During one of my vacations in Disney World, I heard the instrumental melody of Chim Chim Cher-ee in a way that I had never heard before. I inquired as to what was playing and they showed me this CD, Mannheim Steamroller Meets the Mouse. I loved the swirly haunting melody translated into this brand of pop/classical genre.

As I pop in the CD, sometimes I am taken by surprised with each direction Mannheim founder/producer Chip Davis decides on with each song. Song of the South's Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah begins with natural ambient bluebird song as the music begins with its rather loose melodic translation of the 1945 original. Under the Sea begins with a different variety of bird sound, seagulls against the swelling of ocean waves. The music stays close to the The Little Mermaid original with a flowing Caribbean feel.

Hakuna Matata, again the interpretation depends on ambient noise. It’s originally taken from The Lion King, and Davis utilizes what sounds like an North African chant of the words ♫Hakuna Matata♫ and non-sensical but rhythmic grunts. The detail is impressive, you can hear the native bells on their feet as they dance around a ceremonial fire while the beautiful sounds of the marimba play.

The Ballad of Davy Crocket is one surprising highlight. Davis decided to give the song an American Indian feel and although the song borrows now and again the main melody of the original, it’s more of a sound collage and the main result, like every song here, is to paint a picture with melody and ambient resonance. Snow White’s Heigh-Ho depends very much on percussion sounds and the instrumentation sounds like Disney’s Main Street Electrical Parade, a theme park creation from 1967 which has the same pop/classical genre. In the sense that Heigh-ho is perhaps the oldest Disney classic here (1938), Chip Davis decides on a archetypal Disney theme park music genus.

Toy Story’s You’ve Got A Friend In Me doesn’t really make sense to me like all the other songs. It has more of a jazzier feel, and the original tune is hardly recognizable or present. With Pinocchio’s When You Wish Upon A Star Chip Davis creates a dream-like lullaby as he meshes Twinkle Twinkle Little Star with the Disney classic. You can almost see each star alight with every note played.

The CD ends with another lullaby-like tune with Mickey Mouse March. The soft bell-like keyboards chiming against the viola is a beautiful result. The addition of including dream-like voices of children singing the chorus ♫M-I-C-K-E-Y and what sounds like Jimmy Dodd answering with ”See ya real soon” and ”Why? Because we like you” is very inspired.
I highly recommend this beautifully thought-out CD.

the songs

1. Chim Chime Cher-ee
2. Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah
3. Under the Sea
4. Hakuna Matata
5. Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious
6. Go the Distance
7. The Ballad of Davy Crockett
8. Heigh-Ho
9. You've Got A Friend In Me
10. When You Wish Upon A Star
11. Reflection
12. Mickey Mouse Club March



~~~~~~~~~~Some More Disney-Related Epinions From Scapp70~~~~~~~~~~
The Music:
Disney’s Music From the Park
Disney’s Greatest - Volume One
Disney’s Greatest - Volume Two
Classic Disney Volume One
Classic Disney Volume Two
Classic Disney Volume Three
Classic Disney Volume Four
Classic Disney Volume Five
Disney's Christmas Favorites Vol. 1
Mannheim Steamroller Meets the Mouse
Disney: The Music Behind the Magic: 50 Songs Celebrating 50 Years of Walt Disney Records

The Parks:
Soarin’
Haunted Mansion
Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort
Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside
Mickey's Backyard BBQ

Families First Vacation Homes

Scapp70’s 50 Favorite Things To Do In Walt Disney World (part 1) – 50 - 41
Scapp70’s 50 Favorite Things To Do In Walt Disney World (part 2) – 40 - 31
Scapp70’s 50 Favorite Things To Do In Walt Disney World (part 3) – 30 - 21
Scapp70’s 50 Favorite Things To Do In Walt Disney World (part 4) – 20 - 11
Scapp70’s 50 Favorite Things To Do In Walt Disney World (part 5) – 10 - 1


The Books:
The Haunted Mansion – From the Magic Kingdom to the Movies
Popping Up Around Walt Disney World

The Movies
Scapp70’s Top 10 Favorite Disney Animated Movies
Toy Story (3-Disc Ultimate Toy Box DVD Set



Recommended: Yes