The ’90s gave birth to some of the best Disney songs of all time. The Disney Renaissance from 1989-1999 gave us musical masterpieces like Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and The Lion King. This was a period when the House of Mouse couldn’t miss and basically every movie it produced in this time became a household name. But what really made these movies stand out from previous decades is the music.

Disney brought in legends like Sir Elton John and Phil Collins to write some of the most iconic songs in Disney’s catalog. Picking the best ’90s Disney song is a debate that could last several years and narrowing it down to a subjective top twelve was nearly impossible, but we did our best. Here are our picks for the greatest and most iconic Disney movie songs of the 1990s.

12 “This Is Halloween”

This is a song that anyone from any generation can listen to and instantly agree it is one of the all-time greatest Halloween songs to ever be composed. “This Is Halloween” is the opening number in Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, which introduces us to not just Jack Skellington, but all the other lovable ghouls in the film. It instantly sets the tone, creating a fun and spooky mood, and immersing viewers into the world of Halloween.

A Spooky Tune to Get The Party Started

“This Is Halloween” stands apart from other ’90s classics because it’s not a duet or a solo. The song features a big lineup of spooky characters that all get to have their fun. If you’re bumping this song with your friends, it’s fun to try and sing the parts in the character’s voice. It’s the perfect addition to any Halloween party playlist; from kids to adults, everyone can enjoy this ghoul-filled hit.

11 “Hakuna Matata”

The “wonderful phrase” from one of the biggest Disney films of all time, is also one of the best Disney songs of all time. The original hit song from The Lion King features the comedic musical chops of Broadway star Nathan Lane as Timon and Earnie Sabella as Pumba. It may not be the most impressive vocal performance in Disney’s catalog, but together, Lane and Sabella deliver a fun showstopper that’s easy to sing along to.

It Means No Worries, For the Rest of Your Days

When “Hakuna Matata” is playing you feel chill, like you’re just hanging out in the backyard with your best friends on a cool summer night and having a great time. Pumba’s monologue about his farting issues is so dramatic and intense, in a comedic fashion, you can’t help but chuckle no matter how old you are.

10 “You’ve Got a Friend in Me”

While this song is technically Pre-Disney Pixar, Disney was still involved in the Toy Story franchise, which now firmly sits in the hands of the mouse. “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” is the first of many fun songs by Randy Newman we are introduced to in the Toy Story franchise. This song is different from other ’90s Disney bangers because it isn’t sung by any of the characters in Toy Story. It’s just classic Randy Newman being a boss and singing about friendship.

You Just Remember What Your Old Pal Said

From the first word to the last word of “You’ve Got a Friend in Me,” you can’t help but think of your close friends. It doesn’t matter if they are near or far, or ones you haven’t seen in years. All you remember when this song is playing is how much you love each other, and how distance and time can’t stop you from being friends. There is also this chill beat and flow to the song, that reminds you of the simple nights with your friends when you’re just hanging out and exchanging stories. It’s become the anthem for the Toy Story franchise and is featured in all the films.

9 “Out There”

The Hunchback of Notre Dame has a soundtrack that is slept on for some reason. It’s likely due to the more mature nature of the Disney classic. While there are fun showstoppers the kids will enjoy, and a monster power ballad in “God Help the Outcasts,” it’s the solo from Quasimodo, “Out There,” that resonates with listeners.

It’s Not Just Because of a TikTok Sound

Yeah, the song got a surge in popularity recently because of TikTok, but it’s still an emotional powerhouse. While the beginning is slow, it’s the build into the final chorus that steals the show and makes this one of the best vocal performances for a male in Disney history. Quasimodo holding his final note and the choir coming in with the Notre Dame theme, has to be the closest thing to heaven our ears have ever heard.

8 “I’ll Make a Man Out of You”

If you are looking for a new tune to shake things up on your workout playlist, consider adding “I’ll Make a Man Out of You” from Mulan. Disney recruited singer Donny Osmond to lend his musical chops to this power anthem. Osmond doesn’t do anything super over the top, but his tone and delivery are solid. The comedic moments of the other singers who chime in are fun, and the male chorus singing “be a man” still gives people goosebumps almost 15 years later.

Must Be Swift as the Coursing River

This song sends out the vibe that anyone can fight their way through anything, despite lacking actual physical fighting abilities. It also gives off pep talk vibes at high school pep rallies. Even though “Reflection” is a prettier song, and objectively has a more impressive vocal performance, “I’ll Make a Man Out of You” is still the fan favorite and it is an RIAA double platinum record. Also, if you don’t shout out the final note of the song and strike a karate pose, you’re either lying or hate fun. Pick your poison.

7 “You’ll Be in My Heart”

Phil Collins went so hard when he was making the soundtrack to Tarzan. Songs like “Son of Man” and “Strangers Like Me” can get your Disney party bumping. He also made scatting and stomp cool with “Trashin’ the Campsite.” Collins understood the assignment and there’s really no wrong answer to which Tarzan song is the best song. But “You’ll Be in My Heart” tends to hold a special place in most Disney fans’ hearts.

For One So Small, You Seem So Strong

This song is powerful, and by the time the final notes ring out, you just feel loved and enveloped in a big musical hug. Like some of the other songs on the Tarzan soundtrack, the song feels like it was chosen to be in the movie, and not just written for it. It has a natural appeal which helped it reach number 21 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and become a RIAA triple platinum record. “You’ll Be in My Heart” also won an Oscar and a Golden Globe Award.

