# Best performance in Disney animated musical? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 23, 2008, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-performance-in-disney-animated-musical/453973 "2008-06-23T21:29:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Jodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7feea3/32.png) [@Jodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jodi)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2008, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-performance-in-disney-animated-musical/453973/21 "2008-06-25T15:22:07Z")
Nevermind! ---
**Author:** ![kushiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbce88/32.png) [@kushiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kushiel)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2008, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-performance-in-disney-animated-musical/453973/22 "2008-06-25T22:34:20Z")
[QUOTE=GuanoLad] There’s a lot to dislike about Hunchback of Notre Dame, but Tony Jay’s performance of the song [Hellfire](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hellfire_%28song%29) is just astonishing. Video clip [here](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyS3weMlxLA). [/QUOTE] THIS. I was 10 when the movie came out. I was just at the age where I could see it both ways - just a chilling song with a creepy villain to scare the kids, and with Frollo as the lustful, hypocritical religious man. The realization of what he really wanted from Esmeralda was scary. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2008, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-performance-in-disney-animated-musical/453973/23 "2008-06-25T22:47:08Z")
[QUOTE=choie] Finally, I may be a big ol’ sap, but c’mon folks: give it up for [Cliff Edwards](http://youtube.com/watch?v=PufkuY-jEg4) as a certain little insect with an ethereal voice and tearjerking song. (Unfortunately, this is not the original recording, but I can’t find the full version on YouTube. Still, that last note is a killer… sob!) [/QUOTE] [Ta Da!](http://youtube.com/watch?v=qyXnv3-7qSs&feature=related) This and Louis Prima get my vote, too. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2008, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-performance-in-disney-animated-musical/453973/24 "2008-06-25T23:03:55Z")
It’s hard to pick, isn’t it? For most of us, anyway. I never saw Hunchback, but Hellfire is indeed fantastically chilling. I think, for just overall greatness, I have to go with Phil Harris. He defines classic Disney. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2008, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-performance-in-disney-animated-musical/453973/25 "2008-06-26T00:06:19Z")
[QUOTE=GuanoLad] There’s a lot to dislike about Hunchback of Notre Dame, but Tony Jay’s performance of the song [Hellfire](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hellfire_%28song%29) is just astonishing. Video clip [here](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyS3weMlxLA). [/QUOTE] Tony Jay was just astonishing, period. That song is great, but he brought out its full potential. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2008, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-performance-in-disney-animated-musical/453973/26 "2008-06-26T03:42:27Z")
[QUOTE=Sigmagirl] And Bonnie Raitt on the Disney compilation _Stay Awake_. [/QUOTE] A great CD. Hard to pick one. _Hellfire_ is great; I might have to go with it. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2008, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-performance-in-disney-animated-musical/453973/27 "2008-06-26T07:07:45Z")
I think “Kiss the Girl” beats “Under the Sea” Peggy Lee’s “He’s a Tramp” in Lady & the Tramp is great. Especially the backup dogs. Gaston’s voice in “Kill the Beast” is gorgeously threatening. The Aristocats (which is otherwise not good) does have Scatman Crothers singing “Ev’rybody Wants to Be a Cat.” Hercules (also not good) has “I Won’t Say I’m in Love.” ---
**Author:** ![choie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/choie/32/7829_2.png) [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2008, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-performance-in-disney-animated-musical/453973/28 "2008-06-26T07:42:32Z")
[QUOTE=kushiel] THIS. I was 10 when the movie came out. I was just at the age where I could see it both ways - just a chilling song with a creepy villain to scare the kids, and with Frollo as the lustful, hypocritical religious man. The realization of what he really wanted from Esmeralda was scary. [/QUOTE] Wow. I’ve never seen Disney’s _Hunchback_ and though I’ve heard of the “Hellfire” song, I couldn’t imagine a Disney song going as dark as it needed to. For a kid’s movie, this is pretty freakin sexual (in the best sense) especially accompanied by the animation. I know the film cops out and creates a happy ending, but I gotta give 'em respect for letting “Hellfire” loose with the priestly sin/lust. Anyway, definitely an amazing performance from Tony Jay. **ArchiveGuy** , thanks for finding the original of “When You Wish…”! What a voice. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-performance-in-disney-animated-musical/453973.md?page=1)