covering the mouse

Mickey Mouse Club - Aaron Neville

kurtis@coveringthemouse.com (Kurtis) — Wed, 20 May 2009 14:24:00 +0000

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 official passed from Jimmy 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 March end theme by AARON NEVILLE off the album STAY AWAKE, which serves as a fitting goodbye to Wayne Allwine.

Mickey Mouse March
Aaron Neville
1988

Never Smile at a Crocodile - Captain Bogg and Salty

kurtis@coveringthemouse.com (Kurtis) — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 18:07:00 +0000

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

Reflection - Mickey B.

kurtis@coveringthemouse.com (Kurtis) — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 16:11:00 +0000

It's very fitting that a person with the name Mickey would cover a Disney song. And that is exactly the name of the person who brings us today's cover!

MICKEY B. is a Eurobeat artist who has been making music over the last decade. He has provided many tracks for the various EUROBEAT DISNEY albums over the years with this friends. This version of Mulan's Reflection can be found on EUROBEAT DISNEY 2 which was released in 2001.

The Eurobeat circle is a small one and often the artists work together to make the tracks perfect. Mickey B. has collaborated with other Eurobeat artists such as Domino, Matt Land, A-Beat-C and Spiders From Mars.

Even if you are not a fan of Eurobeat, you have to admit that this techno version of Reflection is better than any of the Christina Aguilera remixes out there.

Reflection
Mickey B.
2001

Miracles from Molecules - Chris Calabrese

kurtis@coveringthemouse.com (Kurtis) — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 19:11:00 +0000

A big part of Disneyland history is the Adventure Thru Inner Space. A Tomorrowland ride that shrunk the audience and took them on a tour of the world from the perspective of someone who is smaller than an atom. The attraction opened in 1967 as part of the 'New Tomorrowland' and was one of the first rides to feature the new Omnimover system created by Disney. Any of the attractions today still use this system, including the Haunted Mansion.

Adventure Thru Inner Space closed in 1985 to make room for Star Tours which opened two years later and currently serves thousands every day.

The whole ride was narrated by legendary voice actor Paul Frees and a musical number, written by the Sherman Brothers called Miracles from Molecules, was featured at the beginning and at the end of the ride.

Ragtime pianist and Main Street performer CHRIS CALABRESE provides us with a nice ragtime version of Miracles from Molecules on his album RAGTIME AT THE MAGICAL KINGDOMS.

Miracles from Molecules
Chris Calabrese
1998

Oogie Boogie's Song - Tiger Army

kurtis@coveringthemouse.com (Kurtis) — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 19:11:00 +0000

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

Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah - Disney Singers

kurtis@coveringthemouse.com (Kurtis) — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 15:04:00 +0000

The song is just over two minutes long, but it is two minutes that is packed full of yummy disco goodness! The 1979 record MICKEY MOUSE DISCO is still a delight to listen to after all these years. If you haven't heard the whole thing, I encourage you to visit iTunes soon!

Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah is only one of the tracks that caused this album to reach #35 on the Billboard Pop Album Charts!

Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah
Disney Singers
1979

You've Got a Friend in Me - Yami Bolo

kurtis@coveringthemouse.com (Kurtis) — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 14:45:00 +0000

YAMI BOLO is a reggae artist from Kingston, Jamaica. He started recording professionally when he was twenty and has released twenty-two albums over two decades.

Bolo is still active in the music industry, touring all over the world but always returning to Jamaica.

In 2001, Yami Bolo covered You've Got a Friend in Me for REGGAE FOR KIDS, a collaboration of many popular reggae artists covering songs from the Disney library. It stands as one of the best covers of this song, mainly due to the way the lyrics relate to the reggae culture.

You've Got a Friend In Me
Yami Bolo
2001

When I See an Elephant Fly - Jim Brickman feat. Josh Gracin

kurtis@coveringthemouse.com (Kurtis) — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 17:32:00 +0000

I've posted a few songs already from JIM BRICKMAN'S Disney tribute, THE DISNEY SONGBOOK. Most of the album features Brickman's instrumental piano playing, but Brickman brought along a few friends to help him out with some of the tunes. This time it's JOSH GRACIN who lends his vocals to this cover of Dumbo's When I See an Elephant Fly.

Gracin got his start in music when he appeared on the second season of American Idol in 2003. Although he didn't win the competition, fourth place was enough for record labels to sit up and notice the potential. In 2004 he was signed to Lyric Street Records and released a self-titled album which spawned three singles that each made Billboard's Hot Country Top 5!

With two albums under his belt (one of which is Gold), Gracin is preparing to release a third album soon. He also has a potential movie deal.

When I See an Elephant Fly
Jim Brickman feat. Josh Gracin
2005

Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo - Mormon Tabernacle Choir

kurtis@coveringthemouse.com (Kurtis) — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 17:32:00 +0000

Here is another fun selection by THE MORMON TABERNACLE CHOIR.

