When I See an Elephant Fly - Robbie Fulks

ROBBIE FULKS is a alternative country musician. He calls himself this because he doesn't really likes the country music industry, mainstream modern country music and basically the huge empire that rules over musicians. His music is littered with tongue-in-cheek references to Nashville and country music and on his webpage you'll read some sarcasm and cynicism toward rock 'n roll, record labels, and digital downloads.

However, his singing, songwriting and guitar playing is really fantastic. Each of his albums features a slightly different musical direction, each showcasing Fulks' musical talent. For cover fans, Fulks released an album of country covers called 13 HILLBILLY GIANTS.

Fulks demonstrates his ability to play bluegrass with this cover of Dumbo's When I See an Elephant Fly which is the perfect song for him due to the sarcastic nature of the lyrics. But it make me wonder, wouldn't it fit Robbie's character to also not like the Walt Disney Company? Why would he record this track for them?

When I See an Elephant Fly Robbie Fulks 2003

Stranger Like Me - Everlife

Happy birthday Phil Collins! The hit songwriter for Tarzan and Brother Bear turns 57 today and I'm celebrating by posting a song from Tarzan. Joy wanted to hear a cover of Stranger Like Me so I figure this is the perfect time to post this cover by EVERLIFE.

Everlife is a trio of sisters who taught themselves how to play their instruments and write music and have been together as a musical group since 1997. They first entered the Christian music scene in 2005 on SHELTERrecords but moved on to Buena Vista Records (aka Disney) in 2005. They recorded many songs for Disney soundtracks between 2005 and 2006 and then in early 2007 they released their first album on Buena Vista.

Their pop/rock style is very typical of the Disney Records roster. They fit very well with Jump5 and Hannah Montana. But don't totally write them off because of that. Their cover of Stranger Like Me is a real compliment to a rock-god like Phil Collins. They only add a few extra elements to the song, more distortion, extra guitar lines, harmonies, and female vocals, but it sure changes the feel and makes it their own.

Stranger Like Me Everlife 2005

Es Tu O Principe Azul - Wanda Sá & João Donato

I can't believe I've posted over a hundred songs since I started and this is the first one from Sleeping Beauty. The soundtrack to this film is one of my favourites because I thought that taking Tchaikovsky's Sleeping Beauty ballet and using it as the basis for the songs and score was a great idea. Once Upon a Dream, one of the main themes in the ballet, is my favourite song and the only song that seems to get covered from that film (I have only one cover of another Sleeping Beauty song).

Taking this classical-turned-showtune song and giving it a bossa nova groove makes the song even more fun thanks to Wanda Sá and João Donato. These two bossa nova legends have been making music since the 50s and 60s and have collaborated on a number of different projects over the years including this version of Once Upon a Dream from the Japanese exclusive BOSSA DISNEY NOVA.

Es Tu O Principe Azul Wanda Sá & João Donato 2004

Heigh-Ho - Shanghai Quartet

If WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART was still alive, yesterday he would have turned 252! To celebrate Mozart's birthday I am posting another track from HEIGH-HO MOZART, a collection of Disney songs arranged in the styles of great composers. Here is the title track, Heigh-Ho in the style of the great Baroque composer played by the SHANGHAI QUARTET.

Mozart was a child genius. He started playing the clavier at the age of three and composing his own tunes at five! He is one of the most well known and most popular classical composers of all time. Along with his many symphonies, piano and violin concertos and sonatas, and operettas, he also composed many pieces for string quartets. This version of Heigh-Ho mimics this style.

The Shanghai Quartet is a very well known string quartet that formed in Shanghai in 1983. They have grown in popularity and have played some of the nicest venues all over the world. They have recorded many albums along with such musicians as Yo-Yo Ma, Ruth Laredo, and Arnold Steinhardt. They also provided the score for Woody Allen's Melinda and Melinda

Heigh-Ho Shanghai Quartet 1995

Proud of Your Boy - Clay Aiken

Today is Obscure Disney Song Friday and to finish off American Idol Week I have chosen a deleted song from Aladdin that was featured on the Platinum Edition DVD.

