This is Halloween - Marilyn Manson

When I heard that Disney was re-releasing the Nightmare Before Christmas soundtrack I couldn't believe it when I read who was going to be doing cover songs on the album. Marilyn Manson? Fall Out Boy? Panic! at the Disco? Could these bands really pull off Disney cover tunes? The answer is yes! Well, for the most part, anyway.

These days, Nightmare Before Christmas has gained a huge cult following of wannabe goth and emo teens and Disney has seen this and released a whole ton of merch to cater to this crowd. Knowing this, it makes it easier to realize why Disney picked the artists they did for this album.

Now, about this track. MARILYN MANSON is a perfect match for this Danny Elfman classic! Both styles work together in complete unison! The song works with Manson's goth-industrial sound and lyrically, it is as if Elfman was writing this song about Manson himself! And hearing Manson sing lines like I am the clown with the tear-away face and I am the monster under your bed! doesn't sound unusual at all! Absolutely perfect! This is one of my favourite Disney covers.

Happy Halloween everyone! I hope it is a spooky night!

This is Halloween Marilyn Manson 2006

Grim Grinning Ghosts - Barenaked Ladies

I can't think of a better group to take on Grim Grinning Ghosts! The BARENAKED LADIES have this sense of style and fun that they put into their music and their arrangement of this song is perfect!

The song, written in 1969 and originally sung by the voice of Tony the Tiger, Thurl Ravenscroft, has many verses and can be heard in its various incarnations throughout the 13 minute Haunted Mansion ride at Disneyland.

The Haunted Mansion was in planning stages when Walt Disney died and changed drastically after his death so he never got to see the final results or hear this song. As one of the better attractions in the park, I think Walt would have been happy the way it turned out.

Grim Grinning Ghosts Barenaked Ladies 1996

Cruela Cruel - Marcos Valle

Halloween is coming up so the next few days will feature some Halloween themed songs. Today's track is not really Halloween themed but features a Disney villain whose birthday is probably October 31, Cruella De Vil.

Let's go down to Brazil, the home of bossa nova and listen to a version translated into Portuguese and given a smooth, cool sound. All of this is thanks to MARCOS VALLE who is not only a successful bossa nova artist but has also found success bring that style to the mainstream world.

Although Valle has been making music since the 60s, his real influence in the music world was in the 90s when he merged bossa nova with electronica and brought it to the club scene. He called drum 'n' bossa and it was a huge hit.

But this track brings Valle back to his roots and turns the song that was meant to be insulting into a song that I sure Cruella would fine very complementary.

You can find this song on the Japanese-exclusive BOSSA DISNEY NOVA.

The Headless Horseman - Kay Starr

It's Obscure Disney Song Week here at Covering the Mouse and I have a spooky Halloween song for you! This month's obscure Disney song is The Headless Horseman from the Legend of Sleepy Hollow segment of The Adventures of Ichabod & Mr. Toad. The song was originally sung in 1949 by BING CROSBY and covered a few months after the films release by jazz singer, KAY STARR.

This version of Headless Horseman reminds me of classic Disney music from the shorts of the 40s. It has that distinct pop jazz sound to it. In fact, it is not that different from the Bing Crosby original but her sweet jazz voice is, dare I say it, nicer to listen to than Bing's. She is backed by the BILLY BUTTERFIELD QUINTET with background vocals by the THREE BEAUS AND A PEEP.

In 1948, the American Federation of Musicians was threatening a strike so Capitol Records, Starr's label, made all of their singers record a bunch of popular songs so that they could continue to release music while the strike was on. But Starr was new to the industry at the time so all of the good songs were given to the "popular" singers and she was left with the scraps. Is this why she recorded Headless Horseman? Because the all the good ones were taken? It certainly isn't a pop hit and it does fit with the timing of the strike. That's my guess.

The Headless Horseman Kay Starr 1949

Candle on the Water - Anneliese van der Pol

Happy birthday HELEN REDDY! The star of Pete's Dragon turns 66 today and I am celebrating by posting a cover of her hit song Candle on the Water covered by ANNELIESE VAN DER POL.

