Stand Out - Mitchell Musso



Last week Walt Disney Records released DISNEYMANIA, 7 which features a lot of the normal Disney Channel crew, along with a few new faces. This collection of Disney covers is made up of a lot of standard Disney songs, along with some first time covers like this one: Stand Up by Hannah Montana star MITCHEL MUSSO.

Out of all the songs in A Goofy Movie, Stand Up is easily my favourite. It comes early in the movie and is used to display characteristics that Max Goof could only display under the guise of his hero, the rock star Powerline.

Stand Up and Powerline's other song, I2I, were originally performed by R&B singer Tevin Campbell, and co-written by Prince. The cover is pretty true to the original, but takes out a lot of the 90s, bringing it into modern day pop/rock.

It took a decade and a half, but we finally have a cover song from A Goofy Movie! This is the only one I am aware of. If you know of another Goofy Movie cover, please let me know.

Labels: disneymania 7, goofy movie, mitchel musso, pop, rock, stand out

  ¶ 1:16 PM 1 Comments Links to this post

  Very Good Advice - Robert Smith



As they do with most of their blockbuster movies, Disney has released an album of "music inspired by the film" to coincide with today's release of Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland. ALMOST ALICE features many artists that have brought their interpretations of Wonderland to song. The album has quite a range of artists, from Avril Lavigne to Wolfmother to the Plain White T's.

All the songs on the album are originals, except for this cover of Very Good Advice by ROBERT SMITH. I can't think of anyone better to be associated with a Tim Burton film than Robert Smith. As the lead singer of the Cure, Smith help define the goth movement in the 80s that seems to go hand in hind with Tim Burton today.

Musically, this cover is a bit more chipper than the sorrowful original, but still manages to bring across the point of the song. Smith creates an atmosphere that only he could do, perfect for this album and perfect for a Tim Burton movie.

Labels: alice in wonderland, almost alice, robert smith, rock, very good advice

  ¶ 10:42 AM 0 Comments Links to this post

  A Whole New World - Gollbetty



GOLLBETTY'S punk/ska version of A Whole New World may be the complete opposite of the original love ballad from Aladdin, but there is something strangely compelling about it.

The seven-piece ska band from Nagoya, Japan has been perfecting their sound since 2004 and have released four albums and two DVDs as well as appearing on a bunch of compilation albums, like last year's DISNEY ROCKS!

I have many covers of this song, but never have I heard it so loud, so fast, so different. Lyrically, if you take the romance out of the song and view it as a bunch of friends on a road trip off to discover 'a whole new world', it kind of actually makes sense. I commend Gollbetty for pulling this off in a way that is unique and fun to listen to.

Labels: a whole new world, aladdin, disney rocks, gollbetty, punk, rock, ska

  ¶ 4:41 PM 1 Comments Links to this post

  Give a Little Whistle - Tōru Hidaka (Beat Crusaders)



Even though we celebrated the 70th anniversary of Pinocchio a few weeks ago, the film was premiered only in California. It was on this day that Pinocchio saw its wide release in the United States and for the rest of this week we will be featuring the classic songs from the movie that everyone loves so very, very much.

Today's cover of Give a Little Whistle is a really fun version by TŌRU HIDAKA and his band BEAT CRUSADERS.

Beat Crusaders, or BECR as they are often known, are a very versatile rock band from Japan whose styles range from power pop to punk rock. You can here a bit of the pop sound that they display as they play with the melody and chords of the Jiminy Cricket tune. It is unique and makes you want to get up and dance! This is just one of the many excellent tracks found on the Japanese exclusive MOSH PIT ON DISNEY from 2004.

Any time this band makes any live appearances, whether on stage or television, they always cover their faces with drawings of their own faces that they have printed out on a dot-matrix printer. Head over to their website to check that out!

Labels: beat crusaders, give a little whistle, pinocchio, rock, toru hidaka

  ¶ 8:08 AM 0 Comments Links to this post

  Main Street Electrical Parade - →Pia-no-jaC←



→PIA-NO-JAC← is a Japanese musical duo who blends classical and jazz piano music with their unique style, which they call "Hybrid Instrumental". In 2005, Hayato Tatsunari and Tadahiro Moritomi formed →Pia-no-jaC← and have released four albums featuring the piano and the cajón.

I'm going to assume you all know what the piano is, but what about the cajón? A cajón is a box made out of thin plywood that you sit on and slap with your hands. Th instrument was created in the early 19th century and many groups use it today. It is especially popular in African and Spanish music. →Pia-no-jaC← got their name by taking the names of their instruments and squishing them together.

If you listen to any of their music, it is easy to see why they picked the Baroque Hoedown from the Main Street Electrical Parade as their song choice for DISNEY ROCKS, an exclusive Japanese cover album released in early 2009. The arrangement is brilliant and Hayato's piano playing is inspirational (to me anyway). I hope you enjoy it.

Labels: baroque hoedown, disney rocks, main street electrical parade, pia-no-jac, rock

  ¶ 8:13 AM 1 Comments Links to this post

  Chip 'n' Dale Rescue Rangers - alterEGO



Indie pop/punk band ALTEREGO has been recording and touring since 2004, but I've only heard about them now. The four piece band from the state of Oregon released a whole album of TV show theme song covers in January 2009 called A.E.T.V.

