These Disney songs didn't have to go THAT hard. Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the most epic, powerful tracks from Disney films that are on another level.
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00:00Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the most epic, powerful
00:12tracks from Disney films that are on another level.
00:15We're excluding tunes from Pixar and live-action movies though.
00:19This was hard enough.
00:2830.
00:29Everybody Wants to be a Cat – The Aristocats When Duchess, her kids, and Thomas O'Malley
00:33meet up with the latter's friends, we're not quite sure what's coming.
00:37We certainly don't expect to be treated to a full-blown musical party, but that's
00:41precisely what we get.
00:58As Scat Cat and the others start performing the jazzy, inviting banger that is Everybody
01:02Wants to be a Cat, we're at a loss for words.
01:06It evolves into an ensemble number, with stellar instrumentation and lyrics, and it's hard
01:10not to join in.
01:22Of course, there are deeply racist parts that take away from the overall experience, and
01:26there's no excuse for them.
01:28If we take those out though, the number did make us want to be cats.
01:3729.
01:41Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride – Lilo & Stitch This tune isn't synonymous with the entire
01:54Lilo & Stitch franchise by accident.
01:56In the 2002 movie, we hear it as the crew enjoys a surfing-slash-beach day.
02:01From beginning to end, it sounds like freedom coming from off-screen to capture the breeziness
02:05of the moment.
02:06Providing some reprieve from the difficulties and uncertainties Lilo, Nani, David, and Stitch
02:11are facing, it becomes a true standout piece.
02:21That's certainly nothing to scoff at when you consider it's an original piece in a story
02:25filled with Elvis classics.
02:27There's no place we'd rather be than jamming out to Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride, preferably
02:31while out by the ocean ourselves.
02:4228.
02:49Mother Knows Best – Tangled There are bad guys that are scary, but seem
02:53almost too outrageous to be real.
02:55Rapunzel Gothel, however, contains a terrifyingly realistic essence within her.
03:10Kidnapping Rapunzel and pretending to be her real mother is obviously horrid enough, but
03:14she further cements her spot as a toxic terror through Mother Knows Best.
03:18The entire pop ballad essentially sees her gaslighting the protagonist into trusting
03:22no one and nothing besides her in a bid to maintain control.
03:26It's incredibly menacing, yet also wildly entertaining.
03:41Donna Murphy takes no prisoners with her performance, delivering on the fear but also on some dark
03:46humor.
03:47In this case, Mother does not know best, but she sure knows how to make you believe she
03:51does.
03:5827.
04:04The Bear Necessities – The Jungle Book Is there anything better than seeing Baloo
04:07and Mowgli's bond bloom?
04:09That's what we witnessed during The Bear Necessities, which is crucial to the advancement
04:13of the story, while being a killer happy doom.
04:31Each word and note uplifts the listener in a way you wouldn't expect.
04:34It reminds us to strip things back, focus on what matters, and release stress and worry.
04:39And don't even get us started on the horns, which sends the whole thing into the stratosphere.
04:53Who knew a fictional singing bear could cheer us up like that?
04:56We're pleasantly surprised.
04:58And now, when we look for the bear necessities in our lives, we find this tune among them.
05:1526.
05:17Surface Pressure – Encanto Older sisters, rise up, it's time for your
05:21anthem.
05:22Louisa has been keeping her emotions bottled up, as she believes she must in order to fulfill
05:26her role as the strong one.
05:28Yet everything comes spilling out in a serious way here.
05:38Whenever we hear surface pressure, everything from its realness to its magnetic production
05:42stops us dead in our tracks.
05:44We can't believe Lin-Manuel Miranda really decided to expose us like this.
05:58The tune is narratively packed, with Louisa explaining that she's not immune to the crushing
06:03weight of the pressures placed on her with wit and honesty.
06:06Most of us know the feeling, and the number cleverly fleshes it out in a super catchy
06:10way.
06:11No wonder, it resonates.
