The movie Hercules is one of Disney's most underrated films of all and is often not given enough credit for how brilliant it is. With fantastic action scenes as Hercules battles the various titans, and great comedy from both Phil and Hades, there's a lot to love about this movie. One big positive of it is also the music.
It's one of Disney's catchiest soundtracks, with excellent gospel songs, romantic ballads, and some huge hero tunes, the music from this movie truly covers all possible grounds outside of a villain's song. But out of the entire soundtrack, which song truly goes the distance as the best of the movie?
"One Last Hope"
This is a fun song for Phil, explaining exactly where his character is at from a personal standpoint when Hercules originally asks him to become his coach. It's certainly a funny moment in the movie, and it's something that really suits the character overall.
However, there's no denying that Danny DeVito isn't the best singer Disney has ever had. Because of that, it does become one of the weaker songs overall and isn't one that people will have on their Disney playlists, however, it is catchy and a nice addition to the movie overall.
"The Gospel Truth III"
This song takes place in three parts across the movie, as the title name suggests, and the final installment is the weakest of the bunch. It's got plenty of soul and some fantastic vocals, but it doesn't stand out anywhere near as much as the first two versions.
This third section is all about Hercules not being able to return to Zeus, therefore it is quite a downbeat and emotional part of the movie. However, the way it's sung still brings some energy, which keeps the overall vibe similar to the rest of the movie.
"The Gospel Truth II"
The second of The Muses' "Gospel Truth" songs is all about Hades. While the movie doesn't have an official villain's song, sung by Hades himself, this one fills that gap for the movie with its darker, more sinister tone. Things are slowed down here with the lyrics being fairly eerie as they explain just how wicked Hades can be.
The fact that there are screams of pain in the background really adds to this song, giving it a creepy feeling which is really needed to convey the message. It's not one that is overly memorable, but it certainly serves its purpose well.
"A Star Is Born"
This is the final song of the movie, and it certainly brings Hercules to a strong finish from a music perspective. It's a big number, once again sang by The Muses, wrapping up the movie in the same manner it begins, with a big gospel number.
They sing passionately about the person Hercules has ended up becoming, and that is certainly a well-deserved moment for the hero. It's a nice recap of the journey that Hercules has been on, summing up the character he becomes.
"Zero To Hero"
When Hercules finally hits the point where he is at full strength and can seemingly do no wrong, The Muses return once again, belting out another huge gospel song. It's a really upbeat, positive, and fast-tempo song that is just full of energy.
It's a high point in the movie overall, and this song just sums it all up perfectly. The Muses songs really do narrate the journey throughout Hercules, so having this moment to reflect on how he's gone from a nobody to a megastar hero is a lot of fun, plus it is very memorable and easy to sing-a-long with.
"The Gospel Truth I"
The very first song of the movie is certainly one of the best, with The Muses kicking things off with a real high-energy number. It sees them introduce themselves from the start, with each character having a distinct personality, and then the music kicks in, setting the tone for the entire movie.
This song explains the backstory of the world that Hercules is set in, discussing the titans and the roles that Hades, Zeus, and Hercules have. It's a really unique way to start a movie and is a far more exciting way of explaining the backstory than having the scenes play out with normal dialogue.
"I Won't Say (I'm In Love)"
Meg is one of Hercules' best characters, mainly because she's full of sass and confidence, while also bringing the emotional aspects as well. Her big song in the movie combines all of that perfectly as she sings in conflict about her feelings for Hercules.
She does it in her own style, being the strong independent woman that she is, which is what makes the song so good. Adding in the gospel elements as background singers here only makes the song even better as it supports the fantastic vocals that Susan Egan provides for Meg's character.
"Go The Distance"
There's a reason that Disney often uses this song during its big firework spectacles at its various theme parks, and that's because it is a truly iconic number. This is a perfect hero song and one that really suits Hercules as a character, going from the unconfident young man who makes mistakes to the god he becomes.
It showcases the fire and passion that is within him from the very start, and really sums up his character nicely. The fact the song starts off really slowly, full of emotion, and then kicks in and becomes an epic moment with huge instrumental sections matching the fantastic lyrics just makes for an unforgettable song.