In 1990, under the direction of JEROLD OTTLEY, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir recorded a Walt Disney tribute album called WHEN YOU WISH UPON A STAR. The choir is backed by Columbia Records very own Columbia Symphony Orchestra and together they create a beautiful journey through the history of Disney music classics.

Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo
Mormon Tabernacle Choir
1990

Gummi Bears - Suburban Legends

kurtis@coveringthemouse.com (Kurtis) — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 00:43:00 +0000

In 1998 a band called BOMB SQUAD released a five-song self-titled EP that included a cover of the theme to The Adventures of the Gummi Bears. A year later, Bomb Squad changed their name to SUBURBAN LEGENDS and went on to world wide fame with their unique style of third-wave ska.

The Suburban Legends is a big fan of Disney, often playing in Downtown Disney in Disneyland. They often cover Disney songs in their set but none of them have been recorded for an album except this one.

Gummi Bears is one of Disney's first animated television shows and it debuted in 1985. It was a big hit and an even bigger hit when it joined the Disney Afternoon programming block in 1990. It aired for six seasons before falling into syndication. The show has a loyal fan base, but not enough for Buena Vista to release a second volume of DVDs, puzzling many fans who bought volume one.

Gummi Bears
Bomb Squad
1998

The Ballad of Davy Crockett - Kentucky Headhunters

kurtis@coveringthemouse.com (Kurtis) — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 16:40:00 +0000

THE KENTUCKY HEADHUNETERS is the name of the second era of music for Greg Martin. Martin formed the band ITCHY BROTHER (a character from the cartoon King Leonardo and his Short Subjects) in 1968 with a few family members and had reasonable success for the next 14 years.

Martin tried to recreate the group in 1985 but when a few of the members refused to be a part of it he decided to create a new group. Thus, the Kentucky Headhunters were born. In 1991, the Headhunters released their second album ELECTRIC BARNYARD which included this cover of The Ballad of Davy Crockett. The record was a hit in the Country Music world and has since gone Gold.

The Ballad of Davy Crockett
Kentucky Headhunters
1991

DuckTales - Jeff Pescetto

kurtis@coveringthemouse.com (Kurtis) — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 16:35:00 +0000

Disney entered the area of television animation rather late in the game. Pioneering the world of live action television since the 50s, it wasn't until the 80s when Disney started producing animated series.

Disney decided to invest a lot of money into the production of these new animated shows, something unheard of at the time. Consider He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, one of the most popular shows of the 80s. This was the caliber of television animation until Disney came along and turned everything upside down.

Shows like Wuzzles and Gummi Bears were popular, but it wasn't until DuckTales debuted in 1987 that Disney found a real hit. Based on the Uncle Scrooge comic books by Carl Barks, DuckTales paved the way for many more of Disney's classic characters to reach a new generation, including Chip n' Dale, Baloo the Bear and Goofy.

The song I am sharing with you is not really a cover, but an extended studio version of the famous theme song, complete with a second verse. I consider it Covering the Mouse material because it is not a common version of the song.

This track, sung by JEFF PESCETTO who also sang the original theme for the series, was released on the DISNEY AFTERNOON soundtrack in 1990, just after the formation of the programming block of the same name.

DuckTales
Jeff Pescetto
1990

The Second Star to the Right - Jessie McCartney

kurtis@coveringthemouse.com (Kurtis) — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 15:00:00 +0000

Today's cover is The Second Star to the Right by Disney star JESSE MCCARTNEY, who started his career in 1999 in the boy band Dreamstreet. He was twelve. He left the group at fifteen to focus on his solo career and now, at 21 years old, he has released three albums and has been a part of many television shows and movies. Jesse recorded this Peter Pan classic for DISNEYMANIA 2 in 2004, right around the time of his first solo release.

And speaking of Peter Pan, I saw a commercial on TV that said the DVD will be pulled from the shelves and locked in the vault soon, so if you haven't picked it up yet you'd better do it soon!

The Second Star to the Right
Jesse McCartney
2004

I Wanna Be Like You - Phish

kurtis@coveringthemouse.com (Kurtis) — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 14:14:00 +0000

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
???

Hakuna Matata - Rude Bones

kurtis@coveringthemouse.com (Kurtis) — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 23:16:00 +0000

Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a safe and enjoyable holiday! I know I did.

To start off this new year, I would like to share with you a cover of Hakuna Matata by Japanese third-wave ska band RUDE BONES from the Japanese exclusive album, DIVE INTO DISNEY.

Rude Bones has been around for the past 15 years and has recently released a Greatest Hits compilation. Sadly, Hakuna Matata didn't make the cut. Maybe this is due to the fact that the horn section didn't make it onto this track.