Helen Reddy was one of the most successful female recording artists of the seventies and when she joined the cast of Pete's Dragon it was obvious that there would be a song written with her in mind. Candle on the Water was a smash hit and was nominated for a "Best Song" Oscar in 1977. It was competing with another Disney song, the Rescuers song Someone's Waiting For You, but both lost to You Light Up My Life. Reddy recorded her own version of Candle on the Water and released it as a single. It reached #27 on the Adult Contemporary charts.

The cover, by Anneliese van der Pol, is nothing really special. It pretty much sounds like how it would sound if the song was written today. A cheesy, adult contemporary piece of pop fluff. Anneliese does have a nice voice and, along with her theatre experience, it proves to me that she was a good choice to play Belle in the Broadway production of Beauty and the Beast. In fact, she was the last girl to play Belle before the show ended its thirteen year run in July.

Welcome - Jump5

Brother Bear was just a blip on the Disney radar compared to iconic films like The Lion King and Bambi, but the film has some great animation, a touching story and some great songs by Phil Collins.

Welcome, originally performed by PHIL COLLINS and the BLIND BOYS OF ALABAMA, serves as an introductory song for the family of bears that we are introduced to in the middle of the film. It has gone on to be used at Disneyland to welcome guests into the park.

Unlike many people, I actually like JUMP5'S arrangement of this song, found on DISNEYMANIA 2 and Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride. I don't know if they do their own writing and arranging (I don't think they do) but whoever does it is doing a good job. I can't say the same for whoever arranged the Jump5 cover of Beauty and the Beast.

Jump5 released their final album earlier this month and will disband after the current tour so it is unlikely that we will hear any more Disney covers from them.

Baby Mine - Jim Brickman & Kassie DePaiva

It was 66 years ago on this day that Walt Disney released his fourth animated feature film to theatres! Dumbo is one of the most touching and enduring movies from the House of Mouse and it is still a favourite of children and adults today!

The film has a many songs but the obvious favourite is Baby Mine, the lullaby that Dumbo's mother sings to put him to sleep. As far as covers go most artists tend to stick pretty close to the original. Any why shouldn't they? It works so well as a love ballad and to drastically change it would be like eating garlic flavoured ice cream.

JIM BRICKMAN'S version combines his beautiful piano playing with the sweet voice of KASSIE DEPAIVA. DePaiva is a soap opera actress in my mind. I was surprised to hear her singing on this track but upon research I found that she perfomed at the Grand Ole Opery at the age of 18 and has a few albums out. Who knew?

Baby Mine Jim Brickman & Kassie DePaiva 2005

There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow - They Might Be Giants

The DVD release of Meet the Robinsons is tomorrow so I thought I would post a song off the soundtrack. This version of the classic Disneyland song There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow is by THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS.

There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow was used as the theme song to the Carousel of Progress attraction in Tomrrowland. People are taken through a rotating series of room that take you through history and the progression of technology. The last room is a look into the future and was constantly updated to keep up with the times. (Can you imagine visiting the Carousel in 1967 and seeing a look at 1994? That would be wild!)

Robert Sherman, one of the songs composers, has been quoted saying that this is Walt Disney's theme song

The theme song, Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow, had a wonderful positiveness about it. In a way, it was Walt's theme song, because he was very positive about the future. He really felt that there was a great big beautiful tomorrow shining at the end of every day.

In many ways, Meet the Robinsons was a spoof of Tomorrowland (calling it Todayland in the film) and the plot of the movie, a boy visiting the future, makes the inclusion of this song on its soundtrack very appropriate.

There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow They Might Be Giants 2007

When You Wish Upon A Star - Joe Henry

Heigh Ho, this is Boyhowdy from Cover Lay Down, the folk-themed cover song blog. Kurtis invited me over (thanks, Kurtis!) to bring y'all a folk cover of a Disney song, if I could find one; I found plenty, but our prolific and well-informed host had heard most of 'em. By process of elimination, then, the gift I bring today is JOE HENRY'S simple, elegant version of When You Wish Upon a Star.

