Television

'Disney Family Singalong: Vol. II’ airs Sunday: 9 things you didn’t know about Disney songs

Disney songs – where would we be without them?

They’ve taught us that it is, indeed, “a small world after all.”

When we want something, we know to “wish upon a star.”

And thanks to Disney songs, we know that sometimes you just have to “let it go.”

“The Disney Family Singalong: Volume II” airs Sunday, Monday at 7 p.m. on Ch. 9. It’s a follow-up to “The Disney Family Singalong,” which aired April 16 on Ch. 9 and united 13 million people across the country.

If you miss it, you can catch it on Disney Plus in the days to follow.

The special will raise awareness about Feeding America’s vast network and resources for people facing hunger, some for the first time, due to COVID-19.

Ryan Seacrest will return as a host. There will be new star-studded performances from John Legend, Jennifer Hudson, Katy Perry and more. There will also be at-home choreography and, of course, a little Disney magic, especially since we can’t get to the parks right now to experience it.

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Ahead of the special, here are 9 facts you should know about Disney songs, courtesy of the internet.

1. “When You Wish Upon a Star,” from the 1940 animated film “Pinocchio,” marked the first Disney song to win an Academy Award.

2. “Feed the Birds” from “Mary Poppins” was among Walt Disney’s favorite songs, according to Richard Sherman, one of the songwriters. The Sherman brothers would actually play when they visited Disney’s office upon request.

3. It wasn’t until “Frozen” in 2013 that a princess sang a duet with the villain in “Love is an Open Door.”

4. Originally, “Beauty and the Beast” was not intended to be a musical. Can you imagine a world without those iconic songs?

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5. “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” marked the first motion picture in history to release a soundtrack.

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6. The romantic tune “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” from “The Lion King” was almost cut because it did not fit the film’s father-and-son theme.

7. “The Second Star to the Right” from “Peter Pan” was originally written for “Alice in Wonderland.”

8. “Trust in Me (The Python’s Song”) from “The Jungle Book” was actually written by the Sherman Brothers for “Mary Poppins.”

9. There’s only one complete song in “101 Dalmatians” – but it’s the memorable “Cruella De Vil.”

Adam Poulisse, WFTV.com

Adam Poulisse joined WFTV in November 2019.