Forever and Ever - Asparagus

Eleven years ago on this day, Disney released their third direct-to-video feature, Pooh's Grand Adventure: The Search for Christopher Robin. This is the first official sequel for the Winnie the Pooh franchise which was followed by The Tigger Movie in 2000.

This movie is notable for being the last time Paul Winchell would voice Tigger. Winchell provided the voice for Tigger in the shorts from the 60s and reprised his role for the first season of the New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh tv series in 1989. Winchell retired from the business in 1990, handing over the reigns to Jim Cummings, the voice of Winnie the Pooh since the death of Sterling Holloway.

1997 saw the return of Winchell for Pooh's Grand Adventure but he officially handed over the reigns to Cummings for good after that. Cummings has been the voice of Pooh and Tigger ever since.

Forever and Ever is one of the better songs in this movie and was written by the famous Sherman Brothers. This version, off DIVE INTO DISNEY, was recorded by Japanese rock band ASPARAGUS.

Forever and Ever Asparagus 2002

Yo Ho (A Pirate's Life For Me) - Jonas Brothers

If you know only a handful of important people in Disney history, GEORGE BRUNS should be one of them. And it is today that we are celebrating his birthday with a cover of a song he wrote with X. Atencio in 1967.

George Bruns was a proud member of the Walt Disney Company from the 50s through the 70s. He composed many well-known Disney songs (Ballad of Davy Crockett, Love, Yo Ho) and wrote many movie scores including the wonderful adaptation of Tchaikovsky's Sleeping Beauty for the film of the same name.

Not only trained in classical, Bruns was also an expert jazz player and played trombone in the Disney employee's band FIREHOUSE FIVE PLUS TWO.

Yo Ho (A Pirate's Life For Me) was written by Bruns with lyrics by Xavier Atencio in 1967 for the theme park ride. The song has become very popular, having recently been introduced to a new generation by being featured in the Pirates of the Carribean trilogy twenty years after Bruns' death!

This cover appears on DISNEYMANA 4 and is by the Disney pop/punk band JONAS BROTHERS. Due to the clean image of all Disney employees, the lyrics "Drink up me hearties" has been replaced with "Stand up me hearties."

Yo Ho (A Pirate's Life For Me) Jonas Brothers 2006

Kiss the Girl - Ashley Tisdale

Happy birthday to ASHELY TISDALE who is celebrating her 23rd birthday today. Tisdale, who started her career as the girl whose head turns into a giant orange in the Gushers commercials, is best known for her roles as Maddie Fitzpatrick on The Suite Life of Zack & Cody and Sharpay Evans High School Musical.

Ashley will reprise her role as Sharpay Evans in the upcoming High School Musical 3: Senior Year which is actually getting a theatrical release rather than premiering on the Disney Channel like the last two.

While Ashley hasn't really branched out of the Disney world since becoming famous, she has branched out into other areas of media. She has released her own pop/rock record and has provided the voices of a few Disney characters including Candace Flynn in Phineas and Ferb, Camille Leon in Kim Possible and the Lead Blueberry Scout in A Bug's Life.

Kiss the Girl is a small sample of her music. While most of her stuff falls in the ultra-cheesy pop catagory, this song is a fun, high-energy version of the Little Mermaid ballad. I actually kind of like it a lot.

Kiss the Girl Ashley Tisdale 2007

Real Gone - Billy Ray Cyrus

It was two years ago today that Disney/Pixar released their seventh feature film, Cars. Even though this film was the third highest grossing film of 2006, it wasn't as popular as many thought it would be. Many thought that it was lacking the same charm as previous Pixar films. But enough people liked it because there will be a sequel in 2012.

Even more successful than the film was the film's soundtrack which actually reached Gold, the first ever Pixar soundtrack to do so. This is probably due to the many big name stars that contribute songs. Sheryl Crow, Chuck Berry, Rascal Flatts, John Mayer, and James Taylor who won a Grammy Award for Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media and was nominated for a Best Original Song Oscar for Our Town.

