Top 10 Disney Channel Movie Songs That Didn't Have to Go THAT Hard
#10: “Evil Like Me”
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“Descendants” (2015) This Broadway-worthy number takes place in Mal’s head as she wonders “WWMD” — what would Maleficent do? While sneaking around a museum for the sake of their evil mission, the titular characters stumble upon statues of their parents. The daughter of the evil fairy imagines her mother’s figure coming to life and bursting into song. Composed by the award-winning Andrew Lippa, the melody is reminiscent of classic show tunes but with a nefarious twist. The number ends with the iconic Disney villain, played by Kristin Chenoweth, ascending into the air. Between her dark costume and evil cackle, we can’t help but be reminded of another beloved musical in which the Broadway legend once starred.
#9: "Rush"
“Twitches” (2005) While most of our picks for this list are diegetic, we’d like to take a moment to appreciate one of our favorite incidental songs from a DCOM. Queue this pop rock anthem by singing-songwriting duo Aly & AJ. The sisters were Disney Channel staples during the mid-2000s, acting in television shows and movies. But their legacy really comes from their discography. In addition to being included in “Twitches”, “Rush” was used as a promotional tool to drum up excitement for the magical movie. It’s easy to see why, because it’s a catchy banger. It unsurprisingly found mainstream success, and was also released as a single from the duo’s debut album. You can bet it’s still on our playlist.
#8: “Cruisin' for a Bruisin'”
“Teen Beach Movie” (2013) We’re suckers for classic musicals, and this song reminds us of some of the best. At this point, Mack and Brady find themselves in the world of “Wet Side Story,” a fictional film inspired by, you guessed it, “West Side Story.” The couple is hanging out at Big Momma’s along with the surfers when the bikers begin a “surf and turf war.” Donning leather jackets and coiffed hair, this group looks like they'd get along with “Grease”’s T-Birds and Pink Ladies. The music gives serious “Greased Lightnin’” vibes and the choreography goes hard, not to mention the use of props. Vintage chairs, electric guitars and an old jukebox take this musical number to the next level, and we’re here for it.
#7: "Push It to the Limit"
"Jump In!" (2007) The underrated movie stars two multi-talented individuals, Corbin Bleu and Keke Palmer. And the leads not only acted their hearts out, they also gave us amazing music. Their respective tunes play consecutively during the Hot Chili Steppers’ showing in the competition’s freestyle round, elevating the routine. While Palmer’s "It's My Turn Now" is a solid number, the energy gets turned up several notches when “Push It to the Limit” begins to play. Fusing poppier sounds with R&B elements, the tune doesn’t miss. The competitors put their ropes down momentarily for a quick dance break before pulling out all the stops. The audience is left in awe, and we’re left with an urge to start jumping rope again.
#6: “Bop to the Top”
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“High School Musical” (2006) The Evans siblings go the extra mile when they bring their own recorded arrangement and choreography to auditions for the school musical. But it’s their callback performance that’s totally over-the-top in the best way. The brother and sister duo arrive in costume with headset mics that free up both their hands for dancing. Sharpay’s is bedazzled to match her dress, of course. Even the ladder they use is decorated. The peppy track itself naturally complements this whole display perfectly. It’s filled with exactly the kind of energy these theater kids live for, and they commit like few can. Needless to say, we never tire of singing along.
#5: “Chillin' Like a Villain”
“Descendants 2” (2017) Talk about an ear worm! This song gets stuck in our heads all the time, and we’re not even that mad about it. It features Evie, Carlos, and Jay teaching Ben how to act villainous — and by villainous, we mean cool. The performers each bring their own unique flavor to the affair, so the personalities of the characters really come through. The late Cameron Boyce’s dance moves and Sofia Carson’s vocals are especially good. With three different sets, extras, and great blocking, everything about the scene is really well developed. For a song about blending in, it sure stands out.
#4: “Call to the Wild”
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“Zombies 2” (2020) When the pack of the Forbidden Forest believe Addison could be the Great Alpha, they bring her to their werewolf den. There, they show her what it’s like to live on the wild side by way of an absolute bop. The wolves dance together, creatively using bamboo poles in their routine. The cheerleader also nails the song and dance, and even pack leader Willa comes to respect her after a howl off. As if that wasn’t enough, the number culminates in an epic outfit change for the white-haired girl, indicating that she in fact feels a call to the wild.
#3: “Strut”
“The Cheetah Girls 2” (2006) As the group’s highest charting single on the Billboard Hot 100, this song is undeniably good. But what really sets the number apart in the movie specifically is its international setting. From the Montjuïc National Palace to Park Güell, the pop group vocalizes and struts their way through Barcelona. The new friend they’ve made also joins in on the fun, lending his talents to the number on guitar and even singing a bit. The number wastes no time giving us major wanderlust and a craving for paella. Leave it to the Cheetah Girls to turn an entire city into a music video set.
#2: “We Rock”
Top 10 Disney Songs That Didn't Have To Go THAT Hard
“Camp Rock” (2008) The end of this flick has one amazing song after another. As viewers, we’ve barely recovered from Mitchie and Shane’s incredible duet when a final group number just brings the house down. All of our favorite campers and characters join in with belting voices and iconic moves. From every angle, the performance is one of the best finales we’ve seen in a Disney Channel Original Movie. When Demi Lovato nails those vocal riffs, it’s game over. The cast of “Camp Rock” did not have to do it to us like that. We’re happy they did, though. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
“Get a Clue”, “Get a Clue” (2002)
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“Cinderella”, “The Cheetah Girls” (2003)
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“Queen of Mean”, “Descendants 3” (2019)
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“It's On”, “Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam” (2010)
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“She’s So Gone”, “Lemonade Mouth” (2011)
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#1: “Bet on It”
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“High School Musical 2” (2007) Frankly, there are plenty of songs from this movie that went harder than they had to, like “Work This Out”. And we can’t forget “I Don’t Dance”, which always gets us grooving! But none are quite as intense or iconic as Troy’s solo. Lonely and frustrated, our leading man takes to Lava Springs’ golf course to let off some steam. He contemplates the kind of person he wants to be, fighting against self-doubt. As he sings, runs, dances, and swings at a golf ball, we realize just how angsty this jock can get. Not to mention him contemplating his own reflection in the lake. Zac Efron just completely goes for it in this number, and we can’t get enough.
