it ain't beethoven, but it sure bounces

Despite foistering upon us the agony that is High School Musical, among many other infractions, I still feel that Disney has given us so much, not only in terms of freaking awesome movies, but musical gifts as well (and I'm not counting the Jonas Brothers here).

My Top 5 Favourite Disney Songs

5. "Everybody Wants to Be a Cat" (The Aristocats)
Ever wondered what would happen if cats got their hands on some chronic (and, uh, could talk and play instruments and dance)? They'd be beatniks, of course!
Racism scoring: 3/10
2:53-3:00 is pretty bad, but other than that, they're only dissing the entire human race - and any being that isn't a cat.
Highlight: 4:34, when they shake off the Duchess' mellow little number, and come back full schwang, gospel chorus-style ("Hallelujah"'s and all)


4. "Love" (Robin Hood)
I know I just posted about this one recently, but the song is so pretty, whimsical and a perfect summary of Robin and Maid Marian's laidback romance. I also adore her voice.
Racism scoring: 0/10
Miracle of miracles! I couldn't detect any racism at all on that one, just true love. Sigh, how beautiful.
Highlight: Not to be, like, super-cheesy, but the way they put their arms around each other in the very last second melted my heart. As for the song, 0:53-1:16 has Maid Marian's humming/half-singing making her sound very content. You know Robin Hood could satisfy any woman...er, fox, I mean.


3. "I Wanna Be Like You" (The Jungle Book)
Okay, this song just rules. No joke, I've got this on my iPod and I dance to it every day. It's way too much fun. I haven't seen the movie in about 10 years or so, but this song is genius.
Racism scoring: 7.5/10
It's not something a child would pick up on, but looking back, it's very clearly a statement reflecting how, in that day and age, many white people thought black people wanted to be white, civilized and "human" like them. I don't want to elaborate more, as once it was pointed out to me, it did detract from my enjoyment of the song, but I think if you watch it from that angle, it's pretty obvious.
Highlight: No doubt in my mind: "Rr-rrrr, getting mad, baby" (3:06)


2. "What Made the Red Man Red?" (Peter Pan)
I know, I know...growing up in an area very well-populated by First Nations people, I've always had a deep affinity for their culture. However, I'd be lying if I said Peter Pan didn't have something to do with that. I just flat-out adore this song.
Racism scoring: 11/10
It doesn't get any worse than this:
Insinuating that Aboriginal language is made up mumbo-jumbo ("Hana means what mana means and ganda means that too"), explaining why their skin in darker ("Let's go back a million years to the very first Injun prince/He kissed a maid and started to blush/and we've all been blushing since") and finally, discrediting any other sources ("You've got it right from the headman/the real true story of the red man/no matter what's been written or said")...have the First Nations people not suffered enough??
Highlight: Well, I've gotta say that Tiger Lily is one of the best dancers I've ever seen (1:25-1:33) and it has long been my goal to dance like her. And also, all political correctness aside about a minute (this is between us, okay, stranger?), I find the stories they set up hilarious.


1. "Poor Unfortunate Souls" (The Little Mermaid)
I have way too much fun with this song. When I listen to it (and I do that fairly often), I have to dance around and sing along and generally impersonate Ursula.
Racism scoring: 1/10
It's not doing purple-skinned people any favours, that's for sure.
Highlight: "You'll have your looks! Your pretty face! And don't underestimate the importance of....body language, ha!" (3:12-3:22) And then, further advice from Ursula, feminist extraordinaire: "The men up there don't like a lot of blabber/They think a girl who gossips is a bore/Yes, on land it's much preferred for ladies not to say a word/And, after all, dear, what is idle prattle for? Come on, they're not all that impressed with conversation/True gentlemen avoid it when they can/But they dote and swoon and fawn on a lady who's withdrawn/It's she who holds her tongue who gets her man"

Do you agree with my choices? What's your favourite Disney song?