Top 20 Catchiest Disney Songs

How can such a peppy tune come from such a despicable character? That’s a genuine question. Despite the carefree tempo, "Hi-Diddle-Dee-Dee" is sung by the film’s central antagonist, Honest John. In fact, it’s often cited as Disney’s first villain song, ever. Talk about making a good first impression. There’s a certain step to "Hi-Diddle-Dee-Dee’s" beat that’s simply irresistible. Hearing it once is setting yourself up to have it stuck in your head for weeks. It’s to the point, we can’t even blame Pinocchio for going with Honest John. If we heard "Hi-Diddle-Dee-Dee" in real life, we’d have followed him, too.

Maui may just be an average Demi-guy, but he sure can belt out a good solo. Or, maybe we should be thanking Lin-Manuel Miranda. He sure knows how to compose a rap section, and even in his esteemed repertoire, few are quite as infectious as “You’re Welcome.” The rhythm is practically bursting with life. Add in some of Miranda’s classic rhymes, and you have a song that’s just begging you to kick back, relax, and enjoy. Plus, who can pass up hearing Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson rap in a Disney film? What we can say except… Well, you get the point.

There’s no denying that the original Disney Princess has some pipes. But, when the credits roll on “Snow White,” it’s not any of her songs you’ll be rushing to replay. No, that honor belongs to “Heigh-Ho.” It’s one track, with seven dwarfs, and about a billion reasons to keep coming back for more. Whether you’re returning from a long day at work, or just looking to chill out, “Heigh-Ho” has all the charm needed to keep you smiling. And need we even mention its legendary melody? If you say you’ve never whistled along to “Heigh-Ho,” you either haven’t heard it, or you’re lying.

Phil Collins is a madman. He went way harder than anyone expected on “Tarzan’s” soundtrack, and we have gems like “Trashin’ the Camp” to thank for it. It’s electric, it’s fresh, it’s hummable, and it's entirely built from natural sounds. There’s a clacking typewriter, rattling silverware, ripping cloth, and an elephant playing the horn. Just go with it. Collins quickly ramps up the funk, building the disparate parts into a scat-like chorus that’s tailor-made to make you get up and dance. Or, in Tarzan’s case, swing from some vines. “Trashin’ the Camp” is basically a whole party wrapped into one, outstanding beat. What more could you ask for?

Before she became a frog, Tiana croaked out a dazzling story about her dreams to open a restaurant. It just so happened to come in the form of an Academy-Award nominated song. “Almost There” is a full-on delight all the way through, featuring all the toe-tapping melodies, smooth-sounding lyrics, and impressive vocal control that Disney’s known for. No matter if you’re a frog, a princess, or something in between, there’s just no making it through “Almost There” without admiring its easy-going vibes. After this, Tiana should rethink her dream. With a voice like hers, she could charge for dinner and a show.

What’s this, you ask? Oh, nothing much, just a song that’s better than a present under a Christmas Tree. The whimsical orchestrations effortlessly capture the wonder of Jack’s wintery adventure. To go along with it, the fast-paced lyrics and staccato-like chorus are to die for - and not just because they’re sung by an actual skeleton. The propulsive rhythm ensures things are light, energetic, and fun until the very last note. A note that comes way too soon, if you’re asking us. We could listen to this song all day long. Suffice it to say, there’s no trick here. “What’s This?” is all treat.

There’s only a few necessities to crafting a movie-defining jingle. You need an earworm of a chorus, an easy to digest message, and lots of jazz. “The Bare Necessities” has them all in spades. Baloo sings every note with such a laid back swagger, it’s pretty much destined to stay living in your head rent-free. To prove it, almost everyone walks out of “The Jungle Book” knowing this song’s chorus by heart. It’s just that memorable. And heartwarming. And mellow. We could keep going. Baloo isn’t kidding when he says “The Bare Necessities” is really all you need.

Herc needed a good, old-fashioned montage track, and like a gift from Olympus, the Muses descended and delivered a rock anthem for the ages. “Zero to Hero” is everything a show-stopper should be. There’s nothing in the rest of “Hercules’” soundtrack, or, really, many Disney films at all, that match its pulse-pounding tempo. It doesn’t ever let up, either. Instead, the beat continues to grow all the way into a dizzying finale that has more flair than it knows what to do with. If Herc puts the glad in gladiator, then the Muses put the “her” in “hero.”

Peanut butter and jelly. Lilo and Stitch. Hawaiian lyrics and acoustic instrumentation. They’re simply a perfect match, and if you need convincing, one listen to “Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride” should do the trick. The song is a beautiful summation of Hawaii's culture, and it comes with a gorgeous melody, to boot. Be warned, though, this is the kind of earworm that stays with you long after the credits roll. That’s really saying something considering “Lilo and Stitch” isn’t even billed as a full-on musical. Then again, they clearly don’t need any more songs; “Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride” is more than enough.

Back in 1988, Dodger asked a very simple question. Who knew that, by answering, he’d put himself in the center of an absolutely unforgettable song. These days, “Why Should I Worry?” answers itself. To put it in Dodger’s words, one minute, he’s in central park, and the next, he’s bringing all the groove you could ever want, and then some. And that chorus - we could fill an entire list with reasons why it’s so iconic. Namely, the fact that you can listen to it over and over without getting tired of it. Rest assured, when it comes to “Oliver & Company’s” music, there’s not a thing to worry about.

