Covering Disney songs makes perfect sense, regardless of the music style you play. Even punk.
You have a potential audience of millions of Disney fans eager to enjoy anything from any movie or TV show ever produced by the company. Why not introduce your band to them by covering a Disney tune?
These 11 punk bands elevate the act of covering Disney songs to a whole new level. Whether it’s incorporating familiar guitar riffs from other well-known punk bands or creating an upbeat version of a classic Disney tune, these bands truly own these songs.
READ MORE: The Best Cover Song By 11 Big Pop-Punk Bands
They also pay proper respect to the original (even if it means reciting Fozzie Bear’s lines in the middle of the song).
Here are the best Disney cover songs by 11 big punk bands.
Simple Plan, ‘Can You Feel the Love Tonight’
Movie: The Lion King (1994)
Original artist: Elton John
Why this cover works: Replicating Elton John would be a tall task for just about any act. Thankfully, Simple Plan didn’t attempt to create a carbon copy of the legendary artist in this 2024 cover from The Lion King.
The band deserves credit for knowing their limits. They take “Can You Feel The Love Tonight” and transform it into a pop-punk song that sounds more like something straight from Simple Plan’s catalog.
ALL, ‘Chim Chim Cher-ee’
Movie: Mary Poppins (1964)
Originally performed by: Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke, Karen Dotrice, and Matthew Garber
Why this cover works: When vocalist Milo Aukerman stepped away from the Descendents in the late ’80s, the rest of the band continued as ALL (also the title of the final Descendents album at that time). While ALL never quite hit like the Descendents, they certainly crafted great punk songs.
Their cover of “Chim Chim Cher-ee” isn’t much of a punk song. ALL offers both a fresh take on their own sound and the classic Mary Poppins number that is both brooding and bombastic.
Fall Out Boy, ‘I Wan’na Be Like You (The Monkey Song)’
Movie: The Jungle Book (1967)
Originally performed by: Louis Prima and Phil Harris
Why this cover works: It’s tough to argue with anyone who thinks Fall Out Boy’s Patrick Stump is underrated as a soulful singer. See his criminally underrated 2011 solo album, Soul Punk, for further proof.
Stump may not have the trademark underlying rasp of Louis Prima, but he absolutely nails this cover of “I Wan’na Be Like You (The Monkey Song)” thanks to his ability to deliver heart and emotion in every lyric.
H2O, ‘It’s a Small World’
Ride: It’s a Small World (1966)
Originally performed by: 300 animatronic dolls
Why this cover works: Because H2O rules! It’s also better than waiting hours in line to float in a boat with strangers while hundreds of slightly creepy animatronic dolls sing to you.
Reel Big Fish and Zolof The Rock and Roll Destroyer, ‘It’s Not Easy’
Movie: Pete’s Dragon (1977)
Originally performed by: Helen Reddy and Sean Marshall
Why this cover works:You’re not alone if you have no recollection of Disney releasing Pete’s Dragon. The 1977 musical movie mixed live action with animation in a way that was likely cutting-edge at the time.
If you want a taste without committing to watching the entire movie, try this duet excellently covered by Reel Big Fish and Zolof The Rock and Roll Destroyer.
New Found Glory, ‘Let It Go’
Movie: Frozen(2013)
Originally performed by: Idina Menzel
Why this cover works: New Found Glory has perfected the art of taking movie soundtrack songs and transforming them into upbeat pop-punk gems through their From the Screen to Your Stereo series. Across three albums, they have put their spin on songs from various movies including The Goonies, Titanic, and Napoleon Dynamite.
This version of “Let It Go” is for any parent who has listened to their kids endlessly sing the original song from Frozen.
Alkaline Trio, ‘Movin’ Right Along’
Movie: The Muppet Movie(1979)
Originally performed by:Kermit the Frog (Jim Henson) and Fozzie Bear (Frank Oz)
Why this cover works:The charm of the original song in The Muppet Movie, is the interaction between Kermit and Fozzie Bear. Their singing interspersed with dialogue helps establish their connection.
The vocal interaction between Matt Skiba and Dan Andriano has been a hallmark of Alkaline Trio’s best songs. This cover is fun in a way that would certainly be appreciated by Kermit and Fozzie.
New Found Glory, ‘Part of Your World’
Movie: The Little Mermaid(1989)
Originally performed by: Jodi Benson
<p>Why this cover works: Everything that needs to be said about New Found Glory’s ability to create catchy pop-punk covers was already mentioned above. This version will have you stomping your feet.
Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, ‘Rainbow Connection’
Movie: The Muppet Movie(1979)
Originally performed by: Kermit the Frog (Frank Oz)
Why this cover works: You can find a cover of “Rainbow Connection” within just about every genre of music. From rock to pop to folk, this unforgettable song from 1979’s The Muppet Movie
has been an easy route for acts looking for a cover that effortlessly tugs at listeners’ heartstrings.
The best punk version can be found on Me First and the Gimme Gimmes’ 1999 album, A Drag, which is entirely comprised of showtune covers. This take on “Rainbow Connection” is more suited for making you dance rather than hitting you right in the feels.
The Vandals ‘Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious’
Movie: The Muppet Movie (1979)
Originally performed by: Dick Van Dyke and Julie Andrews
Why this cover works: You ever wonder what it would sound like if you combined music from The Muppet Movie
with seminal punk band Bad Religion? Eh, probably not.
The Vandals’ 1995 cover includes not one but two fun Easter eggs for punk fans. The song’s intro was lifted from Bad Religion’s “Fuck Armageddon… This is Hell,” while its breakdown comes from their 1982 song “We’re Only Gonna Die.”
It may sound odd on paper (or your screen), but it all works when you hear it.
Meet Me @ The Altar, ‘You’ve Got a Friend in Me’
Movie: Toy Story(1995)
Originally performed by: Randy Newman
Why this cover works: Disney eventually noticed there was an audience for rock bands covering their songs. Their A Whole New Sound
compilation album released in 2024 features 12 covers mostly classic Disney songs by alt-rock and punk bands.
One standout track is Meet Me @ The Altar’s cover of “You’ve Got a Friend in Me.”
Randy Newman has such a distinct voice that hearing a punk version can be jarring at first. However, Meet Me @ The Altar molds this memorable song into candy-coated pop-punk that is both upbeat and sweet.
That being said, we need Randy Newman’s vocals on a punk album someday.
Need even more punk injected into your veins? Here’s a look at the best pop-punk albums from each year of the 1990s.
The Best Pop-Punk Album of Each Year of the 1990s
As the decade progressed, pop-punk became more established and largely defined the 1990s.
Gallery Credit: Corey Irwin
