Soundtrack of My Life: Disney
This month’s soundtrack is a salute to the Disney movies that were on a constant loop in the background of my childhood. And by “childhood,” I mean high school and college. When your lifelong dream is to work at the happiest place on earth, you become a bit obsessive. It was a time for reinvention for the Disney Company and I think Alan Menken deserves a great big THANK YOU from the peanut gallery. I hope you enjoy this playlist while wearing Mickey ears with an embroidery of you name on the back!
THE LITTLE MERMAID
Daughters of Triton
Some people fast forward through this roll call, but I insist on singing every lyric and matching my pitch with each daughter.
Part of Your World
It’s a Disney classic. It’s also the reason I thought my sister named her dog Gizmo in the ‘90s. That would have been a really cool story for this post had she not named him after the gremlin in Gremlins.
Under the Sea
Because of Sebastian, I have mastered a Jamaican accent. This one is a joy to sing.
Poor Unfortunate Souls
Pat Carroll has one of the raspiest voices in animation. She is the perfect Ursula. There’s so much depth and range in her performance too. Think of the popping sound she made when she warned, “No talking, singing, zip!”
Les Poissons
I guess The Little Mermaid is responsible for my love of accents, because I mastered a French one thanks to this song. Plus, I have a good chance of getting a Trivial Pursuit piece of pie since I know “les poissons” means fish. Educational and fun! Oh Disney…
Kiss the Girl
I may have developed a self-proclaimed weird, yet I totally owned it crush on Prince Eric during this song. I still think he’s one of the hottest princes out there. Walt would be so proud to hear this.
ALADDIN
Friend Like Me
Thanks to Robin Williams, this song lives on a multitude of “Friends” playlists from my youth. Fun fact: I also danced to this song in drill team my senior year. It was a box routine with a pole sticking out of the middle. We literally pole danced on the 50-yard-line. Go Bobcats.
Prince Ali
Another classic in which Robin Williams slayed the track with tons of different voices. I can do them all. (He’s got the monkeys…let’s see the monkeys…)
A Whole New World
Duh.
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
Prologue
To this day, if you ask me to recite the prologue from Beauty and the Beast, I can do it. This is a true story. I’m definitely bragging.
Belle
Best song EVER. I love Paige O’Hara’s voice and have been known to belt out, “Ooohhhhh isn’t this amazing? It’s my favorite part because…you’ll seeeeeeee. Heeeeerrrrrreee’s where she meets Prince Charming! But she won’t discover that it’s him til chapter three.” Another fun fact: This used to bother me because I never thought the girl would discover that this dude is the Prince until way later than chapter three in the book. But I let it go for rhyming purposes.
Gaston
Best song EVER. I met Gaston with my friend Amy at my last trip to Disney World. I can confirm that he is roughly the size of a barge.
Be Our Guest
This is another song where my French accent is showcased. It’s such a happy song. Did you know that you can try the grey stuff at the Be Our Guest restaurant? I hear it’s delicious. I know this because I asked the dishes.
LION KING
Circle of Life
Best song EVER. I was lucky enough to help host the Broadway cast at a radio event in Dallas many years ago. The woman who sang “Circle of Life” dressed up in full costume and belted it in the ballroom of a fancy Marriott downtown. It still gives me chills to this day.
I Just Can’t Wait To Be King
Kids singing adorable lyrics will get me every time. It’s addictive. I appreciate the crescendo at the end and often sing in harmony with young Simba.
HERCULES
The Gospel Truth
Y’all know how I believe that everything sounds better with a gospel choir. Well, Disney spoke to my soul on this soundtrack. Those muses brought us to church and I loved every minute of it.
Zero to Hero
Again, gospel music with lyrics that include swooning over Hercules. This is my sweet spot.
I Won’t Say I’m In Love
Susan Egan channels every frustrated girl out there who is fighting against falling for the guy who is more than likely going to break your heart. Oh how young Lincee identified with this theme. Heck, old Lincee still identifies with it too!
