With Moana coming out in the next few months, Disney is stepping up its music game by inviting Lin-Manuel Miranda to contribute to the soundtrack. And judging by the man’s track record, it will be phenomenal music that will accompany a hopefully entertaining movie. With Zootopia being a spectacular film, and previous films winning Oscars and breaking records, I’m not worried at all about this upcoming flick. And let’s not forget: The Rock improves nearly everything he is in (Couldn’t save Doom though…)
So, I am going to take a look back and bring out what I believe are the 11 best musical moments in the history of Disney. And this isn’t just about the song, it’s about the way the sequence was filmed and directed and how well it ties to the rest of the movie---as well as how deep it digs into your conscience. So yes, a variety of your favorites will be left out, for there are too many great music moments in Disney; the history is quite deep.
Before we start the list, honorable mentions:
1) The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh’s “Winnie the Pooh” (Beautiful opening sequence that immediately sets the harmless and charming tone of the movie)
2) Tarzan’s “Strangers Like Me” (Best scene of the movie, which shows Tarzan’s growing intelligence, growing curiosity, slow and sad separation from the gorillas, and subtle rising affection for Jane----all in a couple minutes)
3) Nightmare Before Christmas “Jack’s Lament” (Soundtrack is far, far, far stronger than the movie, but Jack revealing his personal demons in front of a lit sky is a nice sequence)
4) Lion King’s “Circle of Life” (Because I have to…)
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#11:
Song: I’ll Make a Man Out of You
Movie: Mulan
Hercules had a training montage, but Mulan ups it with a superior song and far superior scene. Mulan and the boys have to be whipped into shape before heading out to war, and Li Shang was having none of it. He takes off his shirt, and shows off how awesome they can be within the first couple lyrics. And it looks bad, in the midst of his clamoring that he will improve them. At one point Mulan is kicked out, but she proves that despite gender, she can still be just as brave, just as strong as the best soldiers out there. By the end of the song they are motivated, and we as viewers are just as moved and motivated.
#10:
Song: Friends on the Other Side
Movie: Princess and the Frog
This definitely isn’t as recognized or as memorable or as loved as other Disney classics, but contains one of the best villain entrances in the history of film. Immediately takes over the movie with his swagger and what winds up becoming the best song in the film. The color palate changes, the music gets eerie, and the dark side of New Orleans comes into play with trickery, voodoo, witchcraft, and curses galore. Dr. Facilier winds up being the best character in the movie with his wordplay, delivery, and energetic presence---and his song is the definitive evidence as to why.
#9:
Song: Bella Notte
Movie: Lady and the Tramp
Alright, the love montage is a very clichéd and very cheesy concept----but way back in the 50s you just didn’t see it as often. Lady and the Tramp, already a very charming movie, delivers one of the most popular kisses in cinema, and then follows it up with a nice romantic song as you see the lead dogs frolic in multiple locations through the course of the beautiful night. Animation is gorgeous, the pacing is relaxed, and you just can’t find a flaw within the 3 minutes of Bella Notte. This would become the modern template for a romantic scene.
#8:
Song: Belle
Movie: Beauty and the Beast
This is how you start a movie. Immediately displaying Belle’s character and mannerisms, as well as her unique placement in the small town, Belle is arguably my all-time favorite opening song to any movie. We get to see the fun cast of villagers, see Belle in her bookworm ways, and immediately get introduced to the egotistical and narcissistic Gaston----who winds up becoming the lead villain in the second half. The song is spotless, and showcases why we are watching more than a film, but something seemingly straight out of the best of Broadway.
#7:
Song: When Somebody Loved Me
Movie: Toy Story 2
Pixar is known for heartbreak, utter disastrous heartbreak. But the first time we were truly emotionally disintegrated was Jessie’s montage about her history with Emily----which ended with her being abandoned in a box. Thanks to Hall of Fame Tearjerker Sarah McLachlan, the song is perfect, the transition from being best friend to footnote feels all too real, and Toy Story 2 emerges from kids movie to a film that touches every viewer regardless of age. It spoke layers about the themes of the film itself, all in a couple of minutes. It’s a beautiful sequence, despite the tragedy.
