The Disney Song Encyclopedia - fieldi

70 “GREAT SPIRITS”
“Great Spirits” is the rocking narrative ballad by Phil Collins that opens
the animated movie Brother Bear (2003) about a Native American who is
turned into a bear. As three Inuit siblings set out in their kayaks and are
seen living in harmony with nature, Tina Turner sings the propulsive folk
song about three brothers who will be changed by the great spirits of nature,
making all creatures brothers. Collins also recorded the number.
“Grim Grinning Ghosts” is the merry song of haunting written by Buddy
Baker (music) and Xavier Attencio (lyric) for the theme park attraction the
Haunted Mansion, which opened at Disneyland in 1969 and was later recreated
in the other parks. The silly, spooky song, recorded by Thurl Ravenscroft
and a male chorus of ghosts, is heard throughout the ride, punctuated
by howls, moans, and other ghostly noises. Although the song warns about the
hundreds of spirits that haunt the mansion, the number is upbeat and comedic,
managing—like the attraction itself—to be both scary and funny at the
same time. The song was also used in the film The Haunted Mansion (2003).
A recording of the number was made by the band Barenaked Ladies.
Walt Disney hired top songwriters for even his theme park attractions, seeing a “ride” as another
theatrical production. Buddy Baker and Xavier Attencio wrote the sly song “Grim Grinning
Ghosts” for the Haunted Mansion (pictured here) and it was sung by the deep-voiced Thurl
Ravenscroft, an actor heard in several Disney theme park attractions. (Walt Disney/Photofest)