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Whether it’s ‘Hakuna Matata’ or ‘A Spoonful of Sugar’, songs from Disney Movies are a part of popular culture. But, did you know that many have also won awards, especially the pinnacle of movie awards: the Academy Awards (Oscars)? Fourteen songs from Disney movies have won the Best Original Song award over the years. Let’s take a look at some of them.

When You Wish Upon A Star: Pinocchio (1940)

The first Disney song to win the Academy Award for Best Original Song, this one is sung by Jiminy Cricket to the wooden puppet. Sung by Cliff Edwards, who was the voice of the cricket, this iconic song has become the signature tune for The Walt Disney Company.

Chim Chim Chim-cheree: Mary Poppins (1964)

A duet by Julie Andrews and Dick van Dyke riffs off the belief that a handshake from a chimney sweep brings one luck. The song segues into the iconic rooftop dance to the tune of Step in Time. Composed by Richard and Robert Sherman, the song was very popular with the movie’s crew who would sing Chim Chimeree while working on the sets.

Under The Sea: The Little Mermaid (1987)

It took two decades for the next Oscar-winning song to appear. Sung by Samule E. Wright, ‘Under the Sea’ was influenced by the calypso and reggae rhythms of the Caribbean islands. Sebastian the crab pleads with Ariel to stay in the sea and not try to turn into a human.

Beauty and the Beast: Beauty and the Beast (1991)

A song that describes how a relationship evolves between two people and how they learn to accept each other, this ballad, written by Howard Ashman and composed by Alan Menken was sung by Angela Lansbury. Though the song is about the two protagonists, it is sung by the enchanted teapot Mrs. Potts to tell her son Chips what love is all about.

A Whole New World: Aladdin (1992)

Alan Menken scored another win with this song that shows Princess Jasmine what freedom looks like, as she flies on the magic carpet with Aladdin. Sung by Brad Kane and Lea Salonga, ‘A Whole New World’ is also the theme song for the film.

Can You Feel the Love Tonight: The Lion King (1994)

This film had a brace of hit songs such as ‘Hakuna Matata’, ‘The Lion Sleeps Tonight’ and ‘Circle of Life’ but it was this love ballad, written by Tim Rice, composed by Elton John that walked away with the honours. Did you know that originally this song was to have been sung by Timon and Pumba but Elton John did not like the idea of it being a comical song? One version had Kristle Edwards sing along with Joseph Williams (Simba), Sally Dworsky (Nala), Nathan Lane (Timon) and Ernie Sabella (Pumba). A second version by Elton John played over the closing credits.

Colors of the Wind: Pocahonta” (1995)

This Judy Kuhn song was a third win for Alan Menken, who composed the track for which Steven Schwartz wrote the lyrics. Inspired by Native American culture, this song has Pocahantos talk about respect for Nature and the need to know the environment one lives in.

You’ll Be in My Heart: Tarzan (1999)

This award-winning lullaby that singer and drummer Phil Collins wrote for his daughter Lily found its way into Disney’s Tarzan. The first verse is filmed on Kala, the gorilla, singing to the baby Tarzan while the full song played over the end credits.

If I Didn’t Have You: Monsters Inc. (2001)

After 14 nominations, Randy Newman hit the jackpot with this touching ode to friendship. The song has two versions: one sung by John Goodman (James P. Sullivan) and Billy Crystal (Mike Wazowski) and the second by Newman.

We Belong Together: Toy Story 3 (2010)

Nine years after his first Oscar, Newman won again for the Toy Story 3 theme song, which he wrote, composed and sang. Playing over the end credits, the scene features Woody, Jessie, Buzz, Bonnie and the others settling down in Sunnyside without children to trouble them.

Man or Muppet: The Muppets (2011)

Sung by Jason Segal and Peter Lintz, this is a song about identities and accepting who one is. Written and composed by Bret McKenzie, this was the third song from a Muppet movie to be nominated; the other two being ‘Rainbow Connection’ (The Muppet Movie) and ‘The First Time It Happens’ (The Great Muppet Caper).

Let It Go: Frozen (2013)

Written and composed by Kristen Anderson Lopez and Robert Lopez, this earworm is an anthem of acceptance that appears when Elsa realises that she doesn’t have to live upto other’s expectations and can use her power the way she wants. While Idina Menzel sings for Elsa, a version by Demi Lovato was played over the end credits.

Remember Me: Coco (2017)

Four years down the line, the Lopez duo won another award with this song, which appears multiple times in the film. Benjamin Bratt, Gael Garcia Bernal, Anthony Gonzalez and Ana Ofelia Murguia perform the song in various contexts in the film while a pop version by Miguel Jontel Pimentel and Natalia Lafourcade plays over the end credits.

Now that you’ve read about the award-winning songs, try this activity to see how well you know the lyrics to some of these songs.