Top 5 Disney Songs of All Time

Inspired by a post on a another blog that I frequent, I’ve decided to shamelessly and unapologetically steal their idea.

I’m going to come up with what I (quite humbly) feel are the five best Disney songs, from their animated movie collection, of all time. This list does not include music from any live action Disney film, or hybrid films, and does not include any music found at the Disney World Resort. Though all of my picks are played, in one arrangement or another, at the Walt Disney World resort. In fact, the song’s ability to transcend their own unique, intrinsic merit from the movie they’re featured in to a staple of the Disney brand as a whole is largely the criteria I based my selections on.

5. You’re Got A Friend In Me (Toy Story, Toy Story 2, Toy Story 3)

You’re Got A Friend In me has reached out to become more than just a song. The brilliantly written and performed — hat tip to Randy Newman on both accounts — “buddy-buddy” tune has become the sonic envelopment of the quintessence message of, not just the Toy Story movies, but of Disney/Pixar film library as a whole. For this reason alone it beats out many of the more traditional classics that might only conjure memories of a single particular Disney Movie.

4. I Wanna Be Like You (The Jungle Book)

I was honestly torn for the number four spot. Both I Wanna Be Like You or The Bear Necessities were up for consideration, but I chose I Wanna Be Like You for the inclusion of Louis Prima to the list.

Walt Disney made a fine casting decision regarding the music talent of The Jungle Book. The fusion of Phil Harris with Louis Prima has created some of the best known songs of any genera and their duet I Wanna Be Like You has become iconic.

3. The Circle of Life (The Lion King)

On many levels The Lion King was the movie that changed many things for Disney. The stellar soundtrack has sold more copies than any other animated feature soundtrack, and it earned the amazing song writing team of Elton John, Tim Rice, and Hans Zimmer both an Academy Award and a Golden Globe.

The Circle of Life is an emotion invoking and awe-inspiring song. Not only does it perfectly connect the opening and closing scenes to the movie, but it also used as a underlining theme that ties together all the aspects of The Animal Kingdom theme park. You get the sense that the park could have been built around it.

2. When You Wish Upon A Star (Pinocchio)

Aside from being a perfect song to induce child-like inspiration and hope, When You Wish Upon A Star was the song that earned Disney their first Academy Award for a musical performance. It has since gone on to be used in numerous Disney themed shows and attractions. A memorable use was it inclusion into “Wishes”, the night time fireworks show at the Magic Kingdom, around.

1. A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes (Cinderella)

This was the easiest song to choose for my list, as it can almost go without saying that A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes has become synonymous with The Disney Experience. I often wonder if the song writing trio of Mack David, Al Hoffman and Jerry Livingston had even the faintest idea of the success this song would brandish. You can’t walking through any Disney park or sit through any Disney show with hearing the amiable melody mixed in somewhere. The song is instantly recognizable and often brings fond Disney memories to the forefront of the mind.