So we all know that most of the Disney princesses have incredible songs. Part Of Your World, Colors Of The Wind, Let It Go, the list goes on. But what about our non-Disney heroines, what do they have to offer? This is my list of the best female lead songs from outside of Disney’s library.
#10: Great Big World- Hoodwinked
I feel like the music of Hoodwinked is relatively underrated. It's not Disney level, but I've always found the songs catchy and effective in a way that works only for this movie. Hoodwinked isn't the most notable musical (hence the reason this song is so low on the list). But what makes this song stand out is that it works in 2 different ways. The song as a whole works as a perfect 'I Want' song for our protagonist as Red expresses her hopes and desires like any Disney Princess. But the song also does well at parodying the typical Disney Princess song. This in my opinion is not the best song in the movie (personally I prefer Critters Have Feelings), nor is it the most memorable (Be Prepared, No Not Scar's Version!). But it was a great way of opening up the main story and even works as a fantastic contrast to Red's Girl Boss personality that would later be exposed in the film.
#9: Soon- Thumbelina
I've got nothing against Thumbelina. But I will admit that the movie as a whole is somewhat lackluster. It's obviously trying too hard to be Disney (even stealing the voice of Ariel) and most of the music is generic as Hell. With that being said, I won't deny that Thumbelina and Cornelius are cute. It's decently animated, and at least 2 of the songs are actually pretty good. I like Let Me Be Your Wings, but Soon in my opinion is the best song in the movie. It has a nostalgic feel to it and it is sung beautifully by Ariel- I mean Jodi Benson. I would say the song is too short, but somehow that makes me treasure it even more. Also, the reprise later in the film is also incredibly poignant and works well in contrast to the original. Because both are short, there's not much to judge on and this is as high as I can put the song.
#8: Ultraluminary- Over The Moon
Over The Moon is another film I think tries too hard to be Disney, but with better results. With that being said, I chose not to put Rocket To The Moon on the list due to it being too generic. Ultraluminary is also slightly generic in terms of typical pop music. With that being said, it's also too dang catchy for me to care. Adding to that, Phillipa Soo (also known as Eliza from Hamilton) sang the HELL out of this song. She hits every single note of this so flawlessly and so effortlessly with confidence and fearlessness. This also serves as a good introduction to Chang'e, who by this point had gone from a sweet woman to a flamboyant, self-centered, and closed minded goddess. I know she misses her boyfriend, but I found Chang'e to be a little bit crazy. But that's just me.
#7: Bridge Of Light- Happy Feet 2
Not a fan of Happy Feet or the sequel, which it really didn't need. Initially, I was going to put Somebody To Love from the original movie on this list. But Bridge Of Light has an advantage because it is an original while Somebody To Love is obviously a cover. The biggest highlight for this song is its hopeful tone. Gloria basically sang this to comfort her son after a fallout with his father, and it was a sweet moment for the two. The song is also sung well by P!nk. But in comparison to the rest of the songs after this, Bridge Of Light, is simply just, meh. To be honest, If I ranked this list simply based on personal preference, this would either be in last place or not on the list at all. But I hate making a list that way depending on the situation. So this is as high as I can place this song.
#6: Tears To Shed- Corpse Bride
Emily obviously has a little help from the Black Widow Spider and the Maggot, who attempt to console Emily after a fight with her 'fiancé' Victor. They try to list all the reasons why she stands out more than Victor's real love interest Victoria, though that doesn't do much to help Emily. In her verses, she expresses her pain she feels (despite no longer being alive) in knowing the man she loves doesn't love her back. I applaud whoever wrote this, because these lyrics are so raw and so painful. And they're accelerated by Helena Bonham Carter's heartbreaking performance. This in my opinion is probably one of the best songs in the movie and it adds a lot of empathy and complexity to Emily's character. This is also probably one of the most underrated songs on this list as well.
