For Pixar, go here.
Disney Theatrical[]
Alan Menken[]
- The Little Mermaid:
- The score for Disney's Beauty and the Beast,
- Aladdin:
- Pocahontas:
- The Virginia Company and Reprise.
- Steady As The Beating Drum and Reprise.
- Just Around The Bend.
- Listen With Your Heart Part I and Part II.
- Mine Mine Mine.
- Colors of the Wind.
- Savages Part 1 and Part 2.
- I'll Never See Him Again.
- Execution.
- Farewell.
- The Hunchback of Notre Dame:
- Hercules:
- People don't tend to look upon Home on the Range very well, but the songs deserves some sort of recognition:
- From the part animation, part live-action film Enchanted:
- Tangled: The songs may not be up to a Beauty and the Beast or Little Mermaid calibre, but they're still great.
- When Will My Life Begin.
- When Will My Life Begin (Reprise).
- Mother Know's Best.
- Healing Incantation.
- I've Got A Dream.
- Mother Knows Best (Reprise).
- Also "Waiting For The Lights", the gorgeous score piece that directly precedes it.
- I See The Light.
- Kingdom Dance. Holy cow.
Randy Newman[]
- The Princess and the Frog: Let's see, which songs were in the movie again?
- "Down in New Orleans" (Prologue),
- "Down in New Orleans",
- "Almost There", Ladies and gentlemen, Disney is back!
- "Friends on the Other Side",
- "When We're Human",
- "Gonna Take You There",
- "Ma Belle Evangeline",
- "Dig A Little Deeper",
- "Down in New Orleans (Finale)". There's not one single song in this film that should not be included in this trope.
- And here's the music that they used in the trailer! Enjoy.
- Speaking of which... I believe you missed the credits theme, "Never Knew I Needed". Not to mention Randy Newman's beautiful score.
- The Dark Reprise of "Friends on the Other Side" is a deliciously ironic bit of Nightmare Fuel.
Mark Mancina[]
- Phil Collins did Tarzan right:
- Two Worlds.
- Son of Man.
- Strangers Like Me.
- Trashin' The Camp.
- You'll Be In My Heart.
- Not only does Mark Mancina's instrumental score for the movie qualify for this trope, but some of those pieces, including "Moves Like an Ape, Looks Like a Man" perfectly fit the Crowning Music of Heartwarming trope.
- From Brother Bear:
Sherman Brothers[]
- From The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh we have the classic: Besides having the extremely catchy "The Wonderful Thing About Tiggers," the Disney Acid Sequence "Heffalumps and Woozles," the main theme "Winnie-The-Pooh" itself is legendary.
- The Jungle Book:
- "I Wanna Be Like You" is possibly the best jazz song ever to grace the Disney Animated Canon. Plus, it's damn catchy. Well, oobee-do...
- Colonel Hathi's March.
- "That's What Friends Are For".
- Think that's chilling, try the song they had planned for Shere Khan that was cut, which showcases his character as a regally ruthless hunter with a cold, dark baritone: it was cut for being too dark, among other reasons as cut characters and characterization.
- In an awesome case of What Could Have Been, Walt wanted The Beatles to voice the vultures...
- Look for the baaare ne-cess-ities, the simple bare necessities.... (Not written by the Sherman Brothers though, but by Terry Gilkyson.)
- I Wanna Be Like You.
- If you didn't like the simple Bare Necessities....then there's always this version of the song by none other than Louis Armstrong. Amazing doesn't even begin to cover it.
- On the instrumental side of things, The Overture and Tiger Fight are pretty much amazing. Tiger Fight from 0:48 to the end is epic and makes driving a very fun adventure.
- The Aristocats: Everybody Wants to be a Cat. Full stop.
- Of course, there's a bit of Values Dissonance there, with the incredibly racist Siamese cat playing Chopsticks, but it's still a catchy song.
- Wherever You Are from Pooh's Grand Adventure.
- From Mary Poppins:
- "Feed The Birds" and "A Spoonful of Sugar" are awesome.
- Chim Chim Cher-ee.
- Step In Time.
- Stay Awake.
- Penguin Dance.
- Jolly Holiday.
- I Love To Laugh.
- Feed the Birds should get special recognition for being Walt Disney's personal favorite song written for one of his films.