Cars' opening number is Real Gone by Sheryl Crow, a high energy rock song that sets the mood for the movie. This Crow cover is by BILLY RAY CYRUS and appears on DISNEYMANIA 6.

Years from now, Billy Ray Cyrus will probably be known for only two things: Achy Breaky Heart and being the father of Miley Cyrus. Yes, it's sad, but even though he has recorded ten albums, two of which are multi-Platinum and another Gold, and starred in his own tv series, Doc, as well as the regular role of Hannah Montana's father, he will forever be in the shadow of that number one hit that launched his career in 1992.

Cyrus is set to release a new album sometime by the end of this year and Real Gone is on the track list.

Real Gone Billy Ray Cyrus 2008

That's How You Know - Demi Lovato

Sorry to everyone who thought you were going to hear a song yesterday. I thought I hit the publish button but I must not have because I came to write today's post and found the draft sitting there waiting for me.

I have listened to DISNEYMANIA 6 and it is just what you would expect from a DISNEYMANIA album. Lots of pre-teen pop fluff. There are a few good tracks but there are more than the usual amount of bad dance tracks in this volume.

I was deciding which track to post today and when I heard this one I knew I had to share it with you. Not because it's good, mind you, but because I couldn't believe how well this song translated into a standard Disney pop/punk song. If I didn't know that it was a cover of the Academy Award winning song from Enchanted I would have thought it was originally written in this style.

That's How You Know is sung by DEMI LOVATO, a 15-year old ex-Barney cast member who has just started her career with Disney. Disney is promoting her early as her first gig with the House of Mouse, Camp Rock debuts next month and her first album from Disney Records will be out in August. I'm sure she will be a success. She certainly fits the cookie-cutter.

That's How You Know Demi Lovato 2008

Part of Your World - Captain Bogg & Salty

Finishing up our Pirate Week is a mermaid lullaby sung by an Oregon based pirate rock band. CAPTAIN BOGG & SALTY formed in 1999, performing original songs with a pirate theme. They have three self-produced album on their own record label and are very popular in the Portland area. The consistantly play sold out shows everywhere from libraries, schools and zoos to bars, clubs and casinos! They are popular with children and adults all together.

On their third album, PRELUDE TO MUTANY, you will find a familiar track. A certain pirate version of Part of Your World from the Little Mermaid. Not only is this a great version of the song, the novelty of it being sung by a pirate is priceless! Although it my get old in the future, I'm not getting tired of it yet.

I hope to see one of their shows sooner or later but I don't think they ever come up to Canada. You hear that Captain Bogg? Set sail for the Port of Vancouver!

Part of Your World Captain Bogg & Salty 2006

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

Many people have asked me to post something by BUCKETHEAD, the guitar shredder with a KFC bucket on his head! The man is a guitar legend and a genius songwriter. He has recorded dozens of albums and has a huge fan base all over the world! And he loves Disney songs! He constantly incorporates Disney tunes in his sets, including Yo Ho (A Pirate's Life For Me) which he recorded for his 1996 release GIANT ROBOT.

Today marks the 41st anniversary of the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disneyland. Many things have changed in the displays over the years. Many of the displays have been changed to be more politically correct. But these are pirates! They are not meant to be PC! But I guess some people don't want children to think that the pirate's life is a glorified life.

The picture I have posted above is one of the more recent changes. It used to be a drunk pirate who was holding a bit of a girl's clothing and the girl is hiding in the barrel behind him. As the ride would pass you could hear him saying things about the wench. Now it has been changed to a pirate with a treasure map and you can see Jack Sparrow in the barrel behind him. They say the change was made to be a movie tie-in but I think they also got pressure from PC activists.

Yo Ho (A Pirate's Life For Me) Buckethead 1994

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

I have a special treat for everyone this week! I have decided to commemorate the anniversary of the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disneyland with a special week of Pirate tunes! I know I haven't posted any versions of Yo Ho (A Pirate's Life For Me) yet so this week I'm catching up by posting three versions from Monday to Wednesday with a special treat on Thursday.

