Happy Valentine's Day!! As we approach the annual romantic holiday, I thought I would look back at my top 15 Disney love songs. Note that I only include classically animated Disney films with only one exception that has some live action in it. I also decided to order them chronologically because to be perfectly honest, they are all wonderful songs. Finally, I also included Youtube links to every song, so feel free to enjoy all of this wonderful Disney love.
1)
I'm Wishing/One Song - Snow White (1937)
This is a song that really introduces us to Prince Charming and Snow White. She's outside her castle in peasant clothes, dreaming for her Prince to come. She makes a wish at the well and a prince shows up and tries to woo her. She bashfully tries to hide from him as he sings to her but in the end, you can tell she's interested in him too. This was the start of romantic songs for Disney and it introduces us in such a sweet way.
Youtube link:
I'm Wishing/One Song
2)
Baby Mine - Dumbo (1941)
Ok, I'm going to be perfectly honest, I haven't seen Dumbo in years but as I sit here now, having just watched this song, I'll admit I'm a little choked up. The love that Mrs. Jumbo has for her son Dumbo is a really beautiful thing. I realize it's not "romantic" but it's still some of the strongest love I've ever seen in any movie. The song takes place as Dumbo goes to visit his mom, who is locked up after causing a panic while protecting her son. She rocks him softly in her trunk, which is all she can get out through the bars of her cage. Throughout the song, you see other animals and their mothers together and it made me even more aware of how lucky I am to have my wonderful mother. Love you, Mom!
Youtube link:
Baby Mine
3)
So This Is Love - Cinderella (1950)
That magical moment when Cinderella walks into the Prince's ball and he sees her for the first time - that would be what leads to this magical song. The two of them start dancing and walking through his garden together. It's so beautiful to watch the two of them together as they start to fall in love. She looks absolutely gorgeous and you can tell this is going to be the most magical night of her life. The song should end with a kiss but right as they're about to, the clock starts to strike midnight and Cinderella must leave.
Youtube link:
So This Is Love
4)
Bella Notte - Lady and the Tramp (1955)
This one is for all the dog lovers out there. Humans aren't the only ones who can have romantic dates which include a wonderful Italian dinner and stroll through the park. This song happens after Lady has run away from the evil Aunt Sarah and gets chased down by some mean dogs. Tramp saves her and they spend the afternoon together. Eventually they make their way to Tony's Restaurant via the back entrance and are given a spaghetti dinner. As they enjoy it, the chefs sing to them and it is really romantic. The song continues as they take a nice stroll through the park and are clearly very smitten with each other.
Youtube link:
Bella Notte
5)
Once Upon A Dream - Sleeping Beauty (1959)
This is the song from Sleeping Beauty where Princess Aurora, aka Briar Rose is dancing with a mysterious stranger in the woods, aka Prince Phillip. She is talking with her animal friends about how she met this man and how wonderful he was and how they got along so well. The only thing was, it was just in her dreams. So she starts singing about her dream and him and Prince Phillip, wondering through the woods, hears her and starts to join her in song. When she first sees him, she's initially a little frightened but she quickly warms up and starts dancing and singing with him. You can tell just how quickly they fall in love, not even knowing who the other one really is.
Youtube link:
Once Upon A Dream
6)
Kiss The Girl - Little Mermaid (1989)
This song comes from everybody's favorite crab, Sebastian from The Little Mermaid. It is Ariel's second day as a human and she only has three days to get Prince Eric to kiss her. She has just spent a day with him getting a tour of his kingdom. At this point, they're in a little row boat together and Sebastian tries to help her get Eric to kiss her by singing a sweet song. He gets other animals to help him create the right mood and tone and try to encourage the two of them to kiss. You really get to see the two of them fall in love for each other during this song and right as they're about to kiss, Ursula's eels Flotsam and Jetsam knock over their boat. Still, this song is pretty romantic up to that point.
Youtube link:
Kiss The Girl
7)
Beauty And The Beast - Beauty and the Beast (1991)
If I personally had to pick one favourite song on this list, this would be it. Beauty and the Beast has been my favourite movie for years and this song is truly a masterpiece. It takes place as Belle and Beast are starting to fall in love with each other and during this song is when the magic really happens. They are all dressed up in their iconic outfits - him in his blue suit and her in that stunning yellow ball gown. From the time they walk down the stairs to when they enjoy their meal to dancing in the ball room, it's a thing of beauty from start to finish. Plus there is the talented Angela Lansbury singing the song as Mrs. Potts. It is truly an amazing song and one that gets me everytime that I watch it.
