Worst Disney Songs

[That1GuyPictures]

While there are many Disney songs that I don't particularly care for, there are many that I can still appreciate.

However, when a song disrupts the story telling of a film, or wrecks the general mood, I am dissapointed.

The following songs fit into that category in my opinion:


The Morning Report - From The Lion King
A Guy Like You - From The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Every Song from Aladdin and the King of Thieves
I Won't Say I'm In Love - From Hercules


On the other hand, I have found a DEEP appreciation for the songs mentioned in previous posts that others have deemed DUDS.

Someone's Waiting for You from The Rescuers
All the Songs from Alice and Wonderland

[GhostHost]

Why is the Red Man Red? is a great song and is not racist, it is just fun humor.

It may have been intended that way. But it is offensive. Do you have any idea what black people think of minstrel shows? Oh they're just fun shows with great songs... but they're RACIST. And nothing will change that. This film pokes Indians every chance it got, every moment they were onscreen. Sure you can consider it flattering that all the kids think they're great and want to be Indians, but "spoofum" and "heap big" are criticisms of how they don't speak like regular people, the fact that they were even colored red is strictly racist. Then, the historical inaccuracy - there are no Native American princesses, men don't do that hand-slapping over their mouth (sounds like "wa-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba") wardance, and they continue to treat them as though regular people founded or discovered the land. I'm not just taking issue with this film, but Melody Time as well, in both the Pecos Bill and Johnny Appleseed segments.

People need to STOP GETTING OFFENDED.

[Lazario]

People need to STOP GETTING OFFENDED.

Easier said than done. And nothing gets accomplished with an attitude like that. In fact, it's easy to see how you're on the other side here. You, like (too) many other people, aren't bothered by exploitation and degradation for the sake of cheap laughs. The problem isn't that people are easily offended, it is that there are those who are looking to offend. Apathy only keeps the cycle repeating.

[Disney's Divinity]

Well, getting offended over every possible situation is just as pointless. Besides, how old is this movie? Other cases of racism during that time: Fantasia, Song of the South and Dumbo. And there are just as many cases that have arisen with more recent movies (Hercules, Mulan, The Lion King, Aladdin). A person who's looking for racism will find it. The fact is, if noone's bothered by it (because it is just a cartoon), then why does it somehow stand as a horrible discrimination? I've yet to meet anyone who considers Peter Pan to have an accurate representation of Native Americans, much less take it to heart.

Although, thinking about the song, I don't care for it much either.

[Lazario]

Well, getting offended over every possible situation is just as pointless.

If that were the scenario here, you'd be right.

[dvdjunkie]

I think that you can lump all the songs in the Disney direct-to-video releases in the basket of bad songs. Maybe not the worst songs, but none of them are distinctly memorable.

[Disney's Divinity]

I may have started that, but I want to say that since I also started the topic, I intended this to be a real judgement of what Disney songs are actually the worst as well as which are your least favorite. It would help, if you haven't already, to tell us why you disliked it. Because it was easily one of Disney's greatest music+animation achievements within their entire career.

^

Just noticed that. Anyway, why does someone ever dislike a song? Because it just isn't appealing. And, if animation is really to be taken into regards, it still pales in comparison to some beautifully animated songs (Part of Your World, A Whole New World, Circle of Life, Beauty and the Beast). Songs with a beautiful segment to go along with them usually makes them more likable (because that's how you first experience it). I've never found "Pink Elephants" to have any significance whatsoever (other than showing us that even an elephant can get drunk) and has one of the most pathetic (what's the word?) melodies I've ever heard. Having to listen to that makes "Baby Mine" sound all the more pleasing for me afterwards.

Obviously, we can't all agree that something is truly a great achievement.

[TashieGirl]

[quote="Disney's Divinity] makes them more likable (because that's how you first experience it). I've never found "Pink Elephants" to have any significance whatsoever (other than showing us that even an elephant can get drunk) and has one of the most pathetic (what's the word?) melodies I've ever heard. Having to listen to that makes "Baby Mine" sound all the more pleasing for me afterwards.

Obviously, we can't all agree that something is truly a great achievement.[/quote]

Pink Elephants may have no important significance what so ever but that doesn't make it a bad song. Some of greatest songs ever written for flim have nothing to with the movie. Take Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious for example. The song is somewhat a spur of the moment and is only apporpriate for that secene. It has really nothing to do with the plot of Mary Poppins yet it's probably one of the greatest songs ever written for a movie.

