Top 10 Disney songs

Disney has enjoyed an undeniably huge market share, capturing the hearts of many children who have grown up under Western influences, both boys and girls alike. And although the children grow up to become adults, we still feel the tugs of nostalgia whenever we remember our childhood that is (or was) dominated by stories of princesses and talking animals and talking objects too. This list was compiled with great nostalgia, as I recall the great songs I grew up with, and enjoyed each and every one.

10. Colours of the Wind – Pocahontas

Sung by Christina Williams, the same actress who played Wilhemina Slater in Ugly Betty, Colours of the Wind (I never knew Wilhemina Slater was a singer before I googled Pocahontas) Having never watched the music video of Williams singing this before watching Ugly Betty, I now cannot watch it because I’m just reminded so much of Wilhemina Slater. It’s a very native American song which talks about connecting with the earth and respecting it. Natives are extremely proud of their land, they don’t see it the same way we do. We think it’s just land, you build stuff like railroads and houses on it, but they feel an insult if you so much as attempt to claim their land as your own.

Pocahontas: the first SPG?

9. Circle of Life – The Lion King

It’s catchy, even though you don’t even know the words. In fact, the words don’t even seem quite right. But you can substitute the lyrics with any words and it still makes sense. Try it!  It’s the most noticeable opening song, starting with the big boom. I remember always having to turn down the volume first, otherwise the whole house will hear a big BOOM when the song begins. This was the first movie I ever watched, and easily became my favourite when I was a child. And fast forward 15 years, I’m still angry that Mufasa died.

8. The Bear Necessities – The Jungle Book

A highly addictive song, the Bear/Bare Necessities ranks high on the list of top Disney songs. Who didn’t want to be a jungle kid and have a singing Baloo to run around a jungle with?

7. I Won’t Say I’m In Love – Hercules

Sometimes I forget Hercules is a Disney movie, because it doesn’t even look like the other conventional cutesy cartoons Disney constantly pumps out. An anti-feminist belting out a song against the romantic notions of love, with background vocals provided by five talking statues. When I first heard it, I thought it was going to be a boring song. But I quickly caught on to this catchy song.

6. Be Our Guest – Beauty and the Beast

Beauty and the Beast have the most catchy songs, including Be Our Guest, sung by a talking candlestick. The things Disney animates. But I really enjoyed this song because of how over-the-top it was. Especially the silverware dancing!

5. I’ll Make a Man Out of You – Mulan

One of the most macho songs Disney could possibly pump out, this is just like the Disney version of Eye Of The Tiger. The kind of music that gets you pumped up, and increases your adrenaline. Next time I gym I shall download this along with Eye of the Tiger.

4. Strangers like Me – Tarzan

By Phil Collins, the man who helmed all the songs for Tarzan. Phil Collins releases some of the nicest songs.

3. Tale as Old as Time – Beauty and the Beast

Who would have thought a song sung by a teapot, and danced by a girl and an animal could be so beautiful? And so romantic. I love how the video is so 3D, even though that technology didn’t exist at that time, especially the part where it zooms from the chandelier to the duo dancing. I still don’t know how they did that. Beauty and the Beast was released during a period hailed as the “Disney Renaissance”, and it’s clear to see the justification in that.

2. Under The Sea – The Little Mermaid

The Caribbean-style music has to make the top few on this list. I was wrestling between this and the romantic Tale as Old as Time, but I like this for it’s upbeat notes and cold (a.k.a. abrupt) ending. Very good to use while doing Radio Studio Production because the song immediately ends then the DJ can start talking, no overlapping-headache required. Did you know this song was once hailed as being racially-insensitive? They compared underwater creatures as ‘black’ people who did nothing ‘under the sea’, because underwater, you don’t have to get a job. Get it? With Sebastian providing black-sounding vocals? How about the part when the blackfish appears? Hmm.

1. A Whole New World – Aladdin

A duet between Aladdin and Princess Jasmine. It was not just a love song but also a song that defined Jasmine’s want that she could not have: freedom. And the fact that the magic carpet could bring her to the dizzying heights and distances she previously could not reach.

CNN’s “25 most influential people in Asia”??

Who compiled a list of the good, the bad, and the ugly in Asia? CNN did!

They sought out the people in Asia who influenced their respective countries (bonus points if their news crossed borders). Some are truly noteworthy, but others…. are so cringeworthy!

The Good –

Vo Trong Nghia (Vietnam):

An architect who uses bamboo as part of his building materials. Hmm, interesting. He builds modern architecture using bamboo (in case you didn’t get that part), and his eco-friendly green architecture has brought him 2 prizes at an International Architecture Awards. Green has never been such a cool shade (WAHAHAHA I LIKE THAT. I TOTALLY MADE IT UP MYSELF OKAY).

