But which of these theme songs is the best theme song? Let's leave out the many songs composed for various live shows, area soundtrack loops, and opening ceremonies. We're talking about theme songs, with lyrics, written specifically for theme park attractions, and that did not appear previously in some associated movie.
We've got so many candidates for you today that we're splitting the choice into two votes: one featuring theme songs written before 1970, and another for songs that debuted after that date. To help you pass the time on this Friday in December, we've also selected video clips of each of these songs, so you can kill a half an hour at your computer enjoying some of the best music ever written for theme parks.
So, please, listen to the tunes, pick your favorites, and vote! We will put the two winners up against each other in a champion's vote next week. Here are the candidates:
Vote #1: What's the Best Theme Park Attraction Song from before 1970?
The Tiki, Tiki, Tiki Room
From The Enchanted Tiki Room
Music and lyrics by Richard and Robert Sherman (theme song starts at 1:48)
It's a Small World (After All)
From It' a Small World
Music and lyrics by Richard and Robert Sherman
There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow
From Carousel of Progress
Music and lyrics by Richard and Robert Sherman
Yo Ho (A Pirate's Life for Me)
From Pirates of the Caribbean
Lyrics by Xavier Atencio, Music by George Bruns
Grim Grinning Ghosts
From The Haunted Mansion
Lyrics by Xavier Atencio, Music by Buddy Baker
Vote #2: What's the Best Theme Park Attraction Song since 1970?
If You Had Wings
From If You Had Wings
Music and Lyrics by Buddy Baker
Golden Dream
From The American Adventure
Lyrics by Randy Bright, additional lyrics by Lynn Hart, Music by Robert Moline
It's Fun to Be Free
From World of Motion
Lyrics by Xavier Atencio, Music by Buddy Baker
One Little Spark
From Journey Into Imagination
Music and lyrics by Richard and Robert Sherman
Compass of Your Heart
From Sindbad's Storybook Voyage
Music and lyrics by Alan Menken
Debate the choices in the comments. And thank you, as always, for being part of the Theme Park Insider community. May you happily be humming these tunes all week!
Music and movies are also great together. Original music like Batman, Superman and Star Wars were all great.
How about the music tuned to the fireworks at Disney Magic Kingdom – Wishes.
Great Job Robert!
Golden Dreams = One Little Spark > Compass of Your Heart > If You Had Wings > It's Fun to be Free.
Remember Dreams Come True > Wishes for fireworks music.
The second was even worse -- I've always loved "If You Had Wings" and "Fun to be Free"... and "Golden Dreams" is just wonderful. But "One Little Spark" is a perfect song from a perfect ride that I will forever miss.
Thanks for this, Robert!
I didn't vote for the second one because I'm not all that familiar with the songs (may listen later and vote), but I will say that every time I see a video of Sindbad I'm reminded how great that ride seems to be (even if I can't understand what they're saying).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBwrNhJbCUg
Forgotten, but a good song.
Kidnap the Sandy Claws from Haunted Mansion Holiday.
http://youtu.be/WieoGqAqg9E?t=1m30s
My overall favourites though, came from the SpectroMagic parade and Fantasmic opening & closing themes :)
Anyway, I am surprised that the Tiki Room is not doing better!
For more on many of these tunes, check out the Sherman brother's documentary, The Boys, if you haven't seen it. Amazing, and now available on Netflix streaming.
The folks that have brought up "Veggie Veggie Fruit Fruit" -- whether in jest or not :-) -- make me think of all the other great songs that aren't on this list, or that are long gone. Anyone else remember the original song that played in the Land's boat ride -- "Listen to the land we all love..." -- or the theme song to the first 3D film housed in the Imagination pavilion -- "Magic Journeys"? THAT was a trippy little film -- fascinating, a little nostalgic and somewhat creepy, all at the same time.
Interesting that all of them are Disney. I am not surprised in the results for first, but it seems that Disney has the theme park corner on this.
As much as we all hate Its a Small World, it is a song that does exactly what it is meant to do. Plus, it has a very good message.
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His slow version of It's a Small World will change the way you hear that song from now on.