#5: Soon You'll Come Home- All Dogs Go To Heaven
This is probably the saddest song on this list due to the context particularly off screen. The song belongs to Anne-Marie, who's an orphan with the ability to understand animals. But what really breaks my heart about this song is Anne-Marie's voice actress. Judith Barsi was originally supposed to sing this song, but was unable to as she kept breaking down in tears whenever she tried. She suffered severe abuse from her father and someone by the name of Lana Beeson had to take over. I apologize for getting super dark, but that tragic history is unfortunately what makes the song stand out. The song was already heartbreaking enough, but Barsi's situation made it even worse. All Dogs was also Barsi's last movie before her and her mom were killed by the dad (who also killed himself). Barsi was 10 years old.
#4: I Know It's Today- Shrek
Okay, technically speaking this is kind of cheating considering this song is from the Broadway musical. But I don't care, this is going on the list anyway. The song follows Fiona throughout different age periods in life during her time in the tower. The song perfectly portrays her hope for being rescued as well as her desperation to get the HELL out of that tower. And the good thing about showing different ages of Fiona is that it showcases her slightly going insane the older she gets and the longer she's in that tower. It strangely added more depth to her character, which says a lot considering Fiona was already a well-developed character. So I applaud this song for not only doing Fiona justice, but also making her even more compelling. Morning Person was also a strong contender for this list.
#3: Golden- KPop Demon Hunters
Obviously the most recent entry on this list, Golden (along with pretty much the entire soundtrack) became a global phenomenon very quickly, and for good reason. I've already spoken about Golden on one of my Billboard commentaries (feel free to check it out through the link down below), and that pretty much still stands. Very catchy, free-spirited, and a good representation of the characters. The fact that this song is only a few months old and I put it THIS high, says a lot about its impact. However, I am deeply disturbed by how HIGH this is. How In The Hell Were They Able To Record This?! I honestly would not be surprised if this was A.I. generated, because no human being in their right mind would even want to sing this high. And if for some reason you do, may God have mercy on your soul!
#2: When You Believe- The Prince Of Egypt
Every single song on The Prince Of Egypt is amazing and When You Believe is no exception. The song starts off relatively melancholy due to Ramses' son dying during the death plague. However, the Hebrews were finally freed as a result. The melancholy sound smoothly transitions into a hopeful ballad. And the deeper we get into the song, the more majestic and epic it becomes. I of course appreciate the song for worshiping God and speaking on the importance of believing in Him even during the darkest of times, which is something I struggle with. Miriam and Tzipporah's voices are gorgeous and I will not speak on this song without mentioning the awesomeness that is Whitney and Mariah's version. This personally is my favorite song on the list, but I unfortunately cannot give this the top spot, as much as it kills me.
Like always, some honorable mentions...............
-Black Widow got some pipes -R.I.P Natalie Cole
-Cute but generic -R.I.P Debbie and Charlotte
#1: Journey To The Past- Anastasia
Don Bluth really hit a homerun with Anastasia. It was so close to Disney that for a long time people believed it actually was Disney. I guess technically speaking it is due to Disney taking Fox over. But regardless, I'm still counting Journey To The Past for this list. Along with Fiona, Anya is pretty much the quintessential non-Disney princess. Journey To The Past perfectly channels the typical Disney Princess 'I Want' song while also being able to stand on its own feet. As much as I wanted to give When You Believe the top spot, Journey To The Past is just more iconic. Anastasia somewhat set a standard for non-Disney musicals, and Journey To The Past (as well as Once Upon A December, which originally topped the list) played a huge part in that. It also helps that Aaliyah did a version of it.
Like always, the link to the Google slides is down below. Thanks For Reading
Google-https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1ZUGvSnnFyk4DdIfvFfxdu1s3dsxefmoh24ryuXHN_to/edit?usp=sharing
Original Golden Review-https://naesnotlikeyou.blogspot.com/2025/07/today-on-billboard.html
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