In Movies

There are two types of movies I am a complete sucker for: musicals and kids’ movies. I’ll probably need to run after I type this, but I adore seeing characters break out into song for no apparent reason. I like dancing furniture, singing soldiers, and long musical dilemmas where the singer ponders the consequences of the decision they’re about to make at the end of the song. I know it’s utterly unmanly to like musicals, but HAH! I’m a girl and I can love them all I want! So nyeh.

Needless to say, I am counting the days until Phantom of the Opera is released. If a musical comes out, I’ll likely go see it, although somehow (perhaps because I couldn’t drag Duckie?) I did miss de-Lovely. And although I’ve been a bit disappointed in Disney’s more recent efforts, I still enjoy my animated movies — especially those that do have music in them. It’s a classic part of Disney animations, and you’ve gotta admit, Disney usually does really well with the songs.

I know musicals are not for everyone, and on top of it there’s a very high level of subjectivity. And there are tons and tons of great songs out there. But I put together my own little top ten list, mainly because I was bored and had a few songs that just wouldn’t leave my mind.

The rules are that the song has to be from a musical (animated or not). So cool soundtracks don’t count. The exception is if a character actually sings the song — and not just a snippet. It has to be most of the song.

So onward, to Lissa’s favorite movie musical moments!

1. “Roxanne” in Moulin Rouge!

Come on, it’s my favorite movie. You knew I was going to have something here. “Roxanne” is just an utterly brilliant sequence. The song itself is incredibly stirring, with the Narcoleptic Argentinean growling the main melody and Ewan McGregor’s clear tenor singing the descant. It’s a wonderful, sensual study in contrasts. Add the dancing (the very erotic version of the tango), the sets, the lighting, the costumes… It’s impossible to watch this scene and take your eyes away.

2. “I’ll Make a Man Out of You” in Mulan

Mulan is my favorite Disney flick, because the title character is, without a doubt, a major butt-kicker. I love her. While the BEST moment in the movie is the guitar riff when Mulan’s sitting at the feet of a dragon statue and makes her decision to go to war, this is the best song. The animation isn’t anything spectacular, but I’m a sucker for a good training montage- especially one that involves martial arts and shirtless men.

3. “To Life” in Fiddler on the Roof

Despite some bad associations with a college ex-boyfriend, I love this musical. This is also probably one of the absolute best adaptations of a musical to a movie ever, and that’s largely thanks to Topol, who plays the main character Tevye. His Tevye is utterly unforgettable and the actor defined the character as much as Yul Brenner defined the King of Siam in The King and I. I picked this song just because I like it. It’s fun.

4. “Holding Out for a Hero” in Shrek 2

This one sort of breaks the rules. Shrek 2 isn’t a musical, although it is at least animated. But a character does actually sing it, so it counts. (Like how I put the loophole in for this?) I love the song “Holding Out for a Hero” — it’s the epitome of good cheesy 80’s songs, and it definitely fits perfectly here. The way the view keeps flashing from Shrek storming the castle to Fiona and Charming tangoing (another tango!) is hysterical, and who can not love the Fairy Godmother’s red sequined dress?

5. “It’s a Hard Knock Life” in Annie

I know, I know. “Tomorrow” is the big song from this one. But you know what? I’m really not too fond of that one. I really like some of the adult’s songs — particularly “Easy Street” and “Sign”. And I admit, I totally picked “It’s a Hard Knock Life” for the sentimental value. My sis is a huge Annie fan, and we used to sing this song all the time. But anything that makes singing orphans cute (and not sickening) has to be pretty darn good.

6. “I Won’t Say I’m In Love” in Hercules

Even as a die-hard Disney fan, I’m pretty hard-pressed to say that I love Hercules. Except for the heroine, Meg. Meg is cool, with a cynical, smart, wise-cracking sense of humor. Her lovely gospel song “I Won’t Say I’m In Love” is pretty hard not to sing along with, and is easily the high point of the movie. Additional kudos for her being an alto.