Yo Ho was written in 1967 by George Bruns and Xavier Atencio. Bruns wrote many songs and scores for Disney during the 50s and 60s, including The Ballad of Davy Crockett, A Cowboy Needs a Horse, Jack and Old Mac, 101 Dalmatians, Robin Hood and Jungle Book. Xavier 'X' Atencio was a Disney artist turned Imagineer and co-wrote much of the music you hear during the original Disneyland rides, like Haunted Mansion and Adventure Thru Inner Space.

The song, which is actually 16 minutes long if you sit through the ride, has been covered numerous times, including this version by 80s British punk band SNUFF. It is a great energetic tune and has been covered in many different styles. It translates really well to punk rock as you can hear with this version.

Yo Ho (A Pirate's Life For Me) Snuff 2002

You Can Fly! You Can! You Can Fly! - Wrench

In 2005, the Japanese punk rock band WRENCH took a break from the music scene. They had been part of it since 1992 and were doing everything they could to reach fans and crank out the albums.

But lead singer Shige felt that they were in a rut, so they took a hiatus and did some soul searching. But last year they went back to the studio to record their newest album, containing the same punk, hardcore and rock sounds as before but now adding his new found love of DJing to bring a new sound to their style.

This version of You Can Fly! is taken from the 2004 album MOSH PIT ON DISNEY and features their old style and is probably the best moshing track. However, I think this version is a disgrace to the Peter Pan classic. The song is now ruined thanks to Wrench. Hard rock and screaming vocals do not work with You Can Fly! This is why I am picking this track for this month's Terrible Track Friday.

You Can Fly! You Can Fly! You Can Fly! Wrench 2004

Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah - Dave Clark Five

In the 60s there was no band more popular than the Beatles. They were everywhere. There was no escaping. But there was another band that was desperately wanting to compete with the Fab Four. That band was the DAVE CLARK FIVE.

Named after their drummer, the Dave Clark Five became a popular choice for many as their single Glad All Over hit #1 on the UK charts in 1964, knocking I Want to Hold Your Hand from its spot. Glad All Over also made a noteworthy appearance on the US charts at #6, making them the first British band, other than the Beatles, to make the US charts. Two years later, Over and Over would hit #1 on the US Charts.

The group disbanded in 1970 but each musician continued to make music for many years. Last week lead singer and keyboardist Mike Smith passed away.

The Dave Clark Five's first LP was released in 1964 and contained a cover of the Song of the South classic Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah. This version is a popular was to cover the song. They take the time signature and cut it in half. The song really settles down into a nice groove and takes its time rather than the happy-go-lucky feel of the original.

Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah The Dave Clark Five 1964

Poor Unfortunate Souls - Jonas Brothers

The Little Mermaid was one of the first movies I saw in the theatre and the first Disney movies I saw in the theatre. So imagine being eight years old and seeing Ursula, an octopus sea-witch, casting evil magic spells, turning merpeople into little plants and growing several stories high! She was frightening!

But looking at her character now, I can see even more evil in the form of sneaky deception. Her true goal is taking down King Triton for banishing her from the kingdom many years earlier but this is not revealed until the climax of the film. The whole movie makes you think that she is playing with Ariel's mind for no reason other than to have fun, but then -BAM!- she reveals that she has had a plan all along! That's my kind of villain!

Poor Unfortunate Souls is a song from which I never thought we'd hear a good rock cover. I thought it to be too 'showtuney'. Too much starting and stopping and playing with tempo. But the JONAS BROTHERS proved me wrong with the amazing cover! They cut a bit of the 'showtuney' parts out of the middle but the rest is there and it rocks!

A few of the lyrics are changed to remove any mention of magic. I'm not sure why.

ORIGINAL: They weren't kidding when they called me, well, a witch.
COVER: They weren't kidding when they called me kinda strange.

ORIGINAL: And I fortunately know a little magic.
COVER: And I fortunately know a little secret.

ORIGINAL: They come flocking to my cauldron, crying "Spells, Ursula, please!"
COVER: They come flocking to me, crying "Will you help us, will you please?"