06:2725.
06:29God Help the Outcasts – The Hunchback of Notre Dame
06:32Be honest, do you expect to feel like you got slapped in the face and punched in the
06:35gut the first time you sat down to watch The Hunchback of Notre Dame?
06:39We didn't, yet the movie goes above and beyond musically from the beginning.
06:43Perhaps the most hauntingly beautiful number belongs to Esmeralda, as she asks a higher
06:48power to make things better for her people.
07:04The music is atmospheric in a way words can't capture, and her delivery poignantly matches
07:09the ballad's somber, serious nature.
07:11We can feel her prayer and goodness in our bones.
07:29To say we have full body chills listening to her lay her soul bare would be a gross
07:33understatement.
07:34This wrecks us.
07:5524.
07:56Beauty and the Beast – Beauty and the Beast
08:06We know the tale, indeed.
08:07Beauty meets Beast, they fall in love, complete each other, and live happily ever after.
08:12The journey is long, paved with many musical numbers that take us out, like our introduction
08:17to Belle, the tune named for the villainous Gaston, and the horrifying mob song.
08:22Right now, we want to focus on the theme song, since it captures a crucial point in
08:26the couple's story, as their relationship progresses and becomes undeniable.
08:49It's not easy to communicate that magical connection musically, yet Angela Lansbury
08:53does so with ease through her soothing rendition, bringing each lyric to romantic life.
08:58Between her gorgeous voice and the orchestral melodies, we're left awestruck, dancing alongside
09:03Belle and Beast.
09:1723.
09:21Can You Feel the Love Tonight – The Lion King
09:24Can you feel the astounding pull of this ballad?
09:27We sure can.
09:34An Elton John, Tim Rice gem, it moves through our entire bodies, making us melt while we
09:39see Simba and Nala reconnect.
09:40There's something so poetic about the pop number.
09:43It exemplifies the calm peacefulness that accompanies being with your soulmate, while
09:47translating that adorable-yet-nerve-wracking butterflies-in-your-stomach sensation.
09:54Meanwhile, Timon and Pumbaa add just enough comedy to the ordeal to keep it feeling grounded,
10:08without distracting from the romance.
10:10All the elements – composition, lyrics, production, performance – work in harmony
10:15with one another.
10:16As a result, Can You Feel the Love Tonight rivals the best love songs around.
10:20And we don't just mean in Disney movies.
10:22We surrender.
10:3122.
10:36Prince Ali – Aladdin
10:48When you look up, a lively bouncy show tune that never quits, you'll find Prince Ali.
10:53Or at least, that's how it should be.
10:55After all, it's big, bold, amusing, and has Robin Williams' genie at the helm, bringing
11:01the theatrics in the best way while showing the protagonist off.
11:08The rhythm and backing vocalists match him at every turn, and the result gives the kingdom
11:13one heck of an introduction to the titular character.
11:16Agrabah was not ready, and neither were we.
11:18That's what makes a moment like this so astonishing, though.
11:31The song is the musical personification of Aladdin's new identity, and it hypes us
11:35up way more than necessary.
11:38That fabulous, over-the-top nature ensures we'll always make way for Prince Ali.
11:5221.
11:56Part of Your World – The Little Mermaid
11:58We must've missed the part where we gave this mermaid permission to look straight into
12:02our souls.
12:03Ariel wants to be where the people are, and we can all relate to her emotions in some
12:27way.
12:28Who hasn't wondered what else is out there, or thought they belonged somewhere different?
12:31Our heroine doesn't hold back during the power ballad, and the conviction with which
12:35she belts about someday reaching her destination makes our hearts swell.
12:53We know I Want songs are practically designed to make us gasp, but Jodie Benson and company
12:58were operating on another realm when they made this one.
13:01We're still not sure if Disney hid cameras in our houses beforehand, but when the final
13:05product is this good, it hardly matters.
13:1520.
