Disney has the Best Villain Songs
We all love Disney Villain songs. They are very often the best songs in the movie. But which Villain has the best of the Best song? Of Course that is a matter of preference. Or is it?
How was this List was Compiled?
The Stats Don’t Lie
This list ranks the 10 Best Disney Villain Songs. It was not based on my own opinions. Instead I looked at 40 different Villain ranked lists and found the mean score for each song based on the 1-10 ranking and how often the song appeared across the 40 list. So a song that appeared more often didn’t necessarily ranked higher but being on more of the lists did help. Only one of the songs featured on all 40 lists.
I tried to get lists that were as recent as I could and the only requirement was that the song was is currently under the Disney Studio and it about or sung by a villain. This means sequels, remakes and 20th Century Fox movies are all eligible. I’ll also include some honorable mentions at the end because why not.
So which of the Villains songs made cut?
The Villains & their Songs
10. “Prince Ali Reprise” Aladdin (1992)
After spending the movie as cool and rather elegant villain, Jafar lets loose when he gets the Genie lamp. He becomes sardonic and psychotic during his only musical number “Prince Ali (reprise)” where he exposes Aladdin as lair and and takes him down a peg in front of Jasmine.
It a cruel and mocking song but also fun. The reason it’s only ten is that it’s a short reprise and not Jafar’s own song. He originally was going to have a song called “Humiliate the Boy” but that was scarp early in-production.
9. “Oogie Boogie’s Song” The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
We first hear about the Oogie Boogie man a few times before he makes an appearance. He’s made out to be even more foreboding the the other residents of Halloweentown. When he first appears in front of Santa we are treated to a rousing spooky villain song. His villain song is equal parts scary, mocking, threatening and smooth jazzy.
It defiantly one of the best songs in the movie and a solid villain song. It ranks ninth because it was produced by Touchstone so it doesn’t have the Disney Studio logo so it gets a little overshadowed.
8. “Shiny” Moana (2016)
In order to save the world, Moana and Maui venture into The Realm of Monsters to retrieve Maui’s magical hook. The only hitch is that the hook in the back of Tamatoa, a giant glamorous crab.
“Shiny” is a David Bowie inspired song about how Tamatoa is beautiful and shiny. However the song also reveals his threatening, narcissistic and ruthless personality as well giving some of Maui’s backstory.
“Shiny” is very fun song but it sung by a secondary antagonist who is more a mid-boss than main threat.
Can you believe there was a six year gap between villains songs leading up to Moana?
7. “Cruella De Vil ” 101 Dalmatians (1961)
“Cruella De Vil” is a different type of villain song as it mocks the villain.
The song is jazzy with loads of horrid imagery to describe Cruella in detail. Also the music doesn’t stop during the middle when Anita and Cruella are talking, Roger mocks Cruella the entire time even though he is not singing.
It’s not the “traditional” villain song that we all come to expect post the Disney renaissance but it a fun and highly memorable scene and song.
6. “Mother Knows Best” Tangled (2010)
Tangled was the first time Disney used 3D animation with their Princess formula. It’s based off a German fairy but instead of just having long hair to scale the tower, Rapunzel’s hair is magical and keeps Mother Gothel youthful. This is was Gothel kidnaps her and her in the tower, so she can keep the power to herself.
Gothel’s villain song “Mother Knows Best” is a manipulation tactic that gaslights Rapunzel from leaving the tower and in Gothel’s control.
The song has a light and playful tone that conceals it’s dark purpose. It also makes great use of lighting to convince Rapunzel to stay put.
5. “Gaston” Beauty and the Beast (1991)
Many villain songs map out the villain’s scheme or threaten a protagonist, Beauty and The Beast’s “Gaston” does neither those things. Instead it praises the subject, who is the village’s it-guy as well as a narcissistic himbo, the one and only Gaston.