I can only assume that Disney wanted to make the song a little more kid friendly. Or maybe the Jonas Brothers don't believe in magic and only agreed to the song if they could change the lyrics. Who knows?

A cover of Poor Unfortunate Souls was one of the earliest request I got so I am happy to be able to finally fill it. Have a great weekend!

Poor Unfortunate Souls Jonas Brothers 2006

Trust In Me - Belly

Brian Ibbott visiting again from Coverville. Kurtis was nice enough to invite me to guest post during Villains Week (heyyyyy, wait a minute...), and even before I knew the theme for the week, I had my song picked out.

Today's song originally comes from the 1967 animated adaptation of Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book. Speaking personally, it's hard to think of any of the villains of Jungle Book as villains. You look at Cruella De Vil? She chose to be evil. How about Jafar? Again, voluntarily wicked. But the antagonists in Jungle Book were really just being their animal-instinct selves. Shere Khan is a tiger, for pete's sake. What's he going to do? Suddenly become a vegetarian? King Louie is just satisfying the curiosity of his baboon-like obsession with fire. And then there's Kaa. Kaa the boa constrictor, who captures Mowgli and hypnotizes him to the strains of Trust In Me, a slithery slink of a song, with the hopes of dining on him. Snakelike behavior? Okay, maybe not the hypnotism, but you get the picture.

Siouxie and the Banshees' version of Trust In Me may be more well known, but the cover by BELLY should not be discounted. On my cover song-based podcast, Coverville, I featured the lineage of the band Belly in episode 352. Stepsisters Kristin Hersh and Tanya Donnelly formed Throwing Muses in the early 1980's. In 1990, Donnelly started working with the Pixies' Kim Deal in a band called The Breeders, and shortly afterwards, left the Muses. And as if she weren't busy enough, Donnelly formed a new band, Belly, that same year. Belly's biggest hit came in 1991, a confusing track called Feed The Tree. And staying together (through a couple lineup changes) through 1996, Tree remained their biggest hit.

Appearing on the Japanese exclusive BABY SILVERTOOTH in 1993 and their 2002 BEST OF compilation, Belly's take on Trust In Me is less sinister without Siouxie's vocals, but Tanya's octave-higher performance makes the song more hypnotic. In fact, listening to it now, I...

Trust In Me Belly 1993

Go the Distance - Doping Panda

Japan's indie rock scene has grown a great deal since the turn of the century. DOPING PANDA is one of the many bands that have found success in a culture flooded with JPOP. Since 2001 they have released four albums with another coming out in March.

They contributed this Hercules song for the Japanese Disney tribute album DIVE INTO DISNEY in 2002. Their rock version of Go the Distance is really great. I love what they did to the verses and the Japanese accents is very cute. I love this version far more than hearing Michael Bolton sing it. Michael Bolton = Good writer/Bad singer

There are very few Hercules covers out there but Chris requested one so I deliver! You'll hear another in a few weeks.

Have a great weekend and join me next week for Villains Week!

Go the Distance Doping Panda 2002

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

I Wan'na Be Like You - Smash Mouth

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.

I Wan'na Be Like You Smash Mouth 2002

Give a Little Whistle - the band apart

THE BAND APART was formed in 1997 in Japan by three friends who just wanted to play metal cover songs. They took their name from Quentin Tarentino's production company A Band Apart. They soon realized that they wanted to explore their style and write their own music. So while playing cover songs they secretly recorded new material, with all English lyrics, and in 2000 they released three demos and official became a pop rock band.

Their musical style varies from time to time, ranging from rock and punk to jazz, bossa nova and a little bit of electronica. the band apart's first album was released on their own record label, Asian Gothic, in 2002 and to coincide with the release they recorded a track for the Japanese Disney tribute album MOSH PIT ON DISNEY. The track they covered is Give a Little Whistle from Pinocchio.

This track is a real treat because we really get a taste of the jazz influence in their music. Their Japanese accents are charming and the arrangement is really fun.

And don't forget that today is Pinocchio's 68th anniverary!

