This is Halloween - Panic! at the Disco

Have a safe and happy Halloween, everyone! Please be extra safe in your activities tonight whether you're a child or an adult!

To get you in the mood, here is This is Halloween covered by Las Vegas rockers Panic at the Disco as heard on the re-release of the Nightmare Before Christmas soundtrack from two years ago.

There are two versions of this song on the re-released soundtrack, the other being Marilyn Manson's version. In my opinion, this cover is not that special as it is mainly just a sound alike version of the original and not a very good representation of the band.

This is Halloween Panic at the Disco 2006

My Strongest Suit - Spice Girls

In 2000, Aida, the Broadway musical featuring music by The Lion King composers Elton John and Tim Rice, made its debut and was an award winning hit. Based on the opera of the same name by Giuseppe Verdi, Aida was originally meant to be an animated feature, but Disney decided to stick with the stage. However, the musical is being developed into a live-action feature that should hit theatres in 2010.

A year before the Broadway production premiered, Elton John recorded all of the songs from Aida with famous pop stars. The album was released and is considered to be a 'concept album'. Even though this album was released before the official Broadway cast recording, I consider this to be a cover album so I will be posting tracks, starting with this one by the SPICE GIRLS

My Strongest Suit Spice Girls 1999

So This is Love - Club 33

Today's cover is a track from the selection of music heard in Club 33, the exclusive, thousands of dollars membership, 14 year waiting list, club and restaurant hidden inside the Disneyland park.

Since us regular joes probably won't have the privilege of being members of Club 33, the only chance you will get to hear this music is this site!

Does anyone have any information on these tracks? Such as the musicians and recording dates?

So This is Love Club 33 ???

Under the Sea - Bena Lobo

BENA LOBO is a Bossa Nova artist from Rio de Janeiro whose style includes Samba, Jazz, Reggae, Funk, and Pop. However, for this cover of Under the Sea, Lobo went for a pure Bossa Nova groove and created one of the more interesting covers of the Little Mermaid classic.

The song can be found on a now out of print Bossa Nova cover album called BOSSA DISNEY that was released in 2001 in Japan.

Under the Sea Bena Lobo 2001

I'm Wishing - Mary Martin

Off of HI-HO! MARY MARTIN SINGS AND SWINGS, this is I'm Wishing, a song not often covered from the soundtrack to Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

I'm Wishing Mary Martin 1958

A Whole New World - TVXQ

TVXQ is the name of a popular boy band from Korea who have been together since 2004 and have been growing in popularity ever since.

The band, who name is actually Tong Vfang Xien Qi and is also known as Dong Bang Shin Ki, started out as an a capella group but quickly found their calling the the J-Pop (or K-Pop in this case since they are from Korea) side of the music world, which has made them a hit in Japan.

While most of their music is in Korean, a fair deal of it is in English, including this cover of A Whole New World which can be found on the Japanese exclusive DISNEYMANIA PRESENTS POP PARADE JAPAN.

A Whole New World TVXQ 2007

Eres tú el Príncipe Azul - Mocedades

Did everyone go out and buy Sleeping Beauty on DVD last week? I didn't because I already bought the 2-disc Special Edition that came out a few years ago. Now I'm told that there is a new version that has an even wider aspect ration than the last release? You gotta be kidding me.

Anyway, today's cover is of Once Upon a Dream from Sleeping Beauty. The song comes from an adaptation of a piece Tchaikovsky wrote for his Sleeping Beauty ballet in the late 1800s.

Pyotr Tchaikovsky was written to by Ivan Vsevolozhsky, the Director of the Imperial Theatres in Saint Petersburg, who asked him to write a new ballet and after much discussion it was decided that it would be based on the famous fairy tale, Sleeping Beauty.

However, Tchaikovsky was not so sure about writing a new ballet because his last one, Swan Lake wasn't so popular. But it was made and by the early 1900s it became the second most popular ballet of its time. But Tchaikovsky wouldn't get to see the popularity of his ballet grow outside of Russia, he died in 1893.

This cover is by MOCEDADES wrote recorded it for their 21st album, MOCEDADES CANTA A WALT DISNEY.

Eres tú el Príncipe Azul Mocedades 1997

Bare Necessities - Tony Rebel

Today's Disney cover is the Jungle Book's Bare Necessities sung by reggae legend TONY REBEL.

