Countdown the Top 25 Walt Disney World Attraction Songs of All Time

[SirNim]

I might have missed your posts saying which one that is, but please share.

Magic Journeys, my #1 ranked song at 97.5 points! :lol:

:lookaroun

 

[krankenstein]

Join the club. :lol:

:lol:

see below

I might have missed your posts saying which one that is, but please share.

coughDestinycough :lookaroun

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

That is the one song that I had my Dad skip everytime he'd put the old EPCOT Center 33 on the turntable. Just never liked it. I can never decide if it was the actual song, or the memory of the movie (that I didn't care for) that tied it together in my distaste for it.

Yeah...It's just weird. I never go into it.

:lol:



coughDestinycough :lookaroun

Heh! I wanted that higher, too.

 

[EPCOTPluto]

With the talk of Magic Journeys, anyone have a link to the actual film?
I once found the audio, but it's not complete with the odd movie itself.

Also, it's nice that there was no special attention to MJ's Captain EO songs, although I am sure it was never thought as that way...

 

[yankspy]

I had IASW at #1. I can't say that I am unhappy about A Pirate's Life for me. I am a little surprised at One Little Spark but I guess it really nails down the spirit category. This was fun. Thanks again Mousdad.

 

[Wilt Dasney]

With the talk of Magic Journeys, anyone have a link to the actual film?
I once found the audio, but it's not complete with the odd movie itself.

I downloaded a copy from Mousebits a while back.

 

[yankspy]

I downloaded a copy from Mousebits a while back.

It may be in Martin's three part Fantasyland tribute as well.

 

[Wilt Dasney]

It may be in Martin's three part Fantasyland tribute as well.

The more I think about it...that might be how I got it! :lol:

 

[joel_maxwell]

Magic Journeys, my #1 ranked song at 97.5 points! :lol:

:lookaroun

ahh. Good song. Thanks for sharing.

:lol:



coughDestinycough :lookaroun

ahhh. Ummmm. yeh.

:lol: Kidding. To each is own.

 

[DisneyJunkie]

I have to strongly disagree with some of those tunes.

And I find it an utter travesty that the song to "Soarin'" isn't on there. As Gob Bluth would say, "Come on!!!"

 

[Vernonpush]

Welcome to the countdown! In this thread, you will see revealed the Top 25 Walt Disney World Attraction Songs of All Time, as judged by a panel of wdwmagic members.

Over the past few weeks, a list of 51 songs has been assembled, reviewed and scored by a panel, which consists of 25 wdwmagic members. The results have been compiled together and the 51 songs ranked according to their scores. Over the next few days, the top 25 will be revealed in this thread.

Eligibility

To be eligible for these rankings, each song entry had to be:

1. A song with music and lyrics. Songs that are part of a larger score were eligible, but were judged only on the song portion. Songs with lyrics that are not language words but rather contain separate, distinct, phonetic “sound words” were eligible. Compositions with non-distinct, non-phonetic vocalizations were not eligible. Instrumentals (no words) were not eligible[/I].

2. A song incorporated in a past or present Walt Disney World Attraction (the term “attraction” loosely referring to pretty much anything on WDW property). Songs that originated in other Disney Parks, or the NY World’s Fair, and eventually made their way to a Walt Disney World attraction were eligible. Songs that originated in a Disney Film or Stage show, and eventually made their way to a Walt Disney World attraction were not eligible.

Scores

The 51 songs were judged on each of the 4 following categories:

1. Composition
How well does the song stands own its own compositionally, in relation to the quality of the lyrics, melody and underlying music?

2. Memorability
How does the song appeal in catchiness, hum-ability, and immediate and lasting impression on the audience?

3. Timelessness
Is it, or will it in the future be relevant, fresh and appealing, or is it dated and only successful as a product of its time? Did it, or will it in the future outlive its attraction in people’s minds and hearts because of its appeal?

4. Spirit
How well does it support, embody, if not drive the spirit and theme of the attraction with which it is associated? Does it further embody the Disney spirit? And does it further embody loftier, positive ideals?

A total of 100 points was possible in each category for each song. The 4 scores for each song were averaged to give each song a composite score of 1-100. The composite scores from all the panelists were averaged (high & low thrown out) to determine the final score and rankings.

The numerical scale that was used is as follows:

90-100 = Legendary
80-89 = Exceptional
70-79 = Very Good
60-69 = Good
50-59 = Average
40-49 = Mediocre
20-39 = Weak
0-19 = Poor

I would like to give sincere thanks to the following wdwmagic members who generously agreed to participate in this project, and seriously gave this a lot of time and thought:

Buried 20KLeague, DisneyMusician2, dxwwf3, EPCOT Explorer, EpcotServo, Expo_Seeker40, Fun2BFree, hpyhnt 1000, jakeman, Jasonflz, jmaxwell007, krankenstein, Lee, marni1971, Master Yoda, mcjaco, nibblesandbits, One Lil Spark, Philharmagician, RSoxNo1, SirGoofy, SirNim, Vernonpush and yankspy.

After the results are revealed, I will hold a second round of voting, if enough are interested. Please PM me if you are interested in submitting scores.

Please note: In the lists, all composer credits are to the best of my research.

Enjoy the countdown, everybody! Feel free to comment on the songs, agree, disagree, and share your thoughts along the way. And now, here we go …

I have to strongly disagree with some of those tunes.

And I find it an utter travesty that the song to "Soarin'" isn't on there. As Gob Bluth would say, "Come on!!!"

Soarin' was not eligible.

 

[WDWFigment]

When I first saw the link in MousDad's signature, I knew I should've checked this out. Now, it turns out that I am late to the party. At least it's fun to read the results.

I am a bit surprised that it's a small world scored so well given that the song seems to be so divisive. Nice to see scorer's being objective. I can't really disagree with any of the results! Nice work, guys!

