Release Date: Oct 24, 2011
Genre(s): Pop/Rock, Contemporary Pop/Rock, Children's Rock, Children's
Record label: Walt Disney
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Deny the sheer emotive glory of Disney’s finest musical moments all you like, but you’re only lying to yourself. Even errant genius [a]Brian Wilson[/a] knows that it’s not the devil who has all the best tunes, but cartoons. Try not to grin inanely as the banjo-led big band play ‘[b]The Bare Necessities[/b]’, sob to Wilson’s lounge lizard harmonies on ‘[b]When You Wish Upon A Star[/b]’ or find lions sexy during his restrained ‘[b]Can You Feel The Love Tonight?[/b]’.
Just 15 months after Brian Wilson released his tribute to the music of George Gershwin, out popped another tribute album -- this one saluting the 75 years of original songs from the feature films of Walt Disney. Granted, this tribute is even more natural than Gershwin, since Wilson grew up just minutes away from Disneyland, and as a child of the '50s, had probably memorized perennials like "Whistle While You Work" and "When You Wish Upon a Star" before he ever considered writing songs about surfing. (Not to mention the fact that his Gershwin tribute actually came out on one of Disney's labels, as does this one.
“This could be great,” I thought as I prepared for Brian Wilson‘s new album of songs from Disney movie musicals. After all, this is Brian Freaking Wilson! He partially inspired the Beatles to create Revolver, and Bob Dylan said his ear should be donated to the Smithsonian. He gave us Pet Sounds, ”Good Vibrations”, and then after a 30-year wait, the masterpiece SMiLE.
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