JUst quantify some as Chippy and Rev.

55. A Spoonful of Sugar (Mary Poppins,1964)



Sung by Mary Poppins
Performed by Julie Andrews
Music by Robert B. Sherman Lyrics by Richard M. Sherman

Best Lyric: And ev'ry task you undertake becomes a piece of cake. A lark! A spree! It's very clear to see!

This song is probably the second best known Mary Poppins song after Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. It has a very upbeat and fun feel to it, and it has a great beat that probably actually would be fun to clean to. This song ends up becoming Mary's leitmotif, and is played several times throughout the film in scenes that heavily involve her. I really like when musicals weave songs from the film into the score; it adds a real significance to both and further makes the song memorable. But really, the lyrics to this song are great too, and a seemingly commonplace thing (taking medicine) becomes a great metaphor for how doing all things unpleasant with a positive attitude can make them more enjoyable.

The list is going well so far. Despite the 2-3 I think are way too low. But it's reminding me of all the old school songs. Hope there's a Fievel song coming...

That is Don Bluth, not Disney.

The ones you think are too low are You'll Be in My Heart, Under the Sea and which Lion King song?

omg it's not Disney, you're right.

Can You Feel the Love Tonight?, yo

54. Heaven's Light/Hellfire (The Hunchback of Notre Dame, 1996)



Sung by Quasimodo and Judge Claude Frollo
Performed by Tom Hulce and Tony Jay
Music by Alan Menken Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz

Best Lyric: Judge Claude Frollo: I feel her! I see her! The sun caught in her raven hair is blazing in me out of all control.

This number does something I love: take two glaringly opposite characters and have them sing together about the same thing. Technically, Heaven's Light is not the same song as Hellfire, buth thy have always been grouped together on recordings and I feel both songs are better together than apart. Quasimodo sings of his innocent crush on Esmeralda, and sees her as a gift from God, as he has never had any friends who he has felt truly cared about him. Meanwhile, Frollo sings of his uncontrollable desire to stick his penis in Esmeralda's pussy. As lust is a high sin, he realizes that he will be damned to hell if Esmeralda is not his wife. This is a very, very dark topic for Disney to cover, and I'm frankly shocked that the song was allowed to be in the film. I can only imagine how much more this story would have been neutered if it came out in today's cookie cutter politically correct Disney movie assembly line. If only this film had decided to be an adult film and stopped forcing in childish jokes (the gargoyles, ugh). The way the two songs contrast each other is jarring and brilliant, and both are lyrically rich. One issue is that Heaven's Light is a bit too small and slight in comparison to Hellfire. Barely even anyone probably remembers Heaven's Light. And Hellfire's melody, while relatively strong, isn't nearly as complex as the dense, adult lyrics. The song is set to the film's main orchestral theme (which brilliantly sounds just like tolling bells) and unfortunately the tune doesn't quite translate. It sounds a bit simple in comparison to the verses, which has a more interesting melody. Rueally, with a few tweaks, this number could rank very near to the top of the list, but as it is, it doesn't quite hit the top 50.

53. Almost There (The Princess and the Frog, 2009)



Sung by Tiana
Performed by Anika Noni Rose
Music and Lyrics by Randy Newman
Nominated for the 2010 Best Original Song Oscar (Lost to The Weary Kind)

Best Lyric: I remember Daddy told me: “Fairytales can come true. You gotta make 'em happen, it all depends on you"

The Princess and the Frog starts out with three utterly fantastic songs before the soundtrack succumbs to relative mediocrity halfway through. This is one of the great songs. It is another, you guessed it, "I Want" song, this time for Tiana. Unlike most Disney Princesses, what Tiana wants is directly correlated to what she is doing for herself rather than waiting for things to just happen. Tiana desperately wants to open her own restaurant, despite the fact that her parents, friends and coworkers do not believe she can. The landlords of the property she has reserved lease it to someone else because they do not believe she can ever afford it. Despite all this, Tiana keeps on keeping on, knowing that what she wants is just around the corner. The song is an inspirational one, as the listener is encouraged to work toward their own dreams too. The music and lyrics are splendid, with the big band sound and the opportunity for Anika to show off her wide range. This doesn't quite have the classic feel of the very best Disney songs, but it is excellent in its on right.