Henry is one of those alt-americana artists; over a twenty year career, he's moved from the country camp through Jazz, and more recently into collaborations with Louden Wainwright III and production gigs for folk and blues artists from Bettye LaVette to Teddy Thompson. He has been compared to Tom Waits, though his voice is much clearer; both have found a cohesive sonic space with its own rules, and both tend to wrap lyrics around tempo to create a lush environment for even the simplest songs.

This version of When You Wish Upon A Star is a little ditty that clocks in at just over two minute long. But though it uses the same sweeping strings and bells we remember from the original, Henry's interpretation swings the vocals a little more, and this -- plus his great slightly raspy voice -- bring a subtlety and wistfulness to the song that really makes it shine.

I found today's cut -- plus Bonnie Raitt's wonderful version of Baby Mine -- on the kids album MARY HAD A LITTLE AMP. It's worth getting, especially if you're as sick of the Wiggles as I am.

(If you like Joe Henry, by the way, keep your eyes on Cover Lay Down for a great cover of Pale Blue Eyes I'm saving for a Lou Reed/Velvet Underground post in the next few months. Now how's THAT for a shameless plug, folks?)

When You Wish Upon A Star Joe Henry 2004

I Wanna Be Like You - Voodoo Glow Skulls

If you are a regular reader of this blog, you're probably asking why I am posting another Jungle Book cover so soon after Jungle Book week. Right? Well, there are two reasons why I am posting this song.

1) Even though we celebrated the 50th anniversary and the DVD release two weeks ago, today is the actual 50th anniversary of the Jungle Book. So I want to celebrate with a song.

2) According to my web stats, someone (or someones) is desperately trying to find a punk version of I Wan'na Be Like You. They have tried multiple different keyword searches on Google and keep coming back to this site. Whoever you are, this song if for you!

It's the punkiest version of I Wan'na Be Like You that I have by a group called VOODOO GLOW SKULLS. This track can be found on the Japanese exclusive album DIVE INTO DISNEY. The Voodoo Glow Skulls' style isn't actually punk. It's called third-wave ska which uses traditional ska and combines it with punk and metal to give the sound a more upbeat, frantic feel.

Thanks for putting up with another Jungle Book cover. I promise I'll give them a break until November, at least.

It's a Small World - Rodney Allen Rippy

What is the one thing that RODNEY ALLEN RIPPY is known for? It certainly isn't his music. The track that I have posted here is proof of that.

This cover of It's a Small World is off the TAKE LIFE A LITTLE EASIER LP from 1973. The whole album shows that not every child star should release a record. He is just not that good at all.

So what is little Rodney known for? If you grew up in the 70s you would know that he was the little kid who couldn't eat Jumbo Jack hamburgers on the Jack in the Box commercials because they were "too big to eat!"

By the way, I'm posting a cover of It's a Small World today because it was today in 1965 that was the final day of the 64/65 New York's World Fair. The fair was the first home to four Disneyland attractions: General Electric's Carousel of Progress, Ford's Magic Skyway, the State of Illinois' Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, and Pepsi-Cola's It's A Small World.

It's a Small World Rodney Allen Rippy 1973

Beauty and the Beast - English Chamber Orchestra with Carol Rosenberger

Everybody give a big "Happy Birthday" to ANGELA LANSBURY who turns 82 today! Angela is a stage and screen veteran, having been in the movie, television and theatre business since 1944 acting in such memorable project like The Picture of Dorian Gray, the Manchurian Candidate, Murder, She Wrote and Disney's Bedknobs and Broomsticks! My favourite film of Angela's is Beauty and the Beast.

So, to celebrate Angela Lansbury's birthday, I am posting a cover of the song she sang as Mrs. Potts, Beauty and the Beast. This particular recording was composed by Donald Fraser and is performed by the ENGLISH CHAMBER ORCHESTRA with CAROL ROSENBERGER on the piano.

As with all the tracks on HEIGH-HO MOZART, this piece was re-written in the style of a great classical composer. In this case it is SERGEI RACHMANINOFF, a Russian composer and pianist whose work was influential in the Romantic era of classical music. He is known for his flowing melodies and beautiful piano scores. One of his most famous works, Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini is a standard in the classical world and is also used frequently in film.