Give a Little Whistle the band apart 2004

Hi-Diddle-Dee-Dee - Monteroza 4950

To celebrate WALTER CATLETT'S birthday, I'm posting a cover of Hi-Diddle-Dee-Dee from Pinocchio. Catlett provided the voice of J. Worthington Foulfellow the Fox who tricked Pinocchio into joining the puppet show. He sang this song to influence Pinocchio with the promise of fame and wealth.

This cover of Hi-Diddle-Dee-Dee isn't really a cover. Monteroza 4950 create their own version and add some voice samples of someone saying lyrics from the song. It is completely different. However, I am considering this to be a valid cover because it appears on the Disney produced MOSH PIT ON DISNEY cover album. Covers of Hi-Diddle-Dee-Dee are hard to come by and if anybody knows of any please let me know! (The other cover I have is off the STAY AWAKE album).

I couldn't find any information on Monteroza 4950. If anyone can point me to some webpages I would love to read up on them! Today's post is a communial post. Everyone needs to contribute! Leave info in the comments!

Hi-Diddle-Dee-Dee Monteroza 4950 2004

Stranger Like Me - Everlife

Happy birthday Phil Collins! The hit songwriter for Tarzan and Brother Bear turns 57 today and I'm celebrating by posting a song from Tarzan. Joy wanted to hear a cover of Stranger Like Me so I figure this is the perfect time to post this cover by EVERLIFE.

Everlife is a trio of sisters who taught themselves how to play their instruments and write music and have been together as a musical group since 1997. They first entered the Christian music scene in 2005 on SHELTERrecords but moved on to Buena Vista Records (aka Disney) in 2005. They recorded many songs for Disney soundtracks between 2005 and 2006 and then in early 2007 they released their first album on Buena Vista.

Their pop/rock style is very typical of the Disney Records roster. They fit very well with Jump5 and Hannah Montana. But don't totally write them off because of that. Their cover of Stranger Like Me is a real compliment to a rock-god like Phil Collins. They only add a few extra elements to the song, more distortion, extra guitar lines, harmonies, and female vocals, but it sure changes the feel and makes it their own.

Stranger Like Me Everlife 2005

When You Wish Upon a Star - American Hi-Fi

For When You Wish Upon a Star Week I've chosen another track from the popular Japanese release MOSH PIT ON DISNEY. This time it's by American rock band AMERICAN HI-FI.

You probably know American Hi-Fi from their hit single Flavor of the Week, the first single off their self-titled debut album from 2001. They have released six or seven more singles but none of them have done nearly as well as that first one. The group formed in 1998 under the name BMX Girls. They soon realized that BMX Girls sucked as a band name and started looking for a new one. Here's the cool part: They just happened to meet Keith Richards in a bar and during the conversation mentioned that they were looking for a new name, to which he replied, "How about American Hi-Fi?" How cool is that?

American Hi-Fi has recorded a few covers over the years including Surrender (Cheap Trick), Message in a Bottle (Police), the Transformers theme song, and When You Wish Upon a Star. Their power-pop style and great harmonies make this Pinocchio cover a good one. If you are at work, you may want to turn your volume down because it is a bit loud.

When You Wish Upon a Star American Hi-Fi 2004

What's This? - Fall Out Boy

Christmas is just around the corner so I have declared this Christmas Week at Covering the Mouse! Each day this week will feature a special Disney Christmas cover song for your enjoyment! We begin this week with What's This from Disney's stop-motion Halloween/Christmas movie Nightmare Before Christmas.

What's This is the song Jack Skellington sings when he discovers Christmas Town. He has the wonder and excitement of a littel child as he sees the magic of Christmas, something he's never experienced in Halloween Town. The song was originally written and performed by Danny Elfman and this cover version was rearranged by pop/punk group FALL OUT BOY.

Fall Out Boy's arrangement is great! I was so against it when I first heard that they covered this song. I know that this quartet from Chicago has had a few hit songs and a double platinum album but I'm not really a fan of the group so I was not looking forward to hearing their take on one of my favourite Disney songs. But once I heard it I quickly changed my tune! It's probably one of the best Disney covers I've heard! I especially like the character that Patrick Stump puts into his vocals. He has great range and makes the song super fun.

