Top 10 BEST Animated Villain Songs
#10: Playing with the Big Boys “The Prince of Egypt” (1998)
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Upon his return to Egypt, Moses demonstrates the power of his god to Pharaoh Rameses II. More amused than frightened, Rameses has high priests Hotep and Huy show him what THEIR gods are capable of. Their demonstration is a confident, intimidating spectacle of smoke-and-mirrors magic tricks and creative wordplay, set to Middle Eastern-tinged music. Hotep and Huy are certain that their deities reign supreme over anyone Moses chooses to follow, and have no qualms trying to knock him down a few pegs. Of course, their attempts to undercut Moses are in vain, but at least they know how to dazzle with their oversized egos and pulse-pounding imagery.
#9: Friends on the Other Side “The Princess and the Frog” (2009)
It takes a charismatic song to sway someone into a deal with the devil, and Keith David definitely nails it as Dr. Facilier. He lures Prince Naveen and Lawrence into his home with a sinister, jazzy beat that sends shivers down your spine – promising that he can fulfill all their wishes. When they have a deal, everything explodes into a demonic, colorful extravaganza as Naveen is turned into a frog. Evil or not, the Shadow Man definitely knows how to put on a show, with one of the most haunting, toe-tapping numbers of all-time.
#8: Toxic Love “FernGully: The Last Rainforest” (1992)
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Freed from the tree that served as his prison, the dark spirit Hexxus sings this despicable ode to sweet, sweet destruction. His enthusiasm for “diesel clouds and noxious muck” shows how much he relishes watching humans ruin the environment, in a way that’s almost sensual. For this villain, destroying nature is intoxicating - pun intended. Of course, the song’s excellence owes a lot to Hexxus’ vocal actor, the legendary Tim Curry. Curry has had plenty of experience portraying diabolical and eccentric characters, and was the perfect choice to put a little extra oomph in this twisted love song serenading environmental ruin.
#7: Cruella De Vil “One Hundred and One Dalmations” (1961)
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Roger Radcliffe has been looking for lyrics for his new song, and he may have found the perfect inspiration – the devil woman herself, Cruella De Vil. Along with a smooth tempo and sinister rhythm, the lyrics don’t pull any punches – describing Cruella as an evil, malevolent creature. Roger was always suspicious about her and it turns out he and his jazzy heckling were right on the ball. The ultimate kicker is that Roger’s mocking tune becomes a big hit and makes his family more money than he could have imagined. On top of that, it serves as a delightful roasting of an iconic villains.
#6: Gaston “Beauty and the Beast” (1991)
Nobody sings their own praises like Gaston. After being embarrassed by Belle, Le Fou tries to cheer Gaston up by leading a lively waltz in the bar –the lyrics, of course, regaling the crowd with how amazing he is. It certainly does the trick of lifting Gaston’s spirits and stroking his ego, but then it shifts into him plotting out how to make Belle marry him … and the townsfolk STILL cheer him on. Guess it just goes to show that you can get away with anything if you have a catchy enough song and a charismatic personality. No wonder the villagers were so willing to join Gaston’s little manhunt with “The Mob Song”.
#5: In the Dark of the Night “Anastasia” (1997)
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His power restored, Rasputin is more eager than ever to eliminate the last surviving member of the Romanov family, Anastasia. With the help of a chorus of insects, he sings out his goal for vengeance with a hellish theatrical rock anthem as he prepares for his ultimate scheme. The haunting choir and driving rhythm adds a nice level of zest to this track – adding a frightening chill and renewed fear for Anya’s safety. While Christopher Lloyd – Rasputin’s voice actor - didn’t provide the vocals, his singing stand-in, Jim Cummings, does a phenomenal job of carrying the tune and really capturing the dark wizard’s depraved obsession with settling the score.
#4: Hellfire “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” (1996)
“The Hunchback of Notre Dame” is one of the most risqué Disney films of all time – tackling subjects such as religious hypocrisy, ethnic persecution, and lust... fun for the whole family, right? We see these themes beautifully displayed in Judge Frollo’s captivating song, “Hellfire”. Here, Frollo confronts his inner demons, trying to justify his horrific actions by blaming them all on Esmeralda – the gypsy woman of his sinful desires. The horrific imagery perfectly matches his twisted mindset, while the haunting music – complete with a Hellish choir - chills viewers to the bone.
#3: You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” (1966)
It’s the despicable track we always look forward to during the holidays. As we watch the Grinch performing his sinister schemes, we’re treated to this fun and catchy little tune where every verse roasts the green trickster in every way imaginable. Written by Dr. Seuss himself, the lyrics don’t hold back as they describe how deplorable, disgusting, and dastardly our leading character is… and yet, we still can’t help but love him. This devilishly enjoyable Christmas tune is made even better thanks to the deep bass voice of Thurl Ravenscroft. While other versions of the song definitely brought something unique, it’s hard to hold a candle to the original tune that made insulting scoundrels so much fun.
#2: Poor Unfortunate Souls “The Little Mermaid” (1989)
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Remember that deal with the Devil issue we talked about? Well, the same rules apply under the sea. Ariel takes that risk when she goes to Ursula’s grotto for a chance to be with the human she loves. The sea witch tempts the naïve mermaid with a slow, gothic tune claiming that she only wants to help – but the menacing undertones and music arrangements say otherwise. That uneasy feeling only gets worse when the song’s pace picks up and eventually explodes into a terrifying eruption of colors as the deal is made. She may be deceitful, but we can’t deny that Ursula knows how to do business – with a Broadway and burlesque flair. Before we unveil our number one sinister show tune, here are a few honorable mentions. I Go Looney “Batman: The Killing Joke” (2016) Mother Knows Best “Tangled” (2010) Oogie Boogie’s Song “The Nightmare Before Christmas” (1993) Shiny “Moana” (2016) Savages “Pocahontas” (1995)
#1: Be Prepared “The Lion King” (1994)
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Scar has a plan to commit his most despicable act ever so that he can finally be crowned king –and he’ll need the help of his army of hyenas. How does he motivate them? Why, with an intense and conniving anthem that doubles as a declaration of war, of course. The song is so powerful that Scar’s actor, Jeremy Irons, actually developed vocal problems during recording – leaving Jim Cummings to bring it home… and boy does he deliver. Couple that with malevolent lighting and colors, and imagery straight out of the Third Reich, and we’re left with the ultimate villainous musical number… which is more than fans can say for the live-action remake.
