Sometimes, the most unexpected of sources can deliver amazing material. The three songs below exceeded the expectations put on them. They all created masterpieces that transcended their origins. These masterful songs had no right being this great.
Miley Cyrus' "The Climb" from The Hannah Montana Movie is one of the greatest songs of all time. It's easy to get bogged down by the source material: a "kids" movie with a fictitious pop star. But, like the movie itself, this song is far greater than anyone could’ve conceptualized.
Many artists have tried to deliver a similar sentiment in their music. They’ve tried to capture life’s struggles in a way that feels motivating and fresh. But, somehow, 15-year-old Cyrus outdid them all. Her vocals are tear-inducing, and the lyrics are timelessly relatable. Life is a climb, but the view is great. This is just a great song, period, befitting a once-in-a-generation star that doesn’t need the Disney vehicle to prop her up.
Kermit The Frog's "Rainbow Connection" is another unexpected gem. Who would think one of the greatest messages of good faith and optimism would come from a talking frog? Well, any Muppet fan would find that easy to believe. This ragtag group of characters has been exceeding the expectations put on puppets for decades. Perhaps their greatest feat, though, was "Rainbow Connection".
This song may have started out as a tender, sweet song for Kermit the Frog to sing about being green. But it has evolved into so much more. From covers of country music legends and nostalgic tributes, few songs have been as enduring and unifying as this one. It’s quite a powerful effort from such an unexpected source.
Phil Collins' "You’ll Be In My Heart" from the Tarzan soundtrack is a shining moment in Disney history. He delivered a handful of great songs that could work just as well as standalone singles as they did in this movie. His shining moment on this film was, of course, "You’ll Be In My Heart".
Again, many artists have tried to write songs as tender and universal as this message of devotion from a mother to a son, but no one has really said it as plainly, yet powerfully, as Collins did here.
These songs prove that sometimes, the source material is just a starting point. It's the artist's interpretation and execution that truly bring the magic to life.