Proud of Your Boy was an important song to the staff of Aladdin. It was written by Howard Ashman and Alan Menkin, the composing duo who also wrote the music for The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast. The song focused on Aladdin's relationship with his mother and Ashman said that it was his favourite song in the film.

In the middle of Aladdin's production Howard Ashman died of AIDS. It was tough for the staff but it became even tougher for Alan when the decision was made to take the mother out of the story. The cut meant taking Proud of Your Boy out of the film which now Alan had become very attached to since the death of his friend.

You can hear the original demo put to storyboards from the scene on the DVD as well as a new recording of the song by American Idol second season runner-up, CLAY AIKEN

Aiken won second place but only barely. The votes were very close but Ruban Studdard still won. But what really matters is what happens after that! Clay's career has been ten times Ruban's career. He has recorded three albums and an EP. His three albums all debuted in the Top 5 making him the fourth artist ever to have his first three albums debut in the Top 5!

He has toured the world, sang the national anthem at the World Series, won many awards, has been on countless TV specials and is currently playing the part of Brave Sir Robin in the Monty Python's Spamalot! Broadway musical!

Even though I can't really stand his music, you have to admit that he has done pretty well for himself.

Pround of Your Boy Clay Aiken 2004

Circle of Life - William Hung

Would American Idol Week be complete without a sampling of some of the bad that has come out of the competition? Of course not! That is why I am posting a track from everyone's favourite loser, WILLIAM HUNG!

William Hung gain popularity when he auditioned for the third season of American Idol in 2004. His lack of pitch and rhythm when he attempted to sing Ricky Martin's She Bangs was a hit on the internet after its airing and he has since gained a cult following. Kosh Records saw this an jumped on it, offering him a $25,000 advance to record an album. It was released six months later! That faster than any Idol winner released their debut album!

This version of Circle of Life comes from his debut album INSPIRATIONS which also includes two other Disney hits, Can You Feel the Love Tonight and Tarzan's Two Worlds. If you really want to check out this disc you will also be treated to such hits as She Bangs, I Believe I Can Fly, Hotel California, Rocket Man, and YMCA.

Recently, I've been introduced to Arrested Development and absolutely love the show. In an episode in the third season the family is airing out their problems on court TV and William makes a cameo as William Hung and the Hung Jury playing the court TV's theme song!

Circle of Life William Hung 2004

Reflection - Jordan Sparks

Let's continue on with American Idol week with a track from the most recent season of the popular show. JORDAN SPARKS was the youngest Idol winner when she won the sixth season contest at only 17 years old! Her singing was constantly good and she never landed in the bottom three for the entire season.

She has moved on to release her first album which was released a few months ago has already gone gold and her single, Tattoo, reached #8 on the US Hot 100 chart! Just like Ruban and Clay, Jordan is in a battle with runner up Blake Lewis to see who gets the most album sales and digital downloads.

Jordan's performance of Reflection was the second song she sang for the contest and was well liked by the judges.

Reflection Jordan Sparks 2007

Circle of Life - Jennifer Hudson

Today we carry on to Season Three of American Idol and hear a cover of Circle of Life that JENNIFER HUDSON sang for the judges. Her singing in this song won her more votes than any of her other songs during the competition.

Even though she didn't win this season (that honour went to Fantasia Barrino) Hudson has had a good couple of years to follow. Her single And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going reached #14 (#1 in the club scene) and she scored a role in the hit movie Dreamgirls as Effie White. Her role won her many awards for Best Supporting Actress, including a Golden Globe and an Academy Award!

This cover of Circle of Life is the only one that I know of with a key change. Usually I don't like key changes but this one is treated tastefully and is only used as a tag at the end of the song. I'd like to hear a studio recording of this one. With a better mix and a little pitch correction I think Hudson would have a cover that Elton John would be proud of.

Cirlce of Life Jennifer Hudson 2004

A Whole New World - Ruban Studdard

To celebrate one of the only shows back with a new season due to the writers strike, I'm having an American Idol Week here at Covering the Mouse. The first contestant up is the winner of the second season in 2003, RUBBAN STUDDARD.