6 “Zero to Hero”

Disney songs in the early ’90s seem to get a lot more attention from fans than those of the late ’90s. Which is a tragedy when you consider that the later half of the decade includes Tarzan, Mulan, and of course, Hercules. We could argue that tracks like “I Won’t Say I’m in Love” and “Go the Distance” deserve to be on this spot, but queue this song up and tell me you don’t feel jazzed up and want to dance.

Bless My Soul, Herc Was on a Role

“Zero to Hero” is fun from start to finish, featuring some top-notch vocals from the muses voiced by Lillias White, Cheryl Freeman, Roz Ryan, LaChanze, and Vanéese Y. Thomas. The tempo changes keep the fire on the dance floor burning, and it’s groovy as heck. The song became the theme song for Hercules: The Animated Series, and Ariana Grande slays this song on the We Love Disney album.

5 “Colors of the Wind”

“Colors of the Wind” is a song that paints a beautiful picture in Pocahontas. When listening to this song, it’s easy to feel transported to a heavenly place, like on the top of a mountain overlooking a great old forest. According to legendary composer, Stephen Swartz, after he wrote this song, it influenced the entire development of the film. That’s how you know you have a powerful song on your hands.

Can You Sing with All the Voices of the Mountain?

“Colors of the Wind” was also very successful on the charts, peaking at number four on the US Billboard Hot 100, and topping the Canadian Adult Contemporary charts. It was also certified gold by the RIAA and was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. There’s also a pop-punk version of the song that slaps on Disney’s A Whole New Sound album.

4 “I2I”

The Goofy Movie has two songs that slap just as hard now as they did back in the ’90s. “Stand Out” and “I2I” gave the fictional superstar Powerline a lasting real-world fanbase. “I2I” is the song most people remember from the movie, and for good reason. Inspired by legendary artists like Michael Jackson and Prince, Tevin Campbell understood the assignment and delivered one of the greatest pop performances in Disney movie history. This is a song that if you hear it in the background or on the radio, you stop what you’re doing, listen for a couple of seconds, and say to yourself, “Yo!”

For the First Time Ever, We’re Seeing Things Eye to Eye

Timing is everything when you release music. When The Goofy Movie came out, Grunge had already dethroned pop as arguably the most popular style of music at the time, so an ’80s-style pop anthem was not something most mainstream radio stations were going to squeeze into their lineup. Thankfully, in the time since its release, it’s earned the following it deserves.

3 “A Whole New World”

Aladdin is one of the most celebrated Disney movies of all time, and its soundtrack is a huge reason why. One of the songs that stood out the most to music fans was the duet “A Whole New World.” It’s a love song that is written as beautifully as the scene it is featured in in the movie. The vocal performances are stunning and never fail to send a tingle up many people’s spines.

Don’t You Dare Close Your Eyes

“A Whole New World” is not just a classic song for Disney fans, but it’s also become a gold standard duet for karaoke. The track received love from radio stations and the awards circuit. Topping multiple charts including the US Billboard Hot 100, “A Whole New World” went on to become a RIAA double platinum record and won an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Grammy Award. It’s been covered by various artists in a number of languages, but no matter when or where you hear it, it’s pretty hard not to sing along.

2 “Circle of Life”

Let’s get this out of the way. Yes, you could make an argument for basically every song on The Lion King soundtrack to be in this spot, and yes, we would have to yield to some of the points made, but answer this question first: If you surveyed a thousand people and asked them, “What is the greatest opening to a song ever recorded?” We would be willing to bet you would get a few hundred people to scream the intro to “Circle of Life.” This song sets the tone for the whole movie and if you aren’t getting goosebumps from the tip of your finger to your shoulders when the chorus drops, you are either hard of hearing, or a robot.

‘Til We Find Our Place, On the Path Unwinding

Sir Elton John wasn’t playing when he wrote the Lion King soundtrack. “Circle of Life” was one of three songs from the soundtrack to be nominated for an Oscar and Grammy Award. While it didn’t win the awards, Sir Elton John’s pop recording of the song did find success on the charts and became a RIAA platinum album. Is it a banger like some of the other tracks? No. Is it a classic love song like “Can You Feel the Love Tonight?”? No. But it is undeniably one of the most powerful music performances in Disney’s musical catalog.

1 “Beauty and the Beast”

It’s as iconic to Disney fans as the dress Bell wears in the scene the song is featured in. “Beauty and the Beast” is the crown jewel of Disney’s music catalog. When you hear the melody, you know a heart-warming scene is just around the corner. It may not have the pazazz of “Be Our Guest” or the gusto of “Gaston.” In fact, compared to those songs, it’s actually quite simple and plain. But it’s the heart and mature nature of the song that resonates with listeners. Instead of repeating typical love song clichés, the lyrics focus on being able to admit your own faults, becoming vulnerable again, and working through your issues.

Both a Little Scared, Neither One Prepared

Angela Lansbury deserves a lot of credit for making this song an emotional masterpiece. She was the perfect choice to sing the song for the movie. “Beauty and the Beast” has also been covered by various artists over the years including Celine Dion, and Ariana Grande with John Legend. It’s a RIAA platinum song that peaked at number 9 on the US Hot 100, winning an Oscar, Golden Globe, and a Grammy Award in the process. It’s Disney magic at its finest and will likely always be on the Mt. Rushmore of Disney songs.