Sing Your Heart Out With These Disney Power Ballads

Sometimes, you just need an extra boost of confidence to get through the day. And sometimes, that extra boost is found by singing along to the soundtrack of your favorite Disney movie. To add a bit of magic to our everyday lives, I’ve gathered some of my favorite Disney songs into a playlist to share with you!

Before we get started, let’s clarify: this mix stays true to the Disney canon (no studio merger works like Anastasia), and we’re talking strictly power ballads. What is a power ballad, you ask? It’s an emotional song that usually tells a story in a funny, dramatic, or romantic way. If it makes you want to sing at the top of your lungs, it’s probably a power ballad.

In addition to providing some amazing sing-a-long opportunities, these musical numbers are a ton of fun to watch unfold. Here are my top five Disney power ballads to watch on screen – see if your favorites made my list, then listen to the full mix below!

#5: “After Today,” A Goofy Movie

The last day of school brings relief to many and a sense of urgency to others. This tune from A Goofy Movie brings both of those themes together to create the ultimate “school’s out” jam.

After Today is a throwback that everyone can relate to. Odds are, the type of people you hung out with in high school are featured here – whether you were sporty, preppy, geeky, or goth, you’ve got a part to play in this song! Maybe you just wanted to stand out above the crowd like Max. Regardless, the wide variety of character voices create a super fun anthem to sing along to.

I often put this song in my queue when I need an extra dose of motivation, because nothing makes me feel more pumped than pretending I’m on my way to school to impersonate a rock star. Look out, world! 

#4: “That’s How You Know,” Enchanted

What if a Disney princess was transported into modern day New York City? Enchanted takes this idea to the extreme with a grand choreographed spectacle set in Central Park.

The true hidden gems within Enchanted are the many Easter egg references sprinkled throughout the film. This musical number is filled with call-backs to some of the most cherished moments in the Disney canon, bringing an added layer of nostalgia to the musical feast we’re already given. We see Giselle running up a grassy hill and twirling, a nod to Belle singing about her provincial life in Beauty and the Beast. The older men dancing and presenting flowers are the same dancers that played the chimney sweeps in Mary Poppins. Even the calypso beat of the steel drums calls us back to other beloved Disney hits like Under the Sea from The Little Mermaid.

That’s How You Know celebrates everything we love about Disney movies, and I always find myself singing along whenever it plays. I can’t wait to belt this power ballad at the top of my lungs next time I’m in Central Park!

#3: “A Place Called Slaughter Race,” Ralph Breaks the Internet

When Vanellope Von Schweetz meets her fellow Disney princesses in Ralph Breaks the Internet, they learn from each other in the best of ways. Vanellope introduces the regal girl squad to the comforts of casual lounge-wear, and they teach her that life’s most daunting questions can be answered through song while staring at a form of “important water.”

Because she isn’t your traditional princess, Vanellope’s musical number looks a bit different. The “important water” that she finds herself inspired by is not an ocean or a river, but a dirty puddle on the side of the road. She rides an abandoned shopping cart through the crime filled streets of her would-be home, emerging dramatically through a cloud of mace. It’s everything you would expect from a self-discovery theme song, but with a Von Schweetz twist.

The juxtaposition of the typical princess trope fitted to Vanellope’s grungy lifestyle desires is a hilarious sight to behold, and it easily puts this Disney power ballad in my top five.

#2: “Man or Muppet,” The Muppets

There’s much to love when it comes to the Muppets, and Man or Muppet is certainly no exception. In the 2011 revival, Jason Segal brought us an emotionally turbulent quartet starring his character (Gary) and his Muppet persona, his on-screen Muppet brother Walter, and Walter’s human visualization of himself…Jim Parsons. Yep, you read that right.

Man or Muppet has the same energy of pretending to be in a music video on the way to school, staring off into the distance while raindrops roll down the window. This heartfelt journey culminates in an intense four person piano bridge, making it everything I wish those rainy drives could have been and more. Plus, there’s a really sweet sentiment of accepting yourself in the midst of a silly metaphor.

This might be the most sensational, inspirational, celebrational, and muppetational power ballad of all time. I love everything about it, but I especially love Jim Parsons in that baby blue suit.

#1: “Lost in the Woods,” Frozen II

Is this a music video that you made with your high school friends using Windows movie maker? NO, IT’S THE BEST DISNEY POWER BALLAD THAT HAS EVER EXISTED! We’ve only had Frozen II for a short while, but Kristoff’s ode to the uncertainty of love has already stolen the hearts of millions — and my number one spot on this countdown.

Instead of presenting the stereotypical characteristics of a stoic and reserved male lead, Kristoff seizes the moment and goes ALL IN with his solo. Complete with reindeer backup singers and epic crossfade transitions, this musical number piles one cliché on top of another to create an over-the-top masterpiece. Lost in the Woods pokes fun at itself with some silly visuals and acknowledges that it’s perfectly okay for guys to tap into their sensitive side.

An emotionally aware hero is always a win in my book, and I love the positive affirmations this song brings just by existing. It also makes me want to travel to a forest and sing into a giant pine cone. I’m awarding this power ballad best in show, ten crooning reindeer out of ten.

Backup dancers not included

I’ll be honest, making this list was harder than I expected. With so many inspiring anthems to choose from, it was tricky to narrow it down to just five! Ready to sing your heart out? You can find all of these songs in the playlist below, along with a plethora of other Disney soundtrack hits!

Did your favorites make the playlist, or did I miss some? Let me know in the comments below!