The Music of Disney - Classic Disney III
Written: Apr 14 '06 (Updated May 22 '07)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Possibly the best of the five volumes
Cons: Of course they can't all be winners
The Bottom Line: A great collection of songs for Disneyatics
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| scapp70's Full Review: Classic Disney Vol. 3: 60 Years of Musical Magic |
Disney Records released five CDs over a three year span, starting in 1995, filled with classic songs from Disney film soundtracks that span sixty years or so. All of the CD cover art work would be identical to the previous one, except each new volume would be a different color. This particular CD, Classic Disney - Volume III, just so happens to be green. They each contain about twenty five songs, and all five volumes together cover all the important eras and music and over such a long span of time.
This Volume has more of the songs that are my personal favorites on one disc. This disc has many of the songs that were from the recent animated films at that point in time of the mid 90s. We have here nine songs from the 1990's and the rest span from the first film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, way back in 1937 all the way up to 1989's Little Mermaid.
The CD starts off with Colors of the Wind from the Pocahontas film, and it immediately makes me think of Vanessa Williams' version and the video she made for MTV. How come Disney used to practice this idea of having a famous artist record a version of one of the songs from the film? I love Vanessa Williams, but there is no way that she could deliver a better vocal performance than someone like Judy Kuhn, who sings the vocal on this track. Judy Kuhn has that classic Disney voice that is perfect for Disney. Vanessa's version is OK too, but Judy Kuhn's vocal is effortlessly powerful and filled with emotion.
You've Got A Friend In Me from Toy Story is one of my favorites. Written and performed by the amazing Randy Newman, this song now reminds me not only of Buzz Lightyear and Woody, but also of my son and me. He loves the movie and has since he was just about one year old. I remember singing the song to him with this CD on, and it actually had me choked up thinking of the relationship we have. Randy's lyrics may be inspired by a space ranger and a cowboy as best friends, but the words are apt for me and my son as well.
♫"You've got a friend in me
If you've got troubles, I've got 'em too
There isn't anything I wouldn't do for you
We stick together and can see it through
Cause you've got a friend in me
You've got a friend in me"♫
Les Poissons, (which in English means the fish), from The Little Mermaid is a short fun song to listen and sing along to. The lyrics are mostly in English, but some French words like savez toujours delice or Zoot alors are thrown in to provide an authentic flow. My second favorite song here is My Name Is James from James and the Giant Peach. Written by Randy Newman, as were all the songs from this movie, this is definitely the best of the bunch. The lyrics speak from the heart of James so accurately and straight from the heart. The song is a very slow and moving ballad with a melancholy piano. Newman seems to understand and capture the character's feelings, as he understands the story and plot so clearly
♫"My name is James, that's what mother called me
My name is James, so it’s always been
Sometimes I forget, when I’m lonely or afraid
So I go inside my head, and look for James" ♫
The best song here is Once Upon A Dream from Sleeping Beauty. The lyrics and melody are flawless. I was aware of this song before I knew its association with Disney movies. The lyrics suggest that this woman, Princess Aurora, has dreams in which she met the man of her dreams, who turns out to be a real person, named Prince Phillip. The lyrics also suggest that Prince Phillip had the same dreams, and in my analysis this means that they shared the same dream. If they share the same dreams, one could go further and come to the conclusion that this couple were soul mates and predestined before their first meeting. I know, this may be too much analysis for just a song from an animated film, but if there was no such movie as Sleeping Beauty, this song would still stand on its own.
♫"I know you, I've walked with you once upon a dream
I know you, the gleam in your eyes is so familiar a gleam
Yet I know it's true the visions are seldom all they seem
But if I know you, I know what you'll do
You'll love me at once, the way you did once upon a dream"♫
There are two songs here from the movie The Jungle Book, Trust In Me, and I Wan'na Be Like You. The latter is another one of my favorite Disney songs. Performed by Louis Prima, (who is famous for songs like Just A Gigolo, Jump, Jive & Wail, Pennies From Heaven and When You're Smiling), lends his signature style to the song and makes it his own. Arguably, this is the best song from the movie. The lyrics are about the monkey’s plight to hurry and evolve into man, and one of the steps is to learn the secret of fire.
