Disney movies are often musicals, or at the very least, they contain original songs. Owing to both the immense popularity of their parent movies, and the usual high quality of the songs themselves, many Disney songs have found chart success even outside of the movie they were made for — and sometimes more so than the film in question.
Some Disney songs are well-known standouts, but there are some that have achieved high peak positions on the Billboard Hot 100 chart that may catch audiences by surprise. Occupying various positions on the chart, some songs have reached the Top 10 over Disney's history, and some as high as No. 1.
10 'Let's Get Together' - The Parent Trap (No. 8)
The Parent Trap is best remembered for the 1998 remake starring Lindsay Lohan but was actually first an original film in 1961. Although not technically a musical film like much of Disney's output, it contains a few musical numbers throughout, including the song 'Let's Get Together.'
Written by Robert and Richard Sherman, and sung in the film by actress Hayley Mills making use of then-novel 'double tracking technology', the song's catchy tune and technological innovation peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100, ahead of many better-remembered Disney songs.
9 'What Time Is It?' - High School Musical 2 (No. 6)
With relatively humble origins as a made-for-TV Disney Channel Original Movie, the High School Musical franchise turned into an unexpected smash hit for Disney, in particular, aided by some of its most catchy and popular songs.
The opening scene of the sequel, High School Musical 2, begins with the bell ringing on the final day of the school year, and the entire school body celebrating with a massive ensemble number. Giving many characters a verse and with a solid lyrical hook in its chorus, 'What Time Is It?' proved the second movie's standout success, reaching No. 6 on the Billboard chart.
8 'Let It Go' - Frozen (No. 5)
Given its sheer pop-culture omnipresence, many may have expected Frozen's centerpiece musical number to have charted higher. A song with a vast influence on the film's development, and one of the most well-known parts of one of Disney's best-received movies in recent years, 'Let It Go' certainly captured the public eye after its release.
Despite being notorious for being overplayed, the powerful ballad to agency and self-determination only peaked at a very respectable number 5, below several of Disney's other best-selling songs.
7 'The Climb' - Hannah Montana: The Movie (No. 4)
Miley Cyrus is no stranger to chart success. She has had several top 10 hits across a number of charts in her musical career, being one of the best-selling artists of the 2010s. Prior to her solo musical career, however, many knew her as the star of the Disney channel's Hannah Montana, as well as its movie.
The standout track from that film, 'The Climb,' proved to have chart legs, climbing to a very respectable number 4 position on the Billboard Hot 100 and charting on plenty of other lists.
6 'Can You Feel The Love Tonight?' - The Lion King (No. 4)
The Lion King remains one of the most beloved Disney films the world over and is often considered one of Disney's best animated musicals. Many of the songs on its soundtrack are beloved, in particular those written and performed by Elton John.
Despite fierce competition, the standout song from the film is often considered to be 'Can You Feel the Love Tonight?', played whilst Simba and Nala reunite as adults and begin to fall in love. Reaching No. 4 on the Hot 100 chart, it also did well on other charts, including reaching No. 1 on the Adult Contemporary chart, likely aided by the pedigree of its performer.
5 'Breaking Free' - High School Musical (No. 4)
The climactic song of the first High School Musical film is also one of the songs that helped to cement that film's popularity. 'Breaking Free' is sung at the callback audition Troy and Gabriela spend much of the film fighting to attend once they have overcome their communication problems and won the support of their friends.
A pop duet, the song is catchy, romantic, and suitably epic for the climax to a musical film. As such, it made respectable progress on the Hot 100 chart, peaking at No. 4 and remaining on the chart for some time.
4 'Colors of the Wind' - Pocahontas (No. 4)
While never regarded as a bad film, Pocahontas has proven to have less pop culture presence than many films from Disney's 90s era, many of which have since been considered classics. However, if one part of the film stands out, it is the song 'Colors of the Wind.'
The pop ballad version used in the film received its own recognition, being given both the Academy Award and Golden Globe for Best Original Song. Still, it is the soundtrack album's version by singer Vanessa Williams that proved to have chart presence, certified Gold with a peak position of 4 on the Billboard Hot 100.
3 'We Don't Talk About Bruno' - Encanto (No. 2)
Encanto is considered by many to be some of Disney's finest films in the 21st century, with its songs, in particular, being acclaimed. The standout from the film, charting well ahead of any competition, is the ensemble number 'We Don't Talk About Bruno.'
The song is beloved as both a piece of storytelling — furthering the characterization of many characters and touching on the film's themes — and as a piece of music in and of itself. Praised for its production and craftsmanship that blends many melodies into one and noted for its funny and emotional lyrics and catchy rhythm, the song peaked at Number 2 in the Hot 100 chart and high on many others — including reaching UK Number 1.
2 'All For Love' - The Three Musketeers (No. 1)
The Three Musketeers, a live-action film released by Disney in 1993, has proven to be almost entirely forgettable by audiences and was critically savaged at the time. Despite this, one of its central songs managed to reach the highest position in one of the most fought-over charts in the world.
A power ballad is sung by Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart, and Sting; the song has undeniable star power behind it, likely contributing to its runaway success. One of two Disney songs to achieve a No. 1 in the Billboard Top 100 chart, as well as hitting Top 10 in countless other charts, it has proven far more successful than its parent film.
1 'A Whole New World'- Aladdin (No. 1)
Aladdin is one of Disney's most popular and iconic films, considered one of the triumphs of its 90s period. With a number of songs present in the film, by far the most popular is the duet 'A Whole New World,' sung as Princess Jasmine takes a ride on Aladdin's magic carpet.
The song is one of the most popular Disney songs ever written, still a frequent recipient of covers, tributes, and more. Furthermore, the song in the movie received an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song is the only Disney song to win Song of the Year at the Grammys. In addition, the Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle version released on the soundtrack achieved No. 1 in the Billboard Hot 100, as well as other charts.