Ruban worked hard to get into the music industry for years before his fame on American Idol. And he still had to work hard to compete with runner-up Clay Akien's career. But dispite all that, Ruban has done a great job, released three albums, toured the world and won a Grammy in 2004 for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance.

His cover of A Whole New World was one of the better songs he sang and a crowd pleaser too. The fans and judges loved it. This version is one of the few covers I have that turns this duet into a solo number.

A Whole New World Ruban Studdard 2003

When You Wish Upon a Star - American Hi-Fi

For When You Wish Upon a Star Week I've chosen another track from the popular Japanese release MOSH PIT ON DISNEY. This time it's by American rock band AMERICAN HI-FI.

You probably know American Hi-Fi from their hit single Flavor of the Week, the first single off their self-titled debut album from 2001. They have released six or seven more singles but none of them have done nearly as well as that first one. The group formed in 1998 under the name BMX Girls. They soon realized that BMX Girls sucked as a band name and started looking for a new one. Here's the cool part: They just happened to meet Keith Richards in a bar and during the conversation mentioned that they were looking for a new name, to which he replied, "How about American Hi-Fi?" How cool is that?

American Hi-Fi has recorded a few covers over the years including Surrender (Cheap Trick), Message in a Bottle (Police), the Transformers theme song, and When You Wish Upon a Star. Their power-pop style and great harmonies make this Pinocchio cover a good one. If you are at work, you may want to turn your volume down because it is a bit loud.

When You Wish Upon a Star American Hi-Fi 2004

Why Should I Worry - Starlite Singers

A few months back, coolshades requested something from Oliver & Co. and while I do have a few covers of songs from that movie, none of them are really good. Here is Why Should I Worry by the STARLITE SINGERS.

The Starlite Singers are a group of studio musicians that crank out album after album of cheaply produced covers of popular music. They range in genre from pop to dance to oldies to Christmas. There are three volumes of Disney music, called CHILDREN'S CLASSIC FILM FAVORTIES, which are terrible. The modern songs try to sound exactly the same and the older Disney classics are made to be more modern but in a bad way.

I found this disc in a five dollar bin and knew it would be awful but had to get it anyway. Some of the tracks are actually hilarious because they are so bad. This cover of Why Should I Worry is one of the better ones. But if you were doing a cover of a Billy Joel song, wouldn't you try to make it quite different? Because if you tried to make it sound like Billy Joel you would just fail! This cover by the Starlite Singers is a perfect example.

Sorry about the crappy Oliver cover, coolshades. I'll post a better one at a later date.

Why Should I Worry Starlite Singers 1997

It's a Small World - Bob Kames & the Happy Organ

Have you ever been to a high school dance or wedding reception that didn't play The Chicken Dance? If you were at my wedding reception you didn't hear it. That's because I'm sick of it. But it is a good fun song that everyone knows the actions for that gets people on the dance floor.

If you have heard this song it's almost guaranteed that you heard a version recorded by BOB KAMES. Kames learned to play the organ after leaving the war in the 40s. He went on the road as an entertainer, playing in bars and clubs across the country. With over forty albums recorded in the 60s he quickly became the top selling solo organist! In the 70s he opened a Hammond organ store and produced a TV show, The Bob Kames Family Room, which featured his organ playing and ran for 17 years!

In 1982, Kames found success again when he recorded a version of Dance Little Bird, more commonly known as The Chicken Dance. But what most people don't know is that Kames also recorded a version of It's a Small World for the same album! Here it is for you to enjoy!

It's a Small World Bob Kames & the Happy Organ 1982

Never Smile At a Crocodile - Kimbo Educational

Hi, folks - Boyhowdy here, host of folk cover blog Cover Lay Down. As a teacher and a parent of two girls ages two and five, I'm always on the lookout for good kids music, though I'm usually suspicious of any company which claims to be "educational" -- too often, the word belies a set of creative choices which sacrifice quality and care for curricular relevance and namby-pamby sappiness. But the other day I discovered this wonderful version of the Peter Pan classic Never Smile At a Crocodile on SIX LITTLE DUCKS, a CD from a company called KIMBO EDUCATIONAL, which might just change my mind.

