It’s jaunty, it has some incredible choreography, and its karaoke potential is out of this world. It, too, picked up several award nominations and is widely considered one of Disney’s most iconic numbers.
3. “A Whole New World” (Aladdin)
Tim Rice strikes again with his lyrics for this unbeatable duet. Sure, the film may have some catchier numbers, but it’s this one that fans remember as Disney’s first song to earn a Grammy Song of the Year award! It’s no surprise why—romantic lyrics and sweeping vocals from Lea Salonga and Brad Kane made this a permanent favorite.
4. “I’ll Make a Man Out of You” (Mulan)
First crushes aside, Captain Li Shang brought us so much more than hilarious one-liners from Mulan’s grandma. The initial drum beat is instantly recognizable, and Disney fans can’t wait to join in on Donny Osmond’s striking performance. We would like him to stay forever!
5. “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” (Toy Story)
An unofficial anthem for best friends everywhere, Randy Newman’s hit boasts heartwarming lyrics and beloved images of childhood nostalgia. It’s the ultimate reminder that many things come and go, but true friendship lasts forever.
6. “Part of Your World” (The Little Mermaid)
Ariel may have wanted more from her life, but we don’t know the feeling! This power ballad gave us everything we could have wanted: strong original vocals, incredible lyrics, and a chart-topper tackled by some of the biggest names in music.
7. “Hakuna Matata” (The Lion King)
Okay, we know we already talked about The Lion King, but we just couldn’t pass up the chance to gush over this playful tune! Under the genius of Tim Rice and Elton John, we get one of the catchiest tunes as Timon, Pumbaa, and Simba grow up together and redefine what it means to be a family.
8. “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” (Encanto)
Lin-Manuel Miranda has brought us some of the most iconic music both on and off screen, but this one took his prowess to new heights. Told from the perspective of multiple characters, it’s not only a diverse song, but it’s also the ultimate rug pull in the end!
9. “Colors of the Wind” (Pocahontas)
Judy Kuhn’s angelic vocals really turned John Smith’s piggish ideas on their head. Often touted as one of Disney’s best songs, this classic tune took home several awards, including a Grammy and an Academy Award for Best Original Song. We might not be able to match Kuhn’s talent, but you bet we’re going to belt this one.
Theme Park Tourist on Wikimedia
10. “Let it Go” (Frozen)
As happy as we are for Elsa embracing her true self, this song caught so much commercial success that we just couldn’t escape it for a while. It picked up several awards, was covered in multiple countries, and was sung by nearly every toddler this side of TikTok. That said, Disney just wouldn’t be the same without Idina’s dazzling vocals.
With some of Disney’s most popular music out of the way, it’s time we paid homage to bangers that flew under the radar.
1. “Hellfire” (The Hunchback of Notre Dame)
Alright. We’ll say it. This is, hands down, the best Disney villain song of all time. It’s easily one of Disney’s best, period. From the instrumental swells to Frollo’s terrifying demeanour, this dark song is also paired with beautiful visuals that perfectly capture our villain’s inner turmoil. It’s just incredible stuff that deserves far more attention.
2. “I Won’t Say I’m in Love” (Hercules)
Speaking of inner turmoil, poor Meg had a serious battle with her heart in this underappreciated tune. In a rare moment of vulnerability, this wisecracker refuses to admit feelings for Hercules, especially after being burned the first time around. It’s a great track that highlights the fear of falling in love for a second time, and we wish more people talked about it!
3. “You’ll Be in My Heart” (Tarzan)
Phil Collins understood the assignment with this whole soundtrack, though this is the track that’ll always be in our hearts. Some critics found this a little too saccharine, but we appreciate it for the emotional piece it is.
4. “Just Around the Riverbend” (Pocahontas)
People are so caught up in the colors of the wind that they often forget other songs right under their noses. We know that some people give this the attention it deserves, but it’s still a highly underrated track that speaks for Pocahontas just as much as the others.
5. “One Jump Ahead” (Aladdin)
The best part about this catchy track is all the comedy involved! (“I steal only what I can’t afford—that’s everything!”) It’s easy to sweep this under the sentient rug, but it’s one of the flick’s best tracks. It also has one of the most brutal burns in all of Disney.
6. “Touch the Sky” (Brave)
Listen, we’re suckers for folk music, and Julie Fowlis delivered on this one. The empowered storytelling in this simple little tune is often overshadowed by more popular songs, but that doesn’t make this one any less wonderful.
mydisneyadventures on Wikimedia
7. “I See the Light” (Tangled)
We’re not moving away from folk-inspired music just yet! Tangled gave us everything from perfect guys to mesmerizing visuals, and this song just managed to capture the feeling of butterflies in our stomachs. Then again, maybe it’s just because we were looking at Flynn.
8. “I2I” (A Goofy Movie)
The only thing better than a father and son reconciling their differences is the song that goes along with it. A Goofy Movie is already highly underrated—people fluff it off as a, surprise, surprise, goofy movie that doesn’t have as much heart as it does! Well, it not only has the heart, but it has the jams as well.
9. “Friends on the Other Side” (The Princess and the Frog)
We’ll admit that today’s Disney villain songs have serious competition. However, Dr. Facilier managed to pull it off. All things considered, it’s a pretty great track for a bad guy and goes down in our books as a memorable tune.
10. “Why Should I Worry?” (Oliver & Company)
Oh, to be a dog with a sausage link scarf. This movie never really scored any points with critics, but that doesn’t mean the music isn’t worth remembering. This happy tune was sung by none other than Mr. Billy Joel himself, making it an iconic pop song in any scenario!