Youtube link:
Beauty And The Beast
8)
A Whole New World - Aladdin (1992)
Known as one of the biggest Disney hit songs out there, A Whole New World delivers many elements, including romance and adventure. Aladdin realizes he needs to get Jasmine to see him differently than the way she has seen most suitors. He takes her on a magic carpet ride and shows her the world and all of its wonders. The song isn't only about discovering the physical world they're seeing, it's also about falling in love and all the risks and joys that come with it. It's scary at times but it's so beautiful and a once in a lifetime experience. The way she sees that he is different from what she thought opens her eyes up to a whole new experience she never thought possible.
Youtube link:
A Whole New World
9)
Can You Feel The Love Tonight - Lion King (1994)
Another song from the animal kingdom, Can You Feel The Love Tonight is a captivating song about two friends reuniting and discovering that they might be more than that. Simba, who had been living with Timon and Pumbaa since his father's death, is too ashamed to return back to his homeland and prefers the care free lifestyle. Nala wants him to come back and take over as king and in this song, they start to get to know each other again. They're adults now and they have feelings for each other, which they never thought they could have before. Timon and Pumbaa are worried that they'll loose their friend but in the end, love and friendship both win.
Youtube link:
Can You Feel The Love Tonight
10)
If I Never Knew You - Pocahontas (1995)
This one might not seem as familiar as the majority of songs on this list and that's because it wasn't in the original version of Pocahontas. When Disney re-released the movie years later, they added it back in. John Smith is being held captive by the Native Americans, accused of killing Kocoum, and Pocahontas visits him. As they have a few moments alone together, she apologizes for getting him into this mess but he tells her that his life wouldn't have been the same without her. They both go onto say just how much the other has changed their lives for the better. This is without a doubt one of the most powerful songs in Disney's repertoire.
Youtube link:
If I Never Knew You
11)
I Won't Say (I'm In Love) - Hercules (1997)
Now onto one of the only songs where we only have one half our leading couple. However, while this is mostly about Meg, Hercules is the one she is claiming not to be in love with. She was hurt once before by being in love, so after swearing she would never fall in love again, she is scared to realize that she might be doing just that. She tries to deny it but the Muses assure her that it is alright and that she can't keep denying it. In the end she finally does admit to herself that she is in love. It's a scary feeling to jump back in that boat, especially when you've been hurt but like so many love stories prove, it really is all worth it in the end.
Youtube link:
I Won't Say (I'm In Love)
12)
You'll Be In My Heart - Tarzan (1999)
This is my other parent/child song. It takes place after Kala, a motherly ape, has rescued Tarzan from Sabor, a leopard who killed not only Tarzan's parents, but also Kala's son. Her husband Kerchek isn't impressed but he agrees to let him stay. Kala then sings this beautiful song to her new baby. She lets him know that no matter what anyone else says, no matter what struggles he goes through, he will always be in her heart. This song has a special place in my heart because it was the father/daughter song at my wedding. It really is such a beautiful song and like Baby Mine, it shows just how strong the relationship is between a parent and a child.
Youtube link:
You'll Be In My Heart
13)
That's How You Know - Enchanted (2007)
This is the one song I picked from a Disney movie that's only partially animated. I decided to put it in because it really demonstrates the classic Disney love song. Giselle is trying to show Robert that he can't just assume that his girlfriend Nancy knows how he feels about her. He needs to be romantic and make her feel special and loved. She manages to get most of Central Park involved in this big showstopping number which really gets the message across. In the end, you've got to make sure that your special someone knows that they are loved by you.
Youtube link:
That's How You Know
14)
Ma Belle Evangeline - Princess and the Frog (2009)
This is a sweet song between firefly Ray and his "girlfriend" Evangeline. He points her out to Tiana, Naveen and Louis and they realize she is actually a star in the sky and not a firefly. Still he loves her very much and sings a little romantic tune about her. While he's doing that Naveen gets a hestant Tiana to dance with him on a lily pad. The two of them clearly have some romantic chemistry together but they quickly try to extinguish any flames that may have sparked. Eventually they end up together and this song is a sweet beginning to when they start to fall for each other.
Youtube link:
Me Belle Evangeline
15)
I See The Light - Tangled (2010)
This song is a perfect way to end this list. It's beautiful, it's romantic and it's classic Disney but with a modern spin. After finally making their way to the kingdom to see the floating laterns, Rapunzel and Flynn are in a boat together, ready to enjoy it. The laterns start floating and she can't believe she's finally there watching it. She begins to realize though that she likes Flynn and that without him, she wouldn't be there, while at the same time he is also developing feelings for her. Overall this is a nice romantic song between two people coming to the realization that while their initial relationship might have been just to help the other, it's grown into something more - love.
Youtube link:
I See The Light
That's the end of the list, I hope you all enjoyed it. As you can see, there are plenty of beautiful Disney love songs and not just in these 15 movies, but in many more. So this Valentine's Day, I hope you all get to spend time with the people you love most. And remember, love really is beautiful thing, so once you do find it, treasure it and not just on February 14th, but year round.
