My Fave Five: Disney love songs

No one does love songs quite like Disney.

I grew up watching the dreamy romances unfold on my screen— the princess always found her prince by the end of the movie, and they rode into the sunset towards their happily ever after.

While real life might be a bit more complicated than that, I still revisit Disney love songs all the time.

Disney films may be geared toward children, but the eloquent lyrics weaved into the love songs are something that I’ve found myself appreciating a lot more recently.

It was almost impossible to narrow down my list, but after much deliberation, these are my fav five Disney love songs.

5. “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” - “The Lion King” (1994)

I had a complicated relationship with this song for a while since I played Nala in my school’s production of “The Lion King” in 8th grade.

I watched and listened to “The Lion King” so many times that year, I kind of lost any love I held for it before.

It became a source of stress, and whenever we’d rehearse “Can You Feel the Love Tonight,” the whole cast would watch us and freak out.

I re-listened to this song for the first time in five or six years this week and realized how much I truly adore it.

It’s so calming, and beautiful to hear the back-and-forth perspectives between Simba and Nala.

Simba doesn’t know how to tell Nala about his past and truly open up to her, but Nala is willing to hear him out and reassure him he’d be a great king of the Pridelands.

My favorite line has to be “stealing through the night’s uncertainties / Love is where they are” because even when life seems tumultuous, having someone you love beside you can make all the difference.

4. “Beauty and the Beast” - “Beauty and the Beast” (1991)

Belle is one of the first princesses I remember seeing myself in when I was younger, and even now, honestly.

She longs for adventure that resembles what she reads in books and would do anything to protect her family.

I was always a little confused about how she could fall in love with a beast, but “Beauty and the Beast” is one of the most visually and musically stunning scenes in Disney history.

It taught me that it’s what’s on the inside that counts, and love can come when you least expect it.

The lyrics are so simple and yet so impactful, especially “barely even friends / Then somebody bends / Unexpectedly.”

Angela Lansbury’s distinct voice carries the song all the way through until the end when she tells Chip it’s time for bed.

3. “If I Never Knew You” - “Pocahontas” (1995)

I cannot even begin to express the love I have for this song.

“If I Never Knew You” was cut from the original film because children in test audiences found it “boring”, but it was included in the 10th-anniversary edition of “Pocahontas” on DVD.

It just so happened, that’s the version I owned growing up.

The deeply emotional song rotates between John Smith and Pocahontas when John Smith is being held captive by Kokoum and set for execution.

Pocahontas regrets ever becoming involved with him because it led him to this danger, but Smith sings to Pocahontas that if he never knew her, he would’ve felt lost and empty his entire life.

Is this historically accurate? Definitely not.

But the song is filled with longing and acceptance that even if they can never be together, both Pocahontas and John Smith value their time together.

2. “Ma Belle Evangeline” - “The Princess and the Frog” (2009)

I’ve said many times that I could potentially see myself walking down the aisle to this song one day.

“The Princess and the Frog” is my favorite Disney movie, and “Ma Belle Evangeline” is essentially a perfect love song.

Ray the firefly sings about the love of his life, Evangeline, who is a star in the night sky.

While Tiana and Naveen question how he could love a star, Ray sings about how she might be far away, but he loves her just the same.

It can honestly be applied to long-distance relationships in real life and is an ode to finding persevering love.

The trumpets towards the end of the song echo in my head long after it finishes.

1. “I See the Light”- “Tangled” (2010)

Disney has yet to top the magic they created with “I See the Light” from “Tangled.”

The tranquil boats cutting through the water, lanterns glowing in the sky and chemistry between Rapunzel and Flynn Rider make “I See The Light” not only the best Disney love song of all time but the most romantic scene in any Disney film.

Rapunzel spent her life kept away from the outside world and was finally experiencing what living should feel like, while Flynn found someone who grounded him and steered him away from crime.

They balanced each other out perfectly, just like a good relationship should.

Seeing the hope in Rapunzel’s eyes during this song in the film makes me cry every time because I know what’s coming next, even though the film thankfully ends with a happily ever after.

My heart contracts a little bit every time I hear the opening guitar strum of “I See the Light,” and it will forever be my favorite Disney love song.

Kaitlyn Murphy is a second-year majoring in digital and print journalism. To contact her, email kvm6255@psu.edu.