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Posted on Jun 28, 2013

10 Most Underrated Disney Songs

A Whole New World? Yawn. Disney has some hidden gems and they should be your new summer anthems.

by DanaSchwartz

Community Contributor

I recognize this is an unorthodox choice. It’s not exactly a classic Disney song because a) it’s Pixar and b) it’s not a character singing it. But Randy Newman’s sexy growl and the heartbreaking but so-relatable feeling of jealousy in this songs makes it great. You’ve Got A Friend in Me is classic, but Strange Things has soul.

I recognize this is an unorthodox choice. It’s not exactly a classic Disney song because a) it’s Pixar and b) it’s not a character singing it. But Randy Newman’s sexy growl and the heartbreaking but so-relatable feeling of jealousy in this songs makes it great. You’ve Got A Friend in Me is classic, but Strange Things has soul.

OK, so the awesome Tarzan soundtrack isn’t totally underrated. And yes, Phil Collins’ songs all kind of sound the same after a while. But I challenge you to listen to this killer beat and not bob your head. This song gets sort of lost in the middle of the movie, and the only reason I chose it here over Stranger Like Me (another Tarzan jam anthem) is because child Tarzan is adorable and I always found the scene where Jane teaches Tarzan a little creepy. — youtube.com

OK, so the awesome Tarzan soundtrack isn’t totally underrated. And yes, Phil Collins’ songs all kind of sound the same after a while. But I challenge you to listen to this killer beat and not bob your head. This song gets sort of lost in the middle of the movie, and the only reason I chose it here over Stranger Like Me (another Tarzan jam anthem) is because child Tarzan is adorable and I always found the scene where Jane teaches Tarzan a little creepy.

youtube.com

OK, so the awesome Tarzan soundtrack isn’t totally underrated. And yes, Phil Collins’ songs all kind of sound the same after a while. But I challenge you to listen to this killer beat and not bob your head. This song gets sort of lost in the middle of the movie, and the only reason I chose it here over Stranger Like Me (another Tarzan jam anthem) is because child Tarzan is adorable and I always found the scene where Jane teaches Tarzan a little creepy.

It’s really fun to rewatch Pocahontas again after you’ve taken an American history class. Like, hilarious. Make it a drinking game: drink every time you feel white guilt and every time you’re supposed to feel white guilt but Disney made the genocide of the native people seem less offensive than it really was. Not dead of alcohol poisoning? Listen to this song. It’s really pretty and most people forget about it because Colors of the Wind seems to be the Pocahontas go-to. Steady as the Beating Drum is a great opener, comes back with epic reprises, and the melody is more contagious than smallpox (too soon?) — youtube.com

It’s really fun to rewatch Pocahontas again after you’ve taken an American history class. Like, hilarious. Make it a drinking game: drink every time you feel white guilt and every time you’re supposed to feel white guilt but Disney made the genocide of the native people seem less offensive than it really was. Not dead of alcohol poisoning? Listen to this song. It’s really pretty and most people forget about it because Colors of the Wind seems to be the Pocahontas go-to. Steady as the Beating Drum is a great opener, comes back with epic reprises, and the melody is more contagious than smallpox (too soon?)

youtube.com

It’s really fun to rewatch Pocahontas again after you’ve taken an American history class. Like, hilarious. Make it a drinking game: drink every time you feel white guilt and every time you’re supposed to feel white guilt but Disney made the genocide of the native people seem less offensive than it really was. Not dead of alcohol poisoning? Listen to this song. It’s really pretty and most people forget about it because Colors of the Wind seems to be the Pocahontas go-to. Steady as the Beating Drum is a great opener, comes back with epic reprises, and the melody is more contagious than smallpox (too soon?)

So my high school did this great thing where every two years, we’d get a week off of classes and instead attend workshops from artists, movie directors, musicians and writers. My sophomore year, the cast of Jersey Boys in Chicago came in and one of the guys pulled this out to solo for a bunch of high school kids. I swear he was so good he almost brought about the second coming because Jesus Christ wanted to shake his hand. — youtube.com

So my high school did this great thing where every two years, we’d get a week off of classes and instead attend workshops from artists, movie directors, musicians and writers. My sophomore year, the cast of Jersey Boys in Chicago came in and one of the guys pulled this out to solo for a bunch of high school kids. I swear he was so good he almost brought about the second coming because Jesus Christ wanted to shake his hand.

youtube.com

So my high school did this great thing where every two years, we’d get a week off of classes and instead attend workshops from artists, movie directors, musicians and writers. My sophomore year, the cast of Jersey Boys in Chicago came in and one of the guys pulled this out to solo for a bunch of high school kids. I swear he was so good he almost brought about the second coming because Jesus Christ wanted to shake his hand.

