Originally Posted By Ernest_Rister Maybe I'm just a curmudgeon, but I just can't see how many of the entries in this list equate to "greatness". 1) What exactly was the definition of "great" that you used? 2) How in the world does that definition allow the theme from "Tale Spin" and FOUR songs from AIDA to outweigh "Heaven's Light" from THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME? 3) Why split the categories at 50 and 50, as if four decades of the work of Walt and his teams equals 15 years of post-Walt labors? Again, not trying to be a problem -- but I was expecting to see a critical eye here, not simply a run-through of the most popular songs from the last 74 years of Disney films. Maybe I'm just not getting where you're coming from with this list, so I apologize in advance if this sounds harsh. --Ernest Rister
Originally Posted By u k fan I'm just pleased everyone likes the HoND soundtrack as it's easily my favorite. It is possible to wear out CD's - I'm on to my 4th of that one!!!
Originally Posted By ToonKirby Dastinson: Some of the songs, such as "When You Wish Upon a Star" and "Beauty & the Beast", I purposely did not list "alternate tracks" due to the fact that the originals are so definitive. I do agree though that the Diamond Rio cover is a good version of that song. I was not aware that Hugh Jackman was Gaston in Australia. He was the Beast in London. I'll have to track down that cast album. UK Fan: "Hellfire" was a very visually compelling and emotionally provacative scene, thus it's inclusion in the 50 Greatest list. The song list was done from the point of view of the songs as listening experiences. "Hellfire" and/or "Bells of Notre Dame" could have been included if there had been space. Jayelldee: Top 50 albums ... hmmmmmm .... The lyrics were actually a late edition to the format, but I'm glad that they worked out so effectively. One of the reasons I wanted to do the article is to highlight as many songs as possible. Limiting it to one per production just seems to limiting ... how can you have "Some Day My Prince Will Come" without "Heigh Ho"? As for the "Under the Sea"/"Kiss the Girl" debate ... I think "Sea" won because it was a "bigger" song. I was just happy that Disney had finally won another song Oscar, after 25 years. I remember on first listen being more drawn to "Kiss" as well. Interestingly, it has had more successful cover versions as well. On the other hand, "Circle of Life" should have won over "Can You Feel the Love Tonight". Buzz: "Tale Spin" seems to be the big "huh?" entry on the list. I just really enjoy the energetic calypso flavor to the song. Not a big fan of the "Toy Story" songs, but love the songs in "Toy Story 2". Even though I like them all, I decided to limit the songs from "Tarzan" to two slots due to the fact that Phil Collins song on all of them and I wanted as diverse a listing as possible. Although if I had included another "Tarzan" song, it would have been "Strangers Like Me" over "Son of Man".
Originally Posted By ToonKirby Ernest: I appreciate your comments, but I ask you to re-read the introduction to this article. In it I state that the I have always been a Disney music lover. This list was compiled as my personal favorites from the vast canon of Disney music. My use of the term "great" is from the vantage of my own personal tastes and from a knowledge of how these songs fit into not only Disney history, but also of the broader realm of pop culture. I spent a great deal of time compiling this list, going over and over what to include. Along the way, omissions were made and it evolved into the final form published. If anything, the "50/50" aspect of it was purely coincidental, but not intirely objectionable in my initial intentions for the article. Unlike my film and video reviews, which are intended to be critical examinations, the Toon Talk Specials are designed to celebrate their subjects. An in-depth critical analysis of each and every Disney song ever written is not only a daunting endeavor, but was simply not the intent of the piece.
