In October 1923, brothers Walt and Roy O. Disney founded Disney Brothers Studio. From their first production to the present day, music has been arguably the "fuel" that powers the Disney empire. It plays a vital role in the studio's classic films, television shows on Disney Channel, and even in most of the rides at Disneyland theme parks.
Music and film context. In the animated film Beauty and the Beast (1991), the song "Be Our Guest " is used to separate Act 1 (the event) - a "pause," creating momentum for the character to enter Act 2 (development); it also clarifies the storyline: replacing her father as a prisoner, Belle refuses to eat with the Beast and is left to starve.
In the dining room, Bella is treated to a grand musical – Be Our Guest, a blend of Broadway and Cabaret styles (a stage performance of singing, circus acts, and dancing in a restaurant for diners to watch while they eat). In this setting, Bella is the audience, surrounded by professional singers, circus performers, and dancers. They present the menu through music and perform a variety show on a magnificent stage. Be Our Guest offers a glimpse into a life of luxury – revealing a glimpse into the status of the castle's "owner."
The lyricist, Howard Ashman, has brought objects to life.
Character development: " Be Our Guest" introduces both Belle and the audience to the role of the lamplighter Lumière – a musician yearning to serve, knowing that he is only valuable when served. Therefore, Lumière sings: "Life is wonderful/For a servant who does not serve." The Washington Post commented: " Be Our Guest relates to the 'essential' household items and Belle is forced to live with them."
To advance the plot – to introduce a new character or location . The song "A Whole New World" in Aladdin (1992) is used to introduce Jasmine to the audience. The song is a love ballad, its lyrics describing the magical and wonderful world Jasmine is about to explore, while also sharing Aladdin and Jasmine's perspective on their relationship. The melody, combined with the imagery, draws the audience into the character's world.
"To our friend Howard, who gave the mermaid a voice and the beast a soul, we will be forever grateful. Howard Ashman 1950–1991," the dedication at the end of Aladdin.
Expressing thoughts and inner development allows characters to sing about their most intense desires. In Frozen (2013), Elsa sings about her longing for freedom after a long period of hiding her icy powers. The song "Let It Go" has a gradually increasing tempo, showing Elsa's inner transformation – shifting from denial to self-acceptance. This can also be seen in the character of Ariel in The Little Mermaid (1989), when she wants to have legs to walk freely in the human world in the song " Part of Your World."
Ariel sings " Part of Your World" in a cave at the bottom of the sea, filled with human belongings; the mermaid knows "what I need" is not "what I want".
Music helps audiences connect with the characters' emotions . This is evident in the classic film Pinocchio (1940), where music connects the audience's emotions with the boy's circumstances. The film revolves around a wooden puppet who must prove himself worthy of becoming a real boy. The melody of " When You Wish Upon a Star" plays frequently and is sung by the narrator (who is also Pinocchio's conscience) – Jiminy Cricket. The lyrics affirm the immense power of "dreams." This is also a prime example of how music inspires timelessness. The 1940 recording of "When You Wish Upon a Star " was preserved in the U.S. National Recording Registry in 2009 for its "cultural, historical, and aesthetic significance."
"When you ish upon a star, your dreams come true" - if that's what you need, believe in it, and it will find you, no matter who you are.
A childhood dream. Not a movie soundtrack, the song "It's a Small World ( After All )" is the theme song of the ride of the same name at Disneyland Park, first released at the New York World's Fair (1964-1965), performed by the Disneyland Boys' Choir.
Walt Disney co-founder Walt needed a song that met two criteria: easy to translate and playable in a circle. In 1964, "It's a Small World ( After All )" was created with a fast tempo and counter-song. The song is lively yet simple, conveying a message of world peace and celebrating cultural diversity. To this day, "It's a Small World ( After All )" can be considered a popular song. It is the most played song in music history - according to Time magazine.
"It's a Small World ( After All )" is the theme song for the ride of the same name at Disneyland.
The song "It's a Small World ( After All )" was played 1,200 times a day for 16 hours at 12 Disneyland parks. The 1964 recording was also selected by the U.S. Library of Congress for preservation in the U.S. National Recording Registry in 2022 for its "cultural, historical, and aesthetic significance."
The Mickey Mouse Club was the starting point for many world stars: Ryan Gosling, Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake...
In a context where only half of American households owned a television, the need to produce children's programs had to satisfy two conditions: music that introduced the program's content, and simple yet engaging lyrics that children could focus on and follow. In 1955, Disney produced a variety show shown on a black and white screen – The Mickey Mouse Club. The host, Jimmie Dodd, composed the song "The Mickey Mouse March ." The lyrics encouraged children to spell out: "Who's the leader of the club that's made for you and me?/MICKEY MOUSE!". The rhythmic trumpets, drums, and Mouseketeer (the main performers of music and dance) transformed the show into a vibrant musical parade.
Top 10 songs that topped the charts:
1. Part of Your World ( The Little Mermaid , 1989)
2. Let It Go ( Frozen , 2013)
3. It's a Small World (After All) ( It's a Small World , 1964)
4. Be our Guest ( Beauty and the Beast , 1991)
5. When You Wish Upon a Star ( Pinocchio , 1940)
6. A Whole New World ( Aladdin , 1992)
7. The Mickey Mouse March (The Mickey Mouse Club , 1955)
8. The Climb ( Hannah Montana: The Movie , 2009)
9. A Spoonful of Sugar ( Mary Poppins , 1964)
10. Breaking Free ( High School musical , 2006)
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