Hello everybody! I got to thinking about the soundtracks to the DP films the other day and decided to write up a list of my favorites. Music has been a big part of my life, and as a result I have a big soft spot for the DP scores and songs. I find that how good a movie's soundtrack is often has a bigger influence on how much I like the film than it would for most other people. There are definitely some noticeable similarities between my favorite DP soundtracks list and favorite DP movies list, although they aren't exactly the same.
11. Tangled
6th on favorite DP films list
With a five space difference in comparison to my favorite DP films list, Tangled is one of the few films that doesn't follow my trend of enjoying films with good soundtracks. While it's a really fun movie, the soundtrack just doesn't stand out to me. I only really like two of the songs, and I only love one of the scores. It certainly doesn't help that I'm not a fan of Mandy Moore's singing voice. Overall, this soundtrack doesn't do much for the film in my opinion.
Favorite song: Mother Knows Best (reprise)
Favorite score: Kingdom Dance
10. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
8th on favorite DP films list
Unfortunately, I find this soundtrack to be very dated, and the fact that the sound isn't as crisp and clear as the more recent soundtracks doesn't do it any favors. I do enjoy Adriana Caselotti's voice, but I prefer some of the other princesses' voices, and while the dwarfs are funny they aren't the best singers. This soundtrack was wonderful in its time, but its time has now passed.
Favorite song: Some Day My Prince Will Come
Favorite score: I've Been Tricked
9. Cinderella
11th on favorite DP films list
Like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, this soundtrack is a little dated in my eyes. It has held up better, but it's still not as good as some of the more recent soundtracks. I adore Ilene Woods' voice, but the mice are horrendous and really drag this soundtrack down. I enjoy almost all of the songs though, so that boosts it a little higher than the previous two soundtracks.
Favorite song: So This Is Love
Favorite score: Where Did I Put That Thing?
8. Aladdin
10th on favorite DP films list
Aladdin has a plethora of really fun and enjoyable songs, but the score is more mediocre. I don't find it particularly memorable. I'm also not a huge fan of Lea Salonga's voice (I think she's much better in Mulan), but she only has one song so it doesn't affect my opinion of the overall soundtrack much.
Favorite song: Prince Ali
Favorite score: Marketplace
7. Pocahontas
9th on favorite DP films list
Pocahontas is often lauded for having an underappreciated soundtrack, and while I agree I just prefer the other DP soundtracks more. It has some of my favorite songs of any DP movie, and Judy Kuhn is phenomenal as Pocahontas, but the score is more lacking. It also has a couple songs that I'm really not a fan of, like Mine, Mine, Mine.
Favorite song: Colors of the Wind
Favorite score: Farewell
6. The Little Mermaid
4th on favorite DP films list
This soundtrack definitely deserved the Oscars it won. It's pretty amazing - the songs are fun, the soundtrack fits very well with the tone of the movie, and Jodi Benson plays Ariel quite nicely. Unfortunately, her voice is one of my least favorites of the Disney Princesses, which drags this soundtrack down. This soundtrack also doesn't give me chills the way my top five do.
Favorite song: Part of Your World
Favorite score: Tour of the Kingdom
5. Mulan
5th on favorite DP films list
So, funny story: before I started writing this article I had a tentative list in which Mulan was ranked seventh. As I wrote this article I listened to parts of each soundtrack in order to refresh my memory. When I started listening to Mulan's, I was floored. I had completely forgotten how utterly amazing this soundtrack is. It is so beautiful with its Chinese influences, and all of the songs are enjoyable. Lea Salonga may not have my favorite voice, but she does well as Mulan, and honestly the rest of the soundtrack is so good that I don't really care. This soundtrack gives me chills.
Favorite song: I'll Make a Man Out of You
Favorite score: Mulan's Decision (synthesizer version) aka Short Hair
4. Sleeping Beauty
3rd on favorite DP films list
Although this soundtrack is old, it has a sense of timelessness that Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Cinderella don't. I'm not sure if that's because I loved this movie as a kid or if it's because the music as adapted from Tchaikovsky's beautiful ballet, but regardless I can listen to this soundtrack over and over again and never get tired of it. Not to mention that Mary Costa has the most beautiful singing voice of all the Disney Princesses. She sounds like an angel. I love her voice more than words can describe.
Favorite song: I Wonder
Favorite score: A Cottage in the Woods
3. Beauty and the Beast
1st on favorite DP films list
Simply put, I adore this soundtrack. The songs are all amazing, the singers are phenomenal, and the score can give me chills and even make me cry. I love this soundtrack almost as much as I love the film itself, but there are a couple other DP soundtracks that I love even more.
