Alan Menken left an indelible mark as a composer for many of the most popular Disney movies of the 1990s. Menken revolutionized Disney songwriting, blending Broadway-style compositions with heartfelt storytelling, which moved adults as well as children. Menken partnered with brilliant lyricists like Howard Ashman, Tim Rice, and Stephen Schwartz on many of the best Disney movie songs we’ll never get out of our heads. His scores elevated the Disney Renaissance movies, a major factor in their critical and commercial success.
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Menken composed some of the most iconic “I Wish/I Want” songs where characters express their innermost desire, like “Part of Your World” from The Little Mermaid. But Menken was also a versatile songwriter, able to infuse pop and Greek mythological references into Hercules and Gothic influences in The Hunchback of Notre Dame. With eight Oscars, Menken remains one of Disney’s most awarded composers, creating a new Disney sound. These 12 songs from many of his most influential movies show the talent, range, and legacy of Alan Menken.
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Hellfire
The Hunchback Of Notre Dame (1996)
Disney’s adaptation of Victor Hugo’s Gothic novel The Hunchback of Notre Dame was softened for children, but did not achieve the same instant-classic status, likely due to its darker themes, including religious hypocrisy, lust, and prejudice. For the movie, Alan Menken partnered with lyricist Stephen Schwartz, who later wrote the music for Wicked. Fittingly, “Hellfire” is one of Disney’s more intense songs. While many villain songs revel in pure evil, Judge Frollo is tortured by his repression and lust.
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Menken’s composition weaves together Latin chant, sweeping orchestration, and haunting choral elements to heighten Frollo’s descent into obsession with the gypsy woman Esmeralda. Menken and Schwartz turn Frollo’s internal conflict into a grand, operatic confession that is both terrifying and tragic. “Hellfire” elevates The Hunchback of Notre Dame beyond traditional Disney storytelling.
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Mother Knows Best
Tangled (2010)
“Mother Knows Best” from Tangled is a villain song that disguises its manipulation beneath a playful, cabaret-style melody. Lyricist Glenn Slater crafted lyrics that drip with passive-aggressive condescension, as Mother Gothel masks her control over Rapunzel with feigned concern. “Mother Knows Best” perfectly combines sound, lyrics, and visuals, as every time Mother Gothel says “I love you,” she is looking at the top of Rapunzel’s head, speaking to her hair and not her, even tilting her head to kiss Rapunzel’s hairline rather than her forehead.
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The reprise strips away the playfulness, revealing Mother Gothel’s true villainous nature. This duality makes “Mother Knows Best” one of Disney’s most subtly manipulative villain songs, showing Menken’s ability to blend melody and character so effectively.
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Seize The Day
Newsies (1992)
“Seize the Day” from the 1992 live-action Newsies movie is a rousing anthem that transforms a real-world labor strike into an uplifting, energetic musical number. With lyrics by Jack Feldman, the song captures the determination of the 1899 newsboys’ strike, turning a historical work stoppage into an inspiring call to action. Menken’s soaring melody, driven by rhythmic percussion and layered harmonies, makes the song both emotionally powerful and instantly catchy.
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The movie, directed by Kenny Ortega, who later helmed High School Musical, is criminally underrated, though a complex labor dispute is not typically the type of story children are drawn to. However, the movie was developed in a Tony-winning Broadway adaptation in 2011, featuring an expanded “Seize the Day” as Act One’s exhilarating ensemble finale. The song’s appeal lies in its ability to make history feel contemporary and inspiring.
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That’s How You Know
Enchanted (2007)
“That’s How You Know” is a celebratory, Broadway-style showstopper in Enchanted that marks a turning point in Giselle’s relationship with Robert, as he begins to embrace her worldview. The song’s lively, Caribbean-inspired melody, featuring a massive ensemble dance in Central Park, makes the number irresistibly catchy. Menken again partnered with Stephen Schwartz for the songs in Enchanted. “That’s How You Know” celebrates how small gestures express true love, a fairy-tale idea in a cynical place like New York City.
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The song builds slowly, in terms of music and scope, with more and more people joining in Giselle’s parade. It’s one of the moments where it most makes the live-action world feel as magical as the animated one. The song’s layered harmonies and whimsical orchestration make it endlessly rewatchable.
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Just Around The Riverbend
Pocahontas (1995)
“Just Around the Riverbend” is a sweeping, introspective song that beautifully captures Pocahontas’s adventurous spirit and inner conflict. Stephen Schwartz’s lyrics poignantly express Pocahontas’ struggle between tradition and the unpredictable path of her heart. Menken’s score blends orchestral grandeur with Native American-inspired instrumentation, using woodwinds, percussion, and soaring strings to evoke a sense of nature’s power and fluidity.
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While it shares similarities with other “I Want'”songs, like Belle’s opening number in Beauty and the Beast, “Just Around the Riverbend” is less about longing for a distant dream and more about embracing the excitement of the journey. It perfectly establishes Pocahontas’s free spirit and deep connection to nature, setting the stage for the movie’s journey, loosely inspired by the real Pocahontas.
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Zero To Hero
Hercules (1997)
“Zero to Hero” is a high-energy, gospel-infused showstopper that perfectly captures the playful and irreverent tone of Hercules. The Muses, serving as a Greek chorus, deliver the song with powerhouse vocals, drawing inspiration from gospel, R&B, and Motown sounds. David Zippel’s lyrics chronicle the hero’s rapid rise to fame, with clever wordplay that blends modern pop-culture references and Greek mythology in Hercules, like “From appearance fees and royalties / our Herc had cash to burn / Now nouveau rich and famous / he could tell you what’s a Grecian urn.”
