Someday - Lee Roy Parnell

Today celebrates the birth of VICTOR HUGO in 1802. Hugo is best known for writing Notre-Dame de Paris, also known as Hunchback of Notre Dame. The novel has been adapted to theatre many times since it was written and can still be seen to this day! Many film adaptations have been made dating back to the beginning of the medium, the earliest version dating back to 1911!

Of course you know that Disney made an animated version of the film in 1996 that was met with much criticism to fans of the original work. But I like this film as one of my favourite Disney films. It has very beautiful, rich animation, the score and songs are fantastic and the darker themes make this Disney movie stand out. A little bit of trivia: The names of two of the gargoyles are Victor and Hugo, named after the author of the novel.

The song that I have picked for you today is one that is only heard during the credits of the movie. Someday was supposed to be sung by Esmeralda but was dropped when God Help the Outcasts came along. However, a pop version by All-4-One was already recorded so they stuck it at the end of the film and on the soundtrack.

This version was recorded by country artist LEE ROY PARNELL for the BEST OF COUNTRY SING THE BEST OF DISNEY album in 1996, just after the movie came out. Chris, this song is for you because you wanted to hear something from Hunchback. And look forward to a Hercules cover coming later this week!

Someday Lee Roy Parnell 1996

Some Day My Prince Will Come - Tanya Tucker

Hello everybody! I trust you had a great weekend and are now going back to work for another five days! Well, to help you through the next five days I have declared it Country Music Week at Covering the Mouse. Now before all you country music haters decide to never return to my blog ever again, I'd like to say that I have a good mix of covers that focus on the different areas of country music, so you won't hear Tim McGraw wannabes for the next week.

To start of Country Music Week we have TANYA TUCKER singing her version of Snow White's Some Day My Prince Will Come off the BEST OF COUNTRY SING THE BEST OF DISNEY cover album from 1996.

Tanya Tucker is no stranger to country music. She had her first hit single, Delta Dawn, in 1972 at the age of 13! (A year later Delta Dawn was recorded by Pete's Dragon's very own, Helen Reddy!) Since then she has done everything a country music artist could hope to do in a life long career: She has released 26 albums with a 27th coming next year, she's had number one hits, gold records, grammy awards, written a book, played at the super bowl half time show, been inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame and starred in a reality tv show called Tuckerville!

Her version of Some Day My Prince Will Come turns this sweet love ballad into an upbeat country hoe-down! She breathes new life into this song without completely destroying it. She also adds a verse at the beginning that I haven't heard before. I don't know if she wrote it or if it comes from another version. If anyone can help please leave a comment! UPDATE: A reader has let me know that these lyrics are from the film. It is the conversation that Snow White and the Dwarfs have before she sings this song. I've just never heard these word sung before and I guess that's why I didn't recognize them. Thanks for the help!

I know that fans of this song will find this cover a little hard to swallow but the arrangement is nice and it turns the song into a song of excitement for when the Prince actually does arrive!

(A big thank you to thedisneyblog.com and boingboing.net for plugging this site!)

Some Day My Prince Will Come Tanya Tucker 1996

Beauty and the Beast - Diamond Rio

Walt Disney Animation's 30th animated feature film, Beauty and the Beast, is 16 years old today! Let's celebrate the classic by playing a cover of the titular song.

Today's cover is by modern country group DIAMOND RIO. The group, who formed in 1984, was the first country act to have their debut single hit number one on the Billboard country charts. Five albums later, the group is stronger than ever and their single One More Day, which was released early 2001, made it huge in radio rotation as a tribute song for those lost in the 9/11 tragedy.

This is the second track I've posted from THE BEST OF COUNTRY SING THE BEST OF DISNEY. It is not one of the best on the disc but it is certainly worth listening to. What are your thoughts on this cover?

Beauty and the Beast Diamond Rio 1996

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.

Kiss the Girl Little Texas 1996