Among the 34 tracks are a few theme songs from the early days of the Disney Afternoon, including this cover of Chip 'n' Dale Rescue Rangers. Cartoon lovers will also be able to hear covers of Captain Planet, Thundercats and Doug or if you are just a fan of the 90s in general, you may like to hear their version of Saved By the Bell, Family Matters or Malcolm in the Middle.

But the best part of this album is that the band has made it completely free to download! In fact, all of their albums are completely free to download, including their newest release, FAST FORWARD.

Cover fans will have a blast with alterEGO as many covers can be found on their site, including Blink 182, Tom Petty, AHA and more! Check 'em out!

Labels: aetv, alterego, chip n dale rescue rangers, chip n dale rescue rangers theme, rock

  ¶ 9:53 AM 2 Comments Links to this post

  Heigh-Ho - Los Lobos



In 1988, LOS LOBOS covered I Wan'na Be Like You for STAY AWAKE, the 1988 Disney tribute album.

Now, more than twenty years later, Los Lobos has recorded an entire album of Disney cover songs! LOS LOBOS GOES DISNEY was released this past September as an Amazon exclusive before hitting the rest of the world. I'm happy to say that the entire album is full of great music and amazing covers by an amazing band.

Today's cover song is the lead track off the disc, Heigh-Ho from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The Mexican-America band from East LA gives this tune a dramatic energy that only they could do. Their American Chicano rock style is perfectly represented in this cover and using the horn section instead of whistling is brilliant! Los Lobos is coming up on their forty year anniversary in 2013 and it doesn't look like they're slowing down!

EXTRA: Here is a music video that Disney has released to go along with the album!

Labels: heigh-ho, los lobos, los lobos goes disney, rock, snow white and the seven dwarfs

  ¶ 6:27 AM 2 Comments Links to this post

  Never Smile at a Crocodile - Captain Bogg and Salty
To celebrate ten glorious years of nautical nonsense, CAPTIAN BOGG AND SALTY released their fourth album, EMPHATICAL PIRATICAL a month ago.

The disc offers the same piratical goodies that fans have come to know and love over the years. Remember this cover of Part of Your World from their previous album?

The band was nice enough to send along this cover of Never Smile at a Crocodile which was recorded for their newest release. I hope you all enjoy it! ...And buy the album!

Never Smile at a Crocodile Captain Bogg and Salty 2009

Labels: captain bogg and salty, emphatical piratical, never smile at a crocodile, peter pan, rock

  ¶ 11:07 AM 2 Comments Links to this post

  Oogie Boogie's Song - Tiger Army
It has been 13 years that TIGER ARMY has making music, but after four studio albums and many roster changes, the band is still touring the world with their psychobilly punk rock style.

Last year, Tiger Army, contributed their version of Oogie Boogie's Song for the Nightmare Before Christmas tribute album NIGHTMARE REVISITED. Although the song wasn't selected to be part of the track list, it was included as a bonus track on iTunes.

Oogie Boogie's Song Tiger Army 2008

Labels: nightmare before christmas, nightmare revisited, oogie boogies song, punk, rock, tiger army

  ¶ 11:11 AM 0 Comments Links to this post

  I Wanna Be Like You - Phish
One of the best unknown bands of the 90s is the Vermont based PHISH. The group, known for their progressive rock/jazz fusion style, had a remarkable twenty year career before a hiatus in 2004. Phish was known for their extensive improvisation solos and extended grooves which sometimes caused songs to run almost twenty minutes long!

After forming in 1988, the band quickly gained a cult following and by 1991 they were signed by Elektra and touring across the country. They were also one of the first bands to have a Usenet newsgroup on the internet which helped them spread their music across the world. Along with their thirteen studio albums, they have an extensive twenty-one volume series of live albums as well as dozens of their shows that can be downloaded off their website.

Not only was their music innovative, but they were constantly trying to find new ways to interact with their audience. During their fall tour in 1995, Phish challenged their fans to a game of chess. The band would make a move at the beginning of the show and the fans could vote on the next move during intermission and the move would be made at the end of the show. Then they would take the game to the next show on the tour and repeat the process. The audience lost a few month later, but would win the second game which ended on New Year's Eve, 1995.

This cover of the Jungle Book's I Wanna Be Like You is a great example of the fun they had during their shows. The song is sung by drummer John Fishman who didn't sing lead vocals very often, except on choice cover songs.

I Wanna Be Like You Phish ???

Labels: i wan'na be like you, jungle book, phish, rock

  ¶ 6:14 AM 2 Comments Links to this post

  This is Halloween - Panic! at the Disco
Have a safe and happy Halloween, everyone! Please be extra safe in your activities tonight whether you're a child or an adult!

To get you in the mood, here is This is Halloween covered by Las Vegas rockers Panic at the Disco as heard on the re-release of the Nightmare Before Christmas soundtrack from two years ago.

