Disney and the magic of its melodies: its emblematic songs and where to enjoy them

Music has the power to make us travel, to convey emotions or, when it comes to a soundtrack, to make us connect and immerse ourselves in the stories that his films tell.. The Disney factory has always been characterized by the prominence of its songs, helping to create the magic that defines most of its productions. There are countless melodies that have marked several generations: The Lion King, Aladdin, Cinderella or, among the most recent, Frozen, to give just a few examples. That is why we dedicate this article to taking a tour of their most emblematic songs to learn about some of the details that perhaps go unnoticed, such as who is behind their creation. So let yourself go and join us on this journey through the magic of disney.

The most famous Disney soundtracks

Since its inception, Disney has shown great respect for the power of music to tell stories. It is a principle that has always been present in their way of doing things. Therefore, it is not surprising that many of his initial animated works, back in 1928, were told mainly through songs.

One of the things that makes Disney soundtracks are so successful is that the music is part of the narrative; It is not just a way to explain the story, but it is created as an emotional element with which to understand the feelings of its characters. Thus, music becomes a component through which you “feel” with the protagonists themselves, instead of simply observing their stories.

Perhaps this is one of the secrets of why his soundtracks have transcended; They have made them become timeless, attracting diverse audiences belonging to different generations. Furthermore, over the years, the number of his songs that have become popular has only grown.

The Lion King: the most awarded classic

The Lion King is perhaps one of the most triumphant and beloved films of all time. It premiered in the United States in 1994 and its fame was more than supported by several awards. Its soundtrack consists of 12 songs in total, most composed by Hans Zimmer and Elton John and with lyrics by Tim Rice. Among them, “Can You Feel the Love Tonight,” a classic pop ballad starring Simba and Nala, won the Oscar for best song in 1995. In the same category, it competed with “The Circle of Life,” the moving music that opens the film, and with the fun “Hakuna Matata”. That same year the film also won the Oscar for best original score.

As if that were not enough, The Lion King also won three Golden Globes that same year: for best comedy/musical film, for best song, again, with “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” and for best soundtrack.

Aladdin: an ideal world full of adventures

The story of a young man who finds a magic lamp with a genie and who promises to grant him his wishes. Flying carpets, adventures and, of course, a love story. Released two years before The Lion King, Aladdin She was also praised for her music.

Specifically, once again, it was the ballad “A Whole New World” (“An ideal world"), which won the Oscar for best song in the 1993 edition. Composed by Alen Menken and with lyrics by Tim Rice, it immerses us in a journey through the skies where its protagonists, Jasmine and Aladdin, fantasize about freedom while They see their love blossom.

Frozen: the new Disney classic

One of Disney's most recent cultural phenomena: the adventures of sisters Anna and Elsa in an ice kingdom. His emblematic “Let it Go”, “Suéltalo” in the Spanish version, is a song that, although the film has not been seen, has been heard more than once. A song that won the Oscar for best song in 2014. Although it is the most recognizable melody, the truth is that all the music that accompanies the film is fundamental to the narrative.

Those responsible for its soundtrack were Robert Lopez (music) and Kristen Anderson-Lopez (lyrics).

What is the most famous Disney song?

Highlighting a Disney movie over all the others is a complicated matter, even more so when it is something so subjective based on personal preferences. If we look at its impact, the soundtrack of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) was very representative. It was about Disney's first animated feature film at a time when it was thought that no one would watch animated films longer than 10 minutes.

However, it turned out to be the highest-grossing film of the time. One of the keys was the original compositions of Frank Churchill and Larry Morey. They got them in tune with the audience to such an extent that they could sing all their melodies with ease. The soundtrack was Oscar nominated and many of his songs were regulars on radio stations.

If we move to more recent times, “There is no talk of Bruno”, of Charm, was a very popular song that topped the Billboard album chart. What's more, it was the first time that Disney reached number 1 on the Hot 100 list since 1993. If we continue to look at this magazine, other indisputable hits over the years have been ““Can You Feel the Love Tonight” and, of course, “Suéltalo” from Frozen, which peaked at number 4 with a performance by artist Idina Menzel.

And we cannot forget other classics like those of Beauty and the Beast, “Colors in the wind” by Pocahontas either “In my heart you will be” Tarzan, played by Phil Collins. The list is endless.

Who writes Disney songs?

Disney songs are always the result of collective work. As we have seen, different people write them, depending on the project. Even so, there are some figures worth highlighting.

For example, Alan Menken is a composer who began in the world of cinema writing the music of The little Mermaid, and continued with the factory in other films such as Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast either Hercules. Randy Newman was responsible for creating the well-known “There is a friend in me”, toy story or Oliver Wallace, author of soundtracks such as that of Cinderella either Peter Pan, to name just a few.

Where to enjoy the music of the best Disney songs live

If you want to be transported back to the atmosphere of your favorite movies, such as Mulan and Pocahontas, check out our Henko tour dates and don't miss out on your ticket! Relive the emotions and magic they transmit the music from Disney movies live is quite an experience. Whether with family or friends, with the Film Symphony Orchestra it is possible.