Top 20 Disney Songs Most Played On Spotify

Disney has created countless original songs for its television shows and films that have received millions of streams on Spotify over the years. Disney’s discography began with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in 1937. It was Disney’s first full-length animated film and featured songs including “Someday My Prince Will Come” and “Heigh-Ho.” Not every Disney project includes original songs, but the famous soundtracks are part of what sets Disney apart from its competition.

Disney’s most recent soundtrack was for Wish, the 2023 animated film that capped off the 100-year celebration of one of the most successful entertainment companies in history. Disney has changed greatly in the past 100 years, but its original scores and soundtracks remain a major part of its popular formula. From Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to Wish, Disney has been making memorable music for a century, and will continue to do so.

1

“All I Want”

High School Musical: The Musical: The Series

According to kworb.net, the most-streamed Disney song of all time on Spotify is “All I Want” from High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. The song was first performed by Olivia Rodrigo’s character Nini in HSMTMS season 1, episode 4. In the four years since it was first released on Spotify, “All I Want” has racked up over 750 million streams on the platform.

High School Musical: The Musical: The Series season 1 introduced two love interests for Nini: E.J. and Ricky. After her breakup with E.J. and her almost kiss with Ricky, Nini wrote “All I Want,” a ballad about wanting “love that lasts.” The song was written and composed by Rodrigo herself, who left the Disney series in season 3 to focus on making her own music to great success.

2

“I’ll Make A Man Out Of You”

Mulan

“All I Want” dominates the streams of all Disney songs on Spotify, having over 400 million streams than the next closest song, “I’ll Make A Man Out Of You.” Mulan premiered in 1998 with a strong soundtrack by Jerry Goldsmith. “I’ll Make A Man Out Of You” is one of the catchiest songs in the Disney canon, and it’s nearly impossible not to belt out.

The song is performed in Mulan by singer, dancer, and actor Donny Osmond. In the scene, Captain Li Shang expresses disappointment with his soldiers, first asserting that he’ll make men out of them and then hopelessly asking how that could be possible. At the end of the scene, Mulan climbs the pole, impressing Li Shang. The song’s title and lyrics have a double meaning, as Mulan is pretending to be a man to fight in the war against the Huns.

3

“A Whole New World”

Aladdin

The main song from Disney’s 1992 animated film Aladdin, “A Whole New World,” was a critical and commercial success and currently has over 289 million Spotify streams. The song, composed and written by Disney legends Alan Menken and Tim Rice, won multiple awards. To this day, “A Whole New World” is the only Disney song to win Song of the Year at the Grammys.

The duet, performed by Brad Kane and Lea Salonga as the singing voices for Aladdin and Jasmine respectively, is sung on the couple’s first date. Kane and Salonga’s voices blend beautifully to bring the song to life as Aladdin takes Jasmine on a magic carpet ride, showing her, as the title suggests, a whole new world. “A Whole New World” has a surprising inspiration that makes the love song even more romantic.

4

“Under The Sea”

The Little Mermaid

The 1989 animated film The Little Mermaid was the first of the Disney Renaissance movies that helped revive the company after a series of unfortunate flops. The Little Mermaid’s soundtrack, as well as those of the other Disney Renaissance movies, were a major reason the films were so successful. The Little Mermaid was also the first Disney film composed by the iconic duo of Alan Menken and Howard Ashman.

“Under The Sea” stands apart from other songs in Disney’s discography due to its calypso and reggae influences. Samuel E. Wright, the voice of Sebastian, performed the single for Ariel’s character to remind her where she belongs. The song won Disney an Academy Award for Best Original Song for the first time since “Chim Chim Cher-ee” from Mary Poppins in 1964. The catchy tune is aided by beautiful animation of the water and the “hot crustacean band.”

5

“Part of Your World”

The Little Mermaid

Two Little Mermaid songs being among the top-five most-streamed tracks shows how successful the soundtrack was and continues to be. “Part of Your World” is considered one of the top Disney princess songs of all time, and for good reason. The song is sung powerfully and longingly by Jodi Benson, the voice of Ariel in The Little Mermaid.

