Sing a Disney Song

Aladdin

One of the most romantic Disney films, Aladdin was based on the well-known Arabic folktale about a young robber named Aladdin, in the kingdom of Agrabah, who discovers a magic lamp and longs to be a prince to earn the love of the beautiful Princess Jasmine. The late, great comedian Robin Williams gave an amazing performance with “Friend Like Me” as the Genie, which is among the best known and celebrated songs. The song introduces the character and highlights the Genie’s magical abilities.

Also from “Aladdin” came the beautiful romantic ballad “A Whole New World," sung by the American actress Linda Larkin as Princess Jasmine and the American actor Scott Weinger as Aladdin as the characters soar through the sky on a magic carpet ride. It became Disney’s greatest duet.

Beauty and the Beast

The 1756 French fairy tale of the same name was transformed into the magical film “Beauty and the Beast." The story revolved around Belle, a young French woman, who, in return for the release of her father, consents to live with a terrifying beast. Despite their differences, Belle and the Beast grow close over time and fall in love. The Ashman and Menken composition of the title song “Beauty and the Beast” received the 1992 Oscar for Best Original Song, and how could it lose when it was sung by the British-American actress Angela Lansbury as the animated character Mrs. Potts? The song beautifully captures the timeless and ever-evolving nature of love.

Cinderella

Of all the Disney princesses, Cinderella seems to be the most adored. The film about her is a tragic adaptation of the fairy story by Charles Perrault. It is about a young woman who is tormented by her evil stepmother and stepsisters. Her destiny is altered when she meets her fairy godmother, who grants her a wish to attend the ball in her kingdom, where she wins the love of the prince. “A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes” is the central theme and a charming and tender tribute to trust and hope.

Dumbo

Not meant to be, but the animated movie Dumbo turned out to be the saddest of Disney movies. It tells the story of Jumbo Jr., a circus elephant who other elephants call Dumbo. Mostly shunned and without friends, Dumbo becomes a celebrity when he discovers that with his overly large ears used as wings, he can fly. The elephant has a loving relationship with his mother, Mrs. Jumbo. One time, she is upset and attempts to protect her baby from abuse and winds up getting imprisoned. Dumbo sits by her cage, and she sings a wonderful and loving lullaby to him, “Baby Mine." Through the voice of American actress Betty Noyes, this melancholic song became a favorite.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame

The musical themes in the film “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” are remarkably dark and mature, embracing the Gothic architecture of the eponymous cathedral and producing some of the most exalted works from the Disney Renaissance. “The Bells of Notre Dame” is a song that serves as the movie’s prologue and is a particularly memorable opening piece. American actor and singer Paul Kandel as Clopin, the Gypsy storyteller, made the song memorable.

The Jungle Book

“The Jungle Book” is one of Disney’s most lively and entertaining masterpieces. The film was based on the 1984 novel of the same name by Rudyard Kipling. The story tells about Mowgli, a little boy who has been raised by a pack of wolves in the Indian jungle. The boy teams up with his buddies like Baloo the bear to battle the vicious tiger Shere Khan. The film’s most iconic song is the jazzy and upbeat “Bare Necessities” performed by the American entertainer Phil Harris as Baloo the bear. The song was written by Terry Gilkyson.

The Lion King

The opening of the film “The Lion King” is the most well-known, especially for the song “Circle of Life," which was written by the English singer and songwriter Elton John and British lyricist Tim Rice and performed by them. The powerful melody of the song and now-immortal Zulu-spoken lyrics make it instantly iconic. “The Lion King” is one of the greatest Disney soundtracks.

The Little Mermaid

The film, “The Little Mermaid," has a Caribbean-themed storyline, which was complemented with a number of catchy rhythms. The upbeat and unforgettable “Under the Sea” was a combination of reggae and calypso to create a lighthearted and passionate love letter to aquatic life. It was written by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken and performed by the American actor Samuel E. Wright as Sebastian the crab. The song won the 1990 Oscar for Best Original Song.

Pocahontas

One of Disney’s most undervalued works, "Pocahontas," in 1995, became a favorite animated film. It was based on the real-life story of the Indian princess Pocahontas, a clan chief’s daughter who has a forbidden romance with the English adventurer John Smith. The most well-known song is “Colors of the Wind," which was sung by the American actress and singer Judy Kuhn as Pocahontas. The song was written by Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz. The princess asks John to take notice of the beauty of the natural world around him.

Tarzan

In 1999, the film “Tarzan” was widely regarded as the end of the Disney Renaissance, signaling the end of the studio’s most successful and well-received period. This film portrays the tale of the an orphaned kid who grows up in the jungle with a family of apes. It is based on the 1912 tale “Tarzan of the Apes” by Edgar Rice Burroughs. For this film, the English drummer, singer, and songwriter Phil Collins composed a number of songs, including the Oscar-winning ballad “You’ll Be in My Heart." American actress Glen Close performs the song, a tender lullaby from a parent to their child, before Collins continues.