Happiest Disney songs of all time revealed ahead of Disney's 100 year anniversary
You can't beat a Disney film!
Last updated 20th Oct 2023
With a host of feel-good films from nostalgic childhood classics to iconic Pixar films and more recent live-action remakes, Disney has captivated audiences of all ages for decades. The iconic franchise is celebrating its 100th anniversary on 16th October, and has created an array of timeless characters and unforgettable stories in that time.
A survey by Startle has revealed which Disney song makes people feel the happiest, with music and behavioural science experts analysing over 100 popular Disney songs to find the answer. Songs from much-loved films including The Lion King and The Little Mermaid have made the top 10.
Adam Castleton, CEO of Startle, said: "Disney has mastered the art of crafting songs that resonate on a deep emotional level with audiences of all ages. One of the remarkable aspects of Disney's music is its timelessness. Many of the songs analysed in this study have been bringing a smile to audiences faces for decades.
“While many may have strong opinions about which Disney song makes them happiest, this study reveals the behavioural science behind why this may be.”
Take a look at the top 10 happiest Disney songs:
1) 'Hakuna Matata' - The Lion King (1994)
With lyrics including: "It means no worries for the rest of our days", it's no surprise that The Lion King's 'Hakuna Matata has been crowned Disney's happiest song. In the film, the catchy tune is sung by meerkat and warthog duo Timon and Pumbaa, along with a young Simba. 'Hakuna Matata' is a phrase in the East African language of Swahili which means 'no trouble' or 'no problems.'
In a survey conducted by Startle, 'Hakuna Matata' was given an overall happiness score of 8.6 out of 10 thanks to its high tempo, positivity, C major key and the popularity of the film.
2) 'The Scuttlebutt' - The Little Mermaid (2023)
'The Scuttlebutt' from Disney's 2023 live-action remake of The Little Mermaid has been crowned the second happiest Disney song. The film was released in May 2023 and sees Halle Bailey play the role of Ariel. The song was written by Lin-Manuel Miranda and features Daveed Diggs as Sebastian and Awkwafina as Scuttle.
3) 'Under The Sea' - The Little Mermaid (2023)
'Under The Sea' from 2023's remake of The Little Mermaid comes in third place. The original song won an Oscar in 1989 for Best Original Song, but the version in the 2023 film features more layers of instruments, making it more upbeat than the original.
6 =) 'I Just Can't Wait To Be King' - The Lion King (1994)
Three songs were crowned the sixth happiest Disney songs, including 'I Just Can't Wait To Be King' from The Lion King. The song had the highest positivity score out of the Disney songs in a survey conducted by Startle, despite having the lowest tempo in the top 10.
6 =) 'I've Got A Dream' - Tangled (2010)
'I've Got A Dream' is also in joint sixth place, with the song featuring in Disney's 2010 film Tangled. In the film, the song sees the cast of characters burst into song as they reveal their hidden passions.
6 =) 'This Is Halloween' - The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
The third song in joint sixth place is 'This Is Halloween' from Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas. The song is one of the more upbeat tracks to feature in the study.
10 =) 'Stand Out' - A Goofy Movie (1995)
'Stand Out' from the 1995 Disney film A Goofy Movie features in the top 10 list. In the animated comedy musical film, the song is sung by the character Powerline, played by Tevin Campbell.
10 =) 'Hi-Diddle-Dee-Dee' (An Actor's Life for Me) - Pinocchio (1940)
The song 'Hi-Diddle-Dee-Dee' features in the classic film Pinocchio and is also known as 'An Actor's Life for Me'. It was the first Disney villain's song in history and was sung by the film's main antagonist, John Worthington 'Honest John' Foulfellow.
10 =) 'Kiss The Girl' - The Little Mermaid (2023)
Another song from the 2023 live action The Little Mermaid film is 'Kiss The Girl'. The song is mostly sung by the character of Sebastian, played by Daveed Diggs as Ariel (Halle Bailey) and Prince Eric (Jonah Hauer-King) lean in for a kiss.
10 =) 'Un Poco Loco' - Coco (2017)
The fourth song in joint tenth place is 'Un Poco Loco', which features in the 2017 film Coco. The song is performed by the characters Miguel and Héctor, played by Anthony Gonzalez and Gael García Bernal.
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