The classic “I Want” song has Ariel expressing her longing to leave her life in the water behind to live on land. As she puts it, she wants to be “where the people are.” At first, the directors wanted Ashman to write a love song Ariel would sing about Eric, but fortunately, Ashman felt like “Part of Your World” would be better for the plot and wrote it instead. As the first “I Want” song of the Disney Renaissance, its impact on subsequent films and Disney princess songs in particular cannot be understated.

6

“I Won’t Say (I’m In Love)”

Hercules

Another film from the Disney Renaissance era is Hercules (1997). The directing duo of Ron Clements and John Musker, who worked together on Aladdin and The Little Mermaid teamed up once again with Alan Menken for Hercules and its soundtrack. The Greek mythology-inspired film received positive reviews, but the music and animation were met with mixed responses.

The music in Hercules incorporates gospel music along with the traditional Disney formula Menken had become known for. One of the more traditional songs was “I Won’t Say (I’m In Love)” performed by Megara (Susan Egan) with backing vocals from the Muses. An in-denial Meg sings about not wanting to say she’s in love with Hercules while the Muses push her to recognize her feelings. The interplay between them and the vulnerability of the powerful female character help make this song worthy of repeat listens.

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7

“Breaking Free”

High School Musical

“Breaking Free” is the most-streamed Disney song on Spotify from a television movie. The first High School Musical film and its sequel were so successful that High School Musical 3: Senior Year received a theatrical release in 2008 to close out the trilogy. Still, many consider the first film and its soundtrack the best of the three thanks to tracks like “Breaking Free.”

However, Zac Efron didn’t sing in the first High School Musical film like his co-star Vanessa Hudgens did. Instead, his parts in songs like “Breaking Free” were dubbed by Drew Seeley, who also lent his voice to the Disney films Jump In! and Cheetah Girls 2. “Breaking Free” is sung at the climax of High School Musical, when Gabriella and Troy finally make up and perform in the spring musical. Its almost 210 million Spotify streams are unsurprising when considering its catchiness and nostalgia factor.

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8

“Can I Have This Dance”

High School Musical 3

The next most-streamed Disney song on Spotify is also from the High School Musical trilogy. Troy and Gabriella’s duets are some of the most memorable songs from the franchise, and “Can I Have This Dance” from High School Musical 3: Senior Year is further proof of this. The couple had been through a lot across the three films, and “Can I Have This Dance” was a beautiful love song that featured a lovely dance between Troy and Gabriella.

“Can I Have This Dance” has over 184 million Spotify streams. Unlike “Breaking Free,” Efron used his own singing voice on “Can I Have This Dance,” proving to viewers that Seeley’s involvement in the first High School Musical film wasn’t due to lack of talent. Hudgens and Efron’s voices work well together, and their chemistry was likely bolstered by their romantic relationship off-screen.

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9

“Gotta Go My Own Way”

High School Musical 2

The most dramatic duet between Gabriella and Troy in the High School Musical franchise by far is “Gotta Go My Own Way” from High School Musical 2. The powerhouse ballad is heartbreaking, as it represents the end of Troy and Gabriella’s relationship, at least temporarily. High School Musical 2 saw the Wildcats leave East High School for summer jobs at the country club owned by the Evans family. Though Troy and Gabriella had been going strong, Sharpay was determined to break them up.

Furthermore, Troy is jealous of Gabriella’s growing friendship with Ryan. When Sharpay learned that Ryan and the Wildcats were planning to perform without her, she banned all junior staff members from the show, leading Gabriella to quit. Despite their love for each other, Gabriella leaves Troy behind, returning the “T” necklace he gave her at the start of the film.

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10

“Reflection”

Mulan

One of the most heartbreaking Disney songs is “Reflection” from Mulan, performed by Lea Salonga, who is also on this list for being the singing voice of Jasmine in Aladdin. Once again, Salonga didn’t voice the main character, as the job was already taken by Ming-Na Wen. Still, in putting Mulan’s voice to music, she played a crucial part in the film and the character’s development. This is especially true with “Reflection.”

