Mickey Mouse Club - Aaron Neville




I just came across the new that Wayne Allwine, the voice of Mickey Mouse, has passed away at the age of 62 due to complications with diabetes.

Allwine picked up the job of voicing the iconic mouse for the New Mickey Mouse Club in 1977. The torch was officially passed from James MacDonald, who voiced Mickey Mouse from 1947-1977, to Wayne Allwine for 1983's Mickey's Christmas Carol.

Nearly every time you have heard Mickey in the last 32 years has been Allwine, including movies, TV shows, video games and the Disney parks! Allwine married Russi Taylor, the current voice of Minnie Mouse in 1991.

I am sharing this special cover of the Mickey Mouse Club end theme (called the Alma Mater) by AARON NEVILLE off the album STAY AWAKE, which serves as a fitting goodbye to Wayne Allwine.

Labels: aaron neville, mickey mouse club, mickey mouse march, rnb, stay awake album

  ¶ 7:24 AM 1 Comments Links to this post

  Some Day My Prince Will Come/One Song - En Vogue
EN VOGUE was very new in the R&B world when they recorded this track for SIMPLY MAD ABOUT THE MOUSE in 1991. They found success with their debut album in 1990 and Disney got them to record Some Day My Prince Will Come and One Song knowing that their name would be a big selling point.

Unfortunately, I think this song is the worst track on the album which is why I've chosen it for Terrible Track Friday. The tempo has been slowed down so much that it becomes boring. And while the vocals get more interesting toward the end, it is not enough to make me like the song. And what's with the cheesy background vocals on One Song? En Vogue has had a lot of good songs but this isn't one of them.

Some Day My Prince Will Come/One Song En Vogue 1991

Labels: en vogue, one song, rnb, simply mad about the mouse, snow white and the seven dwarfs, some day my prince will come, terrible

  ¶ 11:56 AM 2 Comments Links to this post

  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

Labels: music from the park, pirates of the caribbean, pointer sisters, pop, rnb, yo ho

  ¶ 2:04 PM 1 Comments Links to this post

  When You Wish Upon a Star - All-4-One
Finishing up Christmas Week today falls perfectly with When You Wish Upon a Star Friday! No, this is not another "Christmas Remix" like I posted yesterday.

It seems that When You Wish Upon a Star has gone on to be a holiday favourite in Sweden, Norway and Denmark! The song, in a Christmas context, makes reference to the Star of Bethlehem that the Wise Men follow to find Jesus.

R&B group ALL-4-ONE recorded a Christmas album in 1995 and included this song. Does this validate When You Wish Upon a Star's Christmas status?

I'll be taking a trip to visit some family and you won't see any posts on Monday to Wednesday. But I'll have a guest post on Thursday and an obscure Disney song on Friday! See you then!

Merry Christmas!

When You Wish Upon a Star All-4-One 1995

Labels: all-4-one, an all-4-one christmas, pinocchio, rnb, when you wish upon a star

  ¶ 7:47 AM 1 Comments Links to this post

  You'll Be in My Heart - Usher



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.

Labels: disneymania, rnb, tarzan, usher, you'll be in my heart

  ¶ 1:09 PM 3 Comments Links to this post