What's This? Fall Out Boy 2006

I Wan'na Be Like You - Los Lobos

I have had a few requests for this special version of I Wan'na Be Like You by Los Lobos on my request page and elsewhere so I've have decided to pull it out for this month's Request Friday. Fdtate and cindy, this one is for you!

It is a happy coinsidence that today is also Louis Prima's birthday! If he were still alive today he would be 97! Prima, as you all should know, voiced King Louie in the Jungle Book.

LOS LOBOS is a band with a huge cult following that didn't have the commercial success of a pop band in the US. They released many singles but one in particular put them on the map. It was their cover of Ritchie Valens' La Bamba in 1987. The song went straight to number one and can still be heard on many Adult Contemporary radio stations.

This made them prime candidates for the STAY AWAKE tribute album in 1988. It is one of the most popular tracks on the record.

They are still together and releasing albums to this day. Their music is consistantly better with every album and it is my hope to hear them take on another Disney song one of these days.

I Wan'na Be Like You Los Lobos 1988

Mickey Mouse Club March - Andrew WK

If Walt Disney was still alive today, he'd be celebrating his 106th birthday. I've chosen to celebrate his birthday by singing the theme to his famous television show, The Mickey Mouse Club!

This hard rock version of the the Mickey Mouse March is remade by rocker ANDREW WK who joins the list of 'people we never thought we'd hear a Disney cover song from'. But his version is really good! So full of energy and excitement! I'm sure that Walt would have loved this as the theme song in a more modern version of the show!

Andrew WK is a very good musician. He has been performing and writing since he was thirteen! He is best known for his two albums, I GET WET, which sports a picture of him bleeding from the nose on the cover, and THE WOLF, on which he played all the instruments. His career has taken him on tours all over the world and more recently behind the soundboard to record and mix other artists! This is a man of many talents!

Mickey Mouse Club March Andrew WK 2004

When You Wish Upon a Star - Gene Simmons

It's time for another installment of When You Wish Upon a Star Week and Miko Mars has requested to hear the Gene Simmons version so here it is, just for you!

One of the most successful rock acts of the 70s has got to be KISS. If you're not familiar with their songs (I Wanna Rock and Roll All Night) then you must be familiar with their outlandish costumes that include white and black face paint and elongated tounges. GENE SIMMONS was the KISS bassist and vocalist as is probably the most successful of all the members due to his reputation with women and various tv programs.

In 1978, all four members of KISS released self-titled solo albums. The final track on Gene's is a very passionate version of When You Wish Upon a Star. It is said that this song is very special from his childhood (Gene and his mother fled to America after being the only surviving members of their family from the Holocaust) and you can tell that he puts full emotion into singing it. The arrangement stays quite faithful to the original while updating the sound to fit Gene's style.

When You Wish Upon a Star Gene Simmons 1978

This is Halloween - Marilyn Manson

When I heard that Disney was re-releasing the Nightmare Before Christmas soundtrack I couldn't believe it when I read who was going to be doing cover songs on the album. Marilyn Manson? Fall Out Boy? Panic! at the Disco? Could these bands really pull off Disney cover tunes? The answer is yes! Well, for the most part, anyway.

These days, Nightmare Before Christmas has gained a huge cult following of wannabe goth and emo teens and Disney has seen this and released a whole ton of merch to cater to this crowd. Knowing this, it makes it easier to realize why Disney picked the artists they did for this album.

Now, about this track. MARILYN MANSON is a perfect match for this Danny Elfman classic! Both styles work together in complete unison! The song works with Manson's goth-industrial sound and lyrically, it is as if Elfman was writing this song about Manson himself! And hearing Manson sing lines like I am the clown with the tear-away face and I am the monster under your bed! doesn't sound unusual at all! Absolutely perfect! This is one of my favourite Disney covers.

Happy Halloween everyone! I hope it is a spooky night!

This is Halloween Marilyn Manson 2006

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