Throughout Mulan, the titular character struggles with where she truly belongs and figuring out who she is. Mulan is torn between being “a perfect bride or a perfect daughter” and a soldier. Mulan sings the sad ballad after she fails to impress her matchmaker, looking at her reflection through the water and mirrors around her. “Reflection” is extremely relatable for anyone who’s ever questioned themselves, which is why it has over 171 million Spotify streams.

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11

“Kiss The Girl”

The Little Mermaid

Another calypso-inspired tune sung by Sebastian in The Little Mermaid is “Kiss The Girl.” It’s also the only love song on The Little Mermaid soundtrack, with the film choosing to have Sebastian sing it rather than the main couple. There was good reason for this, particularly that Ariel couldn’t speak at that point in the film, with her voice having been taken from Ursula in exchange for her legs.

To remain human, Ariel has to receive “true love’s kiss,” which is why Sebastian sings “Kiss The Girl” in Eric’s ear. Unfortunately, they fell into the water just as they were about to kiss, ruining the plan. The lyrics to “Kiss The Girl” were changed for the live-action The Little Mermaid to send a message of consent, as the original lyrics could have been interpreted as Sebastian wanting Eric to force himself onto Ariel.

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12

“If Only”

Descendants

Ten years after the first High School Musical film, Disney found success once again with a new series of Disney Channel Original Movies, Descendants. The Descendants films tell the stories of the teenage children of classic Disney villains Maleficent, the Evil Queen, Cruella de Vil, and Jafar, as they navigated high school and carried on their parents’ evil legacies. “If Only” is sung by Dove Cameron, who plays Mal, the daughter of Maleficent.

Mal sings the ballad “If Only” while on a date with Ben, the son of the good Queen Belle and Beast from Beauty and the Beast. Mal realizes she might be falling in love with Ben, something she’s not supposed to be doing as Maleficent’s daughter. The “If Only” lyrics reflect her conflicting feelings. Like many other Disney stars, Cameron went on to have a successful singing career.

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13

“Go The Distance”

Hercules

Despite being the titular character, Hercules himself only sings one song in Hercules. Instead, the Muses and other supporting characters do the heavy lifting on the soundtrack. Roger Bart, who voiced Hercules, gets to sing the “I Want” song “Go The Distance” and its reprise, but it’s the main version of the song that earned its spot on the list of Spotify’s most-streamed Disney songs with over 156 million streams.

Hercules sings the inspiring number after deciding to leave the town he grew up in. Due to his godlike strength, though he’s not yet aware of just why he’s so powerful, Hercules became an outcast. In “Go The Distance,” Hercules sings about how he’s willing to “do most anything to find where [he] belongs.” Like “Reflection,” it’s the perfect song for anyone who’s ever felt like they didn’t fit in, which is somewhat of a recurring theme with Disney protagonists.

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14

“Be Our Guest”

Beauty and the Beast

With over 143 million streams on Spotify, “Be Our Guest” is the most popular song on the Beauty and the Beast soundtrack. Sadly, it was also the last Disney soundtrack with songs by Howard Ashman, who tragically died of AIDS before the film was completed. Like other soundtracks of the Disney Renaissance era, Beauty and the Beast took home multiple awards for its songs, though they were all for the film’s titular single, “Beauty and the Beast.”

Despite this, “Be Our Guest” remains the soundtrack’s standout song. The ensemble number was led by experienced musical theatre performers Jerry Orbach (Lumière) and Angela Lansbury (Mrs. Potts). In addition to the song’s brilliance, the stunning and innovative animation is what brings everything together, with the furniture that were brought to life serving an elaborate feast for Belle, their guest of honor.

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15

“What’s My Name”

Descendants 2

Descendants 2 added a new main antagonist in Uma, the daughter of Ursula. Not to be confused with the Rihanna song by the same name, “What’s My Name” is sung by Uma, who is played by China Anne McClain. The Descendants films take place in the fictional kingdom of Auradon, and in Descendants 2, Mal is poised to become the future queen due to her relationship with King Ben.