 

[RSoxNo1]

#11 – “Spectromagic” 85.607
Composed by: John Debney (Parade Theme, Magic Kingdom)

#12 – “Wishes” 84.978
Composed by: Gregory Smith (Show Theme, Magic Kingdom)

#13 – “Promise” 83.917
Composed by: Gavin Greenaway (Illuminations: Reflections of Earth / Millenium Celebration, Epcot)

#14 – “Tapestry of Nations” 83.848
Composed by: Gavin Greenaway (Parade Theme, Epcot)

#15 – “Fantasmic!” 82.643
Composed by: Bruce Healey (Show Theme, Disney-MGM Studios)
Next post: #8-10. 7/16/09 AM

I had Spectromagic at #9, ranked 61.25 (as you may remember from previous post, my scores were much lower than the mean)

Wishes ranked #35 getting 36.25. I think the medley in Wishes is great, but that's not what we were supposed to be evaluating, I think the "Wishes!!!" over and over again isn't that solid a song.

Promise at #31 (43.75)

Tapestry of Nations at #30 (45.00)

Fantasmic I had at #11 and 58.75

#8 – “Tiki Tiki Tiki Room” 88.804
Composed by: Richard and Robert Sherman (Enchanted Tiki Room, Magic Kingdom)

#9 – “New Horizons” 87.955
Composed by: George E. Wilkins (Horizons, Epcot)

#10 – “Tomorrow’s Child” 86.739
Composed by: Peter Stougaard and Ron Avadia (Spaceship Earth, Epcot)


Next post: #5-7. 7/16/09 PM

Tiki Tiki Tiki Room I had at #7 (82.50).

New Horizons I had at #38 (32.5). I'm sorry, but this song isn't very good in the scope of the classic Epcot songs. Horizons and Imagination were my favorite E.P.C.O.T. rides but this song is bad, and doesn't hold up. I ranked The Computer Song, and Welcome Mis Amigos ahead of it for reference. Ironically one of the two songs I ranked below it from Epcot was Destiny (from Mission: Space). The other was Magic Journeys. Perhaps it's just that I don't like the songs that aren't as upbeat.

Tomorrow's Child I had at #16 (53.75). I think this is a bit overrated as well, but it's an earworm and therefore tests high on my memorability scale.

#5 – “Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow” 90.043
Composed by: Richard and Robert Sherman (Carousel of Progress, Magic Kingdom)

#6 – “Golden Dream” 89.565
Composed by: Randy Bright, Lynn Hart and Robert Moline (American Adventure, Epcot)

#7 – “We Go On” 89.011
Composed by: Gavin Greenaway (Illuminations: Reflections of Earth / Millenium Celebration, Epcot)


Next post #3-4, 7/17/09 8:00 AM ET. #1-2 12:00 Noon ET.

Great Big Beautiful tomorrow I had at #8 (68.75)

Golden Dream I had at #6 (82.5)

We Go On I had at #24 (48.75). I think for me this is also like wishes. The music leading up to it is so much better, but it wasn't eligible. The piece of music for the main portion of Illuminations may be my favorite current park music... That or Soarin', but Instrumentals weren't eligible.

#3 – “Grim Grinning Ghosts” 91.554
Composed by: Xavier Atencio and Buddy Baker (Haunted Mansion, Magic Kingdom)

#4 – “It’s a Small World After All” 91.370
Composed by: Richard and Robert Sherman (It’s a Small World, Magic Kingdom)


Next post: #1-2, 12:00 Noon ET

I had Small World #1 (90) and Grim Grinning Ghosts #2, tied with One Little Spark (88.75). I didn't try to get one song at #1, if I had my choice it would have been One Little Spark #1, and probably Makin' Memories #2.

Well IMHO GGG beats out IASW simply because it lacks the annoying factor.

Yeah, it killed me when I had Small World at #1

I had IASW at number 1. I honestly don't know how anyone could not have it there.

I love One Little Spark, but I think if you asked a random set of visitors to the parks, most of them would not think of One Little Spark as memorable.

Matt "I'm kind of miffed at how this turned out" Jacobs

See Above on One Little Spark, to me that attraction embodied so much of what Disney World and Walt Disney himself was about.

#1 – “Yo Ho, Yo Ho” 93.761
Composed by: Xavier Atencio and George Bruns (Pirates of the Caribbean, Magic Kingdom)

#2 – “One Little Spark” 92.946
Composed by: Richard and Robert Sherman (Journey into Imagination, Epcot)

I had Yo Ho, Yo Ho at #5 (86.25). Not that it's a bad song, but I don't feel it should be #1.

Before I counted any votes, I was expecting One Little Spark to win. I felt like It’s a Small World should win. And I was secretly wanted Golden Dream to win.

So when Yo Ho came out on top, I was definitely surprised – but pleasantly so. The more I think about it, though, the happier I am with that song as the winner. I think it really nails every category.

SINCEREST THANKS again to the panelists. I hope everyone has enjoyed this as much as I have.

I enjoyed doing this, thank you so much for putting it together.

I have to strongly disagree with some of those tunes.

And I find it an utter travesty that the song to "Soarin'" isn't on there. As Gob Bluth would say, "Come on!!!"

Soarin' wasn't eligible as it was an instrumental track.

My Top 10:
1. It's A Small World (90.00)
2. Grim Grinning Ghosts (88.75)
2. One Little Spark (88.75)
4. Makin' Memories (87.5)
5. Yo Ho, Yo Ho (86.25)
6. Golden Dream (82.5)
6. Tiki Tiki Room (82.5)
8. Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow (68.75)
9. Spectromagic Theme (61.25)
10. Energy, You Make the World Go Round (58.75)