Thursday, January 08, 2009

it ain't beethoven, but it sure bounces

Despite foistering upon us the agony that is High School Musical, among many other infractions, I still feel that Disney has given us so much, not only in terms of freaking awesome movies, but musical gifts as well (and I'm not counting the Jonas Brothers here).

My Top 5 Favourite Disney Songs

5. "Everybody Wants to Be a Cat" (The Aristocats)
Ever wondered what would happen if cats got their hands on some chronic (and, uh, could talk and play instruments and dance)? They'd be beatniks, of course!
Racism scoring: 3/10
2:53-3:00 is pretty bad, but other than that, they're only dissing the entire human race - and any being that isn't a cat.
Highlight: 4:34, when they shake off the Duchess' mellow little number, and come back full schwang, gospel chorus-style ("Hallelujah"'s and all)


4. "Love" (Robin Hood)
I know I just posted about this one recently, but the song is so pretty, whimsical and a perfect summary of Robin and Maid Marian's laidback romance. I also adore her voice.
Racism scoring: 0/10
Miracle of miracles! I couldn't detect any racism at all on that one, just true love. Sigh, how beautiful.
Highlight: Not to be, like, super-cheesy, but the way they put their arms around each other in the very last second melted my heart. As for the song, 0:53-1:16 has Maid Marian's humming/half-singing making her sound very content. You know Robin Hood could satisfy any woman...er, fox, I mean.


3. "I Wanna Be Like You" (The Jungle Book)
Okay, this song just rules. No joke, I've got this on my iPod and I dance to it every day. It's way too much fun. I haven't seen the movie in about 10 years or so, but this song is genius.
Racism scoring: 7.5/10
It's not something a child would pick up on, but looking back, it's very clearly a statement reflecting how, in that day and age, many white people thought black people wanted to be white, civilized and "human" like them. I don't want to elaborate more, as once it was pointed out to me, it did detract from my enjoyment of the song, but I think if you watch it from that angle, it's pretty obvious.
Highlight: No doubt in my mind: "Rr-rrrr, getting mad, baby" (3:06)


2. "What Made the Red Man Red?" (Peter Pan)
I know, I know...growing up in an area very well-populated by First Nations people, I've always had a deep affinity for their culture. However, I'd be lying if I said Peter Pan didn't have something to do with that. I just flat-out adore this song.
Racism scoring: 11/10
It doesn't get any worse than this:
Insinuating that Aboriginal language is made up mumbo-jumbo ("Hana means what mana means and ganda means that too"), explaining why their skin in darker ("Let's go back a million years to the very first Injun prince/He kissed a maid and started to blush/and we've all been blushing since") and finally, discrediting any other sources ("You've got it right from the headman/the real true story of the red man/no matter what's been written or said")...have the First Nations people not suffered enough??
Highlight: Well, I've gotta say that Tiger Lily is one of the best dancers I've ever seen (1:25-1:33) and it has long been my goal to dance like her. And also, all political correctness aside about a minute (this is between us, okay, stranger?), I find the stories they set up hilarious.


1. "Poor Unfortunate Souls" (The Little Mermaid)
I have way too much fun with this song. When I listen to it (and I do that fairly often), I have to dance around and sing along and generally impersonate Ursula.
Racism scoring: 1/10
It's not doing purple-skinned people any favours, that's for sure.
Highlight: "You'll have your looks! Your pretty face! And don't underestimate the importance of....body language, ha!" (3:12-3:22) And then, further advice from Ursula, feminist extraordinaire: "The men up there don't like a lot of blabber/They think a girl who gossips is a bore/Yes, on land it's much preferred for ladies not to say a word/And, after all, dear, what is idle prattle for? Come on, they're not all that impressed with conversation/True gentlemen avoid it when they can/But they dote and swoon and fawn on a lady who's withdrawn/It's she who holds her tongue who gets her man"

Do you agree with my choices? What's your favourite Disney song?

33 comments:

Katelin said...

I love your choices. And love the Jungle Book song. I think my all time fave is Friend Like Me from Aladdin, man I love that movie :)

Mimi said...

These are a few of my favorite Disney songs! Little Mermaid was my FAVE as a little girl... And I am not ashamed to admit that I love all things Disney! My older sister and I are trying to collect all the Disney movies and now that she found out she is pregnant [yay! I am going to be an auntie!!!] it's going to be for the kids, at least hers will my collection is for me... And IF I ever get married and have kids, lol

xo

P. S. Your tag actually kinda saved me! I was having 'fashion' block and couldnt think of a good blog, so THANK YOU, much love Molls!

Anonymous said...

hmm....my favorite is the one in aladdin where they're on the magic carpet thing...i forget what it's called...but i remember singing it all the time when i was little. i also love the little mermaid songs all of them!
xoxo,
Micaela

Keith said...

Hey Molly. That was so cool. Not sure what my all time favorite Disney song is, but I love all the choices you made. I love all of these animated movies. Disney was really awesome back in the day. Cheers!

Twiggy Mod said...

I wanna be like you..

The best song ever, jungle book is the best disney film.

Thanks for this post.

xxx

Cate said...

My friend actually has a whole karaoke DVD with Disney songs, and all the time I was at her place we used to sing them in the holidays!
I laughed about you not counting the Jonas Brothers as a gift ;-)
The 'racism scoring' cracked me up ;-)
'I wanna be like you' is definitely my favourite Disney song.
People with purple skins, haha ;-)

Anonymous said...