52. Life's a Happy Song (The Muppets 2011)




Sung by Gary, Walter, Mary, Feist, Mickey Rooney, Kermit, Miss Piggy, Uncle Deadly, Scooter, Fozzie, Marvin Suggs, Tex Richman, Beaker, Crazy Harry, Bobo the Bear and Ensemble
Performed by Jason Segel, Peter Linz, Amy Adams, Feist, Mickey Rooney, Steve Whitmire, Eric Jacobson, Bill Baretta, David Rudman, Matt Vogel, Chris Cooper and The Muppets Cast
Music and Lyrics by Bret Mckenzie


Best Lyric: Vendor: Life's a fillet of fish! Gary/Walter: Yes it is!

Life's a Happy song both begins and ends The Muppets 2011 film, and it's a pretty great song. It's a huge musical number involving over 100 extras, and it's probably the happiest musical number you will ever hear. If you're ever feeling down, this number will get you right back to feeling great. The original version of the song actually only has one Muppet performer, but luckily the finale involves a large cast of Muppets, including several obscure ones (Marvin Suggs, anyone?). The melody is great for the most part , and it really soars when it hits the "I've got everything that I need" segment. The lyrics are clever too, the above one is just one lyric that is funny.

51. Down in New Orleans (The Princess and the Frog, 2009)




Sung by Offscreen Voice and Tiana
Performed by Dr. John and Anika Noni Rose
Music and Lyrics by Randy Newman
Nominated for the 2010 Best Original Song Oscar (Lost to The Weary Kind)

Best Lyric: Stately homes and mansions of the sugar barons and the cotton kings. Rich people, poor people all got dreams. Dreams do come true in New Orleans.

Like Life's a Happy Song, Down in New Orleans opens and closes The Princess and the Frog. It's an offscreen number in its original rendition, and then later on Tiana sings it after her dreams of owning a restaurant have come true. It's a really great scene setting song, and it makes New Orleans feel almost like it is a character in the movie rather than just the location. Dr. John's vocals combined with the very trademark jazzy sound of the song,make it irresistable. Tiana's rendition at the end of the film is even better, because now she knows for a fact that dreams do come true in New Orleans. And Anika Noni Rose has one hell of a voice; like Almost There, this song shows off her range beautifully.

50-46 will be posted tonight since I only have a phone today.

I admire your persistence, zwackerm. This was well planned and presented.

50. Mother Knows Best (Tangled, 2010)




Sung by Mother Gothel
Performed by Donna Murphy
Music by Alan Menken Lyrics by Glenn Slater

Best Lyric: Trust me, my dear, that's how fast he'll leave you, I won't say I told you so!

Mother Knows Best is one of the highlights of the Tangled soundtrack. The original song is very good, but the reprise just knocks it out of the ballpark, and cements it as one of the best Disney songs. Mother Gothel is an interesting villain; the audience is kept guessing whether she has ever truly cared for Rapunzel at all, or if was truly just her hair that I love. It is also interesting that most of the times that Mother Gothel tells Rapunzel that she loves her, she is speaking to Rapunzel's hair. The lyrics are funny and Mother Gothel seems to know what she is talking about, but that just adds to her true evil, which is exposed in the reprise. I get chills every time I watch it, and that's what a good villain song should give you.

49. If I Never Knew You (Pocahontas, 1995)




Sung by John Smith and Pocahontas
Performed by Mel Gibson and Judy Kuhn
Music by Alan Menken Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz

Best Lyric: Pocahontas: I never knew that fear and hate could be so strong. All they'd leave us were these whispers in the night.

Pocahontas is a movie that wears its message on its sleeve: everyone you meet, regardless of skin color and culture, has something truly wonderful to offer you. This song really illustrates that beautifully, and this is why the 10th Anniversary Edition of Pocahontas is far superior to the original theatrical cut. Without it, this message is pretty much lost, and Pocahontas and John Smith's relationship becomes a lot more of a typical love story, which while still decent, is not as compelling. I love this song so much, I did not buy the Blu ray and instead ordered the 10th Anniversary edition that has been out of print for years. The reprise at the end of the film is a bit unnecessary, as I believe that moment is stronger with just instrumental. I do believe the ending of Pocahontas is Disney's strongest score piece ever. As Pocahontas runs to catch up with John's ship,and then the orchestra bursts into Colors of the Wind when she reaches the top of the cliff; it brings tears to my eyes every time. But this song is great and is needed in the tent scene.

48. Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo (Cinderella, 1950)



Sung by The Fairy Godmother
Performed by Verna Felton
Music and Lyrics by Mack David, Jerry Livingston and Al Hoffman
Nominated for the 1951 Best Original Song Oscar (Lost Mona Lisa)

Best Lyric: Salagadoola means menchickabooleroo. But the thingamabob that does the job is bibbid bobbidi boo.

The fairy godmother scene in Cinderella is one of Disney's most iconic sequences, and this song is a big reason why. This was probably a really easy song to write, considering they could rhyme any nonsense syllable with any nonsense syllable. But the result is irresistible, and you can't help but sing along. I know when I would visit my late grandfather, we would always watch Cinderella and not be able to wait for this scene. This has truly become one of the most iconic songs in all of cinema, and it certainly deserved to win its Oscar category, but oh well.

47. Winnie the Pooh (The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, 1977)




Performed by the Disney Studio Chorus
Music by Robert B. Sherman Lyrics by Richard M. Sherman

Best Lyric: Chubby little cubby all stuffed with fluff.

Winnie the Pooh is one of Disney's most endearing characters ever created, thanks in no small part to this song. The "Winnie the Pooh" refrain is very catchy and conveys the adorableness of the character without even having to show him. It is also cool how the song sets up the setting and all the characters (except Tigger, for some reason) and gets the listener really ready to delve into the Hundred Acre wood. There really isn't much to be said for this song, which is synonymous with Disney's best known characters after the Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, etc. gang.

46. Do You Want to Build a Snowman? (Frozen, 2013)



Sung by Anna
Performed by Katie Lopez, Agatha Lee Monn and Kristen Bell
Music and Lyrics by Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez

Best Lyric: We only have each other. It's just you and me. What are we gonna do?

Through this song, we are introduced to two of Disney's most relatable heroines, Elsa and Anna, in a truly spectacular and nuanced way.It sets up a dark tone that will hang over the rest of the movie. The tune is pretty good, though parts of it do feel like something that I've heard elsewhere. The true strength of this song is the way it shows Anna's character development from a happy little girl, to a confused and awkward teenager, who desperately craves a relationship with her sister, but is rejected at every turn. Frozen could have just begun with the present day storyline, but taking the time to develop their backstory (however contrived the "treatment" the parents come up with for Elsa) really benefits the movie as a whole. Anyone who has found themselves outside a locked door will likely want to start singing this song; I know I have. "Let it Go" is great, but certainly songs like this also deserve credit.

45. I Won't Say I'm in Love (Hercules, 1997)



Sung by Megara and the Muses
Performed by Susan Egan, Lillias White, Cheryl Freeman, LaChanze, Roz Ryan and Vanéese Y. Thomas
Music by Alan Menken Lyrics by David Zippel

Best Lyric: Megara: No man is worth the aggravation, that's ancient history, been there, done that.

This is probably considered the best song in Hercules, even if it's not my personal favorite. Megara is a great Disney heroine; she feels like a street wise bad girl, definitely not a princess type, and her rejection of her own feelings is what makes this song so different. She is not looking for love, and hopes to spend the rest of her life alone to avoid heartbreak. But she just can't resist Hercules' charms. The melody is really like nothing else Disney has done, with a real doo-wop feel. The lyrics are a bit too meta at points, but really, this number is just fun, and it provides great character development for Megara (she really outshines Hercules in terms of likability due to just this number!)

44. Reflection (Mulan, 1998)



Sung by Mulan
Performed by Lea Salonga
Music by Matthew Wilder Lyrics by David Zippel

Best Lyric: Somehow I cannot hide who I am, though I've tried. When will my reflection show who I am inside?

Mulan has a very good soundtrack, and this is a real highlight. Mulan is just not like her family or the other girls in her town, and she feels that she can never be herself if she wants to uphold the family honor, get married and bear sons. The orchestration stays with the Asia feel that "Honor to Us All" set up, and helps it to stand out from other, more traditional Disney ballads. The animation sequence that accompanies it perfectly complements the lyrics about what her reflection shows, and the part where Mulan emotionally wipes away her makeup is particularly affecting. This song is also notable for launching the career of Christina Aguilera. While it did not receive outstanding reviews on its release, Reflection is a Disney song that has aged particularly well, and I'm glad it is appreciated more today than in 1998.

