Top Ten Disney Dark Age Songs

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When it comes to Disney’s first Dark Age, the music was easily one of its weakest qualities. So making this list was quite easy as not a lot of the songs present here are all that great. With that said, of those that ended up in the top ten, most are pretty good and some songs here I really like. I managed to include every eligible movie that has songs in it and you’ll notice that Disney songs during this period are mostly childlike, energetic and fun instead of being emotional ballads that would define the next period. So here is my personal ranking.

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10. Goodbye May Seem Forever

The only song from The Fox and the Hound on this list (another one is in the honorable mentions), this number is too short and again not particularly memorable as that movie doesn’t have a particularly good soundtrack, but it has absolutely heartbreaking lyrics and is accompanied by such a tragic scene.

9. Winnie the Pooh

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh has way too many songs and most are of mediocre quality, but this song named after the titular bear differentiates itself from the others easily as it is not only incredibly catchy and exuberant, but also wonderfully childlike and you couldn’t wish for a better and more fitting tune for the silly old bear.

8. Thomas O’Malley Song

The Aristocats is one of those Disney movies that is overall not inspired nor memorable in plot and characters, but the music is its biggest strength. Thomas O’Malley Song is the first song from this movie of the two on this list and it is a blast to listen to and watch. The lyrics are fun, the scene is amusing and it is very well sung and catchy plus it defines the character really well.

7. Oo-De-Lally

Robin Hood is very much like the aforementioned movie – weaker overall, but with some great tunes. This one opens the movie stupendously well thanks to such a wonderful scene, an infectiously catchy tune and solid lyrics. It is a childlike song, but done tremendously well and very fitting in tone to the movie’s time period.

6. Ev’rybody Wants to Be a Cat

Of course this is the finest song from The Aristocats and it is one of the most different songs for Disney both in its genre and in its high length. The sequence is extraordinary and it is the most entertaining and memorable part of the movie. It makes use of this cat gang superbly and the number is both catchy and well constructed, going from slow to fast in a stellar manner.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRnGRAXPGpI

5. The Phony King of England

As probably the most underrated song on this list and of this whole period, The Phony King of England is Robin Hood’s best and most wonderful number. It recycles animation in its scene from previous movies, but as a song, it more than succeeds and I grew to like it recently quite a bit thanks to solid lyrics and such an infectious chorus.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kcos7xVma4U

4. Rescue Aid Society

The Rescuers’ songs are too melancholic and sad, but this one is different and sets itself apart because of its very happy and fun tone. This is where we meet the two mice for the first time and they are accompanied by excellent mythology-building words and it’s an incredibly catchy, just amusing tune that always brings a smile on my face.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-f6BLxy-j4

3. Why Should I Worry?

Oliver & Company is undoubtedly the weakest Dark Age movie, but it also admittedly has the best soundtrack out of all of them. Why Should I Worry? is a rock song which is rare for Disney to do and it sets up Dodger’s character just perfectly thanks to fittingly hedonistic lyrics. It is so fun to sing along and it’s just such a great 80s tune.

2. The World’s Greatest Criminal Mind

The second place goes to this song from The Great Mouse Detective, sung by Ratigan. It’s a catchy and pleasantly old-fashioned musical number so well sung and filled with many great lines in it. It serves both as a fun musical piece and as a great character study with a scene that is both dark and light. It is without a doubt one of Disney’s finest villain songs.

1. Once Upon a Time in New York City

I just had to put this song in the first place. It is probably the most underappreciated song here and is the very best that the movie has to offer. It is an opening number for the movie and it introduces us to cute Oliver so well, making us care for him. But it is just beautifully sung with such a heartwarming voice, the lyrics are good and the tune overall is catchy and yet warm and majestic in style, very different from the others on this list and more in tune with the Renaissance numbers which is why I love it so much. Once Upon a Time in New York City may not be regarded particularly strongly by others, but it is to me a masterpiece and the best Disney number of the 70s and 80s.

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Honorable Mentions:

The Aristocats – This is such a pleasant, traditional number that opens the movie in a charming manner and benefits from a fittingly French tone and sound.

Best of Friends – This song is so wonderful as it cements the friendship between Tod and Copper through its charming tone and moving lyrics.

Love – This ballad from Robin Hood is too short and not as great as it should have been, but it’s still very elegant in style and it is both romantic and catchy.

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