If you own Dive into Disney, you can hear an alternate version of this song as a hidden track at the end of the album. You can also find a live version of the song on the DVD CAPDOWN AND RUDEBONES - LIVE IN BRIGHTON 2003 which was released in the UK.

Hakuna Matata
Rude Bones
2002

What's This? - Flip Kowlier, featuring Gabriel Ríos and Michael Franti

kurtis@coveringthemouse.com (Kurtis) — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 19:21:00 +0000

I know that there have only been once-a-week posts here at Covering the Mouse lately. It has bee a busy time and I hope to get back to five days a week after New Year's Day.

But in the meantime, here is a special Christmas cover or you!

FLIP KOWLIER is a Belgian singer-songwriter who arranged this cover of What's This for the Music For Life fundraiser to help raise funds for the Red Cross Anti-Mine campaign by the popular Belgian radio station Studio Brussels in 2006.

The vocals are provided by GABRIEL RIOS, a Puerto Rican musician who lives in Belgium, and MICHAEL FRANTI, frontman of the band Spearhead and a political activist.

There are not many covers of What's This out there but this one is one of the best.

Merry Christmas!

What's This?
Flip Kowlier, featuring Gabriel Ríos and Michael Franti
2006

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious - Diana Ross & the Supremes

kurtis@coveringthemouse.com (Kurtis) — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 18:36:00 +0000

Here's another track from the unreleased album by DIANA ROSS & THE SUPREMES. Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious is one of the best tracks on the album and one of the most fun too! Some of the words have been changed to be relevant to the gender. Here is an example:

Because I was afraid to speak when I was just a lass
Me father gave me nose a tweak and told me I was sassy.

Clocking in under two minutes, this track is a great cross between motown and showtunes and features a great horn section.

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious
Diana Ross & the Supremes
1967

My Name is James - Tico (Little Tempo)

kurtis@coveringthemouse.com (Kurtis) — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 16:05:00 +0000

The music of James and the Giant Peach haven't gone down in the history books as great Disney music, but some people seem to like the music enough to cover a song or two.

My Name is James has been covered here by TAKESHI "TICO" TOKI, the steel pan player from the Japanese dub group LITTLE TEMPO.

Little Tempo has been the number one dub group in Japan for the past ten years. They have recorded multiple albums, including one earlier this year! While not playing with Little Tempo, Tico is a DJ and a producer and tours the world with his other band, Breath Mark.

My Name is James
Tico (Little Tempo)
2001

Whistle While You Work - Larry Clinton and His Orchestra, feat. Bea Wain

kurtis@coveringthemouse.com (Kurtis) — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:02:00 +0000

Shortly after the release of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in 1937, Whistle While You Work became a hit song, topping the charts for several week following. The song became an instant classic and was used in many jazz and big band performances all over the country.

One of the earliest covers of this song was recorded in 1938 by jazz orchestra leader LARRY CLINTON featuring the wonderful voice of BEA WAIN.

Clinton was a prominent big band leader in the late 30s and 40s. While is notable for his arranging skills (he arranged music for Louis Armstrong, the Dorsey Brothers and many others) he is better known for taking classical work, such as the work of Debussy and Tchaikovsky, and arranging them for his jazz orchestra and adding lyrics for his singers to sing. He called this 'Swinging the Classics'.

When Clinton was putting together his band he knew he needed a singer. He heard Bea Wain sing an 8-bar solo on the radio one day and new that was his voice. He sought her out and asked her if she would sing for him and the rest is history.

Whistle While You Work
Larry Clinton and His Orchestra, feat. Bea Wain
1938

Part of Your World - Miley Cyrus

kurtis@coveringthemouse.com (Kurtis) — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 19:09:00 +0000

I saw Bolt over the weekend and was quite happy with what I saw. While I enjoyed Chicken Little, I really didn't like Meet the Robinsons and both movies are not nearly as good as even the worst Pixar films.

Bolt is the third animated feature from Disney Animation since they made the switch from traditional 2D animation to 3D CGI. And it is certainly their best effort to date. The animation is really good with much improvement over facial animation and the movements of the animals. The backgrounds have this beautiful pseudo-realism to them using a stylized painted look that takes us back to the olden days of painted background.

The story, however cliché it may be, was still fun and engaging. The characters are lovable and a welcome addition to Disney's cast of characters, especially the scene-stealing Rhino the Hamster!

The voice work of the film's top billing actors is also really good. John Travolta delivers a great performance as Bolt, altering his voice just enough so that the viewer isn't saying "I can't believe Travolta's voice is coming out of this dog". Cyrus doesn't do much to change her voice so it is the same raspy sounding teen squeak that you may be used to if you are a fan of Hanna Montana. But it fits the character and I guess that's all you can really ask for. Her acting was pretty good especially since it was the animation that did most of the acting for her.

