Top 10 Greatest Songs from Old/Classic Disney Movies

As far as Disney flicks go, “Alice in Wonderland” is one of the wonderfully quirkiest. Naturally, its musical stylings reflect that. “In a World of My Own” provides a glimpse into Alice’s imagination before her adventure even really begins. And who could forget the White Rabbit’s "I'm Late"? But no number gets us humming more than “All in the Golden Afternoon.” Sung primarily by the Flowers of Wonderland, it’s as melodic a tune as they come. The instrumentation is irresistible, while the chorus of voices is nothing short of gorgeous. Even Alice can’t help but join in. Who knew flowers could sound so good? We can learn a lot of things from them, indeed!

First, we have to thank “The Aristocats” for reminding us how important our "Scales and Arpeggios" are. But as catchy as that tune is, nothing quite compares to "Ev'rybody Wants to Be a Cat." We’ve been hooked on that snazzy feline beat since we first heard it, and you won’t hear us complaining about it. Thomas O'Malley, Scat Cat, and company go all out for this one, and it’s a party. There’s offensive elements, and they can’t be excused. But if you cut those out, there’s lots to enjoy. Even if you’re not the biggest cat person around, there’s no denying this song has style. After all, a cat’s the only cat who knows where it’s at!

What do you get when you combine an animal, New York City-based reimagining of “Oliver Twist” and the talents of one Billy Joel? The answer is a banger, of course! The 1988 flick sees Joel as Dodger, a dog who’s cooler than cool. And he really gets our attention with “Why Should I Worry?” He’s so self-assured in his delivery, and the dynamic energy running through his vocals and the beat itself is infectious. Plus, while spotlighting his chill persona, the song makes those of us listening forget our own worries for a while, too! By the end, there’s zero doubt in our minds that Dodger is street-smart, with New York City heart, and oodles of street savoir-faire!

There are some songs that make you tear up the second they start playing. “Baby Mine” is, without question, one of them. We can’t stand seeing Mrs. Jumbo locked up. Yet when her struggling son Dumbo comes to visit her, she focuses all her attention on him, while we hear this hauntingly beautiful lullaby. She’s putting her own pain aside to comfort her little one — and it never fails to tug at our heartstrings. Mother and child find solace in each other, and we too find solace in the unconditional love that seeps through the ballad. Plus, the way Betty Noyes’ gorgeous voice takes over the scene is like the biggest hug. We’d even say it’s precious to us.

Luckily for us, Disney’s very first animated feature film doesn’t skimp on the music! Snow White has us whistling while we work, and listening attentively as she sings about love in truly beautiful fashion. But we’d like to take this opportunity to focus on Doc, Grumpy, and the rest of the crew, because they deliver one of the catchiest tunes we know! In the movie, they sing about doing their thing in the mines, going home after a long day – and later even heading off to work. And we always find ourselves jamming like nobody’s watching. As a bonus, “Heigh-Ho” doubles as the perfect anthem to blast at your own job, be it quitting or starting time!

If she doesn’t scare you, no evil thing will. Cruella De Vil is one of the most preposterous Disney villains out there – seriously, who goes after pups?! So it’s only right that there be a tune that captures exactly how vile she is. The one Roger Radcliffe comes up with is as fun and clever as she is horrible. The punchy melody and lyrics combine, giving us chills while also inspiring some laughs. The fact that Roger initially performs it as Cruella is arriving at the Radcliffe residence – before we learn the extent of her cruelty – just adds to the impact. After she leaves, we can’t join him in singing fast enough! We totally get why the track becomes super popular by the movie’s end.

The notion that you could come across someone and feel as though you know them from your dreams is deeply romantic. “Once Upon a Dream” brings that heavenly sense to life musically, making for an enchanting listening experience. Indeed, the ballad is so rich, and the lyrics about a gleam in one’s eyes and visions fill our hearts with love and wonder. We never tire of watching Aurora and Prince Phillip duet it, or dance as a chorus vocalizes off screen. Granted, their woodsy encounter isn’t their first meeting, but she was a baby the other time, so it may as well be. We couldn’t think of a better song to accompany such a momentous occasion – or to open and close out the movie.

Have you ever wondered what being a bear might be like? Whether your answer to that question is yes or no, you’ll surely love hearing the answer laid out in “The Bare Necessities.” With his snazzy rendition, Baloo reminds us that we need to forget about our worries and our strife, because the bare necessities of life will come to us. And we love when Mowgli eventually lends his voice to the performance and adopts the philosophy, too! The whole thing is an upbeat, energetic, easy-going banger – we just wish it lasted longer. Thankfully, there are plenty of other tracks from “The Jungle Book” to keep us entertained once this one ends! Trust in us, it’s a stellar soundtrack!

Disney flicks have a magical ability to make us believe that no matter how our hearts are grieving, things will get better if we keep on believing in our dreams. That’s exactly what Cinderella accomplishes with “A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes.” As she sings about the importance of keeping the faith early on in the film, we feel like she’s speaking straight to us. And that’s saying nothing of Ilene Woods’ delivery, which is downright breathtaking. The way the fairy tale plays out only bolsters the gentle tune’s uplifting message, cementing it as an all-time classic. Since we’re talking about “Cinderella,” though, allow us to also shout out the Fairy Godmother, who gives us a bibbidi-bobbidi-BOP.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

"Bella Notte," “Lady and the Tramp” (1955)
The Perfect Disney Date Night Tune

"You Can Fly!," “Peter Pan” (1953)
Listening to This Feels Like Flying

"Oo-De-Lally," “Robin Hood” (1973)
Golly, What a Snappy Number

"Someone's Waiting for You," “The Rescuers” (1977)
Heartbreaking in the Most Poignant Way

"The World's Greatest Criminal Mind," “The Great Mouse Detective” (1986)
Oh Ratigan, You Terrify Us with This Song!

Get you a conscience that can guide you through life and croon out one of the most inspirational film songs around. Jiminy Cricket has range, first showing off his endless musical talent with “When You Wish Upon a Star.” We aren’t exaggerating when we say Cliff Edwards’ commanding voice stops us dead in our tracks. Of course, there’s also Ned Washington’s lyrics and Leigh Harline’s music, which warm our hearts. It all blends seamlessly, creating an enduring masterpiece. Now, “Pinocchio” is filled with captivating numbers like "I've Got No Strings." But nothing quite compares to the fuzzy feeling we get when we hear Jiminy assure us that when we wish upon a star, our dreams come true!