Originally Posted By Ernest_Rister Now I'm even more confused <<In it I state that the I have always been a Disney music lover. This list was compiled as my personal favorites from the vast canon of Disney music.>> Really? Or is it actually your favorites from each of the Disney endeavours, because that's what it seems like. Again, just an observation. <<My use of the term "great" is from the vantage of my own personal tastes and from a knowledge of how these songs fit into not only Disney history, but also of the broader realm of pop culture.>> Well then now I'm REALLY confused -- because AIDA hasn't permeated pop culture in any truly significant way, let alone NEWSIES, and yet songs from these films are on this list, while "You Can Fly!" from PETER PAN is not, "The Unbirthday Song" from ALICE IN WONDERLAND is not, and "Heaven's Light" from HUNCHBACK is not, HEAVEN'S LIGHT/HELLFIRE together are easily the most dynamic and affecting songs in any Disney film in a generation. It makes no sense...NEWSIES is on this list. The signature song from PETER PAN isn't? <<I spent a great deal of time compiling this list, going over and over what to include. Along the way, omissions were made and it evolved into the final form published. If anything, the "50/50" aspect of it was purely coincidental, but not intirely objectionable in my initial intentions for the article.>> Well, its objectionable to me, as I personally have issues with "best of lists" that are always weighted towards the most reecnt entries. 15 years of Disney history equates to 45 years of prior Disney efforts? The two really are 50/50 because that's how it all broke down? It doesn't make sense. <<Unlike my film and video reviews, which are intended to be critical examinations, the Toon Talk Specials are designed to celebrate their subjects.>> The chief function of any critic s to celebrate and champion their area of expertise. That doesn't mean calling favorable attention to everything in the book because it has the word "Disney" on it. FOUR mentions for AIDA? The theme from TAIL SPIN? The theme to HOUSE OF MOUSE? These are among the Greatest Disney Songs of All Time? I don't get it. <<An in-depth critical analysis of each and every Disney song ever written is not only a daunting endeavor, but was simply not the intent of the piece.>> That's just it. I still don't understand the intent of this piece, other than listing the most popular songs from the last 15 years, mixed in with an equal number of songs from the previous 45 years. Again, I'm just confused. I more than applaud you for all the effort you put into this. Maybe I just have a disagreement with how its been prefaced? Maybe "most popular" instead of "greatest" would have semed more appropo? "Greatest" implies some critical measurement, and as you say, that's a daunting challenge, and so maybe my expectations were way off. Anyway, I apologize for the tone of the previous. You *have* done a spectacular job, truly tremendous. I was just anticipating something else. - Er3
Originally Posted By ToonKirby Ernest: Again, I appreciate your constructive criticism. The article can be interpreted in anyway one chooses. At the end of the day, it's simply a list of my personal favorite Disney songs, my opinions and, more or less, no one else's. The Toon Talk specials are opinion pieces and I don't expect for all to agree with them. And for the record, several people took me to task for not including MORE songs from "Newsies", which is a very popular movie among it's fans. As for "Aida", the Rice/John score not only won a Tony and a Grammy, but it is also one of the hottest tickets on Broadway and in it's current national tour. "Tale Spin" and "House of Mouse"? They are fun songs to listen to, plain and simple.
Originally Posted By u k fan Toonkirby, I agree that if a third Tarzan song had of been included Strangers like me should have been the one. Since the whole Tale Spin thing has come up, How about the Theme from Chip n' Dale: Rescue Rangers? It Rocks!!!
Originally Posted By ToonKirby "Ch-ch-chip 'n Dale, Rescue Rangers ... " Yeah, that's a fun song too.
Originally Posted By CuriosWolfSo Yes,It is but I also like the one that came before that...The 'DuckTales' Theme song because it sets up the fun and adventure that is DuckTales. "...not Ponytales,nor cottontales, but DuckTales!"
Originally Posted By kirbysloan Now that I am trying to FIND all of the songs, I would find it useful to have a checklist copy of the list available on line. Just a simple list of the songs without the descriptive material would suffice. Thanks, The Other Kirby - Kirby Bartlett-Sloan (who shares Walt's birthday of December 5th!) Visit the Disney Parks Related TV Web Page at <a href="http://www.bartlett-sloan.net/disneytv.html" target="_blank">http://www.bartlett-sloan.net/ disneytv.html</a> (A LaughingPlace Community Member <a href="http://www.laughingplace.com/SiteDir-S-WDW-199.asp" target="_blank">http://www.laughingplace.com/S iteDir-S-WDW-199.asp</a> ) Web page about our October 2000 WDW trip at <a href="http://www.bartlett-sloan.net/ccaidisneyy2ka.html" target="_blank">http://www.bartlett-sloan.net/ ccaidisneyy2ka.html</a>
Originally Posted By u k fan Since this topic has been flagged up again here's a question I thought of a while ago. Would the songs from the 2 Muppet movies that were released through Disney count, because they had some great songs?!!!
Originally Posted By ToonKirby Kirby: (that's so weird saying my own name to someone else ... now I know how a John or Michael feels ... ) I'll check with Doobie on that. UK Fan: Yes, the Muppet films were considered.
Originally Posted By ToonKirby Here is the concise listing for the song list: <a href="http://laughingplace.com/News-PID114120-114131.asp" target="_blank">http://laughingplace.com/News- PID114120-114131.asp</a>
Originally Posted By kirbysloan LOL! ToonKirby comes through 24 hours after I spent an hour and a half copying and pasting the list together for myself! Oh Well. Thanks. Your list is easier to use than my cobbled together one. --- TVKirby (Might as well call me this to distinguish the two Kirbys!) Visit My Disney Parks Related TV Web Page at <a href="http://www.bartlett-sloan.net/disneytv.html" target="_blank">http://www.bartlett-sloan.net/ disneytv.html</a> (A LaughingPlace Community Member <a href="http://www.laughingplace.com/SiteDir-S-WDW-199.asp" target="_blank">http://www.laughingplace.com/S iteDir-S-WDW-199.asp</a> ) Web page about our October 2000 WDW trip at <a href="http://www.bartlett-sloan.net/ccaidisneyy2ka.html" target="_blank">http://www.bartlett-sloan.net/ ccaidisneyy2ka.html</a>