Ratan Tata (India):

Deemed “Role model for the price conscious”, this 71-year-old from Tata Motors brought about the world’s cheapest car at 100,000 rupees (about S$2989, give or take). Not only that, he’s unveiled a Swach (means clean in Hindi) water filter for the poor rural households. It uses “ash from rice milling to filter out bacteria”. I would LOVE to see how that works, mainly cause I don’t quite understand how it could possibly work. Tata’s projects revolve around cost-effective and affordable devices targeting the lower income market. Everyone loves having people like him, economic recession or no. Everyone loves saving money, don’t they?

Efren Penaflorida (Phillipines [sp]):

HEH. CNN SPELLING FAIL. PHILIPPINES ALSO DON’T KNOW HOW TO SPELL!

Proof here -

His name is Florida? Anyway, dubious name aside, this guy travels around the poorest areas with his pushcart, teaching the poor kids English, Math and Science. Sooo sweet! I first thought his pushcart must hold ice cream or something, which is how he lures the children into coming for ‘class’, but the pushcart actually holds stuff like books and pens and notes for his mobile classroom. He was given $100,000 by CNN and the title of 2009 Hero of the Year. By the way, his name is really Efren Penaflorida Jr., his father’s name is Efren Penaflorida Sr. CNN, can you like, at least get his name right?

Douglas Maclagan (Hong Kong):

In Nepal 14 years ago, a Nepalese mother, desperate for help, handed him her dying baby girl. The girl died in his arms. OH MY GOD. He decided from that moment that he was going to commit himself to saving the children in Nepal. Now sheltering these children from beatings, raids, and brothels, he also provides programs for healthcare, education and social opportunities for these kids. Child Welfare advocates, for the win!

The Singaporean -

APEC 2009 organizers (YAY):

Efficiency win! Singapore reinforces her image once again of being one of the most clean and efficient countries, and plays host to the hundreds of foreigners who experienced what it’s like to be in Singapore.

Mas Selamat (WAHAHA):

The one guy every NS man dreams of kicking. After escaping from prison in 2008, every NS guy was pulled from their warm beds to hunt down the ever-elusive Mas in the cold, wet, dirty, and sparse forests of Singapore. And as it turns out, he was hiding in Malaysia. Guess that brings “Selamat Datang ke Malaysia!” to a whole different level.

The women of AWARE (huh? Why??):

Women who bickered on a daytime television show. Oh, sorreh. It’s IRL (in real life). We didn’t particularly learn anything, except that women can’t seem to get along with each other. Oh, and the catchphrase “Shut up and sit down” isn’t all that catchy.

Ris Low (WTF!!!):

Downfall of a beauty queen spread through the newspapers life wildfire. It’s like a car accident: you refuse to look but you look anyway. But because she coined a word, CNN awards her with the title of Catchphrase Queen. Thank god the Intellectual Property Law would not allow her to trademark it. FYI, IPL doesn’t allow a single word to be trademarked. You can trademark a phrase, like Just Do It, but you can’t trademark a single word.

So… THAT’s the top representatives from Singapore? SO SHAMEFUL! The only things we’re apparently now famous for is the inability to settle conflict in a civilized manner, and the inability to speak proper English. Even our campaigns are screwed up! “Speak GOOD English”. Isn’t it “Speak PROPER English”? English FAIL. Singlish… WIN. But do we REALLY want to be known and famous for our impertinent and blatant disregard when it comes to language? Campaigns and interviews are different from everyday language, you know that there is a higher expectation to uphold a certain amount of class and dignity, than to dissolve into a myriad of Singlish. Okay, granted, CNN’s list also included scandalized people like Andy Lau and Noriko Sakai, but doesn’t Singapore have more noteworthy people than what’s on the list?

(Credits: livingroomscribbles.blogspot)

What about them? Huh? HUH?

I’m just irritated that their accomplishments were so overshadowed. Well, it’s true they accomplished more than ol’ Ris Low and the whole AWARE team put together, but I guess this list is apparently about those who are the most ‘influential’ to the people. And that boils down to what the media reports and doesn’t report. And the media has successfully put down the news and saga of the women at AWARE and Ris Low as the top stories, perhaps second only to Mas Selamat. Agenda setting… FAIL? Fail for Singapore, WIN for Ris Low. Must be shiok for her. Accomplish nothing, but get exactly what she wants. The local media gives half a page to Ris’ court dealings in the Home section. That’s the agenda they prefer to blow up. It’s true, the media really does prefer to report what is the public’s interest, not what’s truly in the interest of the public. There is a difference, mind you.

I question CNN’s highly questionable list. I still can’t get over the whole Philippines misspelling, and gross error of Efren Jr’s name. For such a creditable news network like CNN? Disappointing.