#6:
Song: Friend Like Me
Movie: Aladdin
I could have picked the beautiful Whole New World, but no, the best scene in Aladdin has got to be the appearance of the Genie. Robin Williams would change the film industry forever by applying a gallon of energy into his performance and into the movie itself. Friend Like Me feels like it was written for Williams, and the zany song brings out the best animated sequence in Aladdin, as its speedy, creative, and sometimes outwardly abstract. Aladdin was already very entertaining before the halfway point, and once the Genie was thrown into the picture you couldn’t predict how the rest of it is going to go. Friend Like Me wasn’t just a great song in a great scene, it would launch Aladdin in an entirely new direction and a higher stratosphere of quality.
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#5:
Song: Feed the Birds
Movie: Mary Poppins
Religion is hardly discussed in Disney movies, but Mary Poppins wasn’t your typical Disney flick. Feed the Birds is Disney’s first true jump into religious imagery and combine that with a hauntingly beautiful Julie Andrews performance and you have a scene that stands out not only in Disney, but in cinema history. The importance of the scene meanders through the rest of Mary Poppins, and the soul of the entire company was represented in those three minutes. Mary Poppins was a generally happy film, but took some time off to deliver a powerful message about charity and being good to everyone—which is quintessential Disney.
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#4:
Song: Let it Go
Movie: Frozen
Truth: Let it Go would never have been such a big song is the sequence hadn’t been so visually stimulating. The song is phenomenal (I know, overplayed and probably ruined by 21st century Disney marketing), but the scene where she lets go of her fears and starts using her powers is simply, quiet powerful. As the song intensifies, the castle starts forming around her in an impressive long take and brings Disney back to 90s level Broadway aesthetics. It was right here when Disney shed its dependence on Pixar and started rediscovering its voice in the animation industry. Let it Go was the beginning of Disney’s rise towards the top of the animation world, sharing it with once-unbeatable Pixar. And, hands-down the best scene in the movie. And yes, Frozen is better than Tangled.
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#3:
Song: Hellfire
Movie: Hunchback of Notre Dame
Hellfire is hands-down the greatest villain song in Disney’s entire history. Hellfire is Frollo going up to God and engaging in an inner struggle of Biblical proportions, and of course ends with him declaring war or anything that stands in his path as he tries to find Esmeralda. This song is toned down (literally) to avoid the PG rating (box office poison back in the day), as the crazy mix of imagery, harsh lyrics, intense religious themes was not only too much for kids, but even adults were struggling back when it first came out. Frollo came into the scene as a simple foil to Quasimodo, and left the scene as a frighteningly powerful villain. Dark, gritty, masterful, and Tony Jay is absolutely perfect as Frollo verbally and when he sings. Best scene in Hunchback, and if the movie had stayed in this course we would have seen a much better movie.
#2:
Song: Married Life
Movie: Up
The opening 10 minutes of Up will stand as some of the best, strongest, most beautiful, and most heartbreaking filmmaking you’ll ever see animated or not. But it wouldn’t be complete, it wouldn’t fully work or fully be engraved in Disney history without the beautiful instrumental piece that accompanies it. The backend 4 minutes didn’t use a single line of dialogue, yet told everything you needed to know about the characters through music and images. This is peak Pixar, as to this day 7 years later we have yet to see a Pixar film quite as good as Up, and its partially because they haven’t developed a score as memorable as Michael Giacchino’s masterful work here. Not a lyric or word required, just pure cinematic magic. And it hits so close to home, its hard to watch with dry eyes.
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#1:
Song: Be Our Guest
Movie: Beauty and the Beast
Welcome to the Renaissance. Little Mermaid was the jump-starter, but Be Our Guest is the defining moment which sent Disney from a great animation studio into a powerhouse factory of artistic filmmaking. This was the moment when you realized Disney just wasn’t making a comeback, but was here to stay. Be Our Guest is the best number in the movie, the most fun part of the movie, and visually the most creative and impressive. Combine that with great vocals, tons of Broadway energy, humor, and a level of glee you just don’t find in regular movies, and this adds up to the best musical sequence ever made by Disney. There is no other answer, this scene represents the Disney Renaissance, the Modern-Day Disney in general.
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