Favorite song: Belle (reprise)
Favorite score: Prologue
2. The Princess and the Frog
2nd on favorite DP films list
This soundtrack is incredibly underrated. I love jazz, so the music to this film just makes me want to get up and dance. Every single song in this film is fun, Anika Noni Rose has the most powerful gorgeous voice, and the score adds the perfect touch of enchantment. I can't help but tap my foot along to the music in this movie. It's so fun and so amazing!
Favorite song: Almost There
Favorite score: This Is Gonna Be Good
1. Brave
7th on favorite DP films list
It's kind of funny that both my least favorite and favorite soundtracks have the biggest differences from their respective positions on my favorite DP films list, but there you have it. Brave may not be the best Disney Princess film, but my god the soundtrack is phenomenal. Granted, I grew up with Scottish and other folk music, so I might be a little biased, but everything about this soundtrack is perfect in my opinion. I could run around singing its songs at the top of my lungs. I could listen to it on repeat. I will never get tired of this music. Julie Fowlis has such a beautiful, perfect voice for the songs and the score has that wonderful Scottish flavor sprinkled throughout. Nearly every piece of music in this movie has the capacity to give me chills. Do yourself a favor and go listen to this soundtrack, you might be surprised how awesome it is.
Favorite song: Noble Maiden Fair (A Mhaighdean Bhan Uasal)
Favorite score: I can't pick one so here are my three favorites - Fate and Destiny, I Am Merida, and We've Both Changed
Apologies for the lack of pictures in this article. I'm feeling lazy today :P
11. Tangled
6th on favorite DP films list
With a five space difference in comparison to my favorite DP films list, Tangled is one of the few films that doesn't follow my trend of enjoying films with good soundtracks. While it's a really fun movie, the soundtrack just doesn't stand out to me. I only really like two of the songs, and I only love one of the scores. It certainly doesn't help that I'm not a fan of Mandy Moore's singing voice. Overall, this soundtrack doesn't do much for the film in my opinion.
Favorite song: Mother Knows Best (reprise)
Favorite score: Kingdom Dance
10. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
8th on favorite DP films list
Unfortunately, I find this soundtrack to be very dated, and the fact that the sound isn't as crisp and clear as the more recent soundtracks doesn't do it any favors. I do enjoy Adriana Caselotti's voice, but I prefer some of the other princesses' voices, and while the dwarfs are funny they aren't the best singers. This soundtrack was wonderful in its time, but its time has now passed.
Favorite song: Some Day My Prince Will Come
Favorite score: I've Been Tricked
9. Cinderella
11th on favorite DP films list
Like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, this soundtrack is a little dated in my eyes. It has held up better, but it's still not as good as some of the more recent soundtracks. I adore Ilene Woods' voice, but the mice are horrendous and really drag this soundtrack down. I enjoy almost all of the songs though, so that boosts it a little higher than the previous two soundtracks.
Favorite song: So This Is Love
Favorite score: Where Did I Put That Thing?
8. Aladdin
10th on favorite DP films list
Aladdin has a plethora of really fun and enjoyable songs, but the score is more mediocre. I don't find it particularly memorable. I'm also not a huge fan of Lea Salonga's voice (I think she's much better in Mulan), but she only has one song so it doesn't affect my opinion of the overall soundtrack much.
Favorite song: Prince Ali
Favorite score: Marketplace
7. Pocahontas
9th on favorite DP films list
Pocahontas is often lauded for having an underappreciated soundtrack, and while I agree I just prefer the other DP soundtracks more. It has some of my favorite songs of any DP movie, and Judy Kuhn is phenomenal as Pocahontas, but the score is more lacking. It also has a couple songs that I'm really not a fan of, like Mine, Mine, Mine.
Favorite song: Colors of the Wind
Favorite score: Farewell
6. The Little Mermaid
4th on favorite DP films list
This soundtrack definitely deserved the Oscars it won. It's pretty amazing - the songs are fun, the soundtrack fits very well with the tone of the movie, and Jodi Benson plays Ariel quite nicely. Unfortunately, her voice is one of my least favorites of the Disney Princesses, which drags this soundtrack down. This soundtrack also doesn't give me chills the way my top five do.
Favorite song: Part of Your World
Favorite score: Tour of the Kingdom
5. Mulan
5th on favorite DP films list
So, funny story: before I started writing this article I had a tentative list in which Mulan was ranked seventh. As I wrote this article I listened to parts of each soundtrack in order to refresh my memory. When I started listening to Mulan's, I was floored. I had completely forgotten how utterly amazing this soundtrack is. It is so beautiful with its Chinese influences, and all of the songs are enjoyable. Lea Salonga may not have my favorite voice, but she does well as Mulan, and honestly the rest of the soundtrack is so good that I don't really care. This soundtrack gives me chills.
