My Top Ten Modern Disney Songs So Far

 Moana 2 Is almost out, and I quite enjoyed the first one, when people talk about Disney music, there are so many songs to talk about. Plenty that have lasted for decades and been performed in countless formats. I plan on talking about my all-time favorites, but because Moana 2 is coming, I thought I would talk about some of the songs from modern Disney films that I listen to often. Songs I have sung along to, related with, and been moved by. I am going to start from "Tangled" up until "Wish" which I say would be the introduction of a new era of Disney and a new art style for the movies. Disney has been doing a mix of musical and non-musical movies, such as " Big Hero 6" and "Zootopia". One ground rule, the song has to be performed in the movie, the movie needs to have more than one song, and it needs to be tied to a plot or character, so "Try Anything" from "Zootopia" does not qualify as the movie is a not a musical. This is my personal list, so please share your thoughts, and share your own, these are just my personal picks. Also, movies are not limited to one song, so let's dive into some of the modern Disney hits that very well become tomorrow's classics.

10. Dos Oruguitas (Encanto)

Expect Lin Manuel Miranda, as well as this film, because he has hit it out of the park many times, and is an outspoken fan of classic Disney, thus he knows how to make a song that fits in an animated world, yet still feels real. This song is so true, snug entirely in Spanish and showing one of the emotional focal points of the plot, this song does qualify even if it is not directly sung. The instrumentation and visuals tie together, but even on its own, the song is absolutely beautiful. It is powerful and filled to the brim with emotion. Instead of a big number, the penultimate song is quiet, soft, and packed with heart. This song is truly special and is a work of art. 

9. Let It Go (Frozen)

The original song was played way too much but that really isn't the case anymore, for a while it was, but this at the end of the day is still an empowering and great song. I love the way the music swells, the lyrics are great, and this is the big moment in the story we have been waiting for. This song has great instrumentation, a good solid chorus, and great lyrics, it definitely will be talked about in the years to come. 

8. When Will My Life Begin (Tangled)

What a great way to start a movie, after the initial setup of the plot, this is a great way to meet a character and find out everything you need to know about them. This song is not only insanely catchy but full of charm and gives you what you need to know about Rapunzel, how she feels, how she sees the world, and how she interacts with it. The song has memorable lyrics with a touch of a deeper meaning under the bouncy lyrics to make this song something I want to begin, again and again, and then listen to all the way through. 

7. For The First Time In Forever (Frozen)

This song was the moment I knew I was going to at least like the first Frozen movie. The seamless transition from song to song feels almost as if it were a stage show, and Frozen would eventually get one. This song has great pacing, memorable lyrics, and great orchestration, with a huge moment that swells towards the end, this and the reprise are both incredible musical feats. The two singers working hand in hand to weave together a great song while balancing multiple melodies at once works incredibly well here, showing the juxtaposition of the two sisters at the start of this icy cold but ultimately heartwarming tale.

6. I Am Moana (Song Of The Ancestors) (Moana)

This song is packed with heart and is such a great emotional focal point both in the soundtrack and the film. Giving Moana her hero moment right before the climax of the movie, helping her character development come full circle. A perfect song for the moment it is in, and a good listen to remind the listen of why that moment is so fantastic. 

5. We Don't Talk About Bruno  (Encanto)

You're Welcome may have come first but between the songs that blew up from Lin Manuel Miranda Disney movies, I prefer this one. This song is incredible, the melody is amazing, the lyrics are incredibly catchy, and the song builds into a great ending. This is a song I can listen to over and over, it is just that good, it is a great ensemble number and twists the traditional idea of a villain song on its head, taking an idea to new levels. This song fires on all cylinders. 

4. Into The Unknown (Frozen 2)

This is my favorite song in the entire movie and has amazing sweeping orchestrations. Exploring a great angle of a character who has gone on a big adventure and wants to settle down, but feels something calling them into the unknown, metaphorically and physically. The lyrics are great, and the instrumentation and theming are as well. This song is very inspirational and I often find myself fired up right after listening to it, which is ironic because Elsa has ice powers. 

3. How Far I'll Go/ How Far I'll Go Reprise (Moana)

This is an incredible, modern example of an "I Want" song done right. Similar to the entry before this one, this song speaks of longing for something more than what they know. This song also has incredible lyrics, and the reprise is very much the same, showing someone who is on their journey and not willing to turn back. These songs are great at building from something soft to something grand while never losing sight of the emotional core at the heart of this song. 

2. I See The Light (Tangled)

The only love song on this list, but if I picked one, it had to be this one. The gorgeous lyrics, the beautiful instrumentation, and the powerful lyrics. Seeing two individuals find their dreams in each other, changing from where they began in the film. Falling in love and seeing in this soft moment, each other, and nothing else. The characters are now different and act differently for the rest of the film, and this moment, this song is the reason why. Simply beautiful and nothing less, nothing more. 

1. Waiting On A Miracle (Encanto)

Speaking of beautiful instrumentation, this is not just an "I Want" song, this is a song about wanting to belong within your family unit. The emotions behind this song are incredibly real and can be relatable to listeners of all ages, feeling like you are stuck while the world around you revolves, wanting to be a part of something bigger. Wanting to prove oneself, while being accompanied by a beautiful acoustic guitar, and wonderful instrumentation that grows and swells, only to end on a soft but powerful note. The pacing in this song is wonderful, the emotions in it are real, and it works so well. Much like how "We Don't Talk About Bruno" took the villain song in different directions, this one did the same, shortly after this film began.