But what makes the films? I think we’d all agree the animation is amazing but those songs live on for years. I happened upon a YouTube video from The React channel where teens from the channel try to put the 10 most played Disney songs on Spotify in order.
I don’t have children but I can understand putting a single song on repeat. In fact, a few of my friends are so sick of a certain song on the list because it was on repeat in their homes.
Most Played Songs from Spotify
Entertainment Weekly reported on this list in July and I totally missed it! A mom in the UK compiled all of the data and her methodology is here. I understand that these are the most played but that got me thinking. Just because these are the most played does that mean that they are the favorites?
Here’s the list from U.K. outlet Play Like Mum
- “Let It Go,” Frozen – 298 million
- “How Far I’ll Go,” Moana – 205 million
- “You’re Welcome,” Moana – 181 million
- “Life Is A Highway,” Cars – 153 million
- “Beauty And The Beast,” Beauty And The Beast (2017) – 148 million
- “You’ll Be In My Heart,” Tarzan – 132 million
- “A Whole New World,” Aladdin – 121 million
- “Try Everything,” Zootopia – 119 million
- “Love Is An Open Door,” Frozen – 113 million
- “Under The Sea,” The Little Mermaid – 109 million
I don’t completely disagree with her list and I understand it’s favorite Disney Songs which mean the song is from a Disney film. But I was shocked that Life is a Highway was so high on the list. and Zootopia was a great film but I didn’t remember the soundtrack at all. For me, for a song to be considered, I realized I wanted it to be sung by a character, not to be used in a montage or in the end credits.
Classic Disney vs 90’s Disney vs Modern Disney
I also wondered was it a generational thing. My dad’s songs? When You Wish Upon a Star and Heigh-Ho It’s off to Work We Go… However, this is the man who made his ring tone “Happy Working Song” after seeing Enchanted. Would more moms put Tarzan or even Dumbo on the list?
Is the music from Alan Menken and Tim Rice universal in my friend group? or will Elton John who did Lion King and Phil Collins who did Tarzan eek through. Will lyricists Lin-Manuel Miranda and Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson Lopez (Moana and Frozen) make it for those with kids, or will they be sick of it? Full disclosure, my alarm is “How Far I’ll Go.”
Focus Group
I did a focus group among That’s Normal to vote for our favorite Disney songs and here are the results. Comparing the EW/Play Like Mum/Spotify list, our top five list and honorable mentions only overlapped with four songs.
Song 5: Under the Sea – Little Mermaid
Song 4: Let It Go – Frozen
Song 3: Reflection – Mulan
Song 2: How Far I’ll Go – Moana
Honorable mentions (ties)
A Whole New World – Aladdin
Colors of the Wind – Pocahontas
Friend Like Me – Aladdin
I See the Light – Tangled
God Help the Outcasts – Hunchback of Notre Dame
Song 1: Part of Your World – The Little Mermaid
Playlist of all of our songs
I also reached out to my friends on facebook for songs they would put on a playlist of favorite Disney songs.
Click here for the YouTube playlist
Click here for the Spotify playlist
And if you want an instrumental piano playlist of Disney music here is a three hour one I found on youtube.
