One of my favorite pastimes as a kid was watching Disney Sing-A-Long Songs. Each VHS — that’s how we all used to watch movies for all you adorable Gen Z babies — had short clips from different Disney movies or shows, and a little bouncing Mickey Mouse icon would bop over the lyrics as the music was sung. It was basically karaoke meets Disney music videos…so it’s no wonder I turned out the way that I did. If my love for music was a seed planted by my parents, Disney Sing-A-Long songs were straight-up fertilizer. 

Some of the songs were classics, the most popular songs from the most popular Disney movies – think The Jungle Book, Snow White, Beauty and the Beast. Some of the songs were original compositions or musical revues. (I’ll save you the Webster dictionary look up – revue: a theatrical production consisting typically of brief loosely connected often satirical skits, songs, and dances). One such revue was a song sung by Ariel from The Little Mermaid called “In Harmony” and I’m realizing now the profound effect this song has had on my life.  

The song is a part of a scene where a bunch of fish are all griping about Ariel, her authenticity, and motives because she is “half-fish and half-something else”. 

In her fluttery, flawless, loving-Disney princess way, she tells the bickering fish that they’re right and that we are all different, breaking into song about what makes someone special, is, in fact, our differences. But there is one part of the song that has always stuck out to me, both because of the words and because of the way she sings it. 

If there were only one note
how boring life would be
I’m glad there are so many notes
in many different keys

Jodi Benson. “In Harmony”.

She goes on…

I hear each voice singing
With a special quality
And when we sing together 
We bring music to the sea

In harmony
Harmony
You’re you, I’m me
Together we
Can live in harmony

Give it a listen. And remember, a) it’s for kids and b) as an adult, it’s maybe a little too hippie dippy, but also c) I still love it and am intentionally sharing it for a reason.

In addition to my obsession with Disney Sing-A-Long Songs, another core memory of mine is my mom singing in our church choir. My mom has a great voice, but was never the “star” of the show. But what she brought to the table (or choir loft) was harmony. I would sit in Mass and listen intently for her parts, where she would subtly chime in along the boisterous, objectively talented lead. There are several classic, Catholic Mass bangers where I exclusively know (and sing) the harmony. 

Fast forward 20 years later. I’m sitting in a “Dream Manager” session with my Dream Manager. He’s listing off a group of core values that are important to my Myers-Briggs personality type (ENFJ) and asked me to pick which one stood out to me the most. “Empathy, compassion, authenticity, integrity, positive change, growth, harmony”…they all resonated. But when I was forced to pick one, I knew it was harmony. 

I know what harmony is. What it feels like. What it sounds like. And when it is off. The AI Overview according to Google says the following:

“Harmony refers to a state of agreement, balance, or pleasing arrangement, both in a general sense and specifically in music. In music, harmony is the combination of notes played or sung simultaneously, creating chords and chord progressions that contribute to the overall sound. Beyond music, harmony can describe agreement between people, congruity in art, or even the balance of forces in nature. 

Finally, all of you, be of one mind, sympathetic, loving toward one another, compassionate, humble.
Do not return evil for evil, or insult for insult; but, on the contrary, a blessing, because to this you were called, that you might inherit a blessing. – 1 Peter 3:8-9

No wonder I love it.  Go create some…