13:23I'm Still Here – Jim's Theme – Treasure Planet
13:26Treasure Planet is definitely one of the more underrated Disney flicks out there, but anyone
13:31who isn't super familiar with it, and this single specifically, has been missing out.
13:52I'm Still Here is all about life, growth, perseverance, and being yourself.
13:57And it isn't all so-called Jim's Theme for nothing.
14:00Playing over a sequence of events, it aptly speaks to our protagonists' experiences and
14:05inner journey.
14:19Even when you remove it from the context of the story, though, it remains a certified
14:23pop-rock banger.
14:25The music and lyrics come together seamlessly, speaking to the angsty adolescent experience
14:30with honesty and nuance.
14:32And they do so in a way that's sure to get any listener vibing.
14:36If that's not praiseworthy, we're not sure what is.
14:4619.
14:54Why Should I Worry – Oliver & Company Much like Treasure Planet, Oliver & Company
14:59is often overlooked.
15:01But considering everything the film has going for it, we struggle to see why.
15:05Why Should I Worry, the introduction to all things Dodger, perfectly encapsulates what
15:10we mean.
15:11For one thing, it's sung by the piano man himself, Billy Joel.
15:16And he does not disappoint.
15:27His rendition couldn't be more spot-on, putting the dog's savvy, easygoing personality
15:32on display.
15:33Plus, the number itself is snappy, oozing confident New York City energy and convincing
15:38us we need more Dodger in our lives.
15:51The reprise at the end of the movie, for its part, is just the cherry on top, creating
15:56a lovely full-circle moment.
15:58We'd needn't worry as long as this tune's around.
16:1118.
16:13This Is Halloween – The Nightmare Before Christmas
16:16How many places out there do you know that greet you with a musical number?
16:20Based on how mind-blowing This Is Halloween is, we think the answer is not nearly enough.
16:27It's spooky yet uniquely enjoyable, and never fails to draw us into the story by throwing
16:41us into its quirky main setting while spotlighting the residents.
16:46The piece gets us scared and wondering whether we could find a way to actually move to Halloweentown
16:51at the same time.
16:53After all, life's no fun without a good scare.
17:07Okay we know living there isn't a real option, but honestly, we're content just playing
17:11this thrilling hit on repeat because it makes us feel like honorary inhabitants.
17:1617.
17:34Colors of the Wind – Pocahontas
17:36Can you paint with all the colors of the wind?
17:38This ballad sure makes us want to.
17:40It may not be loud or flashy, but it's powerful in its reflective quality and sends a relevant
17:46message about how humans are one with the Earth.
17:58The way it encourages not just John Smith but everyone watching to shift their perspective
18:03and embrace the natural world is striking.
18:05We also need to take a minute to praise Judy Kuhn's awe-inspiring, majestic vocals.
18:10They're flawless.
18:22Pair all of that with a gripping melody in the scene's gorgeous animation, and we really
18:27feel how alive nature is through Colors of the Wind.
18:30No wonder it won a Golden Globe, a Grammy, and an Oscar.
18:5716.
18:58You're Welcome – Moana
19:00Moana is one of those movies where each song feels wonderfully distinct.
19:04One thing they have in common, though, is that they're all absolute bops.
19:09We could have easily gone with how far I'll go for this list, but in terms of showmanship,
19:13flair, and overall entertainment value, no number goes quite as hard as You're Welcome.
19:29We're totally here for demigod Maui's cocky ode to, well, himself.
19:34It's just so exciting.
19:36It's like Dwayne Johnson was born to sing these words, and boy does he commit.
19:52Is Maui merely distracting Moana with his fire singing and rapping skills and amazing
19:57moves?
19:58100%.
19:59But we aren't mad at it.
20:00The distraction is too good.
20:0215.
20:03I Won't Say I'm in Love – Hercules
20:13Is there anything more relatable than being scared of love and letting someone in because
20:17you've been burned in the past?
