Disney songs which have gained Oscars – movies, lyrics, plot and all it is advisable to know
January 29, 2019, 11:23 am | Updated: February 1, 2019, 9:48 am
Pocahontas.
Image: Disney
Since Pinocchio touched the hearts of every Academy member in 1940, Disney has won a whopping 13 Academy Awards for best original song.
The 91st Academy Awards are fast approaching, so let’s take a look back at some of the top musical winners from Disney films.
From firm family favorites Mary Poppins and The Lion King to the lesser-known Song of the South, you’ll find all of the Oscar-winning Disney films here.
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Pinocchio (1940)
‘If you wish for a star’ by Pinocchio was Disney’s first Oscar win in 1940. The original version of the song was sung by Jiminy Cricket in the opening credits and in the final scene of the film. Pinocchio also won the Oscar for best original music that year.
The song’s iconic status was really cemented when Disney began using it alongside the Walt Disney Pictures animation at the start of all Disney films.
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Song of the South (1946)
The film itself may be a bit behind, but Uncle Remus’ (James Baskett) Oscar-winning number ‘Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah’ has long outlived the popularity of animation and continues to be a popular tune. We challenge you not to tap your toes …
Here are all of the 2019 Oscar soundtrack nominations>
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Mary Poppins (1964)
From ‘Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious’ to ‘Step in Time’, Mary Poppins was packed with iconic songs – but that was it ‘Chim Chim Cher-ee’, Bert’s masterpiece that won an Oscar for best original song.
The happy melody about the life of a chimney sweep was written by the Sherman Brothers, who also received an Oscar and a Grammy for the score.
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The Little Mermaid (1989)
‘Under the sea’, composed by Alan Menken, won the 1989 Oscar for Original Song and put Sebastian the Crab’s catchy ‘Kiss the Girl’ on the post.
Menken also received an Oscar for best original music that year.
The Little Mermaid (1989).
Image: Disney -
Beauty and the Beast (1991)
The animation Beauty and the Beast, composed in 1991 by Alan Menken, was another success story for the film composer when he won the awards for Original Score and Original Song (for ‘Beauty and the Beast‘).
Originally recorded by Angela Lansbury (Mrs. Potts), Celine Dion and Peabo Bryson are known to record a second version of the song for the film’s credits.
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Aladdin (1992)
The love duet between Aladdin and Jasmine ‘A Whole New World’ won the Oscar for best original song at the 65th Academy Awards, another win for Alan Menken – and songwriting partner Tim Rice.
Sung by Robin Williams as a genius, “Friend Like Me” was also nominated for the award – and the film itself won the Oscar for Best Original Music.
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The Lion King (1994)
‘Can you feel the love tonight’ composed by Elton John with lyrics by Tim Rice, received the 1994 award for Original Song – on ‘Hakuna Matata’ and ‘Circle of Life’.
Amazingly, the complete score is Hans Zimmer’s only Oscar win to date.
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Pocahontas (1995)
‘Colors of the Wind’, written by composer Alan Menken (what a career he had!) and lyricist Stephen Schwartz, was named Best Original Song in 1995.
Pocahontas also received an Oscar for best original music, a Golden Globe for best original song, and a Grammy for best song for a film.
Pocahontas (1995).
Image: Disney -
Tarzan (1999)
If you’ve never cried before ‘You will be in my heart’, you lie. Unforgettable sung by Phil Collins, it beat the other Disney & Pixar animation contestants “When She Loved Me” from Toy Story 2 to Oscar fame at the 72nd Academy Awards.
Tarzan (1999).
Image: Disney -
Monster, Inc. (2001)
Played in the credits of the Disney / Pixar hit Monsters, Inc. “If i did not have you” earned Randy Newman his first Oscar.
Played by John Goodman and Billy Crystal as Monster Sulley and Mike Wazowski, it’s a light-hearted favorite in Oscars history.
Monster, Inc. (2001).
Image: Disney -
Toy Story 3 (2010)
‘We belong Together’ was Randy Newman’s second Oscar win, this time from the third installment of the most popular Disney / Pixar franchise Toy Story.
Toy Story 3 (2010).
Image: Disney -
The Muppets (2011)
In an Oscar first ‘Man or muppet’ was the first human puppet duet to take home an Oscar.
It is from the movie The Muppets, which featured both Muppets characters and live actors, and was the third song from the Muppets franchise to be nominated for best original song – but the first to win.
The Muppets (2011).
Image: Disney -
Frozen (2013)
‘Let go’ from Frozen unsurprisingly won the crown for best original song at the 86th Academy Awards. It has garnered over a billion views on YouTube for a reason …
This is exactly why ‘Let It Go’ got stuck in your head for five years>
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Coco (2017)
‘Remember me’ from the Disney / Pixar film Coco won the 2017 Oscar for best original song. The Mexican-inspired song appears in various forms throughout the film – as a lullaby, upbeat ranchero style, and with a mariachi makeover.
Coco (2017).
Image: Disney
