Toon Talk Special: The 101 Greatest Disney Songs - Part 2 of 2
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The Toon Talk Top 101: The Best Disney Songs
Part 2 of 2

If you missed Part One, please read it as it contains a complete introduction to the list.

Below you will find the blueprint for The Ultimate Disney Mix Tape, the best songs from Disney movies, shorts, television shows, theatrical productions, theme park attractions and video.

Some ground rules:

• All the songs had to be written specifically for the movie, television show, et cetera.In other words, no "Turkey In the Straw" or "The Lion Sleeps Tonight".
• No instrumentals; this is about singing.Thus nothing from the Fantasias.
• No compilations of previous songs.This left out a lot of parade and fireworks music, such as "The Main Street Electrical Parade" and "Believe: There's Magic In The Stars".
• All Disney venues for songs were considered, including Touchstone and Hollywood Pictures releases and direct-to-video movies.Basically, if it was a musical produced by Disney in some form, it was eligible.
• All tracks are the original versions unless otherwise noted.
• The rule of thumb for the Source Albums is the most readily available (if possible) CD is noted.With the proliferation of the various "collection" albums, the songs may appear on those as well. (A Discography, including every album mentioned in this feature, appears at the end of this article.)
• A GREAT resource for finding Disney songs and albums is The Magical Music of the Mouse website, found at http://www.magicmusic.net Their search feature and album notes are excellent.If you're a Disney music fan and haven't seen it already, check it out.
• Track Notes are comments in regards to the specific track mentioned.
• Alternate Tracks highlight a notable cover version, which are often times just as enjoyable as the original.In a few cases, the cover song is even better then the original track.
• Borrowing from VH1, Behind the Music lists awards, history, and other bits of trivia about each song.

And we're back, movin' and groovin' with the best Disney songs from
the past two decades, and into the 21st Century!"

#51 - "Tale Spin (Spin It)"
Tale Spin - 1990
Music and Lyrics by Michael Silversher and Perry Silversher

"Spin it, let's begin it
Bare and grin it when you're in it
You can win it in a minute when you spin it
Spin it, spin it!"

Lead Vocals: Jim Gilstrap
Source Album: The Music of Disney: A Legacy of Song
Track Notes: This track is an extended version of the theme, not heard on the show.

Behind the Music:

• The best of the Disney Afternoon theme songs.

(c) Disney

#52 - "Sooner or Later (I Always Get My Man)"
Dick Tracy - 1990
Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim

"If you're on my list, it's just a question of when
When I get a yen
Then baby amen
I'm counting to ten
And then ... "

Vocals: Madonna as Breathless Mahoney
Source Album: I'm Breathless ... Music From and Inspired by the Film Dick Tracy

Behind the Music:

• Academy Award winner and Golden Globe nominee for Best Song.

• Jane Krakowski vamps it up on Sondheim at the Movies: Songs from the Screen.

#53 - "What Can You Lose?"
Dick Tracy - 1990
Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim

"Once the words are spoken
Something may be broken
Still you love her
What can you lose?"

Vocals: Mandy Patinkin as 88 Keys and Madonna as Breathless Mahoney
Source Album: I'm Breathless ... Music From and Inspired by the Film Dick Tracy
Behind the Music:

• Also nominated for a Best Song Golden Globe, Sondheim lost to ... Jon Bon Jovi.

• Guy Haines goes solo on Sondheim at the Movies: Songs from the Screen.

#54 - "Belle"
Beauty & the Beast - 1991
Music by Alan Menken, Lyrics by Howard Ashman

"Oh, isn't this amazing?
It's my favorite part because you'll see
Here's where she meets Prince Charming
But she won't discover that it's him 'til chapter three"

Lead Vocals: Paige O'Hara as Belle and Richard White as Gaston
Source Album: Beauty & the Beast Original Soundtrack
Alternate Track: Beauty & the Beast: The Broadway Musical Original Cast Recording, with Susan Egan as Belle and Burke Moses as Gaston

Behind the Music:

• Ashman loved "story songs", which integrated lyrics and dialogue like this one.
• Beauty & the Beast was the first film to have three songs Oscar nominated, including this one.  That feat has only happened once more to date, with The Lion King.

• The film received an Oscar, a Golden Globe and a Grammy for Score, and another Grammy for Children's Album.  The soundtrack was also up for Grammy's Album of the Year.

Howard Ashman and Alan Menken
(c) Disney

#55 - "Gaston"
Beauty & the Beast - 1991
Music by Alan Menken, Lyrics by Howard Ashman

"For there's no one as burly and brawny
As you see I've got biceps to spare
Not a bit of him's scraggly or scrawny
That's right! And every last inch of me's covered with hair"

Lead Vocals: Jesse Corti as LaFou and Richard White as Gaston
Source Album: Beauty &the Beast Original Soundtrack
Track Note: This soundtrack version includes the original longer ending, not heard in the film.
Alternate Track: Beauty & the Beast: The Broadway Musical Original Cast Recording, with Kenny Raskin as LaFou and Burke Moses as Gaston

Behind the Music:

• After the film was released, it was not uncommon to hear crude variations of this song's lyrics sung in neighborhood playgrounds everywhere.