Top 10 Disney Villain Songs

I was recently talking with a friend of mine about the Jungle Book and how they are actually making another one that is to be released in 2016. This really got me to thinking about Disney villains and the songs that they sing. So I have come up with this, my list of the Top Ten Disney Villain Songs. For this list I will exclude any other entities owned by Disney, such as Pixar, and stick to the classic animated movies. Also, the song must be sung by said villain.

Without further ado here are my Top 10:

10. Prince Ali (Reprise) - Aladdin (1992)

To start things off right we'll begin with Aladdin's main baddie, Jafar. Out of the various antagonists in the Disney villain roster one that tends to stand out is this gnarly sorcerer. Prince Ali is one of the best songs in this movie filled with classic Disney tracks and when Jafar puts his spin on the song making it menacingly catchy you can't help but sing along.

Best line: "His assets frozen, the venue chosen, Is the ends of the Earth - Whoopee, So long ex-Prince Ali" - Great play on the original words, and that maniacal laugh at the end with his eyes turning red makes any six year old watching this shutter.

9. I Wanna Be Like You - The Jungle Book (1967)

This is without a doubt the funkiest track on this list as King Louis tries to convince Mowgli to give him the secret of making fire. Little does he know, Mowgli doesn't know how to make fire either. Throughout the whole song you see the King handle Mowgli like a rag doll, grabbing him up by his hair and feet. Towards the end, Baloo, who is there to rescue Mowgli, can't help but jump in, lured in with a great beat. Nevertheless, he is found out, at the very end, of not being an ape when his disguise falls off. He just keeps scatting away until he realizes this. This song gets on this list, not because of the downright nastiness of the villain, but because of its great beat! Guess I'm just like Baloo in that sense...

Best Line: "Now here's your part of the deal cuz, lay the secret on me of man's red fire" - This is where you learn King Louis' true intentions.

 8. Mother Knows Best - Tangled (2010)

If ever there was a more manipulative musical number sung from "mother" to "daughter" I can't think of it. Taking the number nine spot is this relatively new track from Tangled. What's so great about this song is how calculating and crafty Mother Gothel is to Rapunzel, playing on her fears and insecurities to keep her from leaving the tower. As everyone who has watched the movie knows, all this enchantress truly cares about is her beauty and youth which only comes to her in the form of Rapunzel's hair - and if you didn't, all you'd have to do is listen closely to these scheme-filled lyrics.

Best line: "Don't ever ask to leave this tower again" - Thanks to the force and command behind this spoken line you can actually taste the threat Mother Gothel really is.

7. Gaston - Beauty and the Beast (1991)

This one starts off as Lefou and the townspeople worship the manliest man that is Gaston, when he chimes in "As a specimen, yes, I'm intimidating" with his burly voice. The song, as the title suggests, is dedicated to how full of himself Gaston really is and the townspeople who actually agree with him. As the most narcissistic song on this countdown, it hits the number seven spot because this catchy tune shows that overly manly man really does exist, and he exists in the form of Gaston. Plus antlers, antlers everywhere.

Best Line: "When I was a lad I ate four dozen ev'ry morning to help me get large, and now that I'm grown I eat five dozen eggs, so I'm roughly the size of a barge" - His cholesterol must be through the roof!

 

 

 

 

6. Poor Unfortunate Souls - Little Mermaid (1989)

The baddest witch in the sea comes into this countdown at number six, with her wonderful song about her generous charity for the poor unfortunate souls that flock to her seeking her aid. In order to get King Triton's trident she must dupe his daughter, Ariel, into making a deal with her (which if Ursula gets her way she will fail and become hers). In order to do so, she sings this number. Catchy. Usually making a deal with the devil isn't as pleasant or melodic, one would assume, but this is after all Disney.

Best Line: "Yes I've had an odd complaint but on the whole I've been a saint, To those poor unfortunate souls" - By the looks of the entrance to her cave, she's had a bit more than a few complaints I take it!

 

 

 

 

5. Oogie Boogie's Song - The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

The reason this song made it into this countdown is really on a technicality, while this movie may have been originally released under Touchstone, Disney re-released it under their own brand in 2006. So yes, this IS a Disney song and not just under its affiliates. But I digress, in this song you meet the baddie of The Nightmare Before Christmas, Oogie Boogie - Disney's very own boogie man. He holds Saint Nick hostage while gambling on his life, for fun. Dark, ain't it? And by his own standards he doesn't even play fair!


Best Line: "And if you aren't shakin' there's something very wrong, 'cause this may be the last time you hear the Boogie Song" - What gets me about this line is that one day it will be true. One of the times that you hear this song WILL be the last time you hear it. Unsettling to think about isn't it?

4. Savages - Pocahontas (1995)

When the Englishman, John Smith, is captured by the Native Indians Governor Radcliffe uses this to rally up his comrades into a killing frenzy - resulting in this spectacular song that shows the amount of hate that can exist between people simply because they look different. The same can be said for Chief Powhatan when they find Kocoum has been killed, he unites the tribes to eradicate their shared enemy. It is a great hate-fueled song that is filled with "the drums of war" earning it a top spot on this countdown.

Best Line: "Destroy their evil race, until there's not a trace left" - It's chilling how determined both parties are for each others genocide.

 

 

 

 

 

 3. Hellfire - The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996)

This is one of the most badass Disney songs in existence. Lust, rage and murder - all of which are found within this song. This DISNEY song! The chorus in this song makes the atmosphere all the darker while the topping on this devilish cake are, of course, the lyrics of this man of the cloth. The Archdeacon Frollo is enthralled with the gypsy Esmeralda, which in turn makes him at war with his core beliefs. He sees her as a devil tempting him to sin and sings of his contempt for her. If she doesn't chose to be with him and only him then hellfire will be her fate.

Best Line: "Choose me or your pyre, Be mine or you will burn" - Need I remind you this is a Disney song? You know, meant for children?

 

 

 

 

 

2. Lullaby - The Lion King II: Simba's Pride (1998)

You might or might not know who Zira is, but I am here to tell you she sings one of the best Disney songs, period. It is dark, looming and speaks of murder what more could you want of a villain's song? Zira advocates the ascension of her son to the throne atop the bodies of her enemies in an ominous yet infectious tune. "Drums of war" and her "flag against a blood red sky" are the reasons this song gets the number two spot on this list.

Best Line: "A symphony of death, oh my, that's my lullaby" - A symphony of death. Need I say more?

1. Be Prepared - The Lion King (1994)

I'm sure you saw this coming when you read number two. And so, to no one's surprise, "Be Prepared" takes the top spot on this list of villainous tunes. With everything that makes a great song evil how could this not be the number one contender? The terrifying vocals by Jeromy Irons are another reason this song works. It just works. They croon you into sympathy for the villain and make you realize all Scar is offering the hyenas is food, that's it. In order to get a slew of (Third Reich) hyenas on his side all he has to do is promise them they will not starve. Kinda makes you think twice on what kind of leader Mufasa was, huh?

Best Line: "Yes, my teeth and ambitions are bared, Be prepared" - I would've gladly put the entire song on this part because it is full witty and dark humor, but this truly is my favorite line in the whole song. Bearing teeth and ambitions just sound so threatening, I love it.

So that's it! These are my top Disney villain songs as of this year, but who knows what great songs they'll give us in the years to come. What did you think of my list? Do you agree or did I leave some out? Let me know in the comment section below!