I have a friend who adamantly pretends made-to-DVD movie sequels don’t exist. It’s a pretty solid rule, but he also misses out on the most badass banishment in the animal kingdom. With the exception of Aladdin King of Thieves (because, a hand that makes everything turn gold? awesome) and Pixar movies, Lion King II is the only worthwhile Disney animated sequel. Every song is a home run. They totally nailed it. They stick to the tried-and-true formula of loosely adapting a Shakespeare story and peppering in catchy songs with an African beat. I would have gone with He Lives in You but the Broadway musical already gave that one its due. — youtube.com

I have a friend who adamantly pretends made-to-DVD movie sequels don’t exist. It’s a pretty solid rule, but he also misses out on the most badass banishment in the animal kingdom. With the exception of Aladdin King of Thieves (because, a hand that makes everything turn gold? awesome) and Pixar movies, Lion King II is the only worthwhile Disney animated sequel. Every song is a home run. They totally nailed it. They stick to the tried-and-true formula of loosely adapting a Shakespeare story and peppering in catchy songs with an African beat. I would have gone with He Lives in You but the Broadway musical already gave that one its due.

youtube.com

I have a friend who adamantly pretends made-to-DVD movie sequels don’t exist. It’s a pretty solid rule, but he also misses out on the most badass banishment in the animal kingdom. With the exception of Aladdin King of Thieves (because, a hand that makes everything turn gold? awesome) and Pixar movies, Lion King II is the only worthwhile Disney animated sequel. Every song is a home run. They totally nailed it. They stick to the tried-and-true formula of loosely adapting a Shakespeare story and peppering in catchy songs with an African beat. I would have gone with He Lives in You but the Broadway musical already gave that one its due.

Continuing on the theme of direct-to-DVD sequels, Aladdin 3 was pretty solid and almost repaired the damage of Return of Jafar (almost). Bet you forgot this song didn’t you, mutherfucker? Don’t pretend it’s not heartfelt and don’t pretend you’re not going to sing it in the shower tomorrow. — youtube.com

Continuing on the theme of direct-to-DVD sequels, Aladdin 3 was pretty solid and almost repaired the damage of Return of Jafar (almost). Bet you forgot this song didn’t you, mutherfucker? Don’t pretend it’s not heartfelt and don’t pretend you’re not going to sing it in the shower tomorrow.

youtube.com

Continuing on the theme of direct-to-DVD sequels, Aladdin 3 was pretty solid and almost repaired the damage of Return of Jafar (almost). Bet you forgot this song didn’t you, mutherfucker? Don’t pretend it’s not heartfelt and don’t pretend you’re not going to sing it in the shower tomorrow.

Ah! Bet you thought I was going to skip right over this hidden gem. The movie was terrible. Irredeemable. But this song is the only thing about it worth remembering. Plus, Jasmine running down the stairs around 1:53 is so funny and I spent good childhood hours trying to imitate that. — youtube.com

Ah! Bet you thought I was going to skip right over this hidden gem. The movie was terrible. Irredeemable. But this song is the only thing about it worth remembering. Plus, Jasmine running down the stairs around 1:53 is so funny and I spent good childhood hours trying to imitate that.

youtube.com

Ah! Bet you thought I was going to skip right over this hidden gem. The movie was terrible. Irredeemable. But this song is the only thing about it worth remembering. Plus, Jasmine running down the stairs around 1:53 is so funny and I spent good childhood hours trying to imitate that.

