21 Outrageously Underrated Disney Songs

You might still be talking about Bruno, but these Disney ditties deserve another listen...

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There's a spot in every generation's heart for the music of Disney, whether it be "Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo" from Cinderella, "A Whole New World" from Aladdin or "How Far I'll Go" from Moana.

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But for every musical masterpiece that comes out of the House of Mouse, there's a handful of numbers that fall by the wayside. Some of these songs, however, are woefully underrated and deserve the same shine as Disney's finest, including the 22 exceptional earworms below.

1. "Go The Distance" from Hercules

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Performed by a young Roger Bart, this inspiring ballad from Hercules has slowly received recognition from Disney over the years alongside the growing cult status of the film, most recently culminating in a featured spot in Epcot's brand new "Harmonious" light show.

2. "Everybody Wants to Be a Cat" from The Aristocats

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Featuring supporting vocals from acting/singing legend, Scatman Crothers, this musical number from The Aristocats is one of the more energetic and jaunty of its era, which makes it surprising that it has yet to receive a second wind in popularity.

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3. “Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride” from Lilo & Stitch

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This understated yet catchy tune from Lilo & Stitch may not be the most glamorous track in Disney's archive, but I'll be damned if you won't find yourself singing along to it for many days thereafter.

4. “A Whale of a Tale” from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

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Possibly best known to younger generations for being briefly referenced in Finding Nemo, this toe-tapping song performed by 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea star, Kirk Douglas, feels like an authentic sea shanty, which increases the odds of it becoming quickly burned into your memory.

5. “Touch the Sky” from Brave

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Pixar may not be Disney's most reliable source for memorable songs (though tunes produced for Toy Story and Ratatouille have justly become all-timers), Julie Fowlis' opening track from Brave is certainly a cut above the rest.

6. “Let Me Be Good to You” from The Great Mouse Detective

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Perhaps the most risque original song that Disney ever produced, this ragtime siren song has an old-school charm and grandeur that makes it a fan favorite from this film, though the two musical numbers sung by Vincent Price in the film are pretty great on their own merits.

7. “I See The Light” from Tangled

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A key song from one of Disney's most overlooked contemporary offerings, "I See the Light" has slowly grown in standing against the backdrop of the company's core chart-toppers, especially thanks to the lasting power of Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi's vocal performances.

8. “Scrooge” from Muppets Christmas Carol

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Muppets Christmas Carol sneakily features a number of bangers on its soundtrack, but none is more deserving of praise (and reappraisal) than the song that kicks it off, "Scrooge."

9. “The Headless Horseman” from The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad

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Though it comes from one of Disney's creepiest animated features, "The Headless Horseman," as performed by Bing Crosby, will have you bopping your noggin from beginning to end... as long as it stays on your neck, that is.

10. “That’s The Life” from James and The Giant Peach

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It may be a little stilted as it jumps between different styles, but you'll be hard-pressed to not be caught in the whimsy and charm of the trademark song of Henry Selick's sophomore directorial effort.

11. “U Know What’s Up” from Turning Red

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The most recent song on this list, there's no denying that 4*Town may be the next fictional band obsession in pop culture, and with era-accurate songs like the one above, it could very well join the hallowed halls of another Disney pop music act that may appear a little later.

12. “It’s Not Easy” from Pete’s Dragon

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Pete's Dragon has a wealth of good, if not particularly memorable, songs, but this stellar heartwarming ballad seems sadly buried among Disney's more bombastic musical library.

13. “I’ll Make a Man Out of You” from Mulan

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Perhaps the most popular song among these hidden gems, this exhilarating musical number has grown significantly in esteem in recent years, especially as more people discover Mulan in the streaming age.

14. “Proud Corazon” from Coco

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There are several songs from this 2017 worldwide phenomenon that are deserving of placement on this list, but "Proud Corazon" is likely the most overlooked of the bunch, a remarkable song overshadowed on the soundtrack by the more lively, Oscar-winning "Remember Me."

15. “Welcome To The Forty Thieves” from Aladdin and the King of Thieves

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Believe it or not, one of Disney's most catchy tunes spawned from the second direct-to-video Aladdin sequel, though its quality certainly matches that of the company's finest compositions.

16. “You’ll Be in My Heart” from Tarzan

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Although this extraordinarily tender song may be reputable as the most recognizable track from Disney's Tarzan, there's little denying that the song hasn't suffered from Tarzan's lack of contemporary popularity in Disney's oeuvre as well as Phil Collins' character assassination on South Park as a result of winning an Academy Award for the song.

17. “When We’re Human” from The Princess and The Frog

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The Princess and The Frog is destined to one day be considered one of Disney's modern musical monuments, but for now, wonderful songs like "When I'm Human" will just have to settle for being lauded by its burgeoning fanbase as an absolute blast.

18. “Happy Working Song” from Enchanted

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As a recent convert to the Enchanted faithful, I've been shocked to only just discover "Happy Working Song," one of the best (and incidentally, funniest) songs produced by Disney over the past 15 years that has sadly not received its just desserts.

19. “Why Should I Worry?” from Oliver and Company

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Though it has the added benefit of a spirited performance from Billy Joel, Oliver and Company's somewhat meager legacy in the grand scheme of Disney's animated classics only undercut the momentum of this otherwise awesome pop track.

20. "I Won’t Say (I’m in Love)” from Hercules

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Inspired by the doo-wop-esque numbers composed by Alan Menkin for Little Shop of Horrors, this phenomenal song is widely considered one of Disney's most undervalued tunes and the anchor of the surprisingly sensational Hercules soundtrack. Luckily, the track has skyrocketed in stature in recent years, even inspiring Ariana Grande to cover the song for ABC's Disney Family Singalong in 2020.

21. "Stand Out" from A Goofy Movie

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It's time to face the music: Tevin Campbell's songs for A Goofy Movie, especially "Stand Out," are among the best Disney has ever put to record, and have only helped catapult the animated film (and its musical figurehead, Powerline) to cult-favorite status.

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