Bad Disney Music

[chris]

Well said, David. You said it better than I did. I know what you mean about the bands of today being accused of selling out when they write something melodic. I really liked Savage Garden's last album "Affirmation", and sure enough, when I read the reviews for it, some people accused them of "selling out". I found it to be their best work.

Speaking of dance music that is catchy and joyous, I went to the "KC and the Sunshine Band" outdoor concert a couple of weeks back, at the Treasure Chest. He did such a great show and sounded incredible. The lighting effects and dancers on stage with him were excellent, too. I felt like I was transported back into the seventies. There were so many people there it was unbelievable. It was good to see lots of young people there, too.

I, too, was never interested in music that was too "hard" as a teenager either. It's interesting to think back to when I was younger and how I never got into something musically just because it was popular or because of peer pressure. Not that it was a conscious decision on my part, I just found it impossible to listen to or buy something I didn't like. So as a result I played my Pop, Disney, Jazz, soundtracks, etc, while most of my peers played Van Halen. LOL. But you are right - through the 70's, 80's, and even the 90's there were popular things that were melodic. Now, for the first time in my life, I'm pretty much out in the cold as far as anything on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. :-

 

[MitchB]

I just have to put my two cents worth in on "Feed the
Birds." I think it is one of the best songs in the Mary
Poppins score. It has all of the classics elements of
a truly great song, a simple, memorable melody and
words that speak to your heart. I may be an old sap
(44) but that one song seems to me to be the
guiding message of Walt's legacy. It is the song
which the whole Mary Poppins movie revolves around!
It is a plea for kindness and love for one another.
It is sappy perhaps, but this old world could use
a dose of sappiness now and then. -Mitch

 

[Horizons Fan]

OK Jeff...you're back in the Club .

Speaking of Fantasmic...husband, 2 friends and I are going to be in DL Aug. 1st, 2nd, and 4th (Thur, Fri and Sun). Fantasmic is a "must see," since even I'll admit it blows WDW's away. I remember that the 2nd show is slightly less crowded than the 1st show. And that if we wait by the HM until the 1st show is over and then "stake our claim," we have a chance for decent, centered floor space. OR should we just go for the gusto and do the dessert package? If so, is it still a "get in line at 4am" affair?

-Sharon-

Hi, Sharon
How was Fantasmic -- haven't seen the DL version since 1996 (last time I was at DL in 3/2000 there were no shows).
Were there any changes made -- somehow I like the PeterPan segment much more than the Pocahontas
segment at MGM.

BTW, does anyone know if are they still selling the MSEP and Fantasmic soundtrack CD?

Thanks!

 

[SharonKurland]

Horizon fan-


Dunno yet...not going until August . Last time I saw Fantasmic at DL was summer '98, I think.

-Sharon-

 

[Dirk]

Well ... melody is a topic more and more if you ask me. Most of the new pop-music written seems to have a problem there - and quiet a few guys in the business seem to realize that too. At least this is the only way I can explain to myself why new bands are being put on stage with cover-only-CDs recently.

It started with the A-Teens which released a CD with Abba-covers only - and got into the charts in Europe with it. After having established themselves a name they then realized a second CD a year later or so with new stuff (which by the way isn't that bad ).

And now B3 has done the same and is in the single and album charts. Just that in their case their first CD (called "first") only includes covers of songs by the Gibson brothers (Bee Gees) (ok, and one new song written by a member of B3).


So this marketing trick and the success of the CDs are a kind of sign to me, that the customer, even the huge crowds of CD buying youths, wants the melody and is missing th melody, even so they may not be able to voice what it is that is missing and brings them to these releases.


Just a few thought so...



Yours
Dirk

 

[Jeff N Orange Coun]

I just have to break in on this melodic discussion.
A couple questions to be thought provoking..

When was the last time you left a Disney movie with one of the songs stuck in your head?
[With me it was Tarzan and for John Q Public probably Pocahantas or Lion King. I enjoyed the Elvis songs more than I thought I would in L&S because they usally have an R&B melody].

When was the last time you whistled a tune from the radio? Pop music is all but dead for me. The grand masters of rock and melody [Beatles, Beach Boys, etc.] had the art of the hook and groove. They didn't mind selling it because no one had ever done it quite like they did.
[Paul Mcartney still has this good sense. His concert in Anahiem was first rate. And last year I had the privilege of seeing Brian Wilson at the Hollywood Bowl. He still has "it'] Even Led Zepplin has a certain bluesy edge that still resonates, in spite of thier occasional decadence.

I didn't get too much into Disco, but the 70-80's were filled with singable lyrics and catchy melodies. Jackson Browne, The Eagles, Tears for Fears, Dire Straits. Then along came grunge and angst and it all went away.

The only current artist that returns to melody, R&B and the hook with me is U2. They have been slammed by every member of "Kurt Cobain and company" as irrelevant. [Gee, I guess that's why Bono busts his buns for Debt relief for the Third World!] They have made some bad stuff and yet some very listenable tunes, when they stick to thier roots.

Its why so many of us 40 something folks are looking back with longing. It's rare nowadays when a crooner came break into the mainstream with a new decent melody. Most of the time, even with good "pipes", todays MTV/Radio Disney flacks let others write thier melodies for them. Sometimes it works [i.e. Celine Dion with "My heart Will Go On"]. Most of the time I am digging for a CD or cassette. [Julie Andrews didn't write any songs for SOMusic or MP, but she accented her vocal talents with belivable acting. It worked for her as it does for many stage/screen actors today]

Back to Disney music..

