I Ranked 17 Disney Sidekick Songs From Worst To Best, And I Have To Be Honest, Olaf's Songs Are Bad
17."A Guy Like You"
Disney
From: The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Sidekick: Laverne, Hugo, and Victor
We all know Quasimodo isn't going to end up with Esmeralda, which makes this song just honestly really sad. It's too light for arguably one of the darkest Disney films...it's also suggested that these are just Quasimodo's imaginary friends and not actual sidekicks, making it even sadder.
16."When I'm Older"
Disney
From: Frozen 2
Sidekick: Olaf
This is a super-funny, tongue-in-cheek song directed at the older audiences for the film, and it's a lot of fun. However, it doesn't have an amazing melody or anything, and it's kind of forgettable within the film.
15."In Summer"
Disney
From: Frozen
Sidekick: Olaf
This is another great song filled with dramatic irony, but as great as Josh Gad is, this song just doesn't do it for me either. It's definitely the one I skip on the soundtrack.
14."Ma Belle Evangeline"
Disney
From: The Princess and the Frog
Sidekick: Ray
This song is really romantic and sweet, but there are just much better songs in the movie, and this one is forgettable.
13."Gonna Take You There"
Disney
From: The Princess and the Frog
Sidekick: Ray
I love the jazzy New Orleans flavor of this song, but it's just not as good as some of the solos and the group number "When I'm Human" (which I'm not including, since both Tiana and Naveen have prominent verses, and it's much more of a full-cast song).
12."When You Wish Upon a Star"
Disney
From: Pinocchio
Sidekick: Jiminy Cricket
This is a classic Disney song, but it isn't ranked higher because it's forgettable in the context of the movie. It doesn't necessarily fit or give agency to the character, so I don't even really want to call it a Disney sidekick song.
11."I've Got a Dream"
Disney
From: Tangled
Sidekicks: The Thugs
Rapunzel and Flynn sing briefly, but this feels like more of a sidekick song. The thugs are only briefly in the story, so while this song is cute, it doesn't do a whole lot. It's catchy but kind of forgettable.
10."One Last Hope"
Disney
From: Hercules
Sidekick: Phil
I have a soft spot for this song, and I'm not entirely sure why. I'm a sucker for a good training montage (hello, "I'll Make a Man Out of You"), and Hercules' transformation is especially satisfying. However, it's Phil's transformation into hoping again that makes this song really sweet and special to me. This song really gives him his own arc and wishes as a side character.
9."A Girl Worth Fighting For"
Disney
From: Mulan
Sidekick: Yao, Ling, and Chien Po
Mulan does sing briefly, but this is really Yao, Ling, and Chien Po's song. It's cute and funny, though there are definitely some questionable messages. It also provides a great contrast to the next scene, when they find Li Shang's father's camp destroyed. Mulan is definitely sanitized, but compared with other kids movies, it offers a realer look at war and the innocence of young soldiers contrasted with the brutality of war.
8."Under the Sea"
Disney
From: The Little Mermaid
Sidekick: Sebastian
From the opening beats of this song, you know it's going to be a lot of fun. However, a big reason I love this song is the nostalgia factor...and the fact that my chorus group sang it for our fifth-grade concert.
7."The Bare Necessities"
Disney
From: The Jungle Book
Sidekick: Baloo
I love a good pun, and this is just such a fun, catchy song. The only reason it's not ranked higher is that it's very much similar to "Hakuna Matata" in message, and I like "Hakuna Matata" much better.
6."Kiss the Girl"
Disney
From: The Little Mermaid
Sidekick: Sebastian
Sebastian's got a sort of reggae style to his voice, and I love the slower, more relaxed beat this song has compared with "Under the Sea." I also think it could exist outside of The Little Mermaid, but it still fits it really well.
5."Human Again"
Disney
From: Beauty and the Beast
Sidekick: All the household objects
I debated counting this because it was an addition that came to future releases of the film and was not in the original theatrical version, but I love it so much that I'm adding it anyways. It's very Broadway, which is my cup of tea.
4."Hakuna Matata"
Disney
From: The Lion King
Sidekick: Timon and Pumbaa
This song is a classic in every way. It is catchy and works perfectly as a life motto, and it's plenty fun to listen to outside of the movie too.
3."Beauty and the Beast"
Disney
From: Beauty and the Beast
Sidekick: Mrs. Potts
Unlike "When You Wish Upon a Star," this song is obviously irrevocably tied to the movie, and even if it doesn't have much to do with Mrs. Potts, she's still the perfect character to sing it. Angela Lansbury is also just incredible, and this song has one of the most beautiful melodies of any Disney song ever. Still, because it doesn't feel like that much of a sidekick song, I'm not going to rank it in the top two.
2."Be Our Guest"
Disney
From: Beauty and the Beast
Sidekick: Lumière (and the other objects)
"Be Our Guest" is an amazing ensemble number, but Lumière really steals the show here. His voice is perfectly celebratory and welcoming, and for the first time, you really feel the warmth of the castle. It's so theatrical and fun, and the visuals are incredible. It comes at a perfect time in what's been a somewhat bleak film so far.
1."Friend Like Me"
Disney
From: Aladdin
Sidekick: Genie
Robin Williams was absolutely incredible in this song. It has everything: voice, theatricality, visuals, dancing...it's just perfect from start to finish. It's also incredibly important to the plot and Genie's character. It's an absolute crime that this song is not on Spotify.