The songs on Six Little Ducks are typical preschool sing-along fare, heavy on the tune and rhythm, light on the kind of nuance which most adults would look for in a "good" song. But that's not a bad thing, in the context of a playroom or family car ride. The whole point of music for the tiniest tot set is to introduce the simplest songs to another generation, and provide an opportunity to engender movement and enjoy the simple pleasure of a good tune.

In the case of Never Smile At a Crocodile, this means an upbeat acoustic guitar and clear, uncredited storysong vocals, supported by bouncy synthesizer, percussive sax, and a crisp drumbeat. It's a perfect setting for this playful tune, one which exposes its silly-yet-honest moral without crossing the bar into cheesiness. In short, for what it claims to be, this is one of the best songs around.

Amazon reviewers -- all parents and preschool teachers -- universally describe Six Little Ducks as the best CD in their collection, both for its breadth and its catchiness. And a quick browse through the Kimbo Educational catalog shows a bevy of other Disney tunes on their other CDs, too. If you're a parent, or just a serious collector of Disney tunes wherever you can find them, I can't recommend the Kimbo Education series highly enough.

Looking for more coversongs for kids? Then head over to Cover Lay Down, where our regular kidfolk feature compiles the best coversongs for cool moms and dads in a variety of folk styles.

Never Smile at a Crocodile Kimbo Educational 2000

Alice in Wonderland (Take 1) - Bill Evans Trio

Today I'm posting the third song from Alice in Wonderland this month! Joe, whoever you are, you must be happy now! Not only does this continue to fill Joe's request, but it also fills an anonymous request for this version of the title song by the BILL EVANS TRIO.

Bill Evans is one of the most influential jazz pianists of the 20th century. His use of syncopated and polyrhythmic melodic lines changed the way many jazz pianists interpreted melodies. He also took a new approach to soloing that often meant two people would solo together in a sort of 'conversation'.

Alice in Wonderland (Take 1) was recorded live at the Village Vanguard in July 1961. SUNDAY AT THE VILLAGE VANGUARD collects the best of the five sessions recorded that day and is often said to be one of the best jazz recordings of all time. You'll notice that there is also Alice in Wonderland (Take 2) on this album. Last year a box set came out collecting all of the recording from these sessions.

The Bill Evans Trio featured bassist Scott LaFaro and drummer Paul Motian. SUNDAY AT THE VILLAGE VANGUARD is the last time this trio would play together as LaFaro was killed in a car accident ten days later.

I chose to post this song because today marks the anniversary of Lewis Carrol's death in 1898. And in two weeks, on January 27th, marks the anniversary of his birth in 1832! No wonder I'm playing so much Alice in Wonderland this month!

Alice in Wonderland Bill Evans Trio 1961

A World of My Own - Ed Harcourt

Finishing up Big Band Week we have a Terrible Track that comes from a live concert in London last year.

English alternative rocker, Jarvis Cocker, thought it would be a great treat to put on a two and a half hour concert of Disney music by some of the UK's most alternative musicians as part of his Meltdown festival in June 2007. He called it Forest of No Return and his main influence was Hal Willner's 1988 compilation album STAY AWAKE.

I didn't get to go to this show but a friend found a bootleg copy of it and sent it to me. The bootleg really is just a guy with a recording device in his jacket pocket. The sound quality is awful and that is one big reason why this is a terrible track.

ED HARCOURT, an English singer-songwriter sang a few numbers throughout the night but this one was probably his weakest. There are parts where I question if even knows what the melody is supposed to be. And about three minutes in, when he starts getting more...creative with the melody, it causes me to skip to the next track.

However, his piano playing is quite excellent and I read a review that said he had a whole-head rabbit mask put on his head right before his piano solo. Ed was still able to pull of a good solo.

