Disney songs to listen to at Christmas: a collection of classics that color the holiday season

The two are the best (A Cut Above the Rest)

Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas – A Cut Above the Rest [Japanese]

An insert song from “Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas” that depicts Lumiere and Cogsworth working together to prepare for Christmas.

Though they’re always bickering, Belle realizes they’re actually a well-matched duo, and the song plays as their bond is celebrated.

Despite its short length, it warmly conveys the importance of cooperating with friends.

There’s so much to prepare for Christmas—tree decorating, room adornments, cooking, and more.

It’s the perfect BGM for enjoying the process of getting ready for the holiday!

Family Memories (That Time of Year)

That Time of Year (Japanese Version)

A delightful song that depicts Olaf setting off with the villagers, singing as he searches for family Christmas traditions.

Written and composed by Elyssa Samsel and Kate Anderson as an insert song for the short animated film “Olaf’s Frozen Adventure,” which was released in theaters in November 2017.

Performed in a choral, call-and-response style by characters like Olaf, Elsa, and Anna, the song explores Christmas traditions and the bonds of family.

It’s perfect for anyone who wants to get into the Christmas spirit with Disney characters!

The Budding of Love (Something There)

Disney Music Showcase / Something There | Disney+

A delicate, warm song that quietly captures the way Belle and the Beast’s hearts draw closer.

After the Beast protects Belle and gifts her the library, the two begin to look inward, and their shifting emotions are portrayed with care.

This piece was selected in place of another song originally planned, opting for a gentle arrangement that would not disrupt the flow of the story.

It’s a timeless tune that tenderly cradles the budding of love—perfect as background music on a Christmas night when you want to softly feel a connection with someone special.

Time Is Forever (How Does A Moment Last Forever)

Céline Dion – How Does A Moment Last Forever (from Beauty and the Beast) (Official Video)

An original song written for the live-action Beauty and the Beast, it plays in the scene where Maurice, Belle’s father, thinks of his late wife while making a music box, as well as in the scene where Belle searches Paris for traces of her mother.

Thematically focused on memory and the eternity of love, this emotionally rich ballad asks how irreplaceable moments can last forever.

Its gentle lyrics, cherishing love for family, evoke the warmth of spending Christmas with someone dear.

It’s a song you’ll want to listen to quietly on Christmas night, in a calm space, letting your heart settle.

Morning Scenery (Belle)

Disney Music Showcase / Morning Scene | Disney+

A dazzling musical number from Beauty and the Beast that vividly portrays a morning in the small village where Belle lives at the start of the story.

Set to an operetta-style melody, it captures how book-loving Belle, seen as an odd girl, yearns for a wider world, while interweaving the everyday lives of the villagers.

When the animated film was released in 1991, this song received a standing ovation at the New York Film Festival, and it continues to be praised as one of the finest opening numbers in Disney’s musical history.

It’s also perfect for the warm, family-friendly atmosphere of the holiday season.

Shining Wish

Masaharu Fukuyama, Erika Ikuta – This Wish (From “Wish” / Japanese Version)

A duet by Masaharu Fukuyama and Erika Ikuta included on the Japanese-language soundtrack for Disney’s 100th anniversary film Wish.

It was released for streaming in October 2023.

The conversational structure—where King Magnifico and the heroine Asha align their hearts while holding their own wishes—is striking.

Building from a quiet introduction, the two voices intertwine and swell, conveying the message that wishes aren’t something granted unilaterally but should be supported by mutual understanding and empathy.

It’s a perfect song to listen to with someone special during the holiday season while sharing your wishes with each other.

Ariel’s Christmas Island

Ariel’s Christmas Island

This is a song sung by Ariel, the heroine of the film The Little Mermaid.

It is included on the compilation album Disney Princess Christmas Album Soundtrack.

It’s a fun track that gives a Christmas tune a tropical, summery twist.