Favorite song: I'll Make a Man Out of You
Favorite score: Mulan's Decision (synthesizer version) aka Short Hair
4. Sleeping Beauty
3rd on favorite DP films list
Although this soundtrack is old, it has a sense of timelessness that Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Cinderella don't. I'm not sure if that's because I loved this movie as a kid or if it's because the music as adapted from Tchaikovsky's beautiful ballet, but regardless I can listen to this soundtrack over and over again and never get tired of it. Not to mention that Mary Costa has the most beautiful singing voice of all the Disney Princesses. She sounds like an angel. I love her voice more than words can describe.
Favorite song: I Wonder
Favorite score: A Cottage in the Woods
3. Beauty and the Beast
1st on favorite DP films list
Simply put, I adore this soundtrack. The songs are all amazing, the singers are phenomenal, and the score can give me chills and even make me cry. I love this soundtrack almost as much as I love the film itself, but there are a couple other DP soundtracks that I love even more.
Favorite song: Belle (reprise)
Favorite score: Prologue
2. The Princess and the Frog
2nd on favorite DP films list
This soundtrack is incredibly underrated. I love jazz, so the music to this film just makes me want to get up and dance. Every single song in this film is fun, Anika Noni Rose has the most powerful gorgeous voice, and the score adds the perfect touch of enchantment. I can't help but tap my foot along to the music in this movie. It's so fun and so amazing!
Favorite song: Almost There
Favorite score: This Is Gonna Be Good
1. Brave
7th on favorite DP films list
It's kind of funny that both my least favorite and favorite soundtracks have the biggest differences from their respective positions on my favorite DP films list, but there you have it. Brave may not be the best Disney Princess film, but my god the soundtrack is phenomenal. Granted, I grew up with Scottish and other folk music, so I might be a little biased, but everything about this soundtrack is perfect in my opinion. I could run around singing its songs at the top of my lungs. I could listen to it on repeat. I will never get tired of this music. Julie Fowlis has such a beautiful, perfect voice for the songs and the score has that wonderful Scottish flavor sprinkled throughout. Nearly every piece of music in this movie has the capacity to give me chills. Do yourself a favor and go listen to this soundtrack, you might be surprised how awesome it is.
Favorite song: Noble Maiden Fair (A Mhaighdean Bhan Uasal)
Favorite score: I can't pick one so here are my three favorites - Fate and Destiny, I Am Merida, and We've Both Changed
Apologies for the lack of pictures in this article. I'm feeling lazy today :P
I saw some people doing this and it sounds like such a fun idea, I wanted to join in on the fun. I decided to use mostly pictures and it was fun making them. I included my runner up for each topic.
"Can I be in charge please?" Cleo asked. "I can because uh... I watched Aladdin!" Cleo said.
"Okay, fine," Anna said. Everyone glared at her. "What..." She asked. "Okay princesses and princes bring your weapons!"
"Snow White..."
"Uh myself," Snow White said
"Useless," Cleo said
"Cinderella,"
"My broom..." Ella said
"Not as useless but still useless,"
"Aurora,"
"My prince," Aurora said
"I have no time for this...riffraff!" Cleo suddenly said. She put on her eye patch. "He puts a finger on Jasmine he'll have to break it," Cleo said.
"We need somebody to provide a ship... a sailor ship!"
Eric raised his hand.... "I have twenty..." Eric said.... "Nobody cares sweetie..." Ariel said and put her hand on his chest. "Uh I have one..." Naveen said.
"It's always good to make sacrifices... shame on you Eric!" Cleo awnsered...
"Okay, fine," Anna said. Everyone glared at her. "What..." She asked. "Okay princesses and princes bring your weapons!"
"Snow White..."
"Uh myself," Snow White said
"Useless," Cleo said
"Cinderella,"
"My broom..." Ella said
"Not as useless but still useless,"
"Aurora,"
"My prince," Aurora said
"I have no time for this...riffraff!" Cleo suddenly said. She put on her eye patch. "He puts a finger on Jasmine he'll have to break it," Cleo said.
"We need somebody to provide a ship... a sailor ship!"
Eric raised his hand.... "I have twenty..." Eric said.... "Nobody cares sweetie..." Ariel said and put her hand on his chest. "Uh I have one..." Naveen said.
"It's always good to make sacrifices... shame on you Eric!" Cleo awnsered...