MULAN
I’ll Make a Man Out of You
Um, hello! It’s Donny Osmond!
TARZAN
You’ll Be In My Heart
Such a sweet, sweet song about a parents’ love for their child. There’s a fast version and one that’s more of a lullaby. I like both.
Trashin’ the Camp
I was going through a major NSYNC phase. Let me have this.
Simple Disclaimer
Some of you may be wondering why “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” is not on my Lion King list. The answer is simple: that song is annoying. Don’t ask me why, but I’ve never embraced it like I probably should have. You may also be wondering why I didn’t show Michael Bolton any love with “Go the Distance.” Perhaps if he had invited the muses to back him up, he would have made the list. And last but not least, a few of you think I forgot about Pocahontas. Well I didn’t. I’d like to forget this abysmal movie, but asking people if they’ve ever heard the wolf cry to the blue corn moon always seems to pop up in conversation.
“Be Prepared”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkU23m6yX04
So good! No respect for Scar?
🙂
It was on there but didn’t make the cut. I’M SORRY LAURA JEAN! FORGIVE ME!
Reflection from Mulan? Love that one!!
Not a fan. I tried and it didn’t stick.
Oh, and I already told my son that we are dancing to “You’ll Be in My Heart” at his wedding. Mind you he was 6 when I told him this…
Get it in writing Allison. Get it in writing…
Last week, my husband and I were in Brussels, Belgium, for a vacation, and we walked past a restaurant and I said, “You know how I know that’s a seafood restaurant?” and started singing “Les Poissons, les poissons, hee hee hee, ho ho ho!”
Thank you, Disney, for teaching me all the French I know!
YES!!!
Aw, I love “Can you feel the love tonight,” mostly because I really, really, really wanted Ali and Roberto to be a Bachelorette love story forever…
This made me spit Dr Pepper on my screen. Best comment ever. THANK YOU CARINA!
Love your list. I do have an affection for the music of Pocahontas because of a my Jr. High band days, but you’re right about the general assessment of that film!
Beauty and the Beast is the BEST Disney musical. I loathe Gaston as a character, yet still love his song. Be our Guest made me love musical numbers in my movie. What about Mary Poppins?!?!
Love Mary Poppins. Was going for 80/90s animation.
As a fellow Disney lover and former CP (returned for a year post college graduation) I love this post. I am on a SERIOUS Disney music kick right now and have had my Apple Radio set to the Disney station for about 2 weeks now. My new favorite song is Tangled’s “I see the light” – I can’t listen to it enough. While on YouTube the other day I found Lea Salonga singing “Let it go.” OMG. Jasmin/Mulan singing Let it go?! I about died.
HEADED TO YOUTUBE RIGHT NOW. THANK YOU FAITH!
This is awesome!!! I have 10 month old twins and love rocking out to Disney music!! (I pretend they are the reason I’m listening to it when my husband gets home!!). I agree… Beauty and the Beast is the best!!! And Little Mermaid. Love.
Great choices Katie Z!
This post made my morning. Beauty and the Beast has always been one of my favorites. And I still belt the Little Mermaid whenever I get the chance 😉 *Runs off to turn on her Disney station on Pandora*
Love, love, love!
I love this blog post so much. I worked at the Disney Stores for 5 1/2 years in my early 20’s, and still have lots of love for all things Disney. Beauty and the Beast is my absolute favorite Disney animated film. I loved the musical as much as the animated film. Alan Menken, and Howard Ashman gave us some pretty amazing music.
I am so very glad you explained the lack of “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” or I may have had to boycott you. I will add that choirs at my high school did a yearly ice cream social showcase, and the theme my senior year was “Toons” (haha, get it?). Every choir came together for a Lion King Medley that STILL gives me goosebumps when I remember singing it!!! “henyamaya henyama baya” for life!
Great site you have here.. It’s difficult to find good quality writing like yours nowadays.
I really appreciate people like you! Take care!!