#Booyahhayoob: Mulan - I’ll Make A Man Out Of You
J - I actually only saw Mulan for the first time last year, but I knew about this song due to the MEMES. Which, knowing you, is why you picked this one, lol. This falls into the sweet spot of not being a song we were expecting, but being an essential pick that stands the test of time and absolutely belongs here.
N - OKAY BOOYAH! I SEE YOU! So, growing up, I never actually saw Mulan as a kid, I don’t think I watched it until my freshman year of undergrad actually, but this song has STUCK, I don’t know what about it, but it’s a Disney must for me. No shot you’re in the bottom of the pack this week on my end!
#FromAWindow: Lemonade Mouth - She’s So Gone
J - I’ll admit, I came into this not too excited for it because god why wouldn’t you stick with your god tier original submission…? But this did kinda sorta win me over? I mean, it’s mixed pretty terribly and that one drum during everything but the chorus is just painful, and also I have never seen a single live action disney channel show before so I have 0 nostalgia for this… But I get why someone would be excited for this.
N - You know those childhood throwbacks when they randomly appear and you let out that audible gasp OMG moment!? Yeah you just did that. When it came to live-actiony Disney stuff, I expected some Camp Rock entries here, but HOLY CRAP I forgot about Lemonade Mouth and you had me jamming to the whole soundtrack after I judged these. As far as She’s So Gone… she’s so good.
#Buttercup13: Aladdin - A Whole New World
J - When I was moving to PA to be with my now ex wife, this was the song that kept playing over and over in my mind (I wasn’t listening to it because I didn’t have a cell phone yet though lol) and it helped calm my nerves. I’ve always had a lot of love for this song although it’s not my favorite Disney love song. I do really like this song though, and it holds a lot of sentimental value for me!
N - This is where the audience boos me off stage.. Girl I’m sorry but I’ve never been an Aladdin fan.. Something about it, I don’t know, it always put me to sleep as a kid. I’m even yawning as I type this. I don’t know why!? Like, I genuinely wish someone could actually wake me up and stop being so fatigued everytime I watch it. It’s a good song, it’s a Disney classic, but it JUST DOESN’T HIT with me.
#BrianGonzalez: Moana - You’re Welcome
J - I’ve listened to WAY too many memes of this song (and this movie in general) so I’m KINDA desensitized to it? But it’s still a fuckin banger. I don’t know why Disney decided to give Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson a top 40 hit on Billboard but that’s just such a funny concept to me. I have to agree with Noah on the “dad” aspect of this song though because god this is just the biggest dad joke of a song, and I kinda love it for that. It’s soooooo cheesy but there’s no lactose intolerance here!
N - In terms of the storyline of Moana of this song, love it, in terms of the song itself, love to like it, and in terms of Dwayne Johnson embracing his inner “dadness” and singing such a dad joke of a song that I could see middle age men dancing to around their kitchen to annoy their kids? Yeah… that. I absolutely love Moana, I went to the premiere, I have my ticket still to this day, and this song is just… cheesy for me. I love it in the sense of what it brings to the movie and to
the parents of the audience, but ugh… I wish I could rate it higher this week.
#Brightongal: Camp Rock - This Is Me
J - So as I said prior, I have never seen any of the live action Disney shows so I have 0 nostalgia for these songs like I do with most of the animated ones. That said, you know who I *do* have a lot of appreciation for? Demi Lovato, and the GOOD Jonas brother! I don’t think I should really NEED to explain why a song like this would hit me so hard, especially as of late. I’m 27 and still trying to really find who I am, and this just hits me in ways I did not expect in the slightest coming in. I’m totally into this!
N - I saw this one coming, but it stacks so well with the rest of the selection this week. I would have honestly preferred Hasta La Vista, but this is one of the songs from this movie that makes me have that nostalgia that Julian lacks.
#LaCroix: High School Musical - Breaking Free
J - “I’ve never seen High School Musical before either.” “...oh, THAT song, ok.” I heard this referenced in a Youtube video once, but have never actually heard the song before. This didn’t really hold my interest at all I’ve gotta say. I noticed at least one instance each where both of them were very not on beat and it bothered me. Not a fan of this one, sorry!
N - Girl… slow claps for the HSM pick. The ONLY relativity I have with anything High School Musical… is I remember it was the movie I went to on my first date with my first girlfriend in like 6th grade. She was so invested in fucking Zac Efron and Corbin Bleu that it wasn’t even a date for me, it was just sitting in the dark on my phone being told to “shh” as she fangirled over some other man. Ah, middle school. ANYWAY.. It’s not the song I’d pick for this week, but it’s okay. Nice middle position for me.
#JayElVeeIsBack: Lion King - Circle Of Life
J - I don’t know what to say here. This song is just perfection. Disney absolutely fucking NAILED it here. I don’t even know if this is my favorite song from the Lion King soundtrack just due to my love of 99% of villain songs, but this is objectively the best. The intro, despite being in Zulu, everyone knows it. The first verse and the first chorus set the tone well. And the last chorus, ESPECIALLY the last few lines just go so damn hard.
N - What did I say. WHAT DID I SAY. I highkey expected this song, and of the Lion King soundtracks, I do appreciate it more than Hakuna Matata and Just Can’t Wait To Be King… so I approve. It’s such a safe pick in my opinion, but I have friends from college who have sung this professionally to candlelit audiences packed with people.. And that’s what it makes me think of. Those happy times. Good work.
