Funk Music in Disney Films: A History

This blog post explores the history of funk music in Disney films. It looks at how the genre has been used in some of the studio’s most iconic animations, from early classics like The Lion King to more recent hits like Moana.

Introduction

Since the early days of Disney films, music has played an important role in the company’s productions. Songs have been used to advance the plot, express emotions, and even teach life lessons. Early Disney films featured music composed by some of the most celebrated songwriters of the time, including Frank Churchill, Oliver Wallace, and Leigh Harline.

In the 1950s, however, Disney began to experiment with different genres of music in its films. One of the first examples of this was in the 1957 film The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad, which featured a jazz-influenced score by Bernard Herrmann. This was followed by more experimental scores in films such as 101 Dalmatians (1961) and The Sword in the Stone (1963), which incorporated elements of rock ‘n’ roll and folk music respectively.

It wasn’t until the 1970s that funk music began to appear in Disney films on a regular basis. This was due in part to the popularity of the genre at the time, but also to the fact that Walt Disney himself was a big fan of funk music and wanted to see it featured more prominently in his company’s films. Some of the first examples of funk being used in a Disney film can be heard in The Aristocats (1970) and Robin Hood (1973).

Since then, funk music has continued to be used throughout Disney films, often being used to convey a sense of fun or excitement. Some notable examples include The Lion King (1994), Aladdin (1992), Hercules (1997), and The Princess and the Frog (2009). In recent years, however, there has been a move away from using funk music in Disney films towards other genres such as hip hop and pop.

Funk Music in Early Disney Films

Funk music has been a part of Disney films since the very beginning. In the early days of Disney, funk music was used in a number of ways. It was used to create a feeling of excitement and fun, and it was also used to create a sense of rhythm and movement.

The Jungle Book (1967)

The 1967 Disney film The Jungle Book was the first Disney film to feature funk music. The song “The Bare Necessities” is a classic funk tune that has been covered by many artists over the years. The film also features other early examples of funk music, including the songs “I Wan’na Be Like You” and “Trust in Me”.

Funk music would go on to be featured in other early Disney films, such as The Aristocats (1970) and Robin Hood (1973). In The Aristocats, the song “Ev’rybody Wants to Be a Cat” is a well-known example of funk music in a Disney film. And in Robin Hood, the song ” Nottingham Alley ” features a catchy funk beat.

Funk music continues to be used in Disney films to this day, though it is not as prevalent as it was in early Disney films. Some recent examples of funk songs in Disney films include “I Can’t Let Go” from Hercules (1997), “Dig a Little Deeper” from The Princess and the Frog (2009), and “This Is Me” from Moana (2016).

The Aristocats (1970)

The 1970 Disney film The Aristocats featured the first use of funk music in a Disney production. The movie’s soundtrack included “Everybody Wants to Be a Cat”, performed by Phil Harris, Scatman Crothers, and Pearl Bailey. The song was later released as a single, reaching #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. “Everybody Wants to Be a Cat” was also notable for being one of the first Disney songs to feature African-American performers in lead roles.

Robin Hood (1973)

The early 1970s saw a significant change in direction for Disney. The studio was in financial trouble and needed to make films that would appeal to a more adult audience in order to recoup its losses. This meant making films that were less family-friendly and more edgy, such as 1973’s Robin Hood.

One of the biggest changes Robin Hood brought about was its use of funk music. Previous Disney films had been soundtracked by classical and traditional pop tunes, but Robin Hood featured a more contemporary sound that helped it connect with its target audience.

The film’s use of funk music was groundbreaking for its time, and it helped to establish Disney as a studio that could appeal to older audiences as well as children. The success of Robin Hood paved the way for future Disney films like The Little Mermaid (1989) and Aladdin (1992), which would also feature more modern soundtracks.

Today, the use of funk music in Disney films is considered one of the studio’s defining characteristics. Whenever a new Disney film is released, audiences always pay close attention to see if it will feature any funk tunes – and if so, which ones.

Funk Music in Later Disney Films

The history of funk music in Disney films begins in the late 1960s with the release of The Jungle Book. This film featured the song “I Wanna Be Like You”, sung by Louis Prima. The song was a huge success and helped to popularize funk music in Disney films.

The Little Mermaid (1989)

The Little Mermaid was a watershed moment in Disney history. Not only did it revive the idea of the musical animated feature, but it also ushered in a new era of Disney films that would be filled with pop music. While the film’s soundtrack is dominated by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman’s work, there is one song in particular that stands out for its use of funk: “Under the Sea”.

“Under the Sea” is an infectiously catchy song that perfectly captures the spirit of The Little Mermaid’s setting. The bubbly horns and bouncy bassline are indicative of funk music, and the lyrics play up the laid-back attitude of life under the sea. It’s no wonder that the song went on to win an Academy Award for Best Original Song.

The use of funk music in The Little Mermaid was indicative of a larger trend in Disney films of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Films like Oliver & Company (1988), The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993), and Hercules (1997) all featured songs with funk influences. This trend continued into the 21st century with films like Lilo & Stitch (2002) and The Princess and the Frog (2009).

Funk music has always been popular with kids, thanks to its catchy beats and sing-along qualities. But it wasn’t until Disney began featuring it in their films that the genre truly entered into the mainstream consciousness. Thanks to Disney, funk music will always have a place in our hearts – and our playlist

Aladdin (1992)

In 1992, the release of Aladdin marked the return of funk to Disney films. The Genie’s theme song, “Friend Like Me,” is a horn-driven slice of pure funk, complete with a rap interlude from Robin Williams. The Genie’s entrance into his lamp is set to the classic boom-bap beat of James Brown’s “Get Up Offa That Thing.” Even the film’s love theme, “A Whole New World,” has a light funk feel to it.

With Aladdin, it seems that Disney was trying to tap into the same kind of youthful energy and exuberance that made The Little Mermaid such a success. And while the film wasn’t quite as successful as its predecessor, it did manage to capture some of that same magic. In particular, the Genie’s scenes are some of the most memorable in the film, and they owe a lot to the infectious power of funk music.

Hercules (1997)

Hercules is a 1997 American animated musical fantasy comedy film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation for Walt Disney Pictures. The 35th Disney animated feature film, the film was directed by Ron Clements and John Musker. The film is loosely based on the legendary hero Heracles (known in the film as Hercules), the son of Zeus in Greek mythology.

The film’s music was entirely written by composer Alan Menken and lyricist David Zippel. Menken had worked with Musker and Clements on Aladdin (1992) and was asked to return for Hercules. He composed two tracks for the movie: an upbeat rock song for Hercules’ training montage called “Go the Distance”, and a ballad sung by Megara called “I Won’t Say (I’m in Love)”.

The film’s funk-inspired score was supervised by Canadian orchestral arranger Louie Kadlec, who worked with Menken on Aladdin. “Zero to Hero”, one of the score’s most popular tracks, was arranged by Martin Dirkx.

Conclusion

In conclusion, funk music has been an integral part of Disney films dating back to the early days of the studio. By incorporating funk into their soundtracks, Disney has been able to create some truly classic films that have resonate with audiences of all ages. While the use of funk has diminished in recent years, it is clear that its impact on Disney films will be felt for many years to come.