43. Someday My Prince Will Come (Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, 1937)



Sung by Snow White
Performed by Adriana Caselotti
Music and Lyrics by Frank Churchill, Larry Morey and Leigh Harline

Best Lyric: And the birds will sing, and wedding bells will ring, some day when my dreams come true

Snow White is not a Disney film that has aged well at all. It alternates between being entirely too dull (any scenes with Snow White and the Dwarfs) to being exceptionally horrifying (anything with the Queen, especially the hag disguise, she gave me nightmares). But what the film lacks in tonal balance and pacing, it partially makes up for with a few good songs. "Someday My Prince Will Come" is the first Disney princess signature song, and the first "I Want song" though it comes much later in the film than a traditional I want song would. The song is very short, only consisting of two stanzas and runs for just over a minute, but it is impossible not to feel warm and nostalgic inside when you listen. It really is amazing that Snow White received no Oscar nominations for its music, considering the strength of this and another song on ts soundtrack.

42. Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious (Mary Poppins, 1964)



Sung by Mary Poppins and Bert
Performed by Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke
Music by Robert B. Sherman Lyrics by Richard M. Sherman

Best Lyric: Bert: When Dukes and Maharajahs pass the time of day with me, I say me special word and then they ask me out to tea.

This is definitely the best known song from Mary Poppins, and it has been so influential that the word Supercalfragilisticexpialidocious has been added to the dictionary, and kids everywhere believe that it is the longest word in the English language. It's very fast paced, and not easy to sing along to, but you really get a sense of accomplishment once you can sing along, and especially once you can spell it. Of course, this song has very little significance behind its sense of fun, which keeps it from being the best song in the film, even if it is the most memorable.

"Heaven's Light / Hellfire" deserves Top 20 for sure! Looking forward to more Hunchback entries.

"When You Wish Upon a Star" and "Colors of the Wind" would prolly be my Top 2.

Is "Once Upon a Dream" eligible despite lifting Tchaikovsky's melody?

Yes.

41. The Mob Song (Beauty and the Beast, 1991)



Sung by Gaston, the Townspeople and the Enchanted Objects
Performed by Richard White and Beauty and the Beast Cast
Music by Alan Menken Lyrics by Howard Ashman

Best Lyric: Mob: Light your torch! Mount your horse! Gaston: Screw your courage to the sticking place! Mob: We're counting on Gaston to lead the way!

Here is where we are getting into the really, really good songs. Each and every one from here on out is one of my absolute favorites, and one that I can listen to over and over and over again without getting tired of it. "The Mob Song" is the darkest song in Beauty and the Beast by a wide margin, and it was probably the darkest song Disney had done to date (until Pocahontas and Hunchback were essentially adult dramas about genocide). The whole song has such an ominous feel; if you didn't feel for the Beast yet, you certainly do now. Gaston really begins to show his evil villainous side in this number, I'm sure very few people who were watching Beauty and the Beast for the first time expected it to take such a drastic turn. But the melody is very rich, and the lyrics are very good as well, drawing from Shakespeare, and really displaying the power of mob mentality. None of these peasants has ever even seen the beast, but Gaston easily riles them all uoo to be bloodthirsty murderers. And the audience never questions it. A true masterpiece in a movie full of them.

The video for "The Mob Song" is "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious".

40. Be Prepared (The Lion King)



Sung by Scar and the Hyenas
Performed by Jeremy Irons, Whoopi Goldberg, Cheech Marin, Jim Cummings and The Lion King Cast
Music by Elton John Lyrics by Tim Rice

Best Lyric: Scar: Meticulous planning, tenacity spanning, decades of denial is simply why I'll be king undisputed, respected, saluted and seen for the wonder I am.

Be Prepared is the most underrated song in the Lion King. First of all, while I don't personally believe that Scar is "objectively the best Disney villain because he succeeded in first degree murder" as many have tried to argue, he is certainly a cool cat, with a great voice for singing a villain song. The song builds and builds until all the hyenas are on board with the plan and they all sing together. This song evokes images of Nazis following Hitler. This song also follows the trend of villain songs describing their evil plan to the audience (the only exception that I know of is Gaston in Beauty and the Beast). The lyrics mainly consist of Scar using big words to insult the hyenas; some of which they catch onto, others they don't. So while it is not the most nuanced of Disney numbers (it pretty much means exactly what it says), it certainly kicks ass.