Six years ago, Disney Records released their first volume of DISNEYMANIA. This compilation album featured many stars interpreting their favourite Disney songs as they like to hear them.
Unfortunately, the subsequent volumes have manly been a showcase of Disney Channel stars rather than big name singers like Usher, N*SYNC, Christina Aguilera, Hillary Duff, Jessica Simpson and Smash Mouth.
Here is a track of that first DISNEYMANIA album. It is Hakuna Matata by the BAHA MEN. This cover is actually a cover of the Jimmy Cliff/Lebo M. version of the popular Lion King song. This version includes a verse that sounds like it's supposed to be Timon's reflection on life, a companion to Pumbaa's verse from the movie version.
Colors of the Wind - Ashanti featuring Lil' Sis Shi Shi
Say happy birthday to JUDY KUHN who was born fifty years ago on this day! Judy Kuhn, as many of you know, provided the singing voice for Pocahontas in Pocahontas and its sequel, Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World. To celebrate her birthday, I am posting a cover of one of Judy's songs, Colors of the Wind, this time performed by R&B/pop singer ASHANTI and her little sister Shi Shi.
Ashanti was one of those kids who was born to sing. Before she hit high school she had recorded a demo and set it to all the major record labels. But after a failed attempt to launch a career with P. Diddy's Bad Boy Records and Jive Records she decided to focus on high school. A smart move, returning to a normal life and taking some time to grow up before being thrown into the world of entertainment because very soon her whole life was going to change.
In 2001 Ashanti started singing background vocals for many big name stars. It wasn't long before her talent was noticed and she was featured on Fat Joe's What's Luv? and Ja Rule's Always on Time, two songs that hit #1 and #2 respectively in 2002, making Ashanti the first female to occupy the top two positions on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart!
So naturally, this was noticed by record execs and later that year she was in the studio recording her first album. The self-titled album, Ashanti, was released in April 2002, debut at number 1 on the R&B charts where it stayed for a few weeks, and sold over 504,000 thousand in its first week, making it the most successful first week debut sales for any female R&B artist! The album went on to win a Grammy for Best Contemporary R&B Album and has since gone triple platinum.
It comes as no surprise that everyone wanted a piece of the pie, including Disney who asked Ashanti to record Colors of the Wind for DISNEYMANIA. As far as covers go, this one is pretty dull. It doesn't at all give any clue to the amount of talent in Ashanti's voice. And her little sister Shi Shi is not that great of a singer. If you are hearing Ashanti for the first time with this song, please don't judge her. Check out some of her other work.
Ashanti's career has stayed strong since her debut and now she is getting into the acting career (one of her first roles was Dorothy Gale in Disney's The Muppets' Wizard of Oz). She has her fourth album coming out in a few weeks.
Don't forget that DISNEYMANIA 6 hits the stores today! I'll post a track from it as soon as I get a copy of my own.
Colors of the Wind Ashanti feat. Lil' Sis Shi Shi 2002
I know this is the moment most of you have been waiting for! A Hilary Duff cover song! Wait...you weren't waiting for this? Oh well, you get it anyway. I chose this cover of Tiki, Tiki, Tiki Room for linklewtt who requested a cover of a Disneyland attraction (I don't know if he's a Duff fan).
But rather than talk about HILARY DUFF, I'd rather talk about the Enchanted Tiki Room and its theme song.
Living on the west coast I don't get out to Florida much. But last year I got the privilege of spending a week at Walt Disney World. I have seen the Enchanted Tiki Room show at Disneyland a few times but never have I seen the Enchanted Tiki Room (Under New Management)! I was ready to be treated to something new and something that brings together two cool Disney characters, Iago and Zazu!
I thought the show was very well done, keeping in the character of the original show but adding funny commentary from the two birds who are now the owners of the show. I know many people think of this show as an abomination and that nothing should have been changed, but please remember that Walt Disney always wanted the Disney theme parks to be constantly changing, for new ideas to be brought to life and for people to have a different experience every time they entered the gates. Plus, the attraction is still the same at Disneyland.
The Tiki, Tiki, Tiki Room, which was written by the Sherman Brothers in 1963 was the first song ever written for an Audio-Animatronic attraction. Which makes sense since Audio-Anamatronics was invented and patented by Walt Disney Imagineering and the Enchanted Tiki Room was the first attraction to feature the new technology.