Menken’s bold, brassy composition makes the number irresistibly fun. The animation elevates the humor, with visual gags like Air Herc sandals, making it one of Disney’s cleverest musical sequences. “Zero to Hero” is a testament to Menken’s versatility, proving he can craft not just sweeping ballads but also infectious, toe-tapping anthems.
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Go The Distance
Hercules (1997)
“Go the Distance” is one of Disney’s most iconic “I Want” anthems, capturing everyone’s desire to feel like they belong. The song is a soaring declaration of perseverance, as Hercules dreams of proving himself worthy of a place among the gods. Menken’s composition draws from sweeping orchestral scores, with heroic brass, triumphant strings, and a steady, determined rhythm that builds an epic, cinematic atmosphere.
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“Go the Distance” carries a deeply emotional, almost solemn weight, emphasizing Hercules’ struggle rather than excitement. The song’s powerful build mirrors his journey, starting as a quiet wish before swelling into an unstoppable force of determination. Its universal message of resilience and self-discovery has made it a beloved song even outside the Disney fandom, proving Menken’s ability to craft melodies that inspire as much as they entertain.
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Poor Unfortunate Souls
The Little Mermaid (1989)
“Poor Unfortunate Souls” is one of Disney’s most deliciously theatrical villain songs, where Ursula, one of Disney’s best villains, gets to fully revel in her scheme. With lyrics by Menken’s longtime collaborator, Howard Ashman, the song oozes charm and manipulation as Ursula seduces Ariel into giving up her voice. Ursula’s big number is playful and extravagant, blending cabaret, vaudeville, and Broadway influences to create a movie-stealing moment.
Menken’s score for The Little Mermaid is heavily inspired by classic Disney orchestration mixed with a splash of show tunes and undersea whimsy. “Poor Unfortunate Souls” stands out with its dramatic, almost burlesque-like flair, featuring bold brass, eerie strings, and Ursula’s commanding vocals, which makes sense as the character was inspired by the drag queen Divine. Menken always seemed to have fun giving villains their moment to shine.
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Beauty And The Beast
Beauty And The Beast (1991)
“Beauty and the Beast” is one of Disney’s most beloved and emotionally resonant songs. Unlike the whimsical ensemble pieces found elsewhere in Beauty and the Beast, this song is all about the lush, sweeping score. Menken’s orchestration is inspired by classical waltzes, using elegant strings and gentle woodwinds to create a timeless, romantic atmosphere.
Angela Lansbury’s tender, heartfelt performance as Mrs. Potts elevates Howard Ashman’s simple lyrics. I credit this song with making Belle’s romance with the Beast feels more earned than almost any other Disney romance. The way the melody swells as they dance reinforces the film’s emotional core, making their love story one of Disney’s most powerful. Menken’s ability to craft a score that enhances emotion is a key reason why Beauty and the Beast remains a constant favorite.
3
Part Of Your World
The Little Mermaid (1989)
“Part of Your World” is Disney’s most recognizable “I Wish” song, perfectly encapsulating our longing for something just beyond our reach. More than just a princess wanting adventure, Ariel’s desire to understand and connect with another world reflects a fundamental human desire to grow, explore, and find your place.
For The Little Mermaid, Menken drew musically from Broadway ballads, using soft, flowing piano and swelling orchestration to mimic the ebb and flow of the ocean. The melody starts delicately, mirroring Ariel’s quiet hope, before soaring into a powerful crescendo of determination. Ashman and Menken’s collaboration reached its pinnacle here, blending music and lyrics seamlessly to create a song that remains one of Disney’s most emotionally resonant and timeless masterpieces.
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A Whole New World
Aladdin (1992)
“A Whole New World” from Aladdin is Disney’s most iconic love duet, capturing the wonder and excitement of falling in love. With lyrics by Tim Rice, who would later write the songs for The Lion King, “A Whole New World,” it symbolizes both romance and newfound freedom, as Aladdin and Jasmine soar above the world, seeing endless possibilities together. Unlike many Disney love songs centered on longing, “A Whole New World” embraces discovery and shared adventure, making it uniquely uplifting.
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Menken’s sweeping, cinematic orchestration blends lush strings and soft, dreamlike piano, evoking a sense of weightlessness. The entire Aladdin soundtrack is influenced by Middle Eastern melodies and Broadway-style grandeur, and “A Whole New World” balances both with its soaring, magical quality. With its timeless melody and heartfelt lyrics, the song became an instant Disney classic, earning an Oscar for Best Original Song.
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Be Our Guest
Beauty And The Beast (1991)
“Be Our Guest” is a signature Disney song, bursting with theatricality, charm, and spectacle. This dazzling number exemplifies Disney’s commitment to pure entertainment, turning a simple dinner invitation into a full-scale Broadway-style extravaganza. Ashman and Menken infused the songs in Beauty and the Beast with influences from classic French cabaret and grand Broadway showstoppers, crafting lively orchestration, intricate melodies, and dynamic tonal shifts.
“Be Our Guest” moves effortlessly from playful whimsy to grand, celebratory crescendos, with overlapping vocals that add to its complexity and energy. The song is both immersive and entertaining, providing a much-needed moment of levity after Belle’s initial imprisonment. “Be Our Guest” embodies Disney magic, transforming hospitality into spectacle, and remains one of Menken’s most beloved and iconic songs in animation history.
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
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