The Best Disney Songs, According to Idina Menzel
With the whole world singing along with Elsa to “Let It Go,” Idina Menzel is no stranger to Disney songs. Menzel is starring in the upcoming adaptation of Cinderella, debuting on September 3 on Amazon. She co-wrote the anthem to the movie and something tells us we’ll all be singing along to “Dream Girl” in no time. “It’s a huge milestone for me to write a song that’s actually for my character that’s in my film,” says Menzel. “It gives voice to the women in the movie—and anyone universally who feels oppressed in some way, or frustrated, or angry at the world for not seeing them for who they are—and respecting their dreams and aspirations or their identity. So it’s a really important moment in the movie.”
After Cinderella, we can see Menzel get back to Disney in Disenchanted, the sequel to Enchanted. Composers Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz are reuniting to write the music for the film, which Menzel is particularly excited for. “I have this big song—it’s this really amazing, soaring song that I’m really excited about,” says Menzel. For now, we’ll just have to patiently await for the movie’s release in 2022.
We spoke to Menzel while she was promoting her collaboration with Rice Krispies Treats on the 365 Days of Love and Support Kits, inspiring parents like herself to spark daily moments of encouragement to help kids fuel success at school and beyond. “Rice Krispies Treats has a wrapper now that gives you a little room to put your little note on it,” says Menzel. “So I’ve been doing that and I’m thankful to them for actually asking us to all sort of take a look inside and focus on our kids and loving and supporting them.”
Take a listen to some of Menzel’s other favorite Disney songs, and learn more about how she connects to each one of these classics.
‘Show Yourself’ from ‘Frozen II’
With that epic movie moment of Elsa looking inside herself and exploring her family’s past, it’s hard to imagine that “Show Yourself” was almost cut from the movie. “‘Show Yourself’ is my favorite one to sing,” says Menzel.
‘Let It Go’ from ‘Frozen’
It’s hard to think of the movie without breaking out into song. “Let It Go” was the first song from a Disney animated musical to hit the Billboard Hot 100 since 1995. With 3.37 million copies sold in 2014, the song also won the Oscar for Best Original Song.
‘A Whole New World’ from ‘Aladdin’
“‘A Whole New World’ is a song I’ve been singing my whole life because I used to be a bar mitzvah and wedding singer back in Long Island, New York,” says Menzel. “Everyone would request that song whether it was the song they danced with their dad or the bride and the groom. So I used to sing that song all the time—love it.”
‘Into the Unknown’ from ‘Frozen II’
One of Elsa’s flagship songs in the sequel, this is one of the pivotal moments in the film where Elsa is deciding whether or not to leave Arendelle and look for the voice she keeps hearing. Another powerful tune, the song also features a unique and memorable siren call.
‘The Bare Necessities’ from ‘The Jungle Book’
This tune reminds us all how important it is to focus on the simple things. Baloo sends the message that you can be just as happy when you worry less and live more. “The music is such a great jazz; it has so much musicality,” says Menzel.
‘Do You Want to Build a Snowman?’ from Frozen
The beautiful song captures complex moments starting with a young Anna trying to get her sister, Elsa, to play with her. “It’s not really my song, but I love to sing it,” says Menzel. The song transitions as an older Anna comforts her sister after her parents’ funeral.
‘Colors of The Wind’ from ‘Pocahontas’
In this beautiful song, Pocahontas’ urges John Smith to explore the wonders of the world—and encourages him to accept the differences of all humans. “I have to give a shout out to Stephen Schwartz (who did “Colors of the Wind”) because he wrote all of Wicked, so I have much to thank Stephen for,” says Menzel.
‘When You Wish Upon a Star’ from ‘Pinocchio’
The first Disney song to win an Oscar, this heartwarming tune appears in the beginning of many Disney films. “I like to sing it like an old standard,” says Menzel. “My keyboard player arranged it and plays different chord substitutions. To me, it’s just one of the most beautiful songs ever written.”
‘Remember Me’ from ‘Coco’
“Remember Me” is used at various pivotal moments throughout the film. The song was also recorded as a pop version for the end credits, performed by Miguel and Natalia Lafourcade. “That’s my friend Bobby Lopez and Kristen Lopez who wrote songs from Frozen, so I’d like to give a shout out to them,” says Menzel.
‘A Spoonful of Sugar’ from ‘Mary Poppins’
Sung by Julie Andrews, “A Spoonful of Sugar”finds a catchy way for Mary Poppins to tell Jane and Michael to clean up. Surprisingly, the song is actually inspired by a conversation that songwriter Robert Sherman had with his son about the polio vaccine and helped create “A Spoonful of Sugar (Helps the Medicine Go Down).”
‘Circle of Life’ from ‘The Lion King’
Composed by Elton John, the epic song captures the moment when baby Simba is presented to the Pride Lands. “There are so many songs from The Lion King,” says Menzel. “Probably Circle of Life, just gives me the chills when you sit in the [Broadway] audience.”
‘Be Our Guest’ from ‘Beauty and The Beast’
Performed by Jerry Orbach and Angela Lansbury, Lumière and Mrs. Potts did their best to welcome Belle to the dining room. The catchy tune accompanies a lovely performance by all of the animated kitchen utensils.
‘It’s All Right’ from ‘Soul’
The inspiring lyrics from this song, originally performed by The Impressions in 1963, fit seamlessly into the plot for Soul. “The music is incredible from that movie,” says Menzel. “I like that it’s a little different, too.”
‘Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious’ from ‘Mary Poppins’
Even though we can’t spell it, this memorable, upbeat song from Mary Poppins was performed by Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke. She was being interviewed after winning a horse race, and told all of the reporters that “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” was the perfect word to describe her feelings.
‘Whistle While You Work’ from ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’
“Can we do something silly?” asked Menzel. “I just grew up singing it.” The fun, uplifting performance between Snow White and the forest animals captured the moment when she cleaned up the cottage of the Seven Dwarfs.
‘I See the Light’ from ‘Tangled’
Rapunzel’s dream finally comes true when she sees the floating lights in the love story’s ballad. “The lights are all in the water…that’s gorgeous,” says Menzel. “That’s a beautiful song. I’d love to perform that song one day.”
‘You’ll Be In MY Heart’ from ‘Tarzan’
Originally written as a lullaby for Phil Collins’ daughter, “You’ll Be in My Heart” served as the perfect musical backdrop when Tarzan’s adoptive mother Kala, the gorilla, sings to her baby. Menzel, a fan of Collins, just adores this song.
Posted on 10 January, 2022 by
Heather