This has got to be the best music review I've ever read anywhere. Ever.

Disney has been strangely absent in my life so I don't have a favourite song :(

Anonymous said...

the little mermaid<3

Lexie said...

i dont think i've heard that "love" song from robin hood! i would not have guessed it to be a disney song!

i'm a big fan of some hercules song .. the one about not sayin she's in love!

Sister Libby said...

"Why is the red man red" is also one of my favorites...and "friend like me" from Aladdin, which already got mentioned...and um, Zip-Ah-De-Do-Dah? It's really the best song. I just googled it, and found out that it's called Song of The South. And it's got br'er rabbit and the tar baby (disney was sooo not PC, way back when). Yes, definately my favorite song.

niki said...

I wish our header was of us, it's a vintage photo. Thank you for the compliment though!

Eyeliah said...

Great choices!! Yes, some songs are very racist, there are even more like Brer Rabbit. My songs to add would be Part of Your World and Kiss The Girl from The Little Mermaid, Reflection from Mulan, Circle of Life from Lion King. :-)

TheClocktowerForest said...

Your blog never ceases to amaze me.

I just thought I'd let you know that some Black Mountain action is going to appear on my page soon. I really want to go buy one of their records now.

Sister Libby said...

Ok, this really got me going, and I figured out that I had this video called Disney Sing A Long, and according to wikipedia I had the 1986 version, and it was my favorite thing. I think I had another sort of Disney Mash-Up that I have now decided to find. So, yeah, I will be listening to these songs for the next few weeks. Thank you for the wonderful wonderful post. I was inspired.

Sister Libby said...

Sorry to um, bombard you with comments (although, everybody really loves comments) but I remembered that it's the Under The Sea sing along (1994) that I also loved greatly. This was more for me than you, but thanks for being here to listen.

ellie said...

Such a cool post title. Love this list.

Sarah-Mary said...

I completely agree with the love of disney songs! I have the jungle book and the aristocats on my ipod, and when it was on random my friends essentially disowened me. Until they realised they love it too!
Love this list :)
x

Jaclyn said...

Love Disney songs, there are just so many good ones.
I love "Be my guest" from Beauty and the Beast, "Hakuna Matata" and "I just can't wait to be king" from the Lion King. I know there is more but I can't think of them right now. In the summer I volunteer at a theatre camp and we play Disney music and dance around while all the kids do crafts and look as us like we are nuts.
Belle

this wheel's on fire said...

Good choices! Esp. love the robin hood one :)

But you're right about the clear racism in some of the songs. It's strange to see them again because when you're a little kid it just seems like good music/amazing movie, but there were some serious issues.

twenty.seven.cents said...

I've gotten my astrology chart done also by a friend who's really into it. And there is like page upon page of stuff. It's interesting but sometimes fairly dense reading.
I'm Virgo with all this other stuff which I can totally not explain, because I don't totally understand it myself.

As for your post, my favourite 'Disney' movie, isn't even a disney movie.. it's Anastasia. lol. and I can't really remember the songs from it.
thanks for the comment :)

Anonymous said...

what a treat. Such classic favorites.

um..well...maybe it'll come to light soon just who Gemma really loves.

Anonymous said...

Bringing back the memories here. Really a wonderful post.

Eddie said...

Hey Molly love. It's me, remember me? I've been gone because I've gotten utterly bored with blogger. I've been dying to sorta catch up with old blogger buddies and your blog was my first stop.

Always loved your intelligence and style. You're still my wifey aren't you?

Loved your Disney song choices, especially Poor Unfortunate Souls. I know every word. Classic.

Muchos besos para ti...

Eddie

Steph said...

"The Bare Necessities" is one of my all-time favourites. And that one from Aladdin, I can't remember what it's called though.

jess said...

My favorite disney song is I just cant wait to be king from the lion king. That was my favorite movie when I was a kid.

sophia said...

Hahaha nice call on the whole racism front. I agree with you about the peter pan thing, but I'm overlooking it because it's my school's spring show and I'm doing props.The best part of that movie, though, is how Peter never realizes how all the girls are hot for him.

Favorite Disney song: "Be Our Guest" from Beauty and the Beast. I suggest singing along in a French accent - it makes the song. lol

Keith said...

Hey Molly. I tagged you in a meme that I created myself over at my Dino Lounge blog. Please check it out. I definitely hope you'll participate in it. Thanks so much. Cheers!

Maya said...

I AM FINALLY, FINALLY BACK! God I have missed blogging. Do you even remember me? I used to write 'rebel, fashion without a cause'. Come visit?

maya said...

Also, i've kind of been off the circuit for a while (what an old man phrase). Can you reccomend me any good blogs? I see Emma vanished :(

Molly said...

mine was definately "under the sea" such a joyful song... actually i love the entire film and soundtrack.. infact i'm sure i own a copy of the soundtrack somewhere...

"dissing the entire human race - and any being that isn't a cat." - made me laugh :)

xx

Maya said...

Sorry about the bombardment of comments. I commented with two different accounts and just wanted to say that this is the right one. Sorry for being annoying.

..... said...

I LOVE THE LITTLE MERMAID !! UNDER THE SEA YYEEEEAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Eddie said...

I'm officially back!!

Besos