The Music Of Disney Animated Classics

[Atlantica]

As we all know, music is one of the most important parts of the Disney Company, and the songs and music have been beloved all over the world. On UD, we talk a lot about animation, new movies etc, but we have never really done an in - depth discussion about music ... well, not that I could find, anyway !

So I thought here we could talk about our favourite composers and song-writers from out favourite animated classics; it will be interesting to see whos work is the most beloved out of the long line of Disney music makers.

For me, my favourite music has to come from Alan Menken, as his music was what I grew up with, and will always have a special place in my heart. For me, he almost IS Disney. I can't watch Disney films every day, but quite often I will have listened to one of his songs or scores. But I do love Disney's older film music, such as Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan and Snow White, with music by Oliver Walice, Frank Churchill, Sammy Fain etc. They created some magical films between them.

[amazon980]

i would like Alan Menken and Elton John to make music together. Elton has done lion king & and Alan well we know what he as done.

What you think?

[Mooky]

Alan Menken all the way for me! I also like Phil Collins' music. But Alan Menken... the man is pure genius! His songs and scores... they're simply amazing. When I'm listening to Disney music, 99% of the time it's Alan Menken's music.

I don't like Elton John much. I'm not too fond of the "Lion King" songs, but I love the songs from "Aida" (concept album, not the Broadway cast album).

[yukitora]

Great thread idea atlanticaunderthesea!

Whilst Alan is great and all, I just can't listen to some of his songs, mostly from Pocahontas and The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

There's such a distinct difference between the soundtrack of TLM/BatB/Aladdin compared to those two movies. It's almost as if his music only really suits fairytales.... or was it Howard Ashmen's partnership that helped inspire such beautiful melodies?

Having said that, I think the Beast and the Beast soundtrack is by far his best for Disney. The instrumental orchestral tracks such as "The West Wing" and "The Beast Let's Bell Go" are just beautiful.

I think that TLK's soundtrack by Hans Zimmer is not only one of the most powerful from Disney, but the best of Hans Zimmer himself. Comparing TLK to his recent The Dark Knight score, he seems a lot less inspired in the latter.

I have to say however, my favourite composer out of them all would have to be George Bruns and the work (adaptation of Tchaikovsky's ballet) he did for Sleeping Beauty and his interpretation of the Sherman Brother's songs for The Jungle Book are my favourite. It's his music that you are fully engulfed in and appreciate. When it's George Bruns, it's not background music.

[Disney's Divinity]

Well, I can really only comment on the modern side of Disney, as I've never really found much of the older films' music memorable (songs or scores). They definitely aren't bad, but the music doesn't really stand out to me.

As far as scores go, TLK is definitely my favorite. I'm not so ecstatic about the songs, but the music that plays in the background of critical scenes (Mufasa's death, Simba's return, assuming the throne, etc.) has always made the film more bearable.

As far as songs go, I see TLM, Aladdin and B&tB pretty much on equal ground, as I enjoy nearly all the songs from those three films. The only thing I find less appealing about B&tB is that most of the songs seems like a "chorus" of people (if that's a good description). "Something There" and "Belle (Reprise)" are really the only songs that have characters expressing themselves. Even "Beauty and the Beast" is more of a narration. Not that this is a bad thing, but I enjoy songs where one character is expressing more.

Pocahontas really lags. Most of the songs just don't seem to fit in the film to me and work better on their own. "If I Never Knew You" is beautiful though. I enjoy Hunchback's soundtrack moreso, but it's still below Menken's first three. Hercules is easily the best of these three imo. Thinking of it now, Poc, Hunch, and Hercules kind of mirror TLM, B&tB and Aladdin in ways, from a two worlds romance, a love triangle involving the ugly and a comical interpretation of a classic tale.

There's really only one other film that stands out to me: The Great Mouse Detective has a great theme.

[Atlantica]

Disney's Divinity, I'm really interested as to why the music from the old Disney films does not appeal to you as much? I'm in no way bashing your choice of course my lovely , but I just wondered why. I get tingles when I hear, 'One song, I have but one soooong, one song, only for yoooouu' and You can fly! You can fly! You can fly!

I guess its just what appeals for different people.

[carolinakid]

I like a song or two from the post Walt features, but OLD SCHOOL DISNEY from Snow White through Jungle Book is my favorite! The songs and scores take me away to another place. I especially love the music of Snow White, Dumbo, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty & Jungle Book but I really love that whole period between '37 and '67!

jon

[PrincePhillipFan]

I have to say however, my favourite composer out of them all would have to be George Bruns and the work (adaptation of Tchaikovsky's ballet) he did for Sleeping Beauty and his interpretation of the Sherman Brother's songs for The Jungle Book are my favourite. It's his music that you are fully engulfed in and appreciate. When it's George Bruns, it's not background music.