Worst Disney song IMO, I know alot of people are gonna hate me for saying this but I'll have to say Beauty and the Beast.Don't get me wrong, I love the flim and and all but I don't see why it's considered such a great song. I'm talking about the Angela Lansbury version. Her vocals just doesn't fit with the song. On the other hand, the Celine Dion and Peabo Bryson version is just beautiful.

[Sendur]

I just think it the other way around. I do like the movie version but I dont like the version with Celine Dion

[Lazario]

Anyway, why does someone ever dislike a song? Because it just isn't appealing. And, if animation is really to be taken into regards, it still pales in comparison to some beautifully animated songs (Part of Your World, A Whole New World, Circle of Life, Beauty and the Beast). Songs with a beautiful segment to go along with them usually makes them more likable (because that's how you first experience it). I've never found "Pink Elephants" to have any significance whatsoever (other than showing us that even an elephant can get drunk) and has one of the most pathetic (what's the word?) melodies I've ever heard. Having to listen to that makes "Baby Mine" sound all the more pleasing for me afterwards.

First of all, I think you're comparing this sequence to too many newer Disney films. People who see the kind of significance you see in the newer films may forget that that's not how Disney used to do things. Dumbo may have gotten drunk but that, if anything, doesn't make the sequence unpleasent. That may have seemed a little shocking to you when you were watching the sequence. But it really doesn't change the fact that "Pink Elephants on Parade" is one of Disney's most impressive animated sequences. No, it doesn't have a point. But it's still one HELL of a sequence. It's art, plain and simple. Maybe it's also chaotic, but it's excellent. You're not the only one to find it somewhat disturbing either. There was this website that was listing the 100 scariest movie moments (a website, not Bravo of course, this was a couple of years before Bravo's countdown), and this sequence listed on that list because a lot of people found it disturbing. And some a little scary. I'll admit that it's not supposed to be romantic or emotionally endearing like those other sequences you mentioned. But it's very detailed and holds up better for it's time than the sequences from Little Mermaid through Lion King did for their time. Which is why I hold it in slightly higher regards.

[Timon/Pumbaa fan]

I agree with both Lazario and TashieGirl that even though "The Pink Elephants" scene didn't really have too much to do with the movie(except it helped Dumbo find out about his flying ability) the song is just 100% fun. The parts with the trumpets are AWESOME!!! The psicodelic animation is brilliant!!! And the whole scene is fun to watch and hear from beginning to end. But since it's probably not going to change your opinion, I don't think we should over-do it(if we haven't already).

Feed the Birds is the best song in the movie. Im in shock! lol yeah, personal taste, but I sure do agree with Walt though, one of my fav Disney songs. The movie did have a few forgettable songs... perhaps too many songs.

While I understand why you might like it, but THE BEST SONG IN THE WHOLE MOVIE!!!

But like I mentioned before, it's just different opinions.

[DonaldFauntleroy]

Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf, from the Three little pigs

[TashieGirl]

I just think it the other way around. I do like the movie version but I dont like the version with Celine Dion

Well, different stokes for different folks, I guess but I think we can all agree here when I say that both the movie version and the Celine Dion version are way better than the Jump 5 one.

[toonaspie]

As far as Disney sequels go I did not any of the songs from Lady and the Tramp 2 with the exception of "Junkyard Society Rag". That was the only song in the film where the tone actually fit. All the other songs in the film carried this heavy Contemporary-Broadway-Pop tone that really wrecked the experience of this film.

I also did not like "Morning Report" or "Human Again" ("Human Again" sounded less like a Disney tune and more of something that fits a showchoir tune).

But I think the worst song ever heard in a Disney sequel would have to go to "Fa-fa-fa-fa-falling in Love" from Hunchback of Notre Dame 2.

[Goliath]

Thanks for bumping this thread! It has been an interesting read:

That would be "The Journey (Rescue Me)". The songs from that movie are incredibly touching, I was moved to tears by that song when I watched The Rescuers for the first time (the second time, but the first was when I was like 12 or 13) after getting the VHS this year. All the songs in The Rescuers are beautiful, and the film itself is startlingly and sickeningly underrated.