- OOOOOOOOOH~! Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious/Even though the sound of it something quite atrocious/If you say it loud enough you'll always sound precocious/Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!
- {{[http|//www.youtube.com/watch?v=eb6seu90dX8 The opening song}} from The Sword in the Stone's almost unbearably moving.
- From Bedknobs and Broomsticks:
- From The Parent Trap
James Newton Howard[]
While James Newton Howard's works with Disney is purely non-musical (save Treasure Planet: the songs were written mainly by Goo Goo Dolls' frontman John Rzeznik) he nonetheless deserves mention for his works in 3 films:
- Dinosaur:
- Atlantis the Lost Empire:
- Treasure Planet (songs written by John Rzeznik):
- Little Wonders.
- Say what you will about the sequel The Enchanted Christmas, but some of the songs in that are quite fantastic. First, there's Stories, then the main theme if the film As Long As There's Christmas and the Villain Song Don't Fall In Love, the last one is sung by Tim Curry no less.
- The leitmotif "This Land" which recurs throughout The Lion King—the most poignant occurring when Simba cuddles up against Mufasa's body and later when he speaks to his father's spirit, the most stirring and triumphant when Simba claims the throne in the finale. While the whole movie was incredible, it would not have been half as emotionally effective without this music.
- Circle of Life surely blows many away, especially when accompanied by the opening animation of the film.
- The King of Pride Rock takes parts from both of the above, combines them, and adds to them to create a nearly six minute long masterpiece of modern orchestra.
- The Broadway version of "King of Pride Rock" takes from several other songs from that version, and ends up with a spine-tingly epic conclusion. (Too bad Simba's Roar of Awesome wasn't included in the soundtrack...) Also of note are "Shadowland", a slow, haunting song, "The Lioness Hunt" and "Grassland Chant", both sung in Zulu, and "Endless Night" which, well, speaks for itself. The whole Broadway production is amazing, actually.
- CHA CHA CHA CHOW DOWN!
- "To Die For" (the punningly-named tune that plays during the stampede sequence - you know the one), Scar's Villain Song "Be Prepared", and "I Just Can't Wait to be King" re: the hooting in the background for a couple of parts in the song.
- From the second movie, "We Are One".
- "He Lives in You".
- He Lives In You is also in the Broadway version. And it is amazing.
- The uncut version is also a treat to hear.
- Zira's "My Lullaby".
- Not One Of Us is both painfully epic AND catchy.
- "He Lives in You".
- And Hakuna Matata is a classic.
- More from the Hans Zimmer score, we have the great hyenas theme.
- Variation on the above.
- Dig a tunnel, dig-dig a tunnel, dig a tunnel, dig-dig a tunnel, dig a tunnel dig-dig a tunnel quick before the hyena come...
- Seriously, nobody posted Can You Feel The Love Tonight yet?
- Now sung in the language of love!! hear it yourself with all its glory
- It's Awesome In METAL. Now ya can't say the Lion King has any nonawesome songs.
- One Hundred and One Dalmatians' Cruella de Vil.
- Most of the music from A Goofy Movie is pretty good, but "Eye To Eye" takes the cake as the absolute best song of the movie.
- Closely matched by Stand Out.
- Whatever your opinion on the raging storms of Nightmare Fuel, Disney's Fantasia and Fantasia 2000 contain some of the most utterly awesome music ever written. "Rite of Spring", "Toccata and Fugue in D Minor", "Night on Bald Mountain", "The Sorcerer's Apprentice", Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, "Rhapsody in Blue"... There's a reason these old songs are still played.
- As anyone who's had to play it knows, the finale of Stravinsky's 1919 Firebird Suite is an absolute bitch to play because of the meter it changes to. It is also epically gorgeous and heroic, as evidenced in its use in Fantasia 2000.
- Stravinsky would be proud of the visuals Disney produced to go along with his beautiful finale. It is rare for one to not experience an eargasm from this.
- As anyone who's had to play it knows, the finale of Stravinsky's 1919 Firebird Suite is an absolute bitch to play because of the meter it changes to. It is also epically gorgeous and heroic, as evidenced in its use in Fantasia 2000.
- Kronk's improvised theme song when he's trying to get rid of Kuzco in The Emperors New Groove.
- Amusingly, Kronk's voice actor Patrick Warburton genuinely improvised his humming during recording, and was then ordered by Disney lawyers to officially sign over the rights to the "song".