WDR needs to have a sign on the wall that says "It's the melody Stupid" (to be Cliton-esque). Melody can be more than retro, it can be produced and delivered with taste and panache. Our favorites among the park music songs stand as testaments to the enduring classics of melodies. [A fair example of how it still can be done is the Millenium CD .. very listenable]

No one wants to go to the park and hear "Oops I did it again" over and over .. give me Small World on 78 any day, or just beat me with a club.

Gee Chris, you thought you had issues.

A kindred spirit of sorts,
JNOC

PS. even Light Magic has a decent melody.

[I couldn't resist]

 

[Fantasmic]

Let's All Sing Like the Birdies Sing at DL's Tiki Room gets really annoying at times, but that's nothing compared to Iago trying to sing that weird song at the end of the WDW Tiki Room. The Heigh Ho there isn't much better, either. Also, "Listen to the Land" is pretty annoying as well, and Light Magic...we won't even go there.

 

[J2002]

Let's All Sing Like the Birdies Sing at DL's Tiki Room gets really annoying at times, but that's nothing compared to Iago trying to sing that weird song at the end of the WDW Tiki Room. The Heigh Ho there isn't much better, either. Also, "Listen to the Land" is pretty annoying as well, and Light Magic...we won't even go there.

-Fantasmic...
I take it you don't like "Light Magic"? I like the music of Light Magic. It has a very good theme and the composition is great. That's my opinion though. I'm not alone when I say this though...the show was pathetic!
Back to "Feed the Birds" I knew it was a "classic" so to speak, but I never took to the song very well. It's never been one of my favs. The just my opinion though.

 

[Trevor]

I'm sure I'll be banned after this...but am I the only one out there that doesn't like Disney music after, say 1975 or '80? Everything sounds the same on all the new Disnet films! Same old overly-sentimental ballad again and again. Music from POC and HM are so wonderful and original - they've really stood the test of time. Who's going to remember "Can you feel the love tonight" 20 years from now? Sorry if I stepped on any toes...

 

[Michael Zielski]

When it comes to Disney music, I'm certainly a traditionalist, having the deepest love of the music created during "Walt's time"--but I have to admit that one of my favorite collections of Disney music is the 4 CD set, "The Music Behind the Magic," celebrating the artistry of Howard Ashman, Alan Menken, and Tim Rice. I certainly proves that Disney musical magic did survive into the 80's and 90's--and I really think it would make Walt smile. Michael.

 

[Alex K]

Re:Bad Disney Music (OT)

Would that be a frozen smile?

Okay, this is now off topic, but that statement reminded me of an adventure game series my daughter and I just loved to play, the "Monkey Island" series from Lucas Arts. This is a cartoon like, very funny series. The 1st of the series came out in about 1989. The third one called "The Curse of Monkey Island" came in about 1997. The Lucas Arts folks really poked fun at Disneyland/Disney in this 3rd episode, and playing through the end of this adventure really got my ribs hurting from laughter. One scene in the "Goodsoup Family Crypt" the background music sounds like the Haunted Mansion theme played in slow motion. In this crypt, one finds the ghost bride "Minnie-strone Goodsoup" waiting for her beloved. Toward the end, the fun really got explicit when the bad guy The Ghost Pirate LeChuck's theme park had a ride that looked just like the Matterhorn (Monkey Mountain, or soemthing like that). Inside this ride, I could swear the Lucas Arts folks used live recordings of people screaming on the Matterhorn as the ambient sound. A long speech by LeChuck sounds like a transcription of one of Walt's philosophy behind a good theme park. There were references to "DynamoMonkeyElectrics" (Animatronics), lots more, and finally at the end, LeChuck gets buried forever under a bunch of ice that avalanched from the Abominable Snowman scene of the ride. In the last scene one hears a voice of a parent telling his child that it is said the creator of the park is still buried frozen under the park.

I'm just wondering how many Disney fans played through this game and "got it".

 

[dannyeyheralde]

I think the only BAD peice of Disney music that I can't stand was "The Angry Dragon" loop from the 1972-1974 MSEP. It just didn't seem to blend well w/ Baroque Hoedown.

 

[SharonKurland]

Bill-

You're not sick. "Sick" is a person like me, who has found the "Find A Grave" site online .

For those of you who are curious, here's a good portion of the whole family (you'll have to cut and paste it):

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/famousSe...lastname=disney

-Sharon-

 

[scorefan]

The tracks I most often skip are:
Diggin in Dinoland (WDW CD)
Living on the Edge (DCA CD)
Feels Alright (DCA CD)

The worse attraction song ever written in my opinon though is California Screamin'. I really can't stand that score it's like nails on a chalkboard for me.

 

[tiggertoo]

I would have to say "My name is James" form James and the Giant Peach and the entire soundtrack for Oliver and Co. as my worst Disney songs. YUCK!!!! What were they thinking?

 

[David S.]

Oliver and Company, overall, is not my favorite Disney soundtrack but I will say that "Good Company" is one of my absolute favorite songs from the Eisner/post-"nine old men" era of animated films. So I was glad Randy selected it to represent the film on the excellent 3 CD "75 Years of Music and Memories" set.

David

 

[Fantasmic]

Most of the Sherman's music is great, but the "Tenth Anniversity Song" from the Disneyland 10th special is pretty bad.

 

[scorefan]

 

[Fantasmic]

I agree on the Matterhorn tune, and also "Meet Me on Main Street" gets real old when it's used over and over for the whole TV show! But all the TV music wasn't bad, the Monorail song rules!

 

[Steve LeVine]

My least favorite song comes from one of my favorite movies ever and one of my favorite soundtracks. I cant stand the song Summer Magic. I listen to the record all the time but I really hate that one song. I hope one day we see the soundtrack on cd. The rest of the songs are great.