20:19Megara knows that struggle all too well, but the romance that's developing between her
20:23and Hercules is undeniable, much to her dismay.
20:27So what can she do except deliver a spellbinding ballad about the whole thing?
20:39I Won't Say I'm in Love is raw, real, and true to Meg's layered personality.
20:45Balancing feelings like pride, love, and fear, it tells an authentic story that hits hard.
20:50We challenge anyone to get through Susan Egan's alluring performance without being
21:06moved.
21:07To top it all off, the inimitable muse's backup contributions make the already outstanding
21:12number all the more so.
21:2714.
21:31Friends on the Other Side – The Princess and the Frog
21:34If you want to be transported to New Orleans with songs that absolutely slap, just press
21:39play on The Princess and the Frog.
21:41The 2009 flick has many tracks that get us grooving, like Almost There, but we want to
21:46shine a light on Dr. Facilier's villain number.
22:05As much as we know Prince Naveen and Lawrence shouldn't be doing business with the shady
22:09witch doctor, we understand how he lures them in.
22:12After all, we're practically hypnotized by the jazzy tune's instrumentation, imposing
22:17lyrics, and Keith David's next-level delivery.
22:34Those Friends on the Other Side end up becoming Facilier's worst nightmare, but we're
22:38glad he was on their good side long enough to give us this dramatic solo.
22:5213.
23:02Under the Sea – The Little Mermaid
23:04Darling it's better down where this bubbly track is blasting, take it from us.
23:08At this point in the movie, Sebastian believes that Ariel belongs under the sea, and he's
23:13not afraid to sing their home's praises to persuade her.
23:31She doesn't really listen, but we do.
23:33He has us tapping our toes, nodding our heads, and losing ourselves in the music.
23:39We can't even be insulted by the low opinion the crab seems to have of life on land, because
23:43he pleads an insanely strong case.
23:59Clearly Howard Ashman and Alan Menken more than understood the assignment when creating
24:03the song, as did Samuel E. Wright, who went all out in his performance.
24:08Satisfying, lively, and glorious, this award-winning number will never get old.
24:2412.
24:29Let It Go – Frozen
24:31After accidentally unleashing her ice powers in front of everyone, Elsa runs away.
24:36The situation is dire, to be sure, but she's also finally free to be herself.
24:42And she doesn't just sing, she belts her heart out.
24:56The way the song builds into a powerful anthem is stunning.
25:00Elsa infuses each lyric with vigor and confidence, finally finding her voice in more ways than
25:06one.
25:10We're so glad she does, because it's simply impossible not to sing along.
25:19And that moment where she releases her cape?
25:22We still haven't been able to let it go.
25:24Thankfully, Elsa's ability to deliver a strong and emotional ballad that wrecks us
25:29all remains in the sequel, too.
25:4111.
25:42I'll Make a Man Out of You – Mulan
25:45We always find ourselves bawling when Mulan gets vulnerable with the soul-stirring reflection.
25:50But just when you think the songs can't slay any harder, Li Shang comes in swinging
25:55with I'll Make a Man Out of You.
26:03The training the troops undergo is no joke, but the track's cadence, tempo, and tough
26:08love energy keep the sequence feeling fresh and energizing.
26:12As if all that wasn't enough on its own, the whole number also feels extra clever within
26:17the context of the story.
26:19After all, Mulan is quite literally not a man.
26:31If these soldiers weren't motivated before, they certainly are after hearing this exciting
26:36tune.
26:37It definitely never fails to get us pumped.
26:5010.
26:52Hellfire – The Hunchback of Notre Dame
26:55It's pretty clear from the moment we meet Claude Frollo that he's basically the worst
26:59person ever.
27:00But the movie clearly wanted to really drive that point home, because Hellfire takes things
27:06to a whole new level.
27:19The glimpse it gives us into his mind is, in a word, frightening.
27:23And the way it's framed around righteous and holy themes only makes it that much more
27:28captivating.
