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

  Alice - Pogo



I was so impressed by this unique EP by POGO, aka Nick Bertke, when I heard it last week that I knew that I had to share another track with you today. In fact, I've decided to make this whole week Remix Week. Each day will focus on a different style of music remixing.

Bertke uses samples (sound clips) from Alice in Wonderland to create all new songs. About 90% of the sounds you will hear in this track, titled Alice, are from the film. I can't imagine the amount of time it would take to edit something like this. It's unique and sounds great.

The most recognizable sample in this song is a line from Very Good Advice. All four of the tracks can be downloaded for free here.

Labels: alice in wonderland, electronic, pogo, very good advice, wonderland

  ¶ 1:03 PM 2 Comments Links to this post

  Very Good Advice - Dave Brubeck Quartet




One of my readers, Joe, has requested some Alice in Wonderland covers and I am here to deliver! Tying that into another event, if the voice of the Cheshire Cat, Sterling Holloway, was still alive today he would turn 102! Happy birthday!

STERLING HOLOWAY did a lot of work with Disney. And I mean a lot! He was the narrator in a number of Disney shorts, Mr. Stork in Dumbo, Kaa in The Jungle Book, Roquefort in The Aristocats, and of course, Winnie the Pooh, a role that he voiced until his retirement in 1979!

If I could have, I would have posted a cover of the Jabberwocky song that the Cheshire Cat sings in Alice in Wonderland. So instead I give you Very Good Advice. This song is a turning point in the film for Alice. She desperately tries to be an adult but realizes in this song that she still has a lot to learn.

THE DAVE BRUBECK QUARTET take the melody and turn it into a happy jazz standard. It doesn't really follow the same feel as its original counterpart. If you own DAVE DIGS DISNEY on vinyl you won't hear this song as it is an unreleased track from the studio sessions that was included on the CD release.

Labels: alice in wonderland, dave brubeck quartet, dave digs disney, jazz, very good advice

  ¶ 7:15 AM 2 Comments Links to this post