Other songs worth mentioning; Stay Awake from Mary Poppins, if only because Julie Andrews' voice is so remarkable, Following The Leader from Peter Pan is classic and a lot of fun, and it has that brand of 'kids song' all over it. Robin Hood's Oo-De-Lally can be enjoyable if only amongst the rest of these lassic Disney songs.
Songs that I don't really care for are very few on this compilation. Be Prepared from Lion King is a bit boring. If I happen to be watching the DVD, I might Fast Forward this song, as I only view it as pointless. Portobello Road from Bedknobs and Broomsticks has no entertaining value whatsoever. I never really like Bambi and the song included here, Little April Shower, is equally disliked. With the exception of just these three songs, this CD is tied with the first two volumes as best.
When we think of Disney songs, usually one would think of the most famous songs from Aladdin, or The Little Mermaid or Toy Story. Although this disc contains very few of these, what this edition of the anthology contains are many more of the quality songs that span over most of the last century.
CD Rating: 4½ stars
Songs
1. Colors Of The Wind (from "Pocahontas") - 1995
2. You've Got A Friend In Me (from "Toy Story") - 1995
3. Be Prepared (from "The Lion King") - 1994
4. Out There (from "The Hunchback Of Notre Dame") - 1996
5. Family (from "James And The Giant Peach") - 1996
6. Les Poissons (from "The Little Mermaid") - 1989
7. Mine, Mine, Mine (from "Pocahontas") - 1995
8. Jack's Lament (from "The Nightmare Before Christmas") - 1993
9. My Name Is James (from "James And The Giant Peach") - 1996
10. Heffalumps And Woozles (from "Winnie The Pooh And The Blustery Day") - 1968
11. The Mob Song (from "Beauty And The Beast") - 1991
12. Portobello Road (from "Bedknobs And Broomsticks") - 1971
13. Stay Awake (from "Mary Poppins") - 1964
14. I Wan'na Be Like You (from "The Jungle Book") - 1967
15. Oo-De-Lally (from "Robin Hood") - 1973
16. Are We Dancing (from "The Happiest Millionaire") - 1967
17. Once Upon A Dream (from "Sleeping Beauty") - 1959
18. Bella Notte (from "Lady And The Tramp") - 1955
19. Following The Leader (from "Peter Pan") - 1953
20. Trust In Me (from "The Jungle Book") - 1967
21. Ballad Of Davy Crockett, The (from "Davy Crockett") - 1955
22. I'm Professor Ludwig Von Drake (from "The Wonderful World Of Color") - 1961
23. Pink Elephants On Parade (from "Dumbo") - 1941
24. Little April Shower (from "Bambi") - 1942
25. The Silly Song (Dwarfs' Yodel Song) (from "Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs") - 1937
~~~~~~~~~~Some More Disney-Related Epinions From Scapp70~~~~~~~~~~
The Music:
Disney’s Music From the Park
Disney’s Greatest - Volume One
Disney’s Greatest - Volume Two
Classic Disney Volume One
Classic Disney Volume Two
Classic Disney Volume Three
Classic Disney Volume Four
Classic Disney Volume Five
Disney's Christmas Favorites Vol. 1
Mannheim Steamroller Meets the Mouse
Disney: The Music Behind the Magic: 50 Songs Celebrating 50 Years of Walt Disney Records
The Parks:
Soarin’
Haunted Mansion
Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort
Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside
Mickey's Backyard BBQ
Families First Vacation Homes
Scapp70’s 50 Favorite Things To Do In Walt Disney World (part 1) – 50 - 41
Scapp70’s 50 Favorite Things To Do In Walt Disney World (part 2) – 40 - 31
Scapp70’s 50 Favorite Things To Do In Walt Disney World (part 3) – 30 - 21
Scapp70’s 50 Favorite Things To Do In Walt Disney World (part 4) – 20 - 11
Scapp70’s 50 Favorite Things To Do In Walt Disney World (part 5) – 10 - 1
The Books:
The Haunted Mansion – From the Magic Kingdom to the Movies
Popping Up Around Walt Disney World
The Movies
Scapp70’s Top 10 Favorite Disney Animated Movies
Toy Story (3-Disc Ultimate Toy Box DVD Set
Recommended:
Yes
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scapp70
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Member: Michael Scapp
Location: NYC
Reviews written: 483
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