Top 10 Underappreciated Disney Channel Original Movie Songs
#10: “Notice Me” “Pixel Perfect” (2004)
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Meet a boy named Phil, and his family… Oh, no, wait–wrong media! “Pixel Perfect” stars Raviv Ullman as Roscoe and Leah Pipes as Sam. Sam, who’s a typical rough-around-the-edges teen, clearly has musical talent, but she doesn’t fit the mold of a superstar. Her song, “Notice Me,” was cathartic to all of us with unrequited crushes. The lyrics sing to our angsty, pre-teen spirits and, suddenly, we felt seen. Anytime someone sits down with an acoustic guitar in a Disney Channel movie, it’s almost always a guaranteed hit, and this one was no exception.
#9: “Introducing Me” “Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam” (2010)
With a name like “Camp Rock,” you can probably expect a jam or two on the soundtrack. While there were a number of beloved ballads to come out of this movie - so many of which only continued to fuel the Jo Bros hysteria - this sweet little song had us swooning like no tomorrow. It might be a little unorthodox to tell your love interest that you “really like it when the moon looks like a toenail,” but somehow, Nick Jonas makes the quirky lyrics sound so sweet. Let’s be honest, you probably didn’t even need to see the lyrics on-screen to participate in the sing-along special.
#8: “Kick It Up a Notch” “Phineas and Ferb: Across the 2nd Dimension” (2011)
We’d be remiss not to acknowledge the fact that this show gave us one of the greatest theme songs on the Disney Channel and some of the catchiest tunes in a cartoon, probably, ever. With that said, it’s no surprise that the movie was interlaced with quite a few memorable tracks. One song in particular even got a feature in “Rolling Stone” with Guitar God, Slash, stepping into the “other dimension-ator” to join the boys on stage. The rock legend helped pen the anthem after screening the movie with his kids and asking to be a part of it! Thankfully, Phineas and Ferb were more than “ready to roll” with the icon.
#7: “She’s So Gone” “Lemonade Mouth” (2011)
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Receiving critical acclaim, Lemonade Mouth is arguably one of the Disney Channel’s most successful original movies. The soundtrack quickly became popular, with singles like “Determinate” leading the way. With such a stacked album, it’s easy for numbers like “She’s So Gone” to fly under the radar. The unfettering message makes us want to belt the lyrics like nobody’s watching. It’s not hard to believe that, with such strong and demanding vocals, Naomi Scott went on to become a Disney Princess! Who else could execute such a fantastic cover of “A Whole New World”?
#6: “I Don’t Dance” “High School Musical 2” (2007)
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The High School Musical franchise has brought us countless bops - literally. While it’s easy to default to popular picks like “We’re All in This Together” or “Breaking Free,” sometimes, the best duets aren’t ballads between two love interests. Chad and Ryan may have ultimately been considered secondary characters, but they “hit it out of the park” with “I Don’t Dance”. The smooth tempo is the perfect base for a back-and-forth between two polar opposites. On the one hand, we get a catchy chorus ripe with dance numbers, and on the other, we get macho jock chants - it’s honestly the combo we never knew we needed.
#5: “Rush” “Twitches” (2005)
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Tia and Tamera may not be the voices behind this theme, but another sister-sister duo is. While they don’t actually appear in the movie, Disney-alums Aly and AJ lended their talents to the “Twitches” soundtrack. The “Potential Breakup Song” singers recorded the track for their debut album, but released it as a single to promote the film. While the song didn’t really gain any traction until some months later - true Disney fans will associate the bewitching beat with the movie. Or, if you’re really part of the elite few, you might recognize it from the “Bratz: Rock Angelz” video game!
#4: “More Than Me” “Stuck in the Suburbs” (2004)
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Raise your hand if you would also hold your idol’s phone hostage for a chance to meet them? Jordan Cahill’s backyard performance is enough to make anyone swoon. There’s just something behind the idea of a big-time popstar doing an intimate, acoustic performance that’s so endearing. The pointed lyrics in a personal setting had us believing he was singing about us - even if it was through our TV screens. Sadly, like many Disney heartthrobs, Taran Killam wasn’t actually the one singing. It was, however, performed by none-other than Drew Seeley - who provided Troy Bolton’s vocals for “High School Musical”, and later starred opposite Selena Gomez in “Another Cinderella Story” - so we figure all is forgiven. Seeley even makes a cameo in this film as a hotel receptionist.
#3: “Don’t Run Away” “Let it Shine” (2012)
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Honestly, this song would be right at home at the top of the charts in 2012. That signature mix of synth and hip-hop basically defined the era. There’s a reason this song sounds so familiar; it was co-produced by Antonina Armato, who has also worked with major stars like Mariah Carey and Justin Bieber. She’s also produced for Disney vets Miley Cyrus, the Jonas Brothers, and Aly & AJ. Much like her other work, “Don’t Run Away” takes that classic Disney sound and elevates it to be more mainstream. While the soundtrack did see some action on the Billboard charts after its release, the song has recently made a comeback on TikTok.
#2: “Supernova Girl” “Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century” (1999)
Nobody “[made our] heart go boom, boom” quite like Proto Zoa! We know 90’s babies everywhere are fully expecting the year 2049 to look exactly like it does in this movie - especially the metallics and frosted tips. It’s pretty obvious why Zenon and Nebula want to get on stage with Microbe. Their futuristic sound and catchy lyrics are enough to start a crowd. In classic Disney fashion, the writers threw in just a little bit of educational space jargon, as well. To be honest, it’s a great way to get kids to learn terms like “interplanetary”! Nearly 25 years later, this song will make you say “Cetus-Lupeedus!” everytime you hear it. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. “Dance Me If You Can,” “The Cheetah Girls: One World” (2008) An Exotic Beat for a Classic Dance-off “Outside Looking In,” “Read It and Weep” (2006) Jordan Pruitt’s Successful Single Graces the Soundtrack “Too Much,” “Zapped” (2014) Anything Zendaya Touches Turns to Gold “Amigas Cheetahs,” “The Cheetah Girls 2” (2006) Makes You Want to Grab Your Closest Friends & Break Out in Choreographed Dance “Gotta Find You,” “Camp Rock” (2008) Apparently This Is the Moment Demi Lovato Fell in Love With Joe Jonas - We Totally Get It
#1: “Cinderella” “The Cheetah Girls” (2003)
By far, the fiercest group to ever grace the Disney Channel, the Cheetah Girls continue their hold over us. It’s hard to imagine anything other than success when you put together former 3LW members and child star royalty. The big hits like “Cheetah Sisters” and “Together We Can” will always be iconic, but “Cinderella” is highly underrated. A smooth beat and catchy hook immediately grabs our attention, only to top it off with an incredible message empowering all women and girls. We bet you didn’t know that this song is actually a cover of a cover! It originated from US girl group i5, and was then covered by the Swedish group Play, before making its way to the Disney Channel.
