MELLOW DISNEY is a Japanese R&B Disney cover album. However, the Japanese have a very different interpretation of the term R&B. If this album is a good example of Japanese R&B, it doesn't really sound anything like modern American R&B, nor doesn it sound like the classic form of R&B (Ray Charles, et al).
This "R&B" version of When You Wish Upon a Star is by Japanese artist KEN HIRAI who is a pop/R&B artist according to his website and every other site that features him. Based solely on this one song, he sounds more of a jazz singer, what with the scat solo and the jazz piano. I can hear a few R&B traits in his singing, but coupled with the music I wouldn't say that it is R&B.
But don't let this conversation lead you to think that I don't like this cover! I think it is fantastic! It starts a bit slow, but once it kicks in at about :45 it really gets a groove going! I love the pairing of the light jazz piano with the distinctly Japanese percussion beat. The percussion reminds me of the music in any Super Mario video game when Yoshi shows up.
2 comments:
This is another excellent cover of this song. I dig the rhythmic percussion, and I might dissagree that it does sound like something out of the Super Mario games- the Mario Galaxy orchestra is more classical-based then jazz-based, in my opinion.
My favourite Disney song in an original interpretation. Wow! I love it!
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