Toon Talk Special: The 101 Greatest Disney Songs - Part 1 of 2
Page 11 of 11
Billy Joel
#46 - "Why Should I
Worry?"
Oliver & Company - 1988
Music and Lyrics by Dan Hartman and Charlie Midnight
Then I'm down on Delancy Street
From the Bowery to Saint Marks
There's a syncopated beat"
Lead Vocals: Billy Joel as Dodger
Source Album: Oliver & Company Original Soundtrack
Behind the Music:
- Golden Globe nomination for Best Song.
- The whole gang joins in for the finale reprise, sadly not on the soundtrack.
Bette Midler
#47 - "Perfect Isn't Easy"
Oliver & Company - 1988
Music by Barry Manilow, Lyrics by Jack Feldman and Bruce Sussman
I'm beauty unleashed
Jaws drop, hearts stop
So classic and classy
We're not talking Lassie!"
Vocals: Bette Midler as Georgette
Source Album: Oliver & Company Original Soundtrack
Behind the Music:
The song was a reunion of sorts for Manilow and the others: Feldman and Sussman co-wrote the disco classic "Copacabana" for him, and he had been Midler's arranger and accompanist in her early days.
#48 - "Part Of Your World"
Music by Alan Menken, Lyrics by Howard Ashman
Bet they don't reprimand their daughters
Bright young women
Sick of swimmin'
Ready to stand"
Vocals: Jodi Benson as Ariel
Source Album: The Little Mermaid Original Soundtrack
Alternate Track: Michelle Nicastro brings her usual enthusiasm
to the material on Toonful
Behind the Music:
- The score for The Little Mermaid won an Oscar, a Golden Globe and a Grammy for Children's Album. It was Menken's first film score.
- Ashman and Menken recognized the similarities between "Part Of Your World" and "Somewhere That's Green" from their Off-Broadway hit Little Shop of Horrors, calling this song "Somewhere That's Dry".
#49 - "Under The Sea"
Music by Alan Menken, Lyrics by Howard Ashman
Out in the sun, they slave away
While we're devoting
Full time to floating
Under the sea"
Lead Vocals: Samuel E. Wright as
Sebastian
Source Album: The Little Mermaid Original Soundtrack
Behind the Music:
- This song racked up a slew of awards, including an Oscar, a Golden Globe and a Grammy for Best Song.
- It was Ashman's idea to make the crab Jamaican, thus opening up the musical possibilities for the character to include calypso and reggae rhythms.
An album of "Under the Sea" dance remixes by Jellybean and Bongo Bob was released by Hollywood Records, credited to "Sebastian C."
#50 - "Kiss The Girl"
Music by Alan Menken, Lyrics by Howard Ashman
Look like the boy to shy
Ain't gonna kiss the girl
Sha la la la la la, ain't that sad
Ain't that a shame, to bad
He gonna miss the girl"
Lead Vocals: Samuel E. Wright as
Sebastian
Source Album: The Little Mermaid Original Soundtrack
Alternate Track: Little Texas scored a country hit off The
Best of Country Sing the Best of Disney
Behind the Music:
- Also nominated for the Best Song Oscar and Golden Globe.
Demo tracks of all the Little Mermaid songs are available on The Music Behind the Magic.
Tune in next Friday to 101 LP on your radio dial for Part 2 of the Toon Talk Top 101: The Best Disney Songs, starting in the 90s and going all the way to the biggest Disney hits of today!
Related Links
-- Kirby C. Holt
Kirby is a lifelong Disney fan and film buff. A frequent contributer to the LaughingPlace.com Discussion Boards, he currently resides near one of the Happiest Places on Earth: Orlando, Florida.
Took Talk: Disney Film & Video Reviews by Kirby C. Holt is posted whenever there's something new to review.
The opinions expressed by our Kirby C. Holt, and all of our columnists, do not necessarily represent the feelings of LaughingPlace.com or any of its employees or advertisers. All speculation and rumors about the future plans of the Walt Disney Company are just that - speculation and rumors - and should be treated as such.
-- Posted August 17, 2001