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

True to Your Heart - Raven-Symoné

Happy birthday Raven-Symoné who turns 22 today! The child star, who started her career on The Cosby Show as Olivia when she was three, went on to star in Disney most popular and longest run television show, That's So Raven. And like most Disney Channel stars, her career doesn't stop with the one TV show. She has also starred in multiple TV specials, movies and soundtrack albums.

RAVEN has also recorded a few Disney cover songs for the DISNEYMANIA series. True to Your Heart is taken from the credits of Mulan and is originally performed by Stevie Wonder and 98°. Raven's version doesn't do much to make it different, except for the fact that it is sung by female vocals.

Hear some Disney covers from Raven's co-stars Orlando Brown and Anneliese Van Der Pol.

True to Your Heart Raven-Symoné 2004

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 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.

Welcome Jump5 2004

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 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 Unbirthday 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 that draw on many other styles of music to make up their sound. Check back in a few week and you'll hear another Disney cover from TMBG!

Baroque Hoedown They Might Be Giants 2004