Top 10 Happy Sounding Disney Songs That Are Actually Depressing

“Alice in Wonderland” (1951)
At first, this sequence seems like a little diversion from Alice’s journey through Wonderland. Tweedledee and Tweedledum narrate the tale of a walrus and a carpenter for their new young friend. With its jaunty melody and happy whistles, it’s a deceptively charming track. But this number, adapted directly from one of author Lewis Carroll’s poems, turns out to be the story about the walrus enchanting a group of oysters into becoming his meal. It’s pretty on par for the bright-yet-twisted tone of the whole movie, but it’s one of the cheeriest murders in Disney history.

“Beauty and the Beast” (1991)
After another rejection from Belle, the brawny but not too brainy Gaston goes to the pub with his pal, LeFou. “Gaston” is a catchy number that has all the liveliness and rhythm of a drinking song. When Gaston isn’t singing his own praises, LeFou and the villagers are doing it for him. Yes, it’s goofy and hilariously narcissistic. But as you listen, you really have to wonder how much fear is behind this sing-along. What would happen if everyone wasn’t so eager to prop up Gaston’s ego? We eventually find out just how far he’s willing to go when someone dares to suggest he’s not a god among men.

“The Aristocats” (1970)
Jazz-infused horns and a rocking feline band make this an all-time classic Disney song. Allegedly, it was originally supposed to be performed by jazz legend Louis Armstrong, but health issues made him unable to perform the role of Scat Cat. Actor and musician Scatman Crothers replaced him, and Armstrong would actually pass away a few months after the film’s release. However, audiences have another reason to find the exuberant track a total downer. One of the featured cats is drawn as a racist caricature. The version on Disney+ inserted a disclaimer before the movie as a result.

“Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” (1937)
In the Disney studio’s very first feature-length animated film, the titular princess serenades her new friends about the handsome prince she met. Snow White has already been through a lot by the time she sings the movie’s big love ballad. Because it’s Disney, we know she’ll have her happily ever after. But as sweet and fluttery as the song is, there’s something achingly sad about her faith in a true love rescuing her despite all the odds. There’s a reason the song became a standard. It leaves a lot of room for longing and heartbreak.

“The Lion King” (1994)
Young Simba is tired of being told what to do by his father, King Mufasa, and his father’s irritating hornbill advisor. Filled with bright naivety and stunning visuals, “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King” is bursting with joy and humor. Simba is looking forward to growing up and doing what he wants, when he wants. But if you know “The Lion King,” you know how that’s going to go. Unbeknownst to Simba, his independence and place as king comes at a major cost. For him to finally become king, he’ll have to lose his father and overcome his uncle’s betrayal.

It’s a Small World ride
Walt Disney had a very simple directive for the Sherman Brothers, the songwriting duo who would create tracks for “Mary Poppins,” “The Aristocats,” and “The Jungle Book.” He wanted a theme for his new attraction — and it had to be easy to translate into other languages. Their composition was one that emphasized all the things humanity shares. The Cold War context, and the threat of global war, informed the Sherman Brothers’ writing. Originally meant to be a slow ballad, Disney’s request that it be sped up and arranged in a more upbeat fashion might have helped to hide its slightly mournful content.

“Oliver & Company” (1988)
Between the riffs and synthesizer sounds and the lead vocals of Huey Lewis, this opening song from “Oliver & Company” could have been at home on a late 80s Top 40 chart. “Once Upon a Time in New York City” is full of inspirational lyrics about not giving up on your dreams. But in the context of the movie, the song is used to underscore a young, homeless kitten’s journey from being the only cat left in his litter to scrounging for food on the streets. Its message about how the strong survive suddenly feels a lot more poignant.

“Tangled” (2010)
As Broadway star Donna Murphy flits through “Mother Knows Best” with her easy charm, we can see how she’s such an effective villain. Mother Gothel has a sickly sweet lilt in her voice as she disguises her ill intent with overdramatic descriptions of the outside world. The song is so catchy, you almost forget how evil she is. She’s determined to keep her daughter afraid in order to control her. The music, though, is deceptively fun and cheeky. It’s only when her solo comes back at the end that we really get to see all the evil behind it.

“Frozen” (2013)
When Princess Anna meets Prince Hans, it seems like love at first sight. Their quirky and lovable duet, “Love Is an Open Door,” illustrates how much they’ve been changed by each other, even though they’ve only just met. They’re so in sync, it’s like they’ve known each other their entire lives. Sounds great, right? Well, “Frozen’s” big heel turn at the climax is that Prince Hans has been a villain the whole time. He doesn’t love Anna, and never did. All he wanted was to usurp her crown. It makes the entire romantic, hilarious, crowd-pleasing song a complete and utter lie.

“Song of the South” (1946)
On its face, this ditty is about feeling so happy, you can’t stop yourself from singing. “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah” has been covered and repurposed so many times that many have probably forgotten the movie it came from. Considering Disney has kept “Song of the South” out of circulation in the United States for decades, that’s probably by design. The controversial film has been lambasted since its 1946 release for its use of racial stereotypes. It’s even been suggested the nonsense title was actually inspired by a racist folk song from the 19th century. Disney has largely distanced itself from the Oscar-winning “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah.”


Did any of these songs surprise you? Let us know in the comments.