Mother Knows Best (song) Mother Knows Best (song) "Mother Knows Best" is a song written by composer Alan Menken and lyricist Glenn Slater for Walt Disney Pictures' 50th animated feature film "Tangled" (2010). Included on the film's official soundtrack, "Mother Knows Best" is a musical theatre-inspired pop and jazz ballad performed by American actress and singer Donna Murphy in her animated role as Mother Gothel, the film's villain. Incorporating a series of passive-aggressive insults into its lyrics, the song serves as Gothel's attempt to frighten Rapunzel into remaining in their secluded tower despite her constant requests to see the floating lanterns so that she
Mother Gothel Scott's opinion, "The Disney pantheon is full of evil stepmothers, though none quite match Mother Gothel for sheer sadistic intensity." According to Jake Coyle of the "Southtown Star", Gothel is "one of Disney's best" villains, while Gary Thompson of the "Philadelphia Daily News "dubbed the character "one reason to love Disney". Michael Smith of the "Tulsa World "reviewed Gothel as "perfectly wicked as she kills Rapunzel's dreams". Kirk Baird of "The Blade "identified Gothel as the film's "strongest character". Colin Covert of the "Star Tribune "commented," ""In her own way, Gothel is scarier than Snow White's wicked stepmother" because the