Everyone in-the-know is aware of the genius of the Sherman Brothers, especially now that Saving Mr. Banks is available for purchase. It’s hard to make a list without using more than one of their songs, but somehow I managed it because these are five overlooked songs in the Disney catalog. I feel these songs can stand on merit alone without the movies they are featured in. So, let’s begin…
#5. Our Town, (Cars, 2006) by Randy Newman, sung by James Taylor
This little gem cuts right to the core if you’ve ever lived in a small town or just watched things change as you grow older. The simple piano and acoustic guitar set the mood. The chorus that starts, “Main Street isn’t Main Street anymore” is a lot deeper than the words imply. Taylor’s soft voice narrates the transition of a once bustling town into a despair that sets in on this prideful bunch. It plays off a fear that a majority of us have, the knowledge that the way we’ve always done things will end up hurting us in the end and that something or someone better could always come along and ruin a good thing.
#4. Bella Notte, (Lady and the Tramp, 1955) by Sonny Burke, Lyrics by Peggy Lee
Other than Scandinavia, who, over the years linked this song to Christmas Eve (the day they actually celebrate Christmas) since the song is included in one of many shorts on a popular Disney TV Christmas Special, it doesn’t really hold a place in Americans’ hearts in comparison. This song starts the opening credits of the movie and contains the beautiful line, “side by side with your loved one, you’ll find enchantment here.” Once the full ensemble kicks in, it just soothes as it radiates that “classic Disney” sound. A perfect background for a romantic evening.
#3. It Won’t be Long ‘Til Christmas, (The Happiest Millionaire, 1967), by Richard and Robert Sherman
Long before Moms were tearing up when Andy left for college in the Toy Story franchise, this little waltz was the original empty-nest anthem. “Let them go, let them go, let them try their wings, little birds were born to fly. Not until they roam, can they miss their home and it won’t be long ’til Christmas.” Let it go? No, let them go! It also includes great lyrical lines like, “When the brunches are bare, the December air-comes alive with frost and pine.”
#2. Best of Friends, (Fox and the Hound, 1981) by Stan Fidel, sung by Pearl Bailey
Once again, long before Mrs. Potts was the voice of reason in Beauty and the Beast, Big Mama owl tells it like it is. This song reminds us that hate is a learned behavior that children are taught and that she can only hope that these best friends aren’t torn apart by such outside forces. It’s really a great message, driven by lyrical observation. It’s sad that it still holds relevance today, but that’s the world we live in. The laid back music and soulful vocal just highlight the simplicity of the lyrics to mask the deeper meaning here.
#1. Oh, What a Merry Christmas Day, (Mickey’s Christmas Carol, 1983) by Fredrick Searles and Irwin Kostal
Well, here we are, number one. Yes, three of the five ended up being Christmas-related, but that was just by coincidence. This song manages to encompass the feeling of the whole animated short film, which is hard to do. Major keys switching to minor keys gracefully and it doesn’t feel forced. The opening trumpets remind you of the Mickey Mouse March and then the turnaround into soft singing and piano catches you off guard. With simple, great lines like, “Sharing the season of good cheer with the ones we hold so dear. Friendly faces, warm embraces” and “Snowflake-covered country lanes, Jack Frost-painted window panes.” The melody and lyrics flow so well together. Then, the build-up into a key change (you knew was on the way) makes you take notice of a powerful message that some folks tend to forget, “Joy to the Children.”
It’s hard to come up with an original Christmas song since the market is so large and companies want to cash in. I’ll say the most original Christmas song I’ve heard since this one came out ten years later, when Harry Connick, Jr. released, “(Must Have Been ‘Ol) Santa Claus”. He also does a very different, jazzy (of course) version of “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” that you have to check out.
Songs are like children, it’s impossible to pick a favorite.