Amen, my friend, amen! Couldn't have said it better.

But 'What makes the red man red' is still one of my favorites, and I'm not ashamed to say it (and you know, more or less, where I stand politically). To me, it depicts the way children see 'Indians'. Playing cowboy. Besides, the natives are drawn so cartoony, that nobody seriously thinks Native Americans look or behave like that.

I just watched Mary Poppins and "Stay Awake" and "Feed the Birds" were both awful songs in my view. They were both slow songs and didn't feel needed at all.

It's also kinda sad to hear that "Feed The Brids" was Walt's favorite song! I guess it's just personal taste.

That song was his favorite, because it summed up the essence of the philosophy behind Mary Poppins. The film doesn't work without that song. I mean, you don't have to be a film scholar to recognize that song is at the heart of the movie.

[Kraken Guard]

The songs i dislike the most

Morning Report - Lion King
We'll be Human Again - Beauty and the Beast


Forgive me for saying, but i honestly dont see what the hype is about the songs..

[Disney's Divinity]

It is hard to believe anyone could dislike "Feed The Birds." But, then again, I don't understand why most people dislike "Human Again." Easily one of my favorites.

Anyway, I definitely need to make an addendum on my original post. 2005? Seems forever ago now.

The only ones I still agree with on my list are the sequel songs (most sequels are chock full of horrible songs). Anyway, excluding sequels, it's really hard to think right-off songs that I don't like.

"Love" from Robin Hood ~ Really, really boring. Nothing else to say really.
"A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes" and "So This Is Love" from Cinderella ~ I'm kind of iffy about these. I like them so-so just as melodies, but I simultaneously find them a little dull. But it doesn't take away from the fact that I love Ilene Woods. It's the songs, not the singer, considering I love "Sing, Sweet Nightingale." I think it's because they made these songs very contemporary (for its time). I almost put up several Oliver and Company songs for the same reason.
"Lack of Education" from The Fox and the Hound ~ I can't remember if that's the name of it, but...wow. Horrible.
"Trust In Me" from The Jungle Book ~ A never have a very good memory of TJB's songs, but looking over them, most of them have their good aspects--except for this one. Even though Kaa was always funny, I never liked the song.
Songs from The Aristocats ~ They're all so unmemorable, that it's hard for me to differentiate them. Even "Ev'rybody Wants To Be A Cat" is pretty lackluster.
"The World's Greatest Criminal Mind" from The Great Mouse Detective ~ Another case of song v. singer. Vincent Price is the only thing that's likable about this. The song has some really bad lyrics and, as a scene, it seems out-of-place in the film as well. "Goodbye, So Soon" is a much better song.
"Morning Report" from The Lion King ~ Unlike "Human Again," this should never have even been considered as a possible addition to TLK. It's actually kind of nice on the Broadway Original Recording, but not in the film.
"Gonna Take You There" and "Ma Belle Evangeline" from The Princess and the Frog ~ "Gonna Take You There" is forgettable, but both are hurt by having Ray sing them, particularly the latter ("Ma Belle Evangeline") which would've been better with a more serious tone/character/voice. Problem is though, neither of them would've been that much better if sung by someone excellent. The other songs in the film succeed well enough, though I think "Friends On The Other Side" is a lot like "The World's Greatest Criminal Mind" in that it's mostly carried by Keith David's ability.

There are a lot of other songs that I'm kind of back-and-forth on, possibly because they have flaws, but overlying good qualities (for example, I do find "Colors of the Wind" a little too preachy, but it is a beautiful melody). "Pink Elephants On Parade" will never be a favorite song for me, but its scene does have a definite sense of mood to it, that I wouldn't put it on this list anymore.

[Scarred4life]

Fa-la-la-la Fallen in Love- Even for a Disney sequel, this one is bad.
Morning Report- Not necessary, and it cheapens the film
Human Again- I don't mind it as much as Morning Report, but I could still do without it.

I actually don't mind A Guy Like You, outside of the film. Its timing in the film couldn't be worse, and the modern day references don't make sense, but when you're just listening to it, it is bearable.

And as for Colours of the Wind, it is a bit preachy, but it's needed in the film. Pocahontas really needs to show John that his ways are wrong, and to do that, the song needs to be preachy.