The big band arrangement of this piece sounds great but the crappy recording and bad singing causes me to put this on the "terrible" list. I would love to hear a studio recording of this song! Will we get it? Maybe in a world of my own.

A World of My Own Ed Harcourt 2007

The Bare Necessities - Harry Connick, Jr.

We're almost at the end of Big Band Week and today is the last good post of the week because tomorrow is Terrible Track Friday.

Today I'm posting a song from a modern jazz artist who often uses the big band sound in his work. HARRY CONNICK, JR. Disney was keeping an eye on this young talent from the start. In 1991 Harry was asked by Disney to record The Bare Necessities for SIMPLY MAD ABOUT THE MOUSE, a compilation album of famous pop musicians. This was only a year after Harry found success recording the soundtrack for When Harry Met Sally.

I'm surprised that more people haven't used this song in this fashion. The mood seems to fit so well as a jazz piece but it gets over shadowed by the jazzier I Wan'na Be Like You. Harry's version is really nice but he cuts out the "When you look under the rocks and plants" part of the song and it throws me off when I hear it.

The Bare Necessities Harry Connick, Jr. 1991

Whistle While You Work/Give a Little Whistle - On the Record Cast & Company

Today's contribution to Big Band Week takes us to the world of showtunes. This medley of Whistle While You Work and Give a Little Whistle comes from the On the Record Broadway musical from 2005. Showtunes often use jazz bands in their music because of the big band style fits so well with all those people that are running around and dancing on stage.

After opening the show with a gentle A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes, this song launches in and sets the mood of the show. You'll definitely hear the big band quality to the songs with the Company playing the instrumental part at the beginning but you'll also hear the showtunes aspect come out in the A Dream is a Wish interlude and with the Cast's over-the-top scatting.

All of the songs in On the Record were arranged by David Chase who does a remarkable job with this medley. He intertwines the two songs so much that at times I'm not even sure which one I'm listening to! The Give a Little Whistle While You Work line is very clever.

Keep an ear out for a few references to Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo and Higitus Figitus!

Whistle While You Work/Give a Little Whistle On the Record Cast & Company 2005

Mickey Mouse March/Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah Medley - The Disney Big Band

We continue Big Band Week with a medley of two of the most famous Disney songs of all: The Mickey Mouse March from the Mickey Mouse Club and Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah from Song of the South. It is performed by THE DISNEY BIG BAND who you can hear performing live throughout the park and resorts.

This track is from the MUSIC FROM THE PARK album that features song that you can hear in Disneyland. Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah is from Splash Mountain and the Mickey Mouse March can be heard practically everywhere you go in various different styles.

I really like this arrangement because of the creativity of the arranger. Both of the songs don't have very much to work with but the arranger takes both melodies and finds a way to make them interesting to listen to. Some of the melodies are also changed up a bit. At 1:30 the M-I-C-K-E-Y bit is syncopated and they throw in a couple of extra notes to keep the rhythm going. It sounds sort of like M-I-C-C-K-E-Y-Y-M-O-U-S-E.

Mickey Mouse March/Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah Medley The Disney Big Band 1996

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A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes - Daniel Bedingfield

Out of all the genres of music to cover Disney songs, my favourite has to be the Big Band style. This probably stems from playing baritone sax in the jazz band at high school. This style, which was popularized in the 20s, is different than small jazz combos like the Dave Brubeck Quartet whose songs are made up of improvised solos. Big bands are made up of one or two dozen musicians that have arrangements of the music. The focus is not on the improvised solos but rather the arrangement that people could dance to.

This week at Covering the Mouse I will be posting a big band cover of several different Disney songs. Today's big band cover is by UK pop star DANIEL BEDINGFIELD.

Bedingfield has been on the scene since 2001 but has already scored four #1 singles and three other Top 10 singles in the UK! Not bad for a guy that only had two albums out! He and his sister, Natasha, hold the Guinness World Record for being the only siblings to have had solo number-ones in UK chart history.

His last album was released in 2004 but he has three more albums newly recorded that he is now waiting to be released. When this happens I'm sure we will hear more number ones!

