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Disney Movie Love Songs

It’s almost that time of year. Yes, Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. So, I thought I’d share some of my picks for the most romantic Disney music to set the mood for your Valentine or any date night. Some are quirky, some are traditionally sappy, but I love them all. Hope you do too!

Married Life (Score from Up)

Hear me out on this one. I know it is practically enough to induce instant waterworks for me if I step onto Main Street and hear this song playing, but then I think about why. The beauty of it is, I cared so much about the love Carl and Ellie had for each other that in that montage of only a few minutes it was enough to make me love them and their relationship. It is a roller coaster ride of a piece of music that I adore.

I See The Light (Tangled)

Okay, another one of those sometimes tear inducing songs (it’s not just me, right?), I know, but it is so gorgeous. So before I heard him sing as now, possibly my favorite prince, Flynn Rider, I loved Zachary Levi for his role in the tv series Chuck. This song took my adoration for him to a whole new level. The lanterns still kill me when I see them in the film, on the castle projection or during World of Color. It is fear and love rolled all into one poignant song that I absolutely love.

Bella Notte (Lady And The Tramp)

This is one of those classic songs that has permeated pop culture and for good reason. The iconic image of Tony serenading Lady And The Tramp outside his restaurant while they share a plate of spaghetti and meatballs is indelible in many people’s memories. This was my picture of love as a child.

So Close (Enchanted)

A grown up love song for Giselle and Robert as they begin to realize their feelings for each other, while dancing at a ball all dressed up in New York City. And thinking of Patrick Dempsey doesn’t hurt the swoon factor for this song.

So This Is Love (Cinderella)

I’m not sure how many of you have picked out your wedding song before you’ve even met your spouse, but this is the one my Prince Charming would agree to if I had my way. Cinderella is my favorite and this song is two minutes and ten seconds of what I hope to someday feel for the man of my dreams.

Something There (Beauty And The Beast)

Another fantastic song playing out Belle and the Beast’s road to love. It isn’t love at first sight, but it takes a while to get there after a friendship blossoms.

Define Dancing (Score from Wall-E)

This isn’t the most traditional pick, but the love that develops between Wall-E and Eve is fantastic. I remember when the movie first came out that I was very apprehensive. How on Earth could I be entertained by a movie with very little dialogue that turns out to be a robot love story? Wow, was I wrong. The score does a phenomenal job of mirroring the “dance” between the two leads.

A Whole New World (Aladdin)

I recall purchasing this cassette when I was in middle school as a single with the Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle version on one side and as a bonus the Brad Kane and Lea Salonga version on the other. My love for Lea Salonga and her amazing voice grew deeper with this song, but it is really about Jasmine and Aladdin and finding each other when they are both running from their own worlds.

I’m sure I’ve left out some, but these are my picks for romance in musical form. They aren’t in any particular order, just that in which I remembered to write them down. Did I leave out any of your favorites? Let me know. I hope you all have a Valentine’s Day that is even half as romantic as these couples had in their movies!

Favorite Non-Speaking Disney Animated Characters

Some of my favorite characters in Disney Animation are those scene stealers that don’t even have any lines. Sometimes they are sidekicks, other times they are the title characters. I thought I’d take a look at some of my favorites through Disney cinematic history.

Dopey

Starting with the first Disney animated feature film, Dopey is one of my all time favorite characters. He is so expressive without saying a thing. He emotes with his eyes and body language so well. I absolutely adore him as my favorite of the seven dwarfs providing so much comic relief in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

Cleo & Figaro

I group these two together as they are rarely seen apart. Cleo is Gepetto’s pet goldfish and Figaro is his mischievous cat in Pinocchio. They, like Dopey, provide some comedic moments in their short screen time. Figaro is a bratty little boy kitten who doesn’t take kindly to Pinocchio’s appearance at first, but eventually comes around.

Dumbo

He is the title character who doesn’t have any lines in his own movie. This makes the fact that the audience falls completely in love with him and feels for him even more impressive. To have a main character who doesn’t speak is one thing, but to have the protagonist not have any dialogue is a rarity. The baby elephant is one of Disney’s most endearing characters who is still very well known 70 plus years after his film debuted in 1941.

Tinkerbell

Okay, so I know she is no longer a voiceless character, but I haven’t seen any of the Fairy movies, so to me she’s still the pixie from Peter Pan. She is a feisty one and her bell sounds along with her twinkling can convey quite the range of emotions from anger to excitement to straight up jealousy. I have a strong connection to the Peter Pan story going back to when I was very little so she, although not my absolute favorite of characters, holds a place in my heart.

Abu

Not necessarily a fully fleshed out character, but one needed to move the plot forward. After all, if he didn’t get all greedy and touching stuff in the Cave of Wonders, how much of the rest of the plot of Aladdin would have come to fruition? Whether he is in troublemaker monkey form, or transformed into a useful elephant for Prince Ali, I love Abu. He is a rascal, but a darn cute one who proves to be a faithful friend to Aladdin.

Pegasus

Hercules was given his loyal flying steed as a baby on Mount Olympus, but Pegasus follows baby Herc down to Earth. Throughout his adventures, training, etc. Pegasus is always by Hercules’ side. He is skeptical of Meg at first, and rightfully so. Through thick and thin he always does right by the demigod.

Cri-kee

Mulan’s cricket sidekick is a lucky one at that. He tries to help keep Mushu in check, while supporting Mulan on her mission to help defeat the Huns. He is a cute little bug who is along for the ride to save China. Cri-kee is important enough to not only make it into the sequel (don’t bother), but also to make it on the VHS/DVD/Blu ray cover above the title.

