I suppose on paper, an idea like this works pretty well. Yet the finished product is kind of another story. So what's the idea? The idea is to have young mainstream Pop artists to give their rendition of their favorite Disney-related songs. It sounds good to me too; and it works up to a point. Since this is the first DisneyMania compilation, there are some cool inclusions like Aguilera and Smash Mouth which were originally recorded for other projects. I was surprised actually, that there are more than a couple of cuts here that I liked. Some of these artists are very well-known and they are the main draw to a purchase like this but most of the others are virtually unknowns.

As I look over this CD now, I'm not sure what would have prompted me to buy this back in 2003, possibly the Hilary Duff track, The Tiki, Tiki, Tiki Room. I hadn't heard her version of the song before I bought it, but it sounded like a safe buy to me. It turns out I was right too, this lively version of the theme song to the popular Disney World attraction is all I expected it to be. I already love the original and I can easily appreciate this new arrangement. Hilary Duff's version remains within the theme of the attraction yet now even more animated with the added jungle sounds, and her velvety soft vocal complimented it nicely. The inclusion of small sound bites from the original also added some good taste to this short song.

Jessica Simpson's inclusion of Part of Your World also raised my curiosity. This song is originally from the animated classic The Little Mermaid, and sung by Jodi Benson, who sings it as perfect as you can get. Simpson gives a surprisingly faithful imitation of Benson and it really surprised the heck out of me. Knowing Simpson's singing style, I kind of figured she'd be performing vocal runs at the end of every line, but here she is thankfully restrained, and the end result is inoffensive and quite enjoyable. She didn't stray too much from the original ballad, aside from adding some tasteful harmonies sparsely. I think it's also necessary to note that Olivia Newton-John had a go at this song on the Music from the Park CD, and Jessica does a much better job than Olivia if you can believe it.

Anastacia is an artist who is not very well known in the USA, and this is despite the fact that she hails from Chicago. She is huge all around the rest of the world. I must be a typical American, as her take on Some Day My Prince Will Come makes little sense to me. She turned it into an R&B track which wouldn't be bad at all, but her vocals do not make a good representation for herself or Disney music. She changed up the lyrics almost totally, and for me this is a major no-no. When I, like most people who are Disney fans decide to buy a CD like this, would like to hear their Disney music. I mean, I'm not in the stores looking for the new Anastacia music.

So I enjoy the artists who had fun with the Disney songs while still maintaining the essence of the song that makes it connected to Disney. I loved the A*Teens version of Under the Sea. The Swedish band maintained the Caribbean theme which was smart. Baha Men (The Who Let the Dogs Out guys) give a wonderful version of Hakuna Matata. For me, there were way too many songs from the Lion King, four in all. The Baha Men are usually always found on these Disney Mania CDs. The all-girl band No Secrets gave a faithful and energetic version of Kiss the Girl. It’s great that DisneyMania included Christina Aguilera’s version of Reflection, originally from the movie Mulan. I’m assuming that this is the version found on her debut album, Christina Aguilera from 1999. You may recognize the ballad from American Idol where at least once a year, an up and coming contestant would attempt Aguilera’s amazing vocal, but just end up butchering it.

R&B artist Usher took a song, (You’ll Be in My Heart) which I didn’t like and made it enjoyable for me. Phil Collins sings the original, and I don’t know why I can’t stand that version, maybe it’s Phil Collins, but Usher delivers a fantastic vocal thankfully. Smash Mouth’s version of The Jungle Book’s I Wan’na be Like You was the single released from this album. They give a version that although it stays faithful to the original; it really rocks hard at the same time. I like the Hawaiian style guitar solo. This song was recorded for the sequel to Jungle Book, which was named Jungle Book 2, and that’s why you hear samples of Mowgli’s (Haley Joel Osment) voice in there.

The rest is filled with mediocre for the most part. Even *Nsync’s a capella take on When You Wish Upon a Star is just interesting enough to muster up a rating of boring. Speaking of *Nsync, Aaron Carter’s version of I Just Can’t Wait To Be King pales in comparison to young Simba’s, which raises the question of why include it in the first place.

So in the end, who is the CD for? Disney fans, that’s who. Speaking as a Disney fan, my opinion is that this CD is entertaining for a couple of listens, but would likely just collect dust. There are a couple of stand-out performances, especially Jessica Simpson which just surprised me more than anything. I could easily recommend this to fellow Disney fans, but I don't believe the general public would be able to stomach it.


the songs

1. Some Day My Prince Will Come (Anastacia)
2. Under the Sea (A*Teens)
3. You'll Be in My Heart (Usher)
4. When You Wish Upon a Star (*Nsync)
5. Colors of the Wind (Ashanti)
6. I Wan'na Be Like You (Smash Mouth)
7. Part of Your World (Jessica Simpson)
8. I Just Can't Wait to Be King (Aaron Carter)
9. Can You Feel the Love Tonight (S Club)
10. Hakuna Matata (Baha Men)
11. The Tiki, Tiki, Tiki Room (Hilary Duff)
12. Beauty and the Beast (Jump 5)
13. Kiss the Girl (No Secrets)
14. Reflection (Christina Aguilera)
15. Circle of Life (Ronan Heating)


Recommended: No