“Gaston” is a jovial song that showcases the villain and how basic and he the town utterly superficial. The result is fun and memorable song that you of course you know all the lyrics to and sing along every single time.
4. “Friends of the Other Side,” The Princess and the Frog (2009)
Princess and the Frog is a divisive movie. It has it good parts and less than brillant aspects but one element that is agreed upon is the villain, Dr. Facilier, and his song “Friends of the Other Side” as a major highlight of the movie.
Dr. Facilier’s motivations are weak but his song used to strike a deal with Naveen and his valet as part of his plan to take over New Orleans is so much fun and easily the best song in the movie.
It starts off smooth and creepy with some creepy echos and them it livens up and has some creative uses of Facilier’s shadow. The middle is a little boring but it has some good bit of story telling ending. The ending is everything as the song gets bombastic with high octane visuals. It’s a blast.
It’s sad that this was the last 2D animation movie Disney ever made, at least for now.
3. “Poor Unfortunate Souls” The Little Mermaid (1989)
The sea witch Ursula takes advantage of Ariel’s desire to be a human at very low moment when she is ripe to make a hasty deal.
“Poor Unfortunate Souls” is Ursula using every trick in her arsenal to get Ariel into a deal that Ursula will ultimate cheat at to for Ariel to fail so Ursula can win.
The song opens with heavy ominous notes before applying more manipulation and pressure to Ariel to get her to comply. The song gets really bombastic towards at the end as Ursula gets more unhinged and crazed and ends with perfect maniacal laugher. So very evil.
This is the song that appeared on all 40 lists.
2. “Hellfire” The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996)
“Hellfire” is a very different sort of Disney villain song. It is not about a villain revealing in their schemes nor doesn’t it have any mockery or manipulation. The song instead is about Frollo losing control and succumbing to lust at the cost of his soul. There is also one of the line that is lifted from the original novel.
It’s heavy and dramatic and makes great use of is a latin choir. The visuals also go very dark and creepy as Frollo is haunted by specters and judgement. The visuals are very reminiscent of Fantasia’s “Night on Bald Mountain” segment and the directors jokingly referred it as “Mr. Frollo’s Wild Ride” referencing the old attraction “Mr Frog’s Wild Ride”.
“It”Hellfire” makes one want Disney to go back to the dark gothic creepy songs.
“Hellfire” is masterclass of a villain song that is one of the stand out songs of its movie and amongst the Disney Villains song type.
Honorable Mentions
Here some songs that are noteworthy for just missing the list or that I just want to highlight:
- “The Greatest Criminal Master Mind” from The Great Mouse Detective was pretty highly regarded on throughout the lists. Plus Vincent Price is great in this number.
- “I wanna be like you” from The Jungle Book came up a more than a few times and is a very fun song. I’m a little shocked it didn’t make the list in the end.
- “My Lullaby” from The Lion King 2. This one is most high-ranked villain song from the Disney sequels.
- “In The Dark of the Night” from Anastasia. Honestly I think this one should get more consideration as it’s dark and has a rock-n-roll tone that makes for a great villain song.
- “Snuff out the Light” from the scraped Kingdom of the Sun which became The Emperors New Groove. If this had been in a movie it would been amongst the top songs as it is it made three lists and was in the top five and it wasn’t in any movie.
1. “Be Prepared, ” The Lion King (1994)
Scar is one of the very few villains to actually succeed in his machinations. His song outlines his scheme to pull off a coup with the help of the hyenas and then he executes his plan but with one big over-sight however. It’s hard to find good minions.
“Be Prepare” uses heavy smooth music to capture Scar’s calculating and dangerous personality. The songs has very pointed imaginary to showcase Scar’s evil schemes and manipulative prowess.
While the song highlights Scar’s cold persona, more maniacal aspect are brought out as the song breaks down towards the end.
It’s a perfectly executed song that combine evil dramatics and is still fun to listen to again and again.
Need something else to Read? How about Ranking the Best Disney I Want Song using Stats