The final entry for Snow White Week is the lead track off the first volume of DISNEYMANIA. This was back when Disney worked on getting bigger names in the pop music business to contribute to the album rather than culling their own field of Disney Channel stars.
One of the most famous of all Disney songs, Some Day My Prince Will Come has been given a nice R&B treatment by pop singer ANASTACIA. The song was voted #19 by the American Film Institute on their 100 Greatest Songs in Movie History list. The only other Disney song to rank higher on the list was When You Wish Upon a Star which was #7. (Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious was #36, Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah was #47, Beauty and the Beast was #62 and Hakuna Matata was #99)
Anastacia Newkirk, as much as she has tried, has not had the popularity she wanted in North America. When her first album was released in 2000 it quickly rose to the top of the charts in several European and Asian countries and reached #2 in Australia! She can sell out stadiums in the east but is still a relatively unknown here in the west.
In 2003, she was diagnosed with breast cancer which affected the way she approached life and her music. She continued to tour until 2005 when she decided to focus on other interests like fashion. But rumour has it that she is working on a new album to be released later this year. Hopefully this one with be more popular in the States.
The first song I ever posted here at Covering the Mouse was a cover of Part of Your World by a Japanese pop band and several months and over a hundred songs have past and I haven't posted another! Well, it's time for that to change! Joshua wants to hear JESSICA SIMPSON'S version of Part of Your World, so here it is!
In 2002, Disney produced an album of their biggest songs reworked by the some of the biggest names in pop of the time. This was before Disney decided to use these albums as a vehicle to promote their own artists. You won't see the Jonas Brothers, Ashley Tisdale or Miley Cyrus on this first volume. Instead, DISNEYMANIA will treat you to Usher, NSYNC, Smash Mouth, Ashanti, S Club and Jessica Simpson! If you enjoy this genre then DISNEYMANIA is worth the money you pay (or don't pay).
This was also back in the day when Jessica Simpson was a respectable singer instead of a bad actor and a blonde who is constantly getting different sorts of plastic surgery. Simpson actually does a fine version of Part of Your World, mostly because I feel that Jessica really identifies with Ariel and means the lyrics she sings. She longs to explore new horizons apart from her over-protective father/manager. Unfortunately she obtained this 'freedom' and went on to star in Employee of the Month. Good job Jessica.
Today is the last day of Sequel Week and I am finishing it up with a song that was covered for the Jungle Book 2 by a group that only seems to be famous these days when they record covers.
I haven't seen Jungle Book 2 nor do I want to. Unlike Return to Neverland which was released a year earlier, Jungle Book 2 doesn't have that stellar looking animation nor does it appear to have a captivating story. However, I have hear the I Wan'na Be Like You cover by SMASH MOUTH and it is great! Smash Mouth has taken this track and reworked it into their distinct surf-rock style that has made them so popular for movie soundtracks. The song was first released on DISNEYMANIA but can also be found on the movie soundtrack as well as MOSH PIT ON DISNEY.
Here is an interesting note about Jungle Book 2: King Louie was not in the movie at all because voice actor Jim Cummings provided a perfect imitation of Louis Prima's voice for Talespin in 1992. Prima's widow, Gia Prima, sued Disney for the unauthorized use of his distinctive voice. King Louie was never heard from again.
In February of 2002, R&B artist USHER won the Grammy Award for ‘Best Male R&B Vocal Performance’ so it made sense for Disney to ask him to be a part of DISNEYMANIA, the first volume in a series of albums devoted to Disney cover songs. The track Usher covers here is the Phil Collins version of You'll Be in My Heart from Tarzan.
The song, about the strong bond that love can have between two people, has become very popular in the mainstream world. Phil Collins' powerful drums mixed with the gentile melody and lyrics made it an anthem for those who are forced to leave loved one behind.
Usher's treatment to the song is very appropriate. The R&B drum tracks and guitar work keep the feel of the song but compliment Usher's style perfectly. Usher has a great voice and he uses it perfectly here. His talent is being able to show off by not showing off. He keeps it simple and tasteful.
Over the years, many musical artists have paid tribute to the music of Disney. This blog pays tribute to those artists.
You won't find any original Disney songs here, these are all covers, interpretations and variations on the tunes we all love.
Covering the Mouse is not associated with Disney or any major record label. If you wish to have a song removed from my site, please email me and I will be happy to comply.
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