This interpretation of Beauty and the Beast is modeled after one of his piano concertos. Rachmaninov had really big hands, allowing he to play thirteenths on the piano. You can hear this being mimicked in this track.

Beauty and the Beast English Chamber Orchestra 1995

Baroque Hoedown - They Might Be Giants

It's sad that children these days don't get to experience the Main Street Electrical Parade at Disneyland. Yes, there are other variations of the Parade at in the other parks but none of them are the same. The Main Street Electrical Parade, and it's soundtrack, were a part of summer evenings at Disneyland for three decades and it is on this day in 1996 that it did it's last route on Main Street.

The soundtrack, which was created by cutting edge synthesizers, was written in 1967 and was synchronized to the thousands of blinking lights and animatronic characters. The main theme was the Baroque Hoedown, which was heard during the Blue Fairy float, but the soundtrack incorporated many Disney songs that went with the floats of the same movie.

This version of Baroque Hoedown from DISNEYMANIA 2 is by quirky rock duo THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS. This pairing is perfect; the song is quite weird and the Giants use of electronica in their music works to modernize this tune using the same elements that made it famous in the first place. You will also hear a bit of the Un-Birthday Song which was played during the Alice in Wonderland float in the parade.

I should note, in case you are unfamiliar with the band, that They Might Be Giants is not an electronica group. They are alternative rock but draw on many other styles of music to make up their sound. Check back in a few weeks and you'll hear another Disney cover from TMBG!

Can You Feel the Love Tonight - William Hung

Every second Friday of the month I will post a cover that is just plain awful. I call this feature Terrible Track Friday. This is the very first week and I can't think of a better person to post than WILLIAM HUNG!

I'm sure everybody knows this American Idol reject. He couldn't make it past the auditions. But due to his sweet personality and his passion to do his best (and uber popularity on youtube singing Ricky Martin's She Bangs) Kosh Records gave him a contract to record a full album.

Since then he has appeared on countless talk shows, commercials, sporting events and other guest appearances. Not bad for a novelty act. His agent sure milked him for all he's worth! Since the release of INSPIRATION in 2004, Hung has also recorded a Chirstmas album and a third album! Will this never end?!

Hung's version of Elton John's Can You Feel the Love Tonight is just awful. He is just a plain bad singer. No ifs ands or buts. And if this isn't bad enough, Circle of Life and Tarzan's Two Worlds are also on this CD! Ahh!

Can You Feel the Love Tonight William Hung 2004

Some Day My Prince Will Come - Dave Brubeck Quartet

Many Disney songs have become jazz standards over the years. Alice in Wonderland, Chim Chim Cher-ee, I Wan'na Be Like You; but there is no other Disney song that has been used by jazz musicians more than Some Day My Prince Will Come from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. So it comes as no surprise that DAVE BRUBECK included it on his album of Disney tunes.

DAVE DIGS DISNEY was inspired by a Disney album his daughter was listening to. Seeing how much she enjoyed it he decided to record an album that his daughter would enjoy just as much. In these recordings you will hear Paul Desmond on the alto sax, Joe Morello on the drums and Eugene Wright playing the double bass.

In this version you will get the feel that most jazz musicians will give this song. It retains its soft and sweet melodies while the rhythm section gives it a light, brisk tempo.

Some Day My Prince Will Come Dave Brubeck Quartet 1957

Kiss the Girl - Little Texas

I am not a country fan really at all. But of all the versions of Kiss the Girl that I have heard, I would have to say that I like this one the best. The Little Mermaid song has been crafted into a modern country hit by LITTLE TEXAS in 1996 for the Disney tribute album, THE BEST OF COUNTRY SING THE BEST OF DISNEY. The song reached 52 on the US Country Music Charts.

A year after this single was released Little Texas broke up. Ten years later, four of the original members decided to get back together again to record and tour. They released an album in June 2007. How long will they be around this time? Who knows. I just hope they cover another Disney tune.