If you haven’t seen Road to El Dorado, you must check it out. It’s a great animated flick that Disney didn’t do. The soundtrack is one of the reasons to see it. It’s not so much a musical as it is a movie that has extended soundtrack songs included (does that make sense?), but these songs were written and sung by Elton John, and I like Elton. This one’s pretty heart-wrenching, especially as the two characters coming to the (supposed) end of their relationship are really likeable and have me totally hooked. I also have to give snaps to “It’s Tough to be a God.”

8. “Be Prepared” in The Lion King

Elton John has got to be one of the best things that happened to songs for animated movies. Honestly. “Be Prepared” is the villain song of The Lion King, and it is incredible. Especially the Nazi imagery. Jeremy Irons sings/growls it quite well, and it’s really one of the best songs in a movie that had only strong songs in it.

9. “La Resistance” in South Park: Bigger, Longer, Uncut

Another movie chock-full of great songs, it was hard to pick out just one. I loved this one because it was such a great spoof on “One Day More” from Les Mis, and it had the classic line “When Canada is dead and gone/There will be no more Celine Dion!” You have to love a song that promotes Canada abuse — especially when you’re a Mutant.

10. “The Bare Necessities” in The Jungle Book

From Disney’s first glory days. Just try to not watch the Jungle Book and sing along with this one. Catchy, bouncy, and utterly addictive. Any time Baloo was on screen, that was a good thing.

Of course, not all musical moments are so good. There have been some truly cringe-worthy moments as well. And to give the other end of the spectrum…

1. “Hello 12, Hello 13, Hello Love” in A Chorus Line

Thank you to this musical for ruining movie musicals for a long, long time. Ugh. I love A Chorus Line in a cheesy sort of way, but man, they butchered this one as a movie adaptation. Especially this particular song.

2. “Cheer Up Charlie” in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

Let’s face it, the Oompa-Loompas are the singing stars of this movie. And that’s just a bad, bad, bad sign. “Cheer Up Charlie” is particularly painful, but so are a lot of the other songs. Ick.

3. “Some Day My Prince Will Come” in Snow White.

First, I hate soprano voices. Second, I hate warbling. Third, thanks for setting the women’s lib movement back an extra twenty years!!!

4. “The Night Is Young” in Robin Hood: Men In Tights.

I like Carey Ewles. And he didn’t sing this one. But it was still a pretty painful sequence — although you gotta admit the Merry Men’s reaction to the sword was pretty darn funny.

5. “T.V. Eye” in Velvet Goldmine

If “Holding Out for a Hero” from Shrek 2 can count, so can this one. The movie sucked. The song sucked. And even though Ewan McGregor learned to sing by Moulin Rouge!, the singing sucked. There was nothing redeemable about this one, except maybe some cute guys in tight leather pants.

6. “One Last Chance” in Hercules

Yes, the same movie can make both lists. This one probably isn’t the worst song EVER (see number 10 for that), but Danny DeVito does better with speaking than singing. And yeah, I am stretching a bit more to fill this list.

7. “Love” from Robin Hood

The Disney one this time. The song isn’t super bad. But it’s the only song in the movie not sung largely by Alan-A-Dale (or the inestimable Phil Harris). It sticks out like a sore thumb and is just insipid and not very memorable.

8. “Stupid Cupid” in The Princess Diaries

First of all, even though I loved the movie I know have issues with The Princess Diaries as I’ve found it’s nothing like the books. But I really hate it when a singer gets into a movie and there has to be a song that they sing (even if it takes you out of the story) just because they’re a singer. I’ve forgiven Mandy Moore a bit after her stint in Saved! (and she was perfect as Lana in The Princess Diaries), but still.

9. “Be Our Guest” in Beauty and the Beast

Okay, okay, the song is fine. But they got so convinced that the song would carry those few minutes the animation was really lame. Plates rolling across the screen? Give me a break.

10. "I’m Looking Out for Me” in The Return of Jafar

Three words: Gilbert Gottfried singing. That’s all you need to know.