Confession time: I loved Treasure Planet. Like, really. I saw it twice in theaters, which means I was responsible for approximately 25% of its box office revenue. Whether or not you agreed with me as a pre-teen or most of the critics, this song by John Rzeznik of the Goo-Goo Dolls is all kinds of angsty and glorious. Plus, watching this video might remind you that Jim Hawkins was voiced by Joseph Gordon-Levitt. — youtube.com

Confession time: I loved Treasure Planet. Like, really. I saw it twice in theaters, which means I was responsible for approximately 25% of its box office revenue. Whether or not you agreed with me as a pre-teen or most of the critics, this song by John Rzeznik of the Goo-Goo Dolls is all kinds of angsty and glorious. Plus, watching this video might remind you that Jim Hawkins was voiced by Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

youtube.com

Confession time: I loved Treasure Planet. Like, really. I saw it twice in theaters, which means I was responsible for approximately 25% of its box office revenue. Whether or not you agreed with me as a pre-teen or most of the critics, this song by John Rzeznik of the Goo-Goo Dolls is all kinds of angsty and glorious. Plus, watching this video might remind you that Jim Hawkins was voiced by Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

Powerline is the pop star we all wish was real. This would be the best summer anthem ever. And for a socially awkward outcast, Max has the coolest senior prank ever. This song is just plain catchy and makes me want to dance and ask out my high school crush and maybe take a road trip with my dad. — youtube.com

Powerline is the pop star we all wish was real. This would be the best summer anthem ever. And for a socially awkward outcast, Max has the coolest senior prank ever. This song is just plain catchy and makes me want to dance and ask out my high school crush and maybe take a road trip with my dad.

youtube.com

Powerline is the pop star we all wish was real. This would be the best summer anthem ever. And for a socially awkward outcast, Max has the coolest senior prank ever. This song is just plain catchy and makes me want to dance and ask out my high school crush and maybe take a road trip with my dad.

If you think Disney movies are just for kids, REWATCH THIS CLIP IMMEDIATELY. IT’S FUCKING DARK. Let me summarize: Frollo (guy in the hat) is a man of God, a deacon or priest or something and he thinks he’s pretty incorruptible. And now this sexy gypsy woman comes around, doing her sassy stripper dance around town and now he’s feeling all tingly in his no-no places. So obviously she’s a witch or demon sent to lead him astray from his holy path. This is a song about the battle between lust and religious morality and it’s in a kid’s movie. We get some of the best creepy-old man behavior ever animated (rubbing her scarf?), gregorian chants, and some epic posing. The end result is the most melodramatic ballad ever conceived for an animated picture.

If you think Disney movies are just for kids, REWATCH THIS CLIP IMMEDIATELY. IT’S FUCKING DARK. Let me summarize: Frollo (guy in the hat) is a man of God, a deacon or priest or something and he thinks he’s pretty incorruptible. And now this sexy gypsy woman comes around, doing her sassy stripper dance around town and now he’s feeling all tingly in his no-no places. So obviously she’s a witch or demon sent to lead him astray from his holy path. This is a song about the battle between lust and religious morality and it’s in a kid’s movie. We get some of the best creepy-old man behavior ever animated (rubbing her scarf?), gregorian chants, and some epic posing. The end result is the most melodramatic ballad ever conceived for an animated picture.

These two are tricky. They’re definitely underrappreciated, but it’s not exactly fair because they weren’t included in the original release. For your listening pleasure, I’ve included that guy who lost to Reuben Studdard singing a song that was supposed to be included in the original Aladdin, when the character was going to have a mother and a heartbreaking self-esteem problem. The Pocahontas one was included in some anniversary rerelease but lost out in the original edit to that song including the lyrics: “They’re not like you and me/Which means they must be evil" because obviously it enlightens the viewer as to the complexities of racism. — youtube.com

These two are tricky. They’re definitely underrappreciated, but it’s not exactly fair because they weren’t included in the original release. For your listening pleasure, I’ve included that guy who lost to Reuben Studdard singing a song that was supposed to be included in the original Aladdin, when the character was going to have a mother and a heartbreaking self-esteem problem. The Pocahontas one was included in some anniversary rerelease but lost out in the original edit to that song including the lyrics: “They’re not like you and me/Which means they must be evil" because obviously it enlightens the viewer as to the complexities of racism.

youtube.com

These two are tricky. They’re definitely underrappreciated, but it’s not exactly fair because they weren’t included in the original release. For your listening pleasure, I’ve included that guy who lost to Reuben Studdard singing a song that was supposed to be included in the original Aladdin, when the character was going to have a mother and a heartbreaking self-esteem problem. The Pocahontas one was included in some anniversary rerelease but lost out in the original edit to that song including the lyrics: “They’re not like you and me/Which means they must be evil" because obviously it enlightens the viewer as to the complexities of racism.

youtube.com

youtube.com

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