Tony started out as a reggae singer in Jamaica in the late 80s. He recorded a few indie albums until 1992 when he was signed to Columbia. He has recorded many albums throughout the years and is still active today, although he does a lot more DJ work.

This version of Bare Necessities is really fun to listen to, especially when Tony gets cooking toward the end of the track.

Bare Necessities Tony Rebel 2001

Jack's Obsession - Sparklehorse

Not all of the tracks on NIGHTMARE REVISITED are good. And since today is Terrible Track Friday, I am going to share with you this terrible cover of Jack's Obsession by SPARKLEHORSE.

You can correct me if I'm wrong, but this cover is so unfaithful to the original that it should just be another song all together. Some people may find the new melody and bad falsetto voice pleasant to listen to but I find it to be boring and monotonous.

Jack's Obsession Sparklehorse 2008

Nabbed - Yoshida Brothers

Some of the more unique tracks on NIGHTMARE REVISITED are the instrumental tracks that introduce us to a wide variety of artist that we wouldn't normally listen to. Such is the case with the YOSHIDA BROTHERS whose specialty is the shamisen.

The shamisen is an ancient Japanese three-stringed instrument similar to a guitar. It is a sound I'm sure you have heard. If you listen to the track it will be the first sound you will hear.

The Yoshida Brothers have become pseudo-celebrities due to their modern approach to playing the instrument which is much more rapid and percussive and set to modern instruments like drums and synths. On Nabbed, the Yoshida Brothers add electronic elements which melds the vintage qualities of the shamisen with the elements of modern music perfectly.

Nabbed Yoshida Brothers 2008

Jack's Lament - The All-American Rejects

A bit more on the artistic side than their usual fare, THE ALL-AMERICAN REJECTS have contributed their rendition of Jack's Lament for NIGHTMARE REVISITED, a compilation album of Nightmare Before Christmas cover songs.

This is a really good cover. It keeps the feel of the original but also gives it a really different sound. And I really like how Tyson Ritter actually sings the lyrics rather than speaks them as Danny Elfman, the singing voice of Jack Skellington, does in the film.

This song comes just in time to remind us that these boys are still active. Their new single, Give You Hell, is currently getting radio play and their third studio album is out in two months.

Jack's Lament The All-American Rejects 2008

Overture - DeVotchKa

I hope all you Canadians had a great Thanksgiving! I know I did and I sure enjoyed the day off of work! But now I'm back and it's time to dish out some more covers!

What I missed telling you yesterday due to the holiday is that October 13 is The Nightmare Before Christmas' 15th anniversary. A few week ago Disney released NIGHTMARE REVISITED, a compilation album of hard rock and indie rock bands covering all the songs, including the score, of the movie's soundtrack. The result is a wonderful surprise and this week I'll be sharing with you four of the track off that album.

The opening song is the Overture which actually doesn't appear in the film, but is included as the first track on the official soundtrack. It is a really well-written piece by Danny Elfman which encompasses all the major themes of the movie and strings them all together in a beautiful medley.

Covering the Overture is the Denver indie rock band DEVOTCHKA. This quartet formed in 1997 and their musical style is comprised of Romani, Greek, Slavic, Bolero, Mariachi music with American punk and folk roots. This, coupled with their unique instrumental make up, which includes accordion, sousaphone, bouzouki and theramin, make them a delight to listen to.

If you have never heard of DeVotchKa before, I would suggest checking them out. You may have already heard some of their work as they wrote and recorded the score to the indie film Little Miss Sunshine.

Overture DeVotchKa 2008

When You Wish Upon a Star - Jason Mraz

To conclude When You Wish Upon a Star Week I have posted a live cover that Jason Mraz Live performed at Java Joe's on April 20, 2002 in Ocean Beach, California.

Jason uses this song as a vehicle for improv with his buddies Bushwalla and Gregory Page. While it is fun to listen to, this cover may be for Mraz enthusiasts only.

When You Wish Upon a Star Jason Mraz 2002

When You Wish Upon a Star - Lolita

And now for something completely different: A Eurobeat version of When You Wish Upon a Star!

LOLITA is a Eurobeat project that usually contains very fast synth lines but in this song they trade the synth for an electric guitar. The vocalist is Elena Gobbi Frattini who has been singing with the group since 1995.

When You Wish Upon a Star Lolita 2000

When You Wish Upon a Star - Jimmy Scott

Jazz is the musical style for day three of When You Wish Upon a Star Week and out of the numerous jazz versions of this song, I have chosen this cover by JIMMY SCOTT.

