Disney is a staple in every childhood, and even in some adulthoods. I grew up watching their movies and dreaming of becoming a mermaid just like Ariel. Though lets be honest, as an adult, the thought of being a mermaid would still be pretty awesome. No chores, no bugs, you get to swim with dolphins, and most importantly, no pants.
There's one thing that Disney does that I think is pretty awesome: they grow with you. They're always changing. They experiment with animation and music, and create something unexpected with every movie release.
Then they have Broadway shows that delve into the deeper aspects of life that, as a writer, I can truly appreciate. With so many different films out, and now with their plans on remaking some of them, I thought about how many albums that have gone without their "days in the sun," to quote "Beauty and the Beast."
So, without further ado, here are the albums and songs that I find are the most underrated in Disney's lineup.
1. The Hunchback of Notre Dame (2016)
The original movie soundtrack of this is gold, the off-Broadway production is PLATINUM. If you don't listen to any of the other songs on this list, LISTEN TO THIS ONE! PLEASE! I cannot express how much I LOVE this album! Each song is meaningful and powerful and being accompanied by a chorus that is chill-inducing. But more often than not, no one has even watched the movie, let alone heard the soundtrack. And I bet most aren't even aware that Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz created this off-Broadway musical with new songs specifically written for this performance.
2. Pocahontas
This entire soundtrack is underrated. Besides "Colors of the Wind," what other songs have actually been made famous from this movie? None, but there are so many quality arrangements on the album. For example, "Savages" parts one and two are dark and hateful, "The Virginia Company" has a certain pep to it as all introduction songs do in Disney, and "Mine, Mine, Mine" is full of the greed Radcliffe is guided by.
3. Mary Poppins
Yes, everyone knows "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious," (I'm 99.9% sure I spelled that right), but what other songs have been made famous from Mary Poppins? Besides "Chim Chim Cher-ee." I know if it wasn't for the musical my high school put on my senior year, I wouldn't have noticed or found my love for this song, and I used to always watch this movie every time I visited my aunt as a kid.
4. Enchanted
Before Lily James and Emma Watson took on the roles of Cinderella and Belle, there was the original live-action princess, Amy Adams as Giselle with her "Happy Working Song," and keen sense of fashion.
5. The Nightmare Before Christmas
This album is weirdly melancholy yet happy at the same time and it manages to work. Most likely because Danny Elfman is basically a genius.
6. Tarzan
This one is underrated in the sense that Phil Collins composed every one of these songs and sang some of them, too. He managed to capture the spirit of the film in each lyric and note played. And even though it has no real lyrics, "Trashin' the Camp" has to be my favorite.
7. Brother Bear
First of all, you need to watch this movie and the sequel. Second, Phil Collins strikes again with this incredible soundtrack four years after his work with Tarzan.
8. Lemonade Mouth
This one came out during the time that Disney Channel began to go downhill, and I'm pretty sure that's one of the reasons why most won't acknowledge how good this album is. They played actual instruments and the variety of the songs is something I appreciate as a listener.
9. Olive & Company
Am I the only one who's actually seen this movie? Because no one else I talked to has watched it and that genuinely upsets me. I can't tell you how many times I've seen this film, my favorite number is probably "Perfect Isn't Easy" sung by Georgette the Poodle as she puts on her makeup because, yes, dogs wear makeup.
10. Hercules
If the Muses could narrate my life, or even just a portion of it, that'd be great.
11. Mulan
Lets get down to business...to the real underdog of this album. Sure, there's "I'll Make a Man Out of You" and "Reflection," but how many of us go around humming this gem? Through this song we get to see Yao, Chien-Po, and Ling's personalities shine. And besides Mushu, these three were empowered Mulan and aided her in stopping the Huns.
12. Beauty and the Beast (2017)
I felt like I would be betraying myself and the soundtrack if I didn't have this one here. It's not expressed enough how gorgeous and heartbreaking this song actually is.
13. A Goofy Movie
This wasn't my favorite movie growing up, but this scene always brought a smile to my face, along with some secondhand embarrassment.
14. Fantasia
Beautifully crafted and beautifully scored, need I say more?
15. The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea
I can remember humming this song all day long once I watched this sequel for the first time (and many times after that).
16. Lilo & Stitch
I don't think audiences necessarily think of "Lilo & Stitch" as having a soundtrack. In reality though, it's probably one of the most interesting compilations. It's comprised of Hawaiian culture and Elvis Presley hits that compliment the message of this movie so well.
17. Almost Alice
This one is so cool! There are so many different, unique artists featured on this soundtrack that lend itself to the feel of the live-action movie. There's Grace Potter, All Time Low, and even Owl City. Where else would you be able to have Avril Lavigne and Shinedown on the same Disney track?


