Pascal & Maximus

These two characters were actually what prompted the idea for this post. I was watching Tangled one day and thought how much I absolutely adore the chameleon and horse that practically steal the show. Pascal is Rapunzel’s only friend before she meets Flynn/Eugene. Maximus is like a bloodhound in horse form who is originally the bane of Flynn’s existence, but later the two join together to save Rapunzel. Some of the film’s funniest moments come from this pair.

Sven

Reindeer(s) are better than people, at least according to Kristoff in Frozen. If we are talking about his best bud, Sven, then I’m inclined to agree. Even though he is a reindeer, Sven acts as Kristoff’s conscience and confidante. I love his big goofy eyes that almost mirror Kristoff’s eyes.

So, these are some of my favorite characters spanning movies over the past 75 plus years of Disney Animated film history. This is not a comprehensive list, and yes, typically animals don’t talk, but many others do in their films, which is what makes these characters special. For instance, a cricket talks in Pinocchio, but the cat and goldfish don’t, Mushu is a talking dragon, but Cri-kee is mute. Did I leave off any of your favorite non-speaking roles from Disney animated movies?

Disney’s Oh My Disney Blog Review

Disney started a new blog several weeks ago that has quickly become one of my daily must visits. It is called Oh My Disney or OMD for short. This blog is one of the most fun and quirky things I’ve discovered of late. If you aren’t already ready this hilarious daily dose of Disney, what are you waiting for?

OMD is one of the newest official blogs put out by The Walt Disney Company. You can find fantastic offerings about Disney films, tv shows, music, parks and more. One of the aspects I love most is that this blog is written in the colloquial style, as if you were having a conversation with a late 20s to mid 30s Disney lover. It isn’t the traditional just the facts ma’am post that you get, and by all means that serve a purpose, from several other blogs. This is a lighthearted glimpse into some of Disney’s greatest pop culture productions, sometimes even crossing over into ABC and ESPN territory.

Check out this image Graphing Our Emotions: The Lion King Edition:

This is just one of many reasons why I love this blog. There are things that will make you laugh, cry and remember why you love Disney.

I am so glad I happened to catch a tweet from a friend who works for Disney who said he was working on a new project and that we should all check it out. This blog is something that I can honestly say has brought cheer and smiles to me every day since. It started just under two months ago with the first post titled “Everyone Should Listen to Chef Gusteau” released on February 4th. This blog is part advice column, part reminiscing about Disney’s fantastic history, and part let’s just have fun. Across the header of the site you will often see posts with themes if you don’t want to go through all posts daily (which I strongly recommend). These sections are labeled as Aww (mostly romantic moments), Oh, Snap! (a little snarkiness served up Disney style), Retro (things that are typically geared towards younger generations (than mine) that grew up in the 90s – side note, super scary to think of 90s things as retro, but I digress), Silly (pretty self explanatory), and Whoa (things you definitely need to check out – case in point, the fantastic new Mickey Mouse Short, Croissant de Triomphe). Croissant de Triomphe on Disney Video

Often times this blog says what I’m thinking, or at least what I’d like to think I thought of before they posted it. Some of my favorites include The Snuggly Duckling: Best Pub Ever, We Dare You Not To Cry: The Most Blubber Cry-Worthy Pixar Moments (SPOILER ALERTS), WALL-E: How to Win Every Argument Ever, and 10 Paperman GIFs to Make You Believe In Destiny. There are so many more, but I want you to discover them on your own.

Have you seen OMD? If so, what are some of your favorites? If you ever need a pick-me-up, this is the place to go! Hop on over and check it out and let me know what you think of this great new addition to Disney’s blogs. I mean how could you not love a site that features a fantasy edition of the Bachelorette based around the male characters of the Lion King or a video condensing Mulan to 60 seconds? I would love to see more like this from Disney in the future and can’t wait to see what else OMD has coming down the pike!

Beauty And The Beast Returns To The Big Screen Bigger And Better Than Ever

“Beauty and the Beast” returns to the big screen in Disney Digital 3D™ on January 13^th, 2012, as a refreshed classic ready to win over a whole new generation of fans.

The film captures the fantastic journey of Belle (voice of Paige O’Hara), a bright and beautiful young woman who’s taken prisoner by a hideous beast (voice of Robby Benson) in his castle. Despite her precarious situation, Belle befriends the castle’s enchanted staff – a teapot, a candelabra and a mantel clock, among others – and ultimately learns to see beneath the Beast’s exterior to discover the heart and soul of a prince.

Featuring unforgettable music by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken, and an enormously talented vocal ensemble, “Beauty and the Beast” was the first animated feature to receive a Best Picture nomination from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xD5pcGp62ec

While I was extremely apprehensive about how one of my most favorite movies would look updated with 3D, but I have to say I almost like it better!!! For me the 3D effects were amazing, because they added so much depth and visual intensity that you almost forgot that you had seen it before. This is what seeing the multiplane camera in action for the first time must have felt like! It was amazing! Also, I had almost forgotten how dark and scary Beast was as the beginning of the movie.

I am already looking forward to seeing it again this weekend!!!!

Before the movie, there was a Tangled short “Tangled Ever After” which was hilarious!!!! I am absolutely loving these shorts, because they are such a fun added bonus! The story stays true to the feel and humor of the original move, and leaves you wanting more!

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjj5mqyszKE

Again, the trailers for The Secret World of Arrietty and Brave trailers have me super stoked to see them!!!

I absolutely recommend giving this refreshed and updated classic a chance to win you over in 3D!!!!