I completely agree. I personally feel that George Bruns is one of the most overlooked Disney composers, and I love any soundtrack he does, specifically Sleeping Beauty's and 101 Dalmatian's. It's a shame he isn't recognized more, especially since he also cowrote The Ballad of Davy Crockett and Yo Ho (A Pirate's Life For Me), not to mention scoring the lush soundtracks for the Pirates of the Caribbean and Enchanted Tiki Room attractions. I love his orchestrations for the Sleeping Beauty soundtrack with Tchaikovsky's themes, especially Magical House Cleaning, A Cottage In The Woods, Aurora's Return, and Prince Phillip Arrives.

Another personal favorite composer of mine is Buddy Baker. Baker, like the Sherman Brothers, always knew how to write a catchy melody, like Grim Grinning Ghosts or It's Fun To Be Free, and always added something playful about his music. I think it's a shame so much of the Disney fan community doesn't recognize his work, especially when he wrote musical scores for many of the episodes of the Disneyland tv series, the live action features like The Shaggy Dog, The Apple Dumpling Gang, The Monkey's Uncle, and the Winnie the Pooh featurettes. Not to mention his soundtrack score work for the theme parks like the Haunted Mansion, Carousel of Progress, It's A Small World, Country Bear Jamboree, America Sings, Great Moments with Mr Lincoln, World of Motion, and The Land. One of the things I greatly respect about his musical ability is in the theme parks like Mansion, Carousel, World of Motion, and Small World, is that he could take the main melody line to the theme song, but rework it so that it sounded like a completely different piece.

I like a song of two from the post Walt features, but OLD SCHOOL DISNEY from Snow White through Jungle Book is my favorite! The songs and scores take me away to another place. I especially love the music of Snow White, Dumbo, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty & Jungle Book but I really love that whole period between '37 and '67!

I'm the same way. While I do occasionally like songs from the post Walt era, I find most of my favorite songs come from Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Pinocchio, Alice, Cinderella, and Peter Pan.

[toonaspie]

Hans Zimmer + any film = awesome!

I just cant believe that "The Lion King" was the only animated project he did for Disney.

I wouldve loved to have him do more score, especially for the films with very exotic settings.

He mostly does Dreamworks films now. Kung Fu Panda (a Dreamworks film) has an awesome score with authentic Chinese instruments in it, much in the same matter that "The Lion King" had authentic African instruments in it.

[Disney's Divinity]

Disney's Divinity, I'm really interested as to why the music from the old Disney films does not appeal to you as much? I'm in no way bashing your choice of course my lovely , but I just wondered why. I get tingles when I hear, 'One song, I have but one soooong, one song, only for yoooouu' and You can fly! You can fly! You can fly!

I guess its just what appeals for different people.

It's not that I dislike everything about the older films, I just meant each film alone. I mean, for instance, "I'm Wishing/One Song," "Baby Mine" and "Sing Sweet Nightingale" are all in my top five, but they're about the only songs from their individual films that I care about. Which is why I find the modern films better, because it's much harder to choose my favorites out of them as I like nearly all they have to offer.

And I don't think it's really a bias of age either, because I've watched all the films since I was young, not strictly the modern ones. Maybe it's because most of the songs work better as melodies. The lyrics rarely stand up to the music for me, I suppose.

As far as score goes, I rarely remember it unless it stands out [in a good way] and I don't own any of the soundtracks for pre-Walt era films so I remember even less.

[Atlantica]

Ah, ok, I see what you mean

I understand it too; in some of the older Disney scores, while some are beautiful, they feel like narration more than anything. Like Alice or Cinderella, sometimes the tracks are only plinky-plunky music, to accompany what a character is doing. And if you look to the newer Alan Menken films, if there ever is music like that included in the film, it is not in the soundtrack; I guess to make it flow better, and be more listenable ?

[Beast_enchantment]

Great thread idea atlanticaunderthesea!

Whilst Alan is great and all, I just can't listen to some of his songs, mostly from Pocahontas and The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

There's such a distinct difference between the soundtrack of TLM/BatB/Aladdin compared to those two movies. It's almost as if his music only really suits fairytales.... or was it Howard Ashmen's partnership that helped inspire such beautiful melodies?

Having said that, I think the Beast and the Beast soundtrack is by far his best for Disney. The instrumental orchestral tracks such as "The West Wing" and "The Beast Let's Bell Go" are just beautiful.

I think that TLK's soundtrack by Hans Zimmer is not only one of the most powerful from Disney, but the best of Hans Zimmer himself. Comparing TLK to his recent The Dark Knight score, he seems a lot less inspired in the latter.

I totally agree about the batb soundtrack. The Beast lets Belle go is truly ironically enchanting. Alan menken's finest work for me is The Transformation scene - a masterpiece and it always captures me in a very emotionala and spiritual way.

Although, I must disagree with you about Pocahontas. Just listen to the Colors of the Wind instrumental. Spellbinding!

And as for Hans Zimmer's work on The Lion King, poweful is an understatement! The best bit for me is when Simba ascends Pride Rock at the end - so majestic and beautiful.

[Beast_enchantment]

Great thread idea atlanticaunderthesea!

Whilst Alan is great and all, I just can't listen to some of his songs, mostly from Pocahontas and The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

There's such a distinct difference between the soundtrack of TLM/BatB/Aladdin compared to those two movies. It's almost as if his music only really suits fairytales.... or was it Howard Ashmen's partnership that helped inspire such beautiful melodies?