- Sting. My Funny Friend And Me is a combination Crowning Music of Awesome and Crowning Music of Heartwarming.
- And for the best Villain Song to never make it into the final film, have Snuff Out the Light, courtesy of Eartha Kitt, Showmanship Goddess.
- Disney's Mulan, the song I'll Make a Man out of You. Doubles as the single most ironic musical number Disney ever made.
- Also "Short Hair", which plays when Mulan cuts her hair and suits up for war.
- And the short instrumental piece of "Honor to Us All" that plays over the opening titles, and the music that plays as Mulan slides down the lantern rope near the end of the film, and shortly thereafter the music that plays while the entire population of the Forbidden City bows to her. None of these are on the official soundtrack.
- "I'll Make A Man Out Of You" manages to become even more awesome in this video. Admittedly, Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann makes anything awesome, but damn.
- What makes "I'll Make a Man" more awesome? When it's sung by Jackie Chan in Cantonese!
- Or in Mandarin.'
- "Reflections".
- The English version is notable for the fact that it made Donny Osmond, who performs the song, far more awesome than he could ever hope to be on his own.
- "True To Your heart".
- Hey, hey, hey, there's some songs in The Brave Little Toaster that comes to mind, particularly Vacuum Rescues the Group, which is just plain epic (and helped me recognize most of the characters' themes in the other songs), with all the fanfare and so on. Also, there was a totally Zelda-style Item Get when Toaster gets the battery.
- Worthless.
- Also from the score (which is pretty much all awesome) we have the Finale and the End Title.
- Also, "Toaster's Dream." Yes, it plays during one of the most Nightmare Fuel-riffic scenes in the whole movie, but it is actually very epic and creepy at the same time.
- Bambi Love is a Song with bonus Scenery Porn.
- Little April Shower. You can't say you won't be humming that for the rest of the day.
- Bambi 2, while a mediocre movie on its own, had some adorable music - especially There Is Life.
- Oliver and Company. Why Should I Worry was one of the most catchy and kickass songs ever to come out from Disney! (Bonus points for being sung by none other than Billy Joel!)
- Perfect Isn't Easy sung by none other than Bette Midler.
- Once Upon A Time In New York City is just plain awesome (warning: the scene that accompanies this song is a Tear Jerker).
- Good Company is heartwarming and adorable.
- Streets Of Gold is incredibly infectious and hard to resist dancing to.
- Someone's Waiting For You from the film, The Rescuers. Bonus points for also doubling as a Tearjerker.
- Also, Tomorrow is another day.
- "The Journey," which played over the opening credits, is hauntingly beautiful and sadly overlooked.
- Let's not forget Bolt, and in particular "Rescuing Penny", which manages to be sad and awesome at the same time.
- Barking at the Moon, in combination with the road-trip montage that it accompanies, is Crowning Music of Heartwarming.
- "I Thought I Lost You", proved that after 30+ years, John Travolta still had great pipes.
- Peter Pan 2: Return to Neverland had the song I'll Try. If you don't cry hearing the pain and loss of childhood Jane's suffering having grown up in WW 2, you'll cry when the downtrodden tune gets reused and revamped at the end to be an uplifting song about finding something to believe in despite it all.
- The Nightmare Before Christmas: What's this? What's this? One of the greatest Disney songs ever, that's what it is!
- "Ooogie Boogie's Song", "Kidnap the Sandy Claws" and of course "This is Halloween"
- There is probably no more awesome way to sing yourself out of a Heroic BSOD than "Poor Jack."
- What about "Jack's Lament", "Sally's Song", "Making Christmas", "Jack's Obsession", "Finale Reprise" (Especially Jack and Sally's duet), "Jack And Sally Montage", "Christmas Eve Montage", To The Rescue, Overture....aw, screw it, the whole soundtrack is TV Tropes Made of Win Archive! Screw Family Guy, Danny Elfman is a genius!
- Let me be good to you!
- Come on folks, I realize that Meet the Robinsons hangs around with Treasure Planet as one of the great unsung Disney films, but I shouldn't have to be the one adding "Little Wonders [1]", I mean, it's Rob Thomas from Matchbox Twenty!
- I see your "Little Wonders" and raise you "Another Believer". Rufus at his most whimsical.
- You can't talk about great music from Meet the Robinsons without mentioning The Future Has Arrived.