And it is MILEY CYRUS that ties in our cover song today. Here she sings Ariel's ballad Part of Your World, but reworks it into a rock ballad for DISNEYMANIA 5.

Part of Your World
Miley Cyrus
2007

Baby Mine - Paige Morehead

kurtis@coveringthemouse.com (Kurtis) — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 19:04:00 +0000

This gentle version of Baby Mine comes from DISNEY BABIES LULLABY, the perfect album to lull your newborn to sleep. The disc is composed of gentle versions of Disney songs plus a few original tracks.

Paige Morehead is on of the artists on this album, however I can't find any information about her online. I think she may be a studio musician but I am not sure. Can anyone help me out with this?

Baby Mine
Paige Morehead
1991

Chim Chim Cher-ee - Mrs. Miller

kurtis@coveringthemouse.com (Kurtis) — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 01:52:00 +0000

To end your week of on a sour note, this month's Terrible Track is an oldie by none other than MRS. MILLER.

Mrs. Miller is notorious for her off-key renditions of rock, pop and showtune classics. She began her career in 1966 when Capital Records signed her based on her unique sense of style. Her debut album MRS. MILLER'S GREATEST HITS was a huge success. The album sold over 250,000 in three weeks and her Petula Clark cover of Downtown even made it to the Billboard charts! Everyone wanted to hear this new farce.

Or was it farce? By reading interviews with Mrs. Miller, it is evident that she might not have thought of herself as a bad singer. Was she in on the whole thing or was she totally oblivious to her joke of a career?

While she may have caught on to the joke by the time her second and third albums were out, she didn't clue into the fact that the label was getting her to record songs for her fourth album, MRS. MILLER DOES HER THING, that were all alluding to drugs. Songs like Mary Jane, Green Thumb, Renaissance of Smut, and Granny Bopper were all featured on the album as was a cover image of Mrs. Miller holding a plate of brownies!

This infuriated Mrs. Miller when she later discovered the meanings of the symbolism. But it was too late to stop the album as it was already in stores. She broke her contract with Capital and set out to form her own label where she could make her own 'serious' albums. She soon faded into obscurity.

Chim Chim Cher-ee
Mrs. Miller
1966

Exit Music - On the Record Cast

kurtis@coveringthemouse.com (Kurtis) — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 19:45:00 +0000

Today track is the Exit Music from the short lived Broadway production On the Record from 2005. This medley features a variety of songs:

Mickey Mouse March (Mickey Mouse Club)
Colonel Hathi's March (Jungle Book)
Cruella De Vil (101 Dalmatians)
A Spoonful of Sugar (Mary Poppins)
Winnie the Pooh (Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree)
I've Got No Strings (Pinocchio)

Like most of the music in this production, the arrangements in this track is what makes it so special. The songs just seem to flow into each other as if they were all written by the same person.

I know there is not much the Colonel Hathi's March part of this medley, but it's the only cover of that song I've got.

Exit Music
On the Record Ensemble
2005

Reflection - Mannheim Steamroller

kurtis@coveringthemouse.com (Kurtis) — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 15:28:00 +0000

MANNHEIM STEAMROLLER delights us today with another track off their album of Disney cover tunes, MANNHEIM STEAMROLLER MEETS THE MOUSE.

This time the song is Reflection from Mulan and in my opinion, this is one of the better tracks on the album. I find that Chip Davis, the man behind the Steamroller, is much better at adapting contemporary pop songs than the classic Disney tunes. The Asian sounds he puts in this cover are a nice touch too.

Reflection
Mannheim Steamroller
1999

Good Company - Cubismo Grafico Five

kurtis@coveringthemouse.com (Kurtis) — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 14:23:00 +0000

Today is the 20th anniversary of Disney's 27th animated feature, Olvier and Company. For some reason, the music in this movie hasn't reached the same status as their other movies, even though it ushered in the return of the musical in Disney animated movies. Sure, there were songs in Great Mouse Detective, Fox and the Hound and Robin Hood, but none of those movies are remembered as musicals. Oliver and Company is a musical and it made it easier for Disney to decided whether or not it should go back to its musical roots. The Little Mermaid came out the following year.

Having said all that, since the songs from Oliver and Company aren't at the forefront of people's minds when thinking about Disney music, there are very few Oliver and Company covers out there. I only have two and I am posting one of them today.

Good Company is covered and performed by CUBISMO GRAFICO FIVE, a Japanese ska band that has been recording since the early 00s. Originally known as Cubismo Grafico, the band leader and lead singer Gakuji Matsuda expanded his solo DJ/remixing gig to include four other band members and a completely new sound. Thus, the name of the group was changed to Cubismo Grafico Five.

This track was recorded around the time of their first release, CINQ (FOUR+ONE), in 2004 and can be found on the Japanese exclusive MOSH PIT ON DISNEY.

Good Company
Cubismo Grafico Five
2004