Having said that, I think the Beast and the Beast soundtrack is by far his best for Disney. The instrumental orchestral tracks such as "The West Wing" and "The Beast Let's Bell Go" are just beautiful.

I think that TLK's soundtrack by Hans Zimmer is not only one of the most powerful from Disney, but the best of Hans Zimmer himself. Comparing TLK to his recent The Dark Knight score, he seems a lot less inspired in the latter.

I totally agree about the batb soundtrack. The Beast lets Belle go is truly ironically enchanting. Alan menken's finest work for me is The Transformation scene - a masterpiece and it always captures me in a very emotional and spiritual way.

Although, I must disagree with you about Pocahontas. Just listen to the Colors of the Wind instrumental. Spellbinding!

And as for Hans Zimmer's work on The Lion King, poweful is an understatement! The best bit for me is when Simba ascends Pride Rock at the end - so majestic and beautiful.

[Flanger-Hanger]

I don't care what anyone says, I think Hunchback has the best song score of any DAC. Even with the horribly out of place "Guy Like You" the other songs are so strong and suit the story so well you're almost willing to forgive the films major flaws in tone.

As far as scores go Sleeping Beauty is tops on my list (However, George Bruns' score for anything after 101 Dalmatians are all disappointingly the same, with many recycled music cues and only a few new themes thrown around here and there), but The Great Mouse Detective and the Black Cauldron also have very memorable and fantastic music (Just listen to the main theme of TGMD or the end credits suite for TBC).

Here's my ranking of Disney movie song scores:

1. The Hunchback of Notre Dame
2. The Little Mermaid
3. Pocahontas
4. The Nightmare Before Christmas
5. Beauty and the Beast
6. Oliver and Company

Still, there are many live-action song scores that I prefer to any of the above 6. And it should be noted that Anastasia has a very strong song score that rivals most (and in many cases is better) of Disney's work.

[MinkDragon]

Hmm, of course I love music composed by Alan (expecially "The Little Mermiad") but sonudtrack from "Cinderella" is amazing! "Sing sweet Nightingale" or "So this is love" are typical "old songs" which are really magical for me.
But I don't like Snow White's songs in my country version. I can't listen to that...

[PeterPanfan]

Music really make a Disney movie to me. While I can appreciate The Black Cauldron, or The Emperor's New Groove, I prefer the Disney movies with music.

In my opinion, these are the best musical Disney movies:

The Little Mermaid
Beauty and the Beast
Sleeping Beauty
The Lion King
Tarzan
Cinderella

[amazon980]

Alan is great but dont give him all the credit . howard ashman did the music 2.
He did
The Little Mermaid
Beauty and the Beast
Aladdin

Alan did not do all the work he did have partners and all after howard.

RIP Howard Ashman you gave my fave mermaid her voice

[Beast_enchantment]

Alan is great but dont give him all the credit . howard ashman did the music 2.
He did
The Little Mermaid
Beauty and the Beast
Aladdin

Alan did not do all the work he did have partners and all after howard.

RSP Howard Ashman you gave my fave mermaid her voice

and my fave Beast his soul x

[blackcauldron85]

Bumpity-bump-bump.

Award-Winning ‘Frozen’ Songwriting Team Signs Deal with Disney Music Publishing
http://www.wdwinfo.com/news-stories/awa ... ublishing/

[milojthatch]

I have to say however, my favourite composer out of them all would have to be George Bruns and the work (adaptation of Tchaikovsky's ballet) he did for Sleeping Beauty and his interpretation of the Sherman Brother's songs for The Jungle Book are my favourite. It's his music that you are fully engulfed in and appreciate. When it's George Bruns, it's not background music.

I completely agree. I personally feel that George Bruns is one of the most overlooked Disney composers, and I love any soundtrack he does, specifically Sleeping Beauty's and 101 Dalmatian's. It's a shame he isn't recognized more, especially since he also cowrote The Ballad of Davy Crockett and Yo Ho (A Pirate's Life For Me), not to mention scoring the lush soundtracks for the Pirates of the Caribbean and Enchanted Tiki Room attractions. I love his orchestrations for the Sleeping Beauty soundtrack with Tchaikovsky's themes, especially Magical House Cleaning, A Cottage In The Woods, Aurora's Return, and Prince Phillip Arrives.

I 100% agree about Bruns. While I can understand why so many here might say that a newer composer like Menken is their favorite, for me I always look at the early Disney composers first. In fact I wrote a whole paper about them for my music appreciation class years ago. I'm talking about people like George Bruns, Ned Washington, Leigh Harline, Frank Churchill, Paul Smith or even Peggy Lee. I think it's a shame how so many young kids these days don't know who these people are, even though they probobly know the music. To this day I still feel that Bruns work on Jungle Book was one of the best (if not best) Disney scores ever. And then William Lava and his compositions for Zorro. Oh my gosh, such an amazing soundtrack! I wish so badly that Disney would release that finally.