Hello & welcome back to A Look at Disney. Ah, Valentine's Day. I admit that I'm a sucker for love and that is why today, on Music Fridays, I will be counting down my favorite love songs from Disney. And not just 6, oh no, we are taking a look at my 14 favorite love songs. With that out of the way, let's begin.
14. Mickey, She's Got A Crush On You - Splashdance
I might be cheating with this one and that's why it's only at # 14. I just think that this is a really cute song about how Minnie wants to be with Mickey because she is crushing on Mickey and he, the same. The story is simple and maybe a little cheesy but I totally think it's super cute and catchy and that's the big reason, it made my list. Is it the most memorable love song? No, not really but I like it.
13. Love Is An Open Door - Frozen
I fought myself over whether or not to put this one on the list knowing the third act reveal regarding Hans being the bad guy but... I still like this one as a love song. It's cute and quirky, just like Anna and just so much fun to hear these sing about how much they have in common. This is probably the only love song that is also a villain song in a Disney film and oddly, that makes it even more interesting especially having the context knowing how Hans was able to easily trick Anna, like he did.
12. Could It Be - Kim Possible: So The Drama
Yeah, call this one a nostalgic pick but I couldn't leave it off the list. Disney Channel movies don't always have the greatest songs but this one is different as this was something that KP fans had wanted and the song and this film delve into how Kim and Ron were perfect for each other. And in my mind, I picture KP singing this song about Ron, as she realizes that while Ron has always been a great friend to her, her feelings are starting to change into something more for him and that kiss up above proves it as well. It's just a sweet little song of discovering new feelings for someone that had been her life for a very long time.
11. When She Loved Me - Toy Story 2/On The Record
Coming at # 11 is a tie of two different versions of the same song. Some of you may be wondering why I'm including this song on a countdown of love songs. One aspect of love is heartbreak and this song covers that very well. Starting with the Toy Story 2 version, which is the greatest Pixar song of all time, it does a great job of letting us know who Jessie is and why she is so scared and doesn't want to get connected to another child because of what happened with Emily. It's one of the saddest moments in any movie. And then there is the version of this song from On The Record, where I find it changes, just by having a male sing it. Now, I've not seen the show, so I do not know the context for that version of the song but I've always pictured it as though, he is pining over his love that had left him.
10. I Won't Say I'm In Love - Hercules
This one is on the list for pretty much, the same reason as # 11, it's a different type of love song. In this number, Meg is fighting her feelings for Hercules because she is still scorned by her ex-lover. And she doesn't want to be hurt, even though she knows that Hercules is a good guy. And I like how the Muses are trying to convince her to open up and just admit that she is in love but it's hard for her to do so because of her past.
9. If I Never Knew You - Pocahontas
I admittedly don't find Pocahontas to be a very memorable film but I do like this song and it's perhaps my favorite song from the film, ironic considering that it was cut and wasn't a part of the film until the 2005 DVD release but this is a lovely song as John Smith and Pocahontas confess their strong romantic feelings for one another. And I think having it take place before John Smith's death adds a great sense of tragedy to this song, that just makes it work all the more and to m stand out more then the rest of this film.
8. A Whole New World - Aladdin
Really, not a whole lot more to add to this one as I talked about Aladdin all week, last week but this is a great love song. The lyrics are wonderful and the visuals that accompany this scene are just so great. It's hard not to get caught up in Al and Jasmine's romance as they sing of this new world, where they can both finally be happy and not have to deal with the cards that life has thrown at them in the past.
7. So This Is Love - Cinderella
I do have my issues with Prince Charming but I love this film and I love this song. This is the only song from Cinderella that I currently have in my Itunes library. It's my favorite song from the film. This song has old time romance feel to it, I think in part Ilene Woods and Mike Douglas singing add to that. This song feels likes something that would not be too out of place to see Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers dance as it old time, yet timeless, and I think that is why this love song all these years later has stood the test of time.
6. Bella Notte - Lady and The Tramp
Who would've thought that one of Disney's most romantic songs and most romantic films would be about two dogs falling in love? Oddly,enough it's work. I just think the atmosphere and setting help to set the mood. Sure, it may be a little weird that Tony is singing this for Butch but he sees these two are in love and wants to give them, a romantic night, that they'll never forget and Bella Notte. It is an enchanted evening, indeed. It's such a sweet little love song that I can't help but smile, when I hear it.
5. Kiss The Girl - The Little Mermaid
Talk about setting the mood, Sebastian sure knows to do that and does a great job of creating a memorable night that Ariel and Eric won't forget. Of course, we know the big reason that Ariel needs to kiss Eric. But aside from that, this does what a memorable love song should do. It sets the mood and gets the audience invested in the relationship between Ariel and Eric. And the moment, where he is trying to guess her name is adorable. Maybe the only thing that kills this number for me is Scuttle but I hate that character to begin with. Thankfully though, he's not into much of the number and we instead just get to hear Sebastian do a great job of serenading the couple.
