Circle of Life/Can You Feel the Love Tonight - Richard Page

Here is a short Lion King medley (or is it an Elton John medley?) of the two most popular tracks from the movie, Circle of Life and Can You Feel the Love Tonight. This medley is sung by RICHARD PAGE, lead sing of the 80s pop band MR. MISTER.

Mr. Mister had a successful run in the late 80s after releasing their second album WELCOME TO THE REAL WORLD in 1985. The album hit #1 in 1986 as did their hit singles Broken Wings and Kyrie. After the band broke up in 1989, Page started writing music for other pop artists, including Kenny Loggins, Josh Groban, Meatloaf, Michael Jackson and Celine Dion, just to name a few.

If you grew up in the 80s there is no doubt that you know Mr. Mister, but did you know that before Richard Page became the lead singer of the group he turned down offers to be lead singer for Chicago and Toto? With both of those bands still going strong today I wonder if Page is regretting his decision to go with Mr. Mister.

For a medley, this one is pretty weak. I love medleys and really appreciate the transitions that tie one song to the next. But this song almost comes to a stop before jumping into Can You Feel. I would have liked to hear a little bit more creativity from this hit songwriter.

Circle of Life/Can You Feel the Love Tonight Richard Page 1996

Yo Ho (A Pirate's Life For Me) - Pointer Sisters

A big 'ol "happy birthday" goes out to the eldest Pointer sister today! Ruth Pointer turns 62 today and I've chosen a special cover that fits our Pirates Week theme!

Today, the POINTER SISTERS many only be heard in commericals with their hit I'm So Excited, but there was one time when this sister act was a top selling pop/r&b singing group. They broke into the scene in 1973 with their hit Yes We Can Can and were a solid force for the rest of the 70s and into the 80s with hits like Fire, Slow Hand and Jump (For My Love).

If you are a Sesame Street child like I am, I'm sure you will recognize the Pointer Sisters singing the classic Pinball Number Count.

I've posted the Pointer Sisters version of Yo Ho to give this week a bit of variety. While this isn't the best version of the song, it is a good representation of the Pointer Sisters' style and abilities.

Yo Ho (A Pirate's Life For Me) The Pointer Sisters 1996

The Ballad of Davy Crockett - Tim Curry

TIM CURRY'S most notable roles are Pennywise the Clown in It and, of course, the transvestite mad scientist Dr. Frank-N-Furter in the cult classic Rocky Horror Picture Show.

But did you know that Curry has had a long career with the Walt Disney Company? He has lent his voice to a number of animated projects including Darkwing Duck, Gargoyles, Mighty Ducks: the Animated Series, Beauty and the Beast: the Enchanted Christmas, Eloise: the Animated Series and Phineas and Ferb!

But did you also know that Tim Curry had a brief career as a rock star from 1978-1981? He did! And he released three albums and a Greatest Hits compilation in that time. While most of the songs were cover song, he did write his own originals, but none of them made it as popular singles.

In 1996, Curry returned to the studio to record The Ballad of Davy Crockett for the MUSIC FROM THE PARK album that featured many pop stars singing songs from Disneyland. This song represents Frontierland and is sung in a style that is similar to the way he portrayed Dr. Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

The Ballad of Davy Crockett Tim Curry 1996

Mickey Mouse March/Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah Medley - The Disney Big Band

We continue Big Band Week with a medley of two of the most famous Disney songs of all: The Mickey Mouse March from the Mickey Mouse Club and Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah from Song of the South. It is performed by THE DISNEY BIG BAND who you can hear performing live throughout the park and resorts.

This track is from the MUSIC FROM THE PARK album that features song that you can hear in Disneyland. Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah is from Splash Mountain and the Mickey Mouse March can be heard practically everywhere you go in various different styles.

I really like this arrangement because of the creativity of the arranger. Both of the songs don't have very much to work with but the arranger takes both melodies and finds a way to make them interesting to listen to. Some of the melodies are also changed up a bit. At 1:30 the M-I-C-K-E-Y bit is syncopated and they throw in a couple of extra notes to keep the rhythm going. It sounds sort of like M-I-C-C-K-E-Y-Y-M-O-U-S-E.

Mickey Mouse March/Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah Medley The Disney Big Band 1996

Grim Grinning Ghosts - Barenaked Ladies

I can't think of a better group to take on Grim Grinning Ghosts! The BARENAKED LADIES have this sense of style and fun that they put into their music and their arrangement of this song is perfect!

The song, written in 1969 and originally sung by the voice of Tony the Tiger, Thurl Ravenscroft, has many verses and can be heard in its various incarnations throughout the 13 minute Haunted Mansion ride at Disneyland.

The Haunted Mansion was in planning stages when Walt Disney died and changed drastically after his death so he never got to see the final results or hear this song. As one of the better attractions in the park, I think Walt would have been happy the way it turned out.

Grim Grinning Ghosts Barenaked Ladies 1996