[sunhuntin]

off the top of my head

a guy like you
morning report
human again
upendi

i havent seen many sequels to classic movies [cinderella 2/3, mermaid 2/3, tramp 2, pan 2, etc] and if i have, ive only seen them once or twice, so cant remember the songs. [which probably speaks for itself!]

i love the opening song to rescuers. i think it fits the feel of the film perfectly. the pink elephant sequence i always found boring as a kid [we watched dumbo at school one time and it was a unanimous [sp?] vote to fast forward past it.] now, i can appreciate the skill used to create it and quite enjoy it.

[Lazario]

But 'What makes the red man red' is still one of my favorites, and I'm not ashamed to say it (and you know, more or less, where I stand politically). To me, it depicts the way children see 'Indians'. Playing cowboy. Besides, the natives are drawn so cartoony, that nobody seriously thinks Native Americans look or behave like that.

You remember that I've spoken negatively on this kind of thing in the past... But, I've been judging worst Disney songs in this thread based on - basically - like, tone deafness. Painfully bad vocals, lyrics, music, melody. Pick your fav. When I think of the "Red Man" song, I remember the kind of fever pitch to it that makes it stand out. I've also said in the past that, if we speak subjectively, everything bad Disney ever did could be ignored by placing everything in fantasy context. So, with that in mind, "Red Man" is a great song. Though in my book, fever pitch translates to hazy / delirious and perhaps uncomfortable. The imagery in that scene's a bit kooky anyway. The Chief's eyes go insane and Wendy has to shout at the boys in strange closeup and yet, they don't hear her. Doesn't he also blow some kind of red smoke at the end? No, that's Ichabod & Mr. Toad- isn't it?

It is hard to believe anyone could dislike "Feed The Birds."

Oh, God... I was about to reply with one thing and you just made me remember something incredibly stupid. Silly. Anyway, the scene in the movie is piercing and highly emotional. Effective. So, that's very strong. But I give the credit much more to the music, the strings specifically, than Julie's singing. If you cut out everything but her singing, I know I'd become annoyed very quickly. I don't think she's the strongest element in the scene. (The thing you made me remember is that, one day I was doing something menial, probably some kind of cleaning and that song popped in my head. I didn't know the words, so I started improvising. It got scary real quick. I think "tuppence" became "puppets" and... burrr)

"Love" from Robin Hood ~ Really, really boring. Nothing else to say really.

Listened to that, closely, over the weekend. I freaking adore it (so early 70's, soft radio folk-pop). But it doesn't flow well, you're right. The notes seem hasty. But it's very pretty. Some of the lines, sounds, and all the vocals, the woman singing, are beautiful.

"A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes" and "So This Is Love" from Cinderella ~ I'm kind of iffy about these.

I've always felt "Dream Is a..." was not one of Disney's strongest songs. Just never cared for it much. But the lyrics are very good. It is bland but since it's an early-morning type song, it's a very good choice for first song of the movie. Of course, it sure beats the actual first song, "Cinderella," which is all just about the chorus sound of the singers. Heady, yes. But weak. Especially lyrically.

I know this wasn't the first of this trend. Starting with, I believe, Make Mine Music, that's when Disney started doing first songs as basically the name of the movie. And they were on a winning streak (especially with "Melody Time" and "Fun and Fancy Free") until they hit "Ichabod & Mr. Toad," which was terrible. Then, they started getting slightly better with "Cinderella," and a lot better with "Alice in Wonderland," until they got to the hauntingly excellent "The Second Star to the Right" (obviously from Peter Pan) which is now one of their most famous songs not sung by any of the main characters.

I love "Oh Sing, Sweet Nightingale" too. But "So This is Love" - in its' equally minimalistic quality - is a great classic. I still get chills every time I hear it. It's actually a real kind of repeat of the "I Bring You a Song" moment from Bambi, only a lot quieter.

I almost put up several Oliver and Company songs for the same reason.

I actually think the reason most of the Oliver and Company songs are on the weaker side is because of bad or underwhelming vocals. The kinda incidental music fares better, like... well, this shouldn't count, but Huey Lewis & the News, and I love that music Tito was listening to. The music sequences, at least "Good Company" and "Streets of Gold," are actually quite bad. However, "Why Should I Worry?" is excellent (not to mention the heart of the movie) and "Perfect Isn't Easy" is very good too. Hell, without it, I promise there'd be no Hocus Pocus (as we know it, with Midler in show-stopping, scene-stealing mode in every moment Sarah Jessica Parker isn't giggling or pretty-corpsing, it all over the place: her witch version of prancing and flirting). And you've got to love lines line "I have your hears and you have my pity."