#Mrkkkkyle: Tangled - When Will My Life Begin?
J - So, I don’t know when exactly this is getting posted, but I’m writing this on Friday (21st.) The last time I watched Tangled was Saturday, less than a week ago. I love this goddamn movie, and the music is a MAJOR reason why. Tangled hits a lil different after having lived with a real life Gothel for most of my life, and this song about how fucking stagnant life can get just hits so hard right now, since I’ve been feeling stuck for a good long while.
N - Oh Kyle, now that BBO6 is over, your life surely begins again! #TooSoon. Anyway, I’ve actually never seen Tangled.. Or heard this song til now… and it gives me such Disney vibes for my workday. I literally feel like this describes adulting so well. I’m sitting here applying for hundreds of jobs, as you know, and this just.. It works with me (no pun intended).
#Lukesaur: The Little Mermaid - Under The Sea
J - I feel really bad for saying this but I just have 0 attachment to this song. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Little Mermaid all the way through and, while yes this is a bop, it’s a bop that just didn’t connect for me.
N - Another obvious pick.. But such a classic. Like Julian says here, there’s no… relativity about it? Like, the only time I could see anyone queuing or playing this song purposefully is if we’re a basic white chick on the beach somewhere in one of those mermaid tails you buy for $14.95 at a gift shop.
#Tryphena: Frozen - Do You Want To Build A Snowman?
J - Noah, don’t bother watching Frozen. It’s pretty mediocre actually. And the sequel is pretty bad. The soundtrack is pretty hit or miss too imo. I do get where Anna is coming from in this song. I too am a pretty lonely person with very few good relationships irl, and I get shut out a lot by people I’m supposed to be close with. It happens. That said, I’ve soured on this song HARD for a few reasons. While this wasn’t as overexposed as Let It Go, that song holds up due to its ubiquity whereas this one’s a bit more specific to the characters so it doesn’t really have that impact. The big one, though, is the fact that this song, for NO FUCKING REASON, was plopped right into the middle of Kingdom Hearts 3 in its entirety (because god knows Frozen’s soundtrack needed MORE exposure) and, again, they did THAT better too with Let It Go than this one. It’s a fine song but I have a hard time removing it from certain contexts.
N - Okay so… SHOCKER, I’ve never watched Frozen (or 2) in entirety.. But obviously I know this song. It went viral. And honestly listening to it this week… hit for a different reason. Those of you who know me, I put so much effort in my relationships with people, and I feel like Anna so much here constantly wanting to do things with my best friend and just feeling shut out. I know it’s not intentional, but it definitely helped me put into perspective how overwhelming it is for people, but I also fear about the situations we see in the last verse… it’s just the anxious worrier in me. I go to bat for my people, always, regardless how low they are. So. I do love this song… as safe as a pick it was. Thanks for coming to my Ted talk.
#Bigbrotherlover7: Moana - How Far I’ll Go
J - The Alessia Cara version plays at work all the time, and all that does is make me appreciate this version even more. God I love this song so much, Moana is a great movie and obviously the soundtrack bangs because Lin Manuel Miranda can do no wrong. I just touched on Let It Go very briefly right before this in the previous entry and I wanna say, Let It Go walked so this song could RUN! Auli’i Cravalho’s voice soars to the heavens in this song, and it’s the perfect song for what’s going on in the movie. I also listen to this one myself as a pick-me-up when I need it, and it always does the trick.
N - This is ONLY a safe pick for you because you know it’s on my motivational playlist I’ve been playing all week. I know you hate Disney music, but this was such a copout… I want to give it so much praise because I love this song so much but you did your research and that’s what’s impressive. How Far I’ll Go definitely ignites a fire under me when I’m in situations where it’s best to likely just give up. I can’t say I hate this song.
#Hunty: Encanto - Dos Oruguitas
J - I am OBSESSED with Encanto as of late. I watched it twice in one day and haven’t been able to turn off the soundtrack since. This one’s not one of the ones I started off having on repeat (it was just the 2 obvious ones at first) but this has probably been the biggest grower. It’s a beautiful piece detailing the love story between Abuela Alma and Pedro. And, of course, this also serves as the big emotional centerpiece the entire movie was building up to. This is where we see just how traumatized Abuela really is and finally get to understand her motives. This is where her and Mirabel have their big reconciliation, and it’s such a beautiful and POWERFUL moment! When the music swells back in after they open up and reconcile, it just hits me right in the gut. I love this damn song so much.
N - Okay so I’ve yet to see Encanto too, I know, uncultured me is just too busy and broke to see recent movies, I’m sorry, but before Julian even posted the blog for this week we were discussing the likelihood of an Encanto song appearing here… and this is NOT the one we expected. I’m giving it a first listen, it’s okay. I think I’d understand better if I actually see the movie… but I’m just.. Not feeling it? *DON’T KILL ME!*
#Smuguy2012: The Jungle Book - I Wanna Be Like You
J - Ah yes, King Louie. I don’t remember the last time I saw this movie, if ever. I hate to say it but there’s only 1 song that sticks out for me from this movie and it is not this one. Kind of a weak entry imo.
N - I honestly read Julian’s analysis before I played this because I don’t remember this song off the top of my head. *hits play* Oh.. yeah… erm… I wouldn’t say it’s a top pick for me this week, is all I have to say.
JAILLLLLLL