There are two versions of this song on the re-released soundtrack, the other being Marilyn Manson's version. In my opinion, this cover is not that special as it is mainly just a sound alike version of the original and not a very good representation of the band.

This is Halloween Panic at the Disco 2006

Labels: nightmare before christmas, nightmare before christmas soundtrack, panic at the disco, rock, this is halloween

  ¶ 5:08 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

  Jack's Obsession - Sparklehorse
Not all of the tracks on NIGHTMARE REVISITED are good. And since today is Terrible Track Friday, I am going to share with you this terrible cover of Jack's Obsession by SPARKLEHORSE.

You can correct me if I'm wrong, but this cover is so unfaithful to the original that it should just be another song all together. Some people may find the new melody and bad falsetto voice pleasant to listen to but I find it to be boring and monotonous.

Jack's Obsession Sparklehorse 2008

Labels: jack's obsession, nightmare before christmas, nightmare revisited, rock, sparklehorse

  ¶ 10:12 AM 7 Comments Links to this post

  Jack's Lament - The All-American Rejects
A bit more on the artistic side than their usual fare, THE ALL-AMERICAN REJECTS have contributed their rendition of Jack's Lament for NIGHTMARE REVISITED, a compilation album of Nightmare Before Christmas cover songs.

This is a really good cover. It keeps the feel of the original but also gives it a really different sound. And I really like how Tyson Ritter actually sings the lyrics rather than speaks them as Danny Elfman, the singing voice of Jack Skellington, does in the film.

This song comes just in time to remind us that these boys are still active. Their new single, Give You Hell, is currently getting radio play and their third studio album is out in two months.

Jack's Lament The All-American Rejects 2008

Labels: all-american rejects, jack's lament, nightmare before christmas, nightmare revisited, rock

  ¶ 8:48 AM 1 Comments Links to this post

  Overture - DeVotchKa
I hope all you Canadians had a great Thanksgiving! I know I did and I sure enjoyed the day off of work! But now I'm back and it's time to dish out some more covers!

What I missed telling you yesterday due to the holiday is that October 13 is The Nightmare Before Christmas' 15th anniversary. A few week ago Disney released NIGHTMARE REVISITED, a compilation album of hard rock and indie rock bands covering all the songs, including the score, of the movie's soundtrack. The result is a wonderful surprise and this week I'll be sharing with you four of the track off that album.

The opening song is the Overture which actually doesn't appear in the film, but is included as the first track on the official soundtrack. It is a really well-written piece by Danny Elfman which encompasses all the major themes of the movie and strings them all together in a beautiful medley.

Covering the Overture is the Denver indie rock band DEVOTCHKA. This quartet formed in 1997 and their musical style is comprised of Romani, Greek, Slavic, Bolero, Mariachi music with American punk and folk roots. This, coupled with their unique instrumental make up, which includes accordion, sousaphone, bouzouki and theramin, make them a delight to listen to.

If you have never heard of DeVotchKa before, I would suggest checking them out. You may have already heard some of their work as they wrote and recorded the score to the indie film Little Miss Sunshine.

Overture DeVotchKa 2008

Labels: devotchka, nightmare before christmas, nightmare revisited, overture, rock

  ¶ 6:57 AM 0 Comments Links to this post

  Be Prepared - Chris Blakey & Supervillain feat. Keterol
Kevin, Mr. Munkeepants and nullgnu, have all requested to hear a cover of Be Prepared, the villainous song sung by Scar in The Lion King. Well, Be Prepared covers are very rare, but I have one that would work for this month's installment of Terrible Track Friday.

This version is by New York indie artist CHRIS BLAKEY who teamed up with a buddy called Supervillain to record this song for a contest. According to his website, the contest had its contestants cover a Disney song in the style of another artist. Chris chose to cover Be Prepared in the style of alternative metal rockers TOOL.

I love Tool and I would have never imagined Be Prepared in their style but Chris actually pulls it off well. Unfortunately, the original is pretty much lost except for the lyrics. It really isn't the same song any more.

What makes this song fit into the Terrible Track Friday category is the vocals. Sorry Supervillain, the singing is just too monotonous. And same with the speaking part in the middle. It just sounds like the singer and speakers are bored, which makes the song quite boring by the end of it.

Be Prepared Chris Blakey & Supervillain 2007

This is a second version from their website with rerecorded vocals by Keterol. While the singing is slightly better and sounds a lot more like Tool singer Maynard James Keenan, it is quite pitchy and not all that pleasant to listen to. Invest in a pitch corrector! It'll help a bit, but ultimately singing lessons are the way to go to get a better handle on vocal control. But don't try to ever get as good as Maynard, it just won't happen.

Keep trying, Chris and company! These covers have tons of potential!

Be Prepared Chris Blakey & Supervillain feat. Keterol 2007

Labels: be prepared, chris blakey, keterol, lion king, rock, supervillain, terrible

  ¶ 6:01 PM 1 Comments Links to this post

  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

Labels: asparagus, dive into disney, forever and ever, pooh's grand adventure, rock

  ¶ 7:45 PM 0 Comments Links to this post