Building the Ultimate Disney Playlist

OK, my fellow babies. Here’s the mission:

I am taking a slew of teen girls, ages 14-18, down to Disney in three weeks. It’s a graduation present for my oldest. We’ll all be packed in my car for the 7 hour drive.

I have determined - with their permission - to put together an all-Disney playlist for the ride. The rules? I’m glad you asked.

Only songs that Disney has used in a movie may be on the playlist.
Songs that Disney licensed from other labels are acceptable provided they appeared in a movie Disney controlled.
This includes affiliated labels. Examples: Disney owns Marvel. Marvel used ‘Rubberband Man’ by the Spinners in Avengers: Infinity War. Therefore, Rubberband Man is an acceptable selection. Ditto Pixar’s use of ‘When She Loved Me’ from Toy Story 2.

I’ll get 'em sobbing with that one.

So how about it? Can we find seven hours worth of quality music beyond ‘Let it Go’ and ‘Whistle While You Work’? I’m sure we can.

To start with, I have chosen:

The Immigrant Song, Led Zeppelin (featured in Thor: Ragnarok)
Hooked On A Feeling, Blue Swede (featured in Guardians of the Galaxy)

You may begin…now.

“Route 66” by Chuck Berry, " The Star Spangled Banner by Jimi Hendrix, and “Real Gone” by Sheryl Crow

All from “Cars”

“Dream Weaver” by Gary Wright and “Le Freak” by Chic

In “Toy Story 3”

“Clocks” by Coldplay and “Really Nice Day”

From “The Wild”

“Put On Your Sunday Clothes” by Michael Crawford in “Hello Dolly.”

That was Wall-E’s favorite song.

“All by Myself” by Eric Carmen and “Everybody Hurts” by REM

Both in “Zootopia”

“Celebration” by Kool and the Gang or “Shut Up and Drive” by Rihanna

From “Wreck It Ralph.”

“Dog Face Boy” by Motorhead

From “Bolt”

Aint No Mountain High Enough by Diana Ross
It’s the End of the World As We Know It by REM
From “Chicken Little”

A bunch of Elvis songs from “Lilo and Stitch.”

Suspicious Minds
Heartbreak Hotel
The Devil in Disguise

Marky Mark’s “Good Vibrations” from The Mighty Ducks

Paul McCartney covered “Maggie May” in the last Pirates of the Caribbean film.

I haven’t checked, but I’m sure you could take some of the kids’ favorite Disney songs and find cool covers of them (has Elle Goulding done an acoustic version of “Let It Go” yet? She’s covered every other song in the western world).

Oh, when our kids were little, we had a cassette in our conversion van (just thought I’d date this experience for you, yeah, 20 years ago…). It was rock/folk “big names” doing Disney songs.

Can’t find it now (though googling “Disney covers” found a lot of cool sites,and some metal).
ps, you get Dad of the Decade award for taking those girls (or should that be “Drama Coach” award?).

It’s my oldest girls big send off. Don’t we all know that these girls - who’ve been squaded up for years - are all going to go their separate ways? Most of them are going away to college, after all.

Sunriiiise, sunset. Sunriiiise sunset.

Some great, great suggestions here. And covers of classic princess songs would be great!

“Touch the Sky” – Brave

“Go the Distance” – Hercules

“Theme from Pirates” – Pirates of the Caribbean (this is also cool because it’s just music and will break up the lyrics"

“Out There” – Hunchback of Notre Dame

“Friend Like Me” – Aladdin
These may seem like generic movie songs, but they all play very prominent parts in Magic Kingdom’s fireworks/projection show. It might be kinda cool if you familiarize yourself with these songs and you’ll/they’ll be able to sing along when these parts come up.

Also: Look on YouTube for Jonathan Young. He’s a kickass metal singer who covers A TON of Disney songs and they’re all awesome. His version of Shiny (from Moana) and Prince Ali (Aladdin) are the absolute best.

Well, if they’re like my kids, they might surprise you. My formerly-shy daughter is now (late 20s) jetting around the country to the weddings of these childhood friends. I think the Dreaded Social Media does have one redeeming feature: it lets them stay in touch like we never did at that age.

Get yourself a copy of the “Stay Awake” CD - various artists covers of classic Disney tunes. Crank it up when Tom Waits’ cover of “Heigh Ho” comes on.

I’m not sure this will count, since it was not a Disney property at the time, but the original Muppets Movie had a couple of great songs. Rainbow Connection, of course, but Moving Right Along is a good road trip number. Disney acquired the Muppets library so it should count!

“Mr. Blue Sky” - ELO
“The Chain” - Fleetwood Mac
“Flashlight” - Parliament

All from Guardians of the Galaxy 2.

I’d want my favorite Disney song of all time on there: When You Wish Upon a Star. Your sensibilities can determine where to place it in the order. It needs to be the original by Ukulele Ike.