Scott began his career as a male jazz vocalist in the 40s but his career really took off when he signed to Ray Charles' record label, Tangerine, and recorded FALLING IN LOVE IS WONDERFUL which was produced by Charles.

He disappeared in the late 60s but made a comeback in 1991 which has survived to this very day. Now he usually plays Vegas.

Jimmy Scott has a genetic disorder called Kallmann's syndrome which prevented him from reaching puberty and has stunted his growth at five feet. This caused his voice to remain much higher than a typical male voice and gave his sound a distinct, romantic feeling that has won over many fans.

When You Wish Upon a Star Jimmy Scott 2002

Wish Upon a Star - Michelle Shocked

Day two of When You Wish Upon a Star Week and we take a turn into the world of guitar players with this nice folky/bluegrassy version that MICHELLE SHOCKED has called Wish Upon a Star.

This track come from her 2005 Disney cover album GOT NO STRINGS.

When You Wish Upon a Star Michelle Shocked 2005

When You Wish Upon a Star - Diana Ross & the Supremes

Welcome to another Monday and another work week. Since it's been a while since I posted any covers of When You Wish Upon a Star and since I have something like 200 of them, I have decided that this week will be When You Wish Upon a Star Week. Each day this week I will post a version of this Pinocchio classic in a different style.

This week's style is sort of a cross between motown and showtunes by DIANA ROSS & THE SUPREMES from when their style was heading in a different direction. This track comes from an unreleased Disney album by the Supremes from 1967.

When You Wish Upon a Star Diana Ross & the Supremes 1967

Second Star to the Right - Voices of Ascension

On the first Friday of every month I post a requested cover. Isreal wants to hear more from HEIGH-HO MOZART and to tie into our week-long Disney Orphans theme I am posting Second Star to the Right by the VOICES OF ASCENSION, one of the world's best professional choral ensembles.

Peter Pan's life has been full of excitement and adventures. Unfortunately, without the guidance of a parent or other good role model Peter has become a underdeveloped preteen. He's probably about 12 or 13 in the film but acts as if he were seven years old. He is a bratty orphan who exists in his own world and lives to please only himself. Not the stuff of a protagonist, but he does end up learning something at the end.

Of all the orphans in all the Disney films, Peter Pan is the most annoying and the most in desperate need of parental support. If only Wendy had stayed in Neverland...or would she regress to Peter Pan's level?

As with all the songs on HEIGH-HO MOZART, this song is modeled after a famous classical composer, in this case THOMAS TALLIS.

Tallis lived in the 16th century and specialized in writing music for the church. He wrote choral anthems that were sung in English rather than Latin which ended up being quite controversial.

The Second Star to the Right Voices of Ascension 1995

You'll Be In My Heart - Michael Crawford

Tarzan is the next orphan on our list for this week. Unlike a lot of Disney orphans, we see how Tarzan lost his parents. Luckily, the infant was adopted by a very kind ape that raise him to be a very well-adjusted person.

Tarzan falls into the 'determined orphan' category due to Kerchak's attitude toward him not being part of the family. Tarzan feels the need to prove himself to Kerchak and that has created a strong personality which he uses to help his adoptive family.

Tarzan's main theme is the hit single You'll Be In My Heart which was covered in 2001 by MICHAEL CRAWFORD from his album of Disney songs called THE DISNEY ALBUM.

You'll Be In My Heart Michael Crawford 2001

Someone's Waiting For You

This week I'm taking a look at orphans in Disney movies. Today, we focus on Penny, the little girl from the Rescuers.

I think Penny is the only animated Disney orphan to reside in an orphanage, probably because of the contemporary setting in the Rescuers. Most other Disney movies have more of a fantasy setting and the orphans live their lives in that fantasy world. This makes Penny stand out because her character is grounded in reality. She has had a hard life and has created a tough personality while still retaining her innocence.

Penny is sort of a combination between Aladdin and Mowgli. She is not as easily influenced as Mogli is in the Jungle Book. While she is used as a plot device, she does make decisions for herself, such as attempting to escape from her prison several times. But she is not quite as independent as Aladdin, mostly because she is still quite young and hasn't experienced the the world outside the doors of the orphanage yet.

The cover song for today is LEA SALONGA'S version of Someone's Waiting For You. Salonga is known for her roles as the singing voices of Jasmine and Mulan.

Someone's Waiting For You Lea Salonga 2000