4. Can You Feel The Love Tonight? - The Lion King (Broadway)
Ah yes, I finally get to talk about stage songs. If you know me, I love stage musicals and The Lion King is one of my favorite musicals and I feel that it's superior to the film and that even extends to this version of "Can You Feel The Love Tonight?", unlike in the film, where it was a voice singing it over the scenes, in the play, it was changed to Simba and Nala singing it to each other. Now yes, it was their voices singing it in the film but I don't know, to actually see them sing it and have the song come from them in person, makes it feel more intimate and real, when compared to its' film counterpart. And this is just a great and tender moment, where Simba and Nala acknowledge their feelings for one another and in a sense grow up.
3. Something To Believe In - Newsies (Broadway)
This was a song, that I knew I wanted on my list and I'm not surprised by how high it landed. My fandom of Newsies or Fansies side, if you will is what led me to give this song, the number three slot. This song comes toward the end of the play, after the Newsies had gone through the trouble with the strike and more importantly Pulitzer. This song is also a reflection of how, the play improved one of the biggest things, I hated in the film, the romantic interest, who unlike Katherine Plummer, had no personality. In the play though, Jack and Katherine have a rocky relationship as Katherine is a news reporter and also happens to be the one covering the strike, and oh yeah, Pulitzer is her dad. Talk about complications. This song as corny as it is to say, is sweet because it's nice to see these two finally have a person in their life that they can believe in, and they'll believe in them. For Katherine, this is important to her because of her female status, she's been told that she won't get anywhere in the newspaper industry and doesn't want to rely on her father's name. Which yes, does make it harder to her but she is determined to make it on her own. And Jack got her to open up and this song shows how important, the relationship is to Jack because, while yes, he had the Newsies in his life and those are his brothers, he never really had a love that meant this much to him until he met Katherine. Also, this is my favorite exchange from the song.
Katherine: If you weren't going to Santa FeJack: And if you weren't an heiress
And if your father wasn't after my headKatherine:You're not really scared of my fatherJack:No, but I'm pretty scared of youKatherine:Don't be
This is my favorite exchange because it's a reminder that even though Jack puts on this tough guy, he is vulnerable and Katherine makes him feel all the more vulnerable because he's never felt this way about anyone before.
2. Beauty and The Beast - Beauty and The Beast
Yeah, this had to be in the Top 3, this is perhaps the most iconic and most beloved Disney love song of all time. And it's not hard to see why. Let's see you have Broadway vet, Angela Lansbury singing your love song and knocking it out of the park. This is a simple song but it takes us through the relationship of Beast and Belle and how they've come to change each other and accept each other over the course of the film. It's just a lovely piece to listen to and it captures the nature of this relationship perfectly.
1. I See The Light - Tangled
Yeah, who didn't see this one coming? We all know my feelings on this film, so there was a good chance that this song was going to take the top spot. This like so many of the other great love songs on this list, are where we get to hear Rapunzel and Eugene confess their love for one another. And also the visuals, like with a lot of the other numbers on this list are just breathtaking but there is one other reason, that it took the top spot, it's good character progression for Rapunzel as it is in this number, that she starts to grow up and become a young lady. With this exchange of dialogue.
Rapunzel: [During the 'I See The Light' number; Rapunzel sees Flynn holding two lanterns for her and approaches him] I have something for you too.
[Rapunzel hands Flynn his satchel, Flynn looks surprised]
Rapunzel: I should have given it to you before, but I was scared. And the thing is, I'm not scared anymore. You know what I mean?
Flynn Rider: [Flynn gently pushes the satchel Rapunzel is holding in front of him aside and flashes a sincere smile] I'm starting to.
It clicked with me, when I heard Rapunzel tell Flynn that she isn't scared anymore. For all of her life, Rapunzel's "mother" had told the world was a dark and scary place but Flynn showed Rapunzel that there are people in the world, that'll truly look out for you. And this song is also, when Flynn finally accepts that people can like him as Eugene as well and he doesn't have to pretend to be, something he's not to impress Rapunzel. This is my favorite love song for all those reasons and it just does a great job of advancing the story and progressing the characters' development. Plus Pascal is really cute here.
D'aww. But yeah, this is my favorite Disney love song and well, this is my favorite couple from a Disney film and I think that this song suits them wonderfully.
There you have it, my Top 14 Love Songs from Disney. What are some of your favorites? Let me know in the comments! Peace!
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