In 2004, Daniel recorded A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes for DISNEYMANIA 2. It is by far the best track on the album and the best version of this song that I have heard. The big band arrangement is fun to listen to and the weird time change at the end of the chorus always throws me but makes the song interesting and unique.

A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes Daniel Bedingfield 2004

Very Good Advice - Dave Brubeck Quartet

One of my readers, Joe, has requested some Alice in Wonderland covers and I am here to deliver! Tying that into another event, if the voice of the Cheshire Cat, Sterling Holloway, was still alive today he would turn 102! Happy birthday!

STERLING HOLOWAY did a lot of work with Disney. And I mean a lot! He was the narrator in a number of Disney shorts, Mr. Stork in Dumbo, Kaa in The Jungle Book, Roquefort in The Aristocats, and of course, Winnie the Pooh, a role that he voiced until his retirement in 1979!

If I could have, I would have posted a cover of the Jabberwocky song that the Cheshire Cat sings in Alice in Wonderland. So instead I give you Very Good Advice. This song is a turning point in the film for Alice. She desperately tries to be an adult but realizes in this song that she still has a lot to learn.

THE DAVE BRUBECK QUARTET take the melody and turn it into a happy jazz standard. It doesn't really follow the same feel as its original counterpart. If you own DAVE DIGS DISNEY on vinyl you won't hear this song as it is an unreleased track from the studio sessions that was included on the CD release.

Very Good Advice Dave Brubeck Quartet 1957

The Three Caballeros - Bing Crosby & the Andrews Sisters

Hi there! It's Thomas from Upcoming Pixar Kurtis kindly invited me to do a guest post here on Covering the Mouse. I must just say what a fantastic site this is!

I've always liked Disney's compilation movie, The Three Caballeros, and I always get the theme song stuck in my head. One day I came across Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters doing a cover of it. I don't think either Bing Crosby or the Andrews Sisters need any introduction. They have both collaborated many times before on such hits as "Ac-cent-tchu-ate The Positive" and "Don't Fence Me In".

The Andrews Sisters have also sung for two Disney films, but this song was released before any collaboration occurred between Disney and the sisters. The song reached the #8 position on the charts in 1945, which really is no surprise, as the Andrews Sisters sold the most records in the 40's only beaten by Bing Crosby.

You can view the original version on YouTube, where you can note how perfect the Andrews Sisters' voices were for the song, considering that the Three Caballeros were birds.

The Three Caballeros Bing Crosby & the Andrews Sisters 1944

Disney Fantasy Medley - Erich Kunzel & the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra

Happy New Year everyone! I'm kicking off the new year with a the mother of all Disney medleys!

ERICH KUNZEL loves Disney music. He has recorded three albums full of the music from the films. The best one has got to be the Grammy nominated A DISNEY SPECTACULAR from 1989.

Erich Kunzel conducted the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra from 1965-1977 until the creation of the CINCINNATI POPS ORCHESTRA which he was appointed the head conductor. Kunzel, a master conductor and arranger quickly put this orchastra on the map with his great arrangements of pop music.

A DISNEY SPECTACULAR is performed with Indiana University's Singing Hoosiers who do most of the vocal work on the album.

There are many songs represented in this medley. Are you ready for me to list them all for you?

Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah (Song of the South)
You Can Fly! You Can Fly! You Can Fly! (Peter Pan)
Main Titles (Dumbo)
Casey, Jr. (Dumbo)
The Wonderful Thing About Tiggers (Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day)
Winnie the Pooh (Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree)
Love is a Song (Bambi)
Bella Notte (Lady and the Tramp)
The Siamese Cat Song (Lady and the Tramp)
Heigh-Ho (Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs)
Whistle While You Work (Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs)
Give a Little Whistle (Pinocchio)
I've Got No Strings (Pinocchio)
Once Upon a Dream (Sleeping Beauty)
A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes (Cinderella)
When You Wish Upon a Star (Pinocchio)

Disney Fantasy Medley Erich Kunzel & the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra 1989