Uma, who is stuck on the Isle of the Lost off the coast of Auradon, is determined to not let this happen. In “What’s My Name,” she vows she and her pirate crew will escape and take over the kingdom. “What’s My Name” has R&B and rap influences, bringing a different style to the Disney song. With Descendants 4 confirmed, there will surely be more entertaining songs to stream on Spotify.

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16

“Beauty and the Beast”

Beauty and the Beast

The titular song on the Beauty and the Beast soundtrack is also the final one. The song becomes a soft, tender ballad under Angela Lansbury. Though her version of “Beauty and the Beast” could be considered the definitive one, the song is also known as a duet thanks to Céline Dion and Peabo Bryson. When the live-action film was released in 2017, the new soundtrack also featured a version with Ariana Grande and John Legend.

However, the song works best with just Lansbury’s voice in the context of the Beauty and the Beast scene. The song plays as Belle and Beast go on their first date in the castle, following dinner with his first dance since the enchantress cursed him and his home. As Mrs. Potts sings, it’s a “song as old as rhyme,” and “Beauty and the Beast” became an instant classic for Disney fans.

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17

“We’re All In This Together”

High School Musical

The High School Musical films have plenty of group numbers, and the first film has the most streamed, “We’re All In This Together.” With over 132 million streams on Spotify, “We’re All In This Together” is the fourth, but not the last, High School Musical song in this top 20 list. The group number is one of celebration, as it takes place at the end of the first movie.

“We’re All In This Together” is the perfect way to end the film, leaving things on a fun note with a catchy song and an easy-to-follow dance that goes with it. The song also allows every member of the High School Musical cast to shine vocally, from the jocks to the theatre kids. The song’s message is in the title, and it makes you want to find a group of friends to sing and dance with.

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18

“Wondering”

High School Musical: The Musical: The Series

“Wondering” is the second song performed by Olivia Rodrigo from High School Musical: The Musical: The Series on this list, though it’s not nearly as popular as “All I Want.” Still, it boasts an impressive number of Spotify streams in the four years since its release at over 131 million. On this piano ballad, Rodrigo was joined by Julia Lester, who plays Ashlyn in High School Musical: The Musical: The Series.

“Wondering” is a powerful duet, with both Rodrigo and Lester’s voices mixing well and having time to shine individually with big belted notes. In the series, the song was written by Ashlyn for their production of High School Musical. Ashlyn wrote the song specifically for her character Mrs. Darbus to sing in the musical. After an awkward moment when Nini walked in on Ashlyn practicing at the piano, they sang the song together.

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19

“Zero To Hero”

Hercules

With Hercules inspired by Greek mythology, the animated Disney film includes a singing Greek chorus, the Muses. Played by Lillias White, Cheryl Freeman, LaChanze, Roz Ryan, and Vaneese Thomas, the Muses are the narrators of Hercules, telling the story through a series of gospel songs. “Zero To Hero” marks the turning point in Hercules, when the titular character goes from an outcast to a celebrated hero.

Like many Disney songs, “Zero To Hero” is fun to both sing along and dance to. The song switches gears about halfway through, with the addition of percussion speeding the tempo up. Though Tagatha Agee, lead singer of the funk and soul band Mtume, wasn’t officially one of the Muses, she does lend her voice to “Zero To Hero.” The harmonization between the women’s voices and their agile vocal runs make this song truly special.

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20

“Start Of Something New”

High School Musical

The 20th most-streamed Disney song on Spotify is another one from High School Musical. “Start of Something New,” which has amassed over 120 million streams on Spotify, is also the first song in High School Musical. The duet between Troy and Gabriella set the tone for the series and established the chemistry between them at a New Year’s Eve party that then carried over throughout the three films.

Troy and Gabriella start singing “Start of Something New” with timid, nervous voices before getting comfortable with themselves and each other and belting out the chorus. The song title ended up having a double meaning, as it was the start of their relationship but also one of Disney’s most successful trilogies. With Disney’s long history and large discography, there are tons of songs to stream on Spotify and other major music listening platforms.

Source: kworb.net