27:29The song isn't scary in a tame way where only children are spooked.
27:32On the contrary, it feels more twisted and terrifying as you get older, because that's
27:37when you grasp just how creepy and dark it is.
27:47You'd never guess such a chilling number would appear in a Disney movie, which is exactly
27:57why it's so unforgettable.
28:069.
28:10Be Prepared – The Lion King
28:12A plot to violently take over the kingdom from your brother and his son wouldn't be
28:16complete without a musical number where you gather an army.
28:20Just ask R.
28:28We were not prepared for how horrifying his song would be, but that made hearing it for
28:33the first time even better.
28:35And whenever we revisit it, which is very often, we're amazed by how it continues
28:40to send shivers up and down our spines.
28:58Everything from the pointed lyrics to the military-style visuals to the intimidating
29:02beat is nightmare fuel in the best way.
29:06Be Prepared is menacingly mesmerizing, and we love it as much as we hate what it's
29:11promoting.
29:12That's the kind of impact a top-notch villain tune can have.
29:268.
29:30Be Our Guest – Beauty and the Beast
29:32If only every dinner party had a refined candelabra named Lumiere who could put on a show for
29:37the ages.
29:48This dazzling track makes us want to try the Grey Stuff, despite its less-than-appetizing
29:53appearance.
29:54What can we say?
29:55It sets a beautifully glamorous table that's too good to pass up.
29:59After all, the delightful and welcoming lyrics are nothing if not persuasive.
30:12The exhilaratingly rich melody also never ceases to charm us.
30:17Everything about Be Our Guest is downright riveting.
30:20It's been over three decades since audiences were first introduced to the song, yet every
30:24time we hear it, it feels like the first.
30:27We would gladly accept an invite from Lumiere, Cogsworth, Mrs. Potts, and the rest of the
30:32gang any day of the week.
30:427.
30:49Friend Like Me – Aladdin
30:51If we're being honest, the entire Aladdin soundtrack goes way harder than it needs to.
30:57One jump ahead is full of excitement, while A Whole New World takes us on a romantic ride
31:01across the sky.
31:03But no song in the movie is as catchy or melodic as Genie's Friend Like Me.
31:12That's not a shock, considering the character, who's voiced by the late, great Robin Williams,
31:18is among the most sensational we've ever seen.
31:21The fun number is filled with charm and clever references, and its high-energy beat is sure
31:26to get you moving.
31:37A magical genie is good, but a magical genie who can deliver an electrifying performance?
31:42That's even better.
31:44Everything Williams touched turned to gold, and this song was no exception.
31:546.
31:57We Don't Talk About Bruno – Encanto
32:00Just seeing this song's title is enough to get us humming, because it's that mind-blowingly
32:05snappy.
32:06The number pulls double duty by finally answering our questions about Bruno, while simultaneously
32:11making us dance our butts off.
32:20The beat, the lyrics, and the narrative blend together in the most epic of ways.
32:25Plus, the different verses are not only amazing, but they're perfectly tailored to the people
32:30singing them.
32:39Who among us hasn't tried to master all the different parts?
32:43We can't help but wonder, though, what kind of song would this have been if the Madrigals
32:47did talk about Bruno?
32:49We get a taste at the end after they reconcile, but we hope there'll be a sequel with more
32:53Bruno-tastic tracks.
32:585.
33:01Zero to Hero – Hercules
33:03Hercules would be a lot less exuberant without the muses, as these witty chorus members do
33:08a lot more than plainly explain what's going on.
33:12Just look at how they set the scene for the story.
33:19But they really outdo themselves with Zero to Hero, showing us Hercules finding fame
33:25and glory.
33:32We all know they would never phone such an important moment in, but we weren't anticipating
33:36such a wonderfully spirited tune.
33:39They spare no metaphorical expense to paint a vivid picture of Herc's climb to the top.