Roger Radcliffe sure knows how to write one heck of a tune – and about a terrifying villain, at that! Not only does his musical creation let us know that we should be very afraid of Cruella before we formally meet her, it’s also wildly memorable. Granted, “Cruella De Vil” is relatively short. But that doesn’t even matter, because it manages to work so much into its melody and lyrics, giving us a concentrated, snappy jazz masterpiece. It’s no wonder it becomes a major success by the end of the film – we’re clearly not the only ones who love it!

There are a lot of “Aladdin” songs that stay with us long after they finish playing. “Prince Ali,” for one, is a certified bop. And “A Whole New World” is utterly unforgettable. But “Friend Like Me” takes the catchy cake. For one thing, Robin Williams’ Genie goes above and beyond. We can’t believe the character doesn’t charge Aladdin for this performance – it’s arguably worth a wish or two! Meanwhile, the track itself is also deeply appealing, and the result is a riveting listening experience. With how often we find ourselves singing the show tune simply because the urge strikes us, it really does feel like we have a constant friend in Genie.

Do it with us now: Bibbidi-bobbidi-boo! We don't have to understand what the Fairy Godmother is saying in this novelty tune to walk around imitating her. The ditty’s repetitive and rather nonsensical nature could’ve come off as annoying in a lesser piece. But here, it gives us a true classic. Indeed, it’s practically transcended the movie itself at this point, which is no small feat. We hear it playing as clearly as we see Cinderella’s gorgeous dress transformation in our minds – that’s about as big a compliment as we can give. Hey, the Fairy Godmother said it best: “the thingamabob that does the job is bibbidi-bobbidi-boo”!

Let’s get down to business, to find a way to get “I’ll Make a Man Out of You” out of our heads. We’re kidding – why would we (or anyone) ever want to do that?! Plus, we don’t even think it’s possible – there’s no getting around the fact that it’s an addictive number. Even if you put the captivating training montage and the irony on display given Mulan’s gender aside, Li Shang is giving us poppy motivation at its finest. The determined beat, engrossing content, and Donny Osmond’s vocals have us walking around reminding ourselves to be swift as the coursing river on the regular.

Our brains will not let this melody or these lyrics go! We can’t even hear the words “let it go” without the ballad coming to mind, which tells you everything you need to know. It marks Elsa’s big moment, where she stops concealing and starts feeling. It goes without saying, but Idina Menzel’s rendition is more than fit for the occasion, entrancing us from start to finish. It hasn’t become a phenomenon in its own right by accident. We also now associate wanting to build a snowman with another aptly titled “Frozen” number. Shout out to this movie for giving us a stellar soundtrack we won’t soon forget.

There’s nothing funny about what an absolute bop “I2I” is. Goofy and Max joining fictional superstar Powerline on stage as he performs is a total treat, and this is the perfect song to underscore the moment. It’s infectious the whole way through, with a chorus that’s impossible to ignore. We can barely resist the urge to get up and channel our own inner Powerline just thinking about it. We definitely could never match what Tevin Campbell brings to the table, but we always have a wonderful time trying as we groove. If we listen to each other's heart, we’ll probably hear “I2I” blasting.

We can’t deny that Belle and her little town come alive in “Beauty and the Beast’”s opening number. But Lumière, Mrs. Potts, and company have been living – or should we say dining – in our heads rent free ever since we first heard “Be Our Guest.” Howard Ashman and Alan Menken tapped into something special when crafting this one, bringing together a magical melody and enchanting lyrics that effortlessly hook us. Combine that with Jerry Orbach and Angela Lansbury’s magnetic take on the material, and you get a Broadway-style feast that never exits your consciousness. If you’re stressed, it’s “Be Our Guest,” we suggest!

It’s difficult to recall a time before “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” entered our lives and became a cultural obsession. The song’s writer and co-producer, Lin-Manuel Miranda, clearly knows how to draw listeners all the way in, and this Latin-infused hit is proof. For a while, the name on everybody’s lips was Bruno – honestly, it still sort of is! It’s easy to see why, since the chart-topping ensemble piece features exciting beats, intriguing verses, multiple perspectives and styles, a chorus that won’t quit, and more. In other words, it’s a major earworm. Of course, it’s not the only catchy track “Encanto” has to offer!

From “Les Poissons” to “Poor Unfortunate Souls,” the musical offerings in this film are endlessly melodic. “Under the Sea” is the prime example of that. Our feet may be on land, but deep down, we’re always cuttin' a rug where life is the bubbles! That’s because Sebastian’s show-stopper is everything. As we know, Ariel ends up doing her own thing, not taking the crab’s pro-sea arguments to heart. Still, we have a hard time believing the track doesn’t stay with her once she’s human – we know it’s had a long-lasting impact on us. Seriously, there are very few days where we don’t find ourselves thinking about (and humming) it.

There are several tunes from “The Lion King” we’ll never get enough of. “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King,” and “Be Prepared” are standouts. And our existence wouldn’t be the same without “Circle of Life.” But we have to spotlight “Hakuna Matata.” After all, time has proven that it ain’t no passing craze. Timon and Pumbaa are trying to help young Simba when they start performing the infectious piece. Pretty soon, he’s joining in and ultimately growing up. But they don’t only get Simba on board – we’re jamming and vocalizing along, too! Now, every word has embedded itself into our brains, and the titular philosophy is part of us. No complaints (or worries for the rest of our days) here, though.

What Disney song can you listen to on repeat? Let us know in the comments below!