When DreamWorks released The Prince of Egypt in 1998, it changed animated musical history. Instead of leaning into cute animal sidekicks or whimsical Broadway tropes, the studio built a sprawling, reverent, and emotionally intense biblical epic. At the heart of that ambition sits the soundtrack. Stephen Schwartz and Hans Zimmer crafted a musical landscape that blended traditional orchestral scoring with Middle Eastern instrumentation, Gospel vocals, and pop-sensibility ballads.
Ranking every song from The Prince of Egypt requires looking at how each piece functions within the narrative arc, how the lyrics carry thematic weight, and how the vocal performances hold up decades later. From monumental Oscar-winning anthems to quiet character deep cuts, here is every track from the soundtrack ranked from worst to best.
10. The Plagues (Hebrew Chorus Interlude)
While the full sequence of "The Plagues" is a masterpiece, this specific standalone interlude functions more as a transitional score cue than a proper song. It brings a chilling urgency with the Hebrew chanting mingling against Egyptian panic, but on a standalone soundtrack album, it feels incomplete without the soaring counter-melodies of Moses and Ramses. It is vital to the film's momentum, yet it ranks last simply because it lacks the independent song structure of its peers.
9. Aziza
Performed by Ofra Haza, "Aziza" is a brief, atmospheric vocal piece that highlights the film's dedication to authentic regional textures. Haza's voice is undeniably stunning, carrying an ethereal quality that anchors the early scenes of Egyptian life. However, because it runs short and serves primarily as background ambiance for the market scenes rather than a driving narrative vehicle, it sits near the bottom of the list for casual listening.
8. Through Heaven's Eyes (Brian Stokes Mitchell Version)
Brian Stokes Mitchell takes over the vocals for Jethro in the film, delivering a warm, incredibly smooth rendition of "Through Heaven's Eyes." It is a joyful, life-affirming celebration of finding one's purpose away from wealth and power. Mitchell's Broadway pedigree shines through, making it a masterclass in vocal control and optimism. The only reason it ranks below the original soundtrack release version is that Amel Larrieux and Ofra Haza's end-credits rendition infuses a slightly more distinct R and B and world-music groove that feels a bit more unique.
7. All I Ever Wanted (Reprise)
The emotional pivot of the film's first act, this brief reprise sees Moses grappling with his newly discovered Hebrew identity after fleeing the palace. Val Kilmer's spoken-sung delivery captures the profound disorientation of a man whose entire worldview has just shattered. It is short, heartbreaking, and effectively sets up his exile. While it doesn't have the grand melodic sweep of the main track, it packs an emotional punch that stays with you long after the scene ends.
6. Playing with the Big Boys
Vocal performances by Steve Martin and Martin Short as Hotpuy and Meneptah inject a much-needed dose of dark comedy into an otherwise heavy story. Backed by booming percussion and chanting priests, the song mocks Moses and Aaron's newfound faith with theatrical arrogance. Martin and Short lean into the theatricality without breaking the gravity of the scene, creating a deliciously sinister villain song that showcases the hubris of the Egyptian court.
5. When You Believe (End Credits Version)
Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey joining forces for a pop rendition of the film's central anthem remains one of the defining musical collaborations of the late nineties. This version scales back the choral majesty of the film mix in favor of a slick, radio-friendly production designed to dominate the charts. While some purists prefer the communal power of the movie version, the sheer vocal firepower of Houston and Carey trading runs is an undeniable pop-culture artifact that earned the song its Academy Award for Best Original Song.
4. Deliver Us
Serving as the opening gateway into the film, "Deliver Us" establishes the monumental scope of the entire project. The song builds from a haunting, unaccompanied Hebrew lullaby sung by Ofra Haza into a thunderous orchestral and choral march representing the agony of slavery in Egypt. The transition from quiet desperation to deafening desperation is handled with absolute precision. It immediately signals to the audience that this is not a standard children's cartoon, but a grand historical drama.
3. All I Ever Wanted
This is the quintessential "I want" song of the musical, capturing Moses as a privileged Egyptian prince who feels a quiet, nagging sense of responsibility to something larger. Val Kilmer brings a grounded vulnerability to the vocals, complemented by soaring background harmonies. The lyrics explore the tension between personal ambition and a deeper calling. It is catchy, introspective, and brilliantly sets up the tragic wedge that will eventually drive Moses and Ramses apart.
2. The Plagues
When Ramses and Moses stand on opposite sides of the musical and ideological spectrum, the result is sheer cinematic lightning. "The Plagues" pairs the cold, uncompromising defiance of Ramses with the desperate, grief-stricken pleas of Moses. The inclusion of the Hebrew slaves chanting “Let my people go” underneath the unfolding disaster of fire, locusts, and blood creates an incredible wall of sound. It is arguably the most dramatically intense sequence in animation history, driven by a relentless beat and soaring choral arrangements.
1. When You Believe (Film Version)
At the absolute top of the ranking is the emotional core of the film. "When You Believe" is a masterclass in musical theater composition, starting from a place of deep exhaustion and quietly building into a roaring testament of hope. Featuring powerful vocal performances by Sally Dworsky and Michelle Pfeiffer alongside the children's choir, the song avoids cheap sentimentality. It honors the suffering of the characters while offering a glimmer of faith that miracles can happen when people refuse to give up.
Why The Prince of Egypt Soundtrack Endures
Decades after its theatrical run, the music of The Prince of Egypt continues to resonate because it treats its audience with profound respect. Stephen Schwartz didn't write down to children; instead, he embraced complex themes of identity, systemic oppression, and familial betrayal. You can explore more about the history of animation music through resources like Billboard or read about the film's production background on TCM.
Common Mistakes When Analyzing Animated Soundtracks
When critics and fans evaluate animated movie music, a few common analytical traps tend to pop up. Avoiding these helps provide a clearer picture of why certain tracks succeed:
- Judging isolated audio over film context: Songs like "The Plagues" or short reprises lose half their narrative power when stripped away from the visual pacing and sound design of the movie.
- Dismissing star-studded pop versions: While end-credit singles are often written off as marketing ploys, tracks like the Houston-Carey duet successfully translated theatrical themes into mainstream culture without losing the emotional message.
- Overlooking instrumental integration: Hans Zimmer's score bleeds seamlessly into Schwartz's songs; treating them as entirely separate entities ignores how the musical motifs build a unified world.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey sing on the movie soundtrack?
No. While their iconic duet played during the end credits and became a massive radio hit, the film version of "When You Believe" was performed by Michelle Pfeiffer and Sally Dworsky, who voiced and sang for the characters of Tzipporah and Miriam.
Who composed the music for The Prince of Egypt?
The songs were written and composed by Stephen Schwartz, who is also renowned for his work on Broadway shows like Wicked and Disney films like Pocahontas and The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Hans Zimmer composed the instrumental score.
Did The Prince of Egypt win any Academy Awards?
Yes. The film won the Oscar for Best Original Song for "When You Believe" by Stephen Schwartz. It was also nominated for Best Original Musical or Comedy Score.
Are there any deleted songs from the soundtrack?
Several early demo tracks and conceptual songs were written during production that didn't make the final cut, focusing more on secondary character arcs that were later streamlined during the storyboard phase.