33:50The song is fast-paced, animated, dynamic, and full of life.
33:54Plus, the vocals are unbelievably strong, and the track's vibrant energy is unbeatable.
34:00If you ask us, the muses are the real heroes.
34:064.
34:09Eye to Eye – A Goofy Movie
34:11A Goofy Movie pulls out all the stops for the Powerline concert, giving us what might
34:16just be one of the most iconic performances ever.
34:27We know the story is about Goofy and his son Max, but the fictional superstar steals
34:32the show with Eye to Eye, and we're certainly not complaining.
34:35The song feels like something out of our pop dreams, the chorus gets stuck in our heads,
34:40the beat is infectious, and Powerline's voice is dreamy.
34:53It's no wonder Max and his classmates are such fans.
34:57Can't you just imagine a classic boy band or solo heartthrob like original singer Tevin
35:01Campbell covering it today?
35:03Speaking of which, we wonder if any of them would be interested in recording it, because
35:07we'll never get tired of hearing the tune.
35:153.
35:22Poor Unfortunate Souls – The Little Mermaid
35:25Ursula lives for the drama, and while we can't condone her dishonest actions, we also can't
35:31deny the fact that we live for this song.
35:40Ariel is in such a vulnerable state at this point that she would have likely ended up
35:44signing the contract without this very compelling pitch.
35:48But what fun would that be?
35:50Our sassy sea witch is a star who commands the room, and she truly shines while singing
35:55her tentacles out.
35:56Both creepy and enticing, her number puts you under an entrancing spell.
36:14How could anybody possibly resist its theatrical refrain and spectacularly deceptive lyrics?
36:20They're the stuff of award-winning records.
36:22Ursula may collect poor unfortunate souls, but we feel very fortunate that this sinister
36:28song exists.
36:362.
36:37You'll Be In My Heart – Tarzan Phil Collins, we bow down.
36:42The Tarzan soundtrack elevates the story in every respect, with each extraordinary song
36:47encompassing its themes.
36:56Two Worlds expertly sets up the central tension between the animal and human worlds.
37:01Strangers Like Me exemplifies what Tarzan feels as he learns more about the latter,
37:06and no track gets us more than the Oscar-winning You'll Be In My Heart.
37:20It's a masterful musical representation of Kala's bond with her adoptive human son,
37:24and drives home the way she'll do anything to keep him safe.
37:27Comforting from start to finish, it makes us feel as loved and protected as Tarzan.
37:33Plus, it's breathtaking from a songwriting perspective.
37:36Needless to say, the gentle ballad really has a way of staying with us.
37:54Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
37:581.
37:59Cruella de Vil – 101 Dalmatians A short, but iconic and revealing ditty.
38:122.
38:14Cinderella's fairy godmother proves she's a musical icon.
38:203.
38:21SHINee – Moana Talk about a glamorous villain.
38:334.
38:46Great Spirits – Brother Bear Fill our hearts and souls with all it knows.
38:595.
39:04He Lives in You – The Lion King 2 Simba's Pride
39:07Continuing the franchise's legacy with a stellar opening number.
39:186.
39:25The Circle of Life – The Lion King On the surface, The Lion King is a story about,
39:50well, lions, but there's a lot more depth to it.
39:54And Circle of Life makes that fact abundantly clear from the beginning of the movie.
40:05Before a single character has even uttered a word, this song's beautiful Zulu lyrics
40:10kick things off, firmly placing us in Africa.
40:13This wise lesson and heavenly music further get us ready for what's to come.
40:28The track's reassuring message that we're all part of a powerful collective cycle that
40:32transcends the individual is nothing short of inspiring.
40:36It goes without saying, but Elton John and Tim Rice went way above and beyond the call
40:41of duty when crafting this musical masterpiece.
40:55Which of these tunes always makes you stop and take notice?
40:58Let us know in the comments.
41:09Do you agree with our picks?
41:10Check out this other recent clip from MsMojo.
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