- Regardless of whether the lyrics make any sense, He Mele No Lilo from Liloand Stitch is wonderfully catchy, with exactly the right feel to it.
- Wynonna Judd's cover of Burning Love is a fantastic piece of music set to a terrific ending montage.
- Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride is another great one.
- Aloha O`e.
- "Baby Mine" from the movie Dumbo.
- seconded. the version from On The Record was also very well done.
- The theme from Homeward Bound.
- Pirates of the Caribbean.
- The music from The Rescuers Down Under is pretty cool.
- How about the music for when Cody is flying on Marahute's back? Or the music in the opening?
- "pretty cool" is an understatement. The score from Rescuers Down Under is AMAZING!
- How about the music for when Cody is flying on Marahute's back? Or the music in the opening?
- Song of the South may have fallen vitcim to Unfortunate Implications but that doesn't mean it's songs still aren't catchy, I'm surprised we went this far without mentioning the famous Zip-a-dee-doo-dah song. I mean the movie its from may not be known by many but the song is well known even to people who have no idea where it's from
- How in the world have we gone this far without mentioning Pinocchio's When You Wish Upon A Star? Two other classic examples would have to be Give A Little Whistle and Hi Diddle Dee Dee (An Actor's Life for Me).
- I've Got No Strings is a particularly easily transmissible Ear Worm.
Disney TV[]
- For Phineas and Ferb, see this
- The Theme Song for Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers. There's also another short piece of music used in a chase sequence that's really awesome. But speaking of that theme Although I have a soft spot for the swedish version too.
- Lather, Rinse, And Obey. BEST RAP EVER!
- which can be heard here
- And from the same episode, Naked Mole Rap!
- Kim Possible. Best theme song ever. And it only got better when The Movie remixed it.
- What, no love for "Could It Be"?
- The opening theme to Gargoyles. Especially with the Keith David voiceover.
- Too bad that was just about the only piece of music used (admittedly they managed to make several different really cool versions).
- Don't forget Macbeth's theme!
- What do to? Just grab on to some DuckTales (1987)! Woo-hoo!
- When there's trouble you call DW!
- Let's Get Dangerous!
- From the same show, there's This song, which is defiantly one of Darkwing's best moments.
- As long as we're on The Disney Afternoon themes... Spin it!
- The extended has drum and flute solos, making the already awesome song even better.
- The theme to the Disney Afternoon block itself? Or even the extended and closing versions.
- Five hours of summer, once a week! One Saturday Morning!
- The House of Mouse generally has a musical number every few episodes, usually a new spin on a classic Disney tune, including the single greatest rendition of "Who's Afraid Of The Big Bad Wolf?" ever made.
Big Bad Wolf Daddy: "I love to bring down the house!" |
- Also, their take on "Grim Grinning Ghosts."
- "It's Our House Now" is also pretty good. See it here.
- The theme song for The Weekenders. Bonus points for being sung by Wayne Brady.
- The awesome, sports anthem-esque intro from the underloved The Mighty Ducks cartoon. Let's hear it for the Mighty Ducks!
- Oh What A Merry Christmas Day from Mickey's Christmas Carol. A truly heartwarming tune to both open and finish the special on a high note. It is so awesome that The Angry Video Game Nerd remixed it into his theme tune for the Angry Nerd Christmas Carol, which is also awesome.
- the theme for The New Adventures of Winnie The Pooh. People can hate the original Winnie the Pooh theme from the movies and still find this song awesome.
- Aloha, E Komo Mai, the theme of Lilo & Stitch: The Series.
- We're the Goof Troop, and we always stick together!
- Pepper Ann, SHE'S LIKE ONE IN A MILLION!
- SRMTHG: The music played at the very end of the first season finale, and all variations on it. Also, the music played when Antauri first appears as the Silver Monkey, and all variations on that. Hands down.
- The intro theme to D-TV (which was a series of music videos using footage from Disney shorts and movies made for Disney Channel back in the day). Does the song scream 1980's? Yeah. Is it still awesome? Yeah.
- Hakuna Matata! Timon And Pumbaa.
Video Games[]
- Kingdom Hearts
- Nightmare Before Christmas Oogies Revenge is chock full of these. Special mention goes to CasinoCrash a great remix of The Oogie Boogie Song. It's also a duet between Jack and Oogie.