"Lack of Education" from The Fox and the Hound ~ I can't remember if that's the name of it, but...wow. Horrible.

Oh god, you got that right. Here's something I'm not sure anyone got about this- it's so sparse lyrically and works in fits and starts with Dinky and Boomer's dialogue... it's basically a rap song played to sickly fiddle strumming and ultra-grim, brooding piano chords. The world's slowest, worst scored, and most naked rap song ever performed.

"Trust In Me" from The Jungle Book ~ A never have a very good memory of TJB's songs, but looking over them, most of them have their good aspects--except for this one. Even though Kaa was always funny, I never liked the song.

Oh wow... No. No. No. No. No. No. I was defending "So This is Love" back there not because it was one of Disney's best songs or anything. That's how good Disney's songs are, because there is such an incredible range between the sublime, the superb, the heavenly, the great... that kind of thing. That was a good song, which I defended just to say it's not one of Disney's worst. "Trust in Me" however is in fact one of Disney's best!! Everything about it is utterly immaculate and/or unique, special. First of all: it's Winnie the Pooh singing a subliminal seduction serenade. Singing this kind of song with the intention to murder the character on the receiving end of it. In concept alone, this is subversive to the point of genius! Then you have the booming bass (on the DVD version), Sterling Holloway's creepy, eloquent, and calculated vocal performance, and the music is so perfect for what is meant to be a hypnotic piece. Especially the woodwinds. And those drums and cymbal! Lyrically perfect as well. An essential villain song, the ideal example of antagonistic suggestion.

Songs from The Aristocats ~ They're all so unmemorable, that it's hard for me to differentiate them. Even "Ev'rybody Wants To Be A Cat" is pretty lackluster.

I agree. (Of course, though... this is the animated movie I've seen the least amount of times out of my essential-32, I need a re-watch) But, the movie version of "Ev'rybody..." is very different from the soundtrack version. At least the one I heard as a kid.

Here's the soundtrack version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4guRiNZLGQ
Movie version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfdL7k136co

Huge amount of differences. The "strictly high button shoes" line is missing, there's an extra piano ting on "act," extra horns on "who tried to sing," full piano on the second "makes you wish you weren't born," some kind of parisian accordian sorta thing on Marie's "playin' jazz you always has a welcome mat," Paul Winchell and the other cats' voices completely missing, the whole huge thing after the drums start playing (extra horns, piano solo, Gabor's harp, all the dialogue, that calliope thing on "groovy, mama," extra singing), the line "I'm tellin' you" when the chorus repeats, some extra loud horn improvisation, some xylophone tinkling, the lines "e-yeah!" and "m-mmm" between repeats of the "Ev'rybody..." title, and the second "halleluah!" as the song fades out.

Song of the extra stuff is great for the scene and I think it works great. But if you found the film underwhelming, you might be unimpressed. I however think the movie was mostly underwhelming, but that makes the great performance on the song that much better. That it shines above the rest of the movie. Though, there really isn't much to the movie in terms of music. Almost no songs at all. That must be because it's basically a 101 Dalmatians copy. However, I think they also wanted some of The Jungle Book flavor as well. The shorter version of the song has always been one of my top 25 Disney favorites.

There are a lot of other songs that I'm kind of back-and-forth on, possibly because they have flaws, but overlying good qualities (for example, I do find "Colors of the Wind" a little too preachy, but it is a beautiful melody). "Pink Elephants On Parade" will never be a favorite song for me, but its scene does have a definite sense of mood to it, that I wouldn't put it on this list anymore.

I was never a big fan of the vocals as a kid, but I've grown to really appreciate Kuhn's perfect, rich high notes. Especially on "Colors." Preachy? Aren't you the one who called me a cynic (or was the ajm)? The lyrics are inspiring. Poetic. Lovely.

"Pink Elephants" is reliant on the animation to fully work. A weak song? I never thought it.

Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf, from the Three little pigs

That is the absolute most ridiculous, absurd, and insane thing I have ever heard in my life.

Well, not really. But it is in fact: ridiculous, absurd, and insane.