Sunday, September 27, 2015

Disney Songs #51: That's How You Know / #50: Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious / #49: The Tiki Tiki Tiki Room



#51: That's How You Know

To Listen: Click Here

The Facts:
  • Writers: Alan Menken (music), Stephen Schwartz (lyrics)
  • Year: 2007
  • Key:  D Major 

Heard In: 
Enchanted

Background / Personal Connection:
This song and the grand choreographed sequence through Central Park that accompanies it is one of the high points of Enchanted, the best Disney movie of that last 15 years.  The film has everything: an amazingly creative story, humor, suspense, satire, great music, and excellent acting (including Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey, and James Marsden).  The plot works at every level and satisfies children and adults alike, and it manages to gently poke fun at the Disney tradition while wholeheartedly celebrating it too.  A triumph on every level.  And the Central Park scene (linked above) is phenomenally directed and choreographed.

#50: Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious

To Listen: Click Here

The Facts:
  • Writers: Richard and Robert Sherman
  • Year: 1964
  • Key:  B Major / B Major  / C Major

Heard In: 
Mary Poppins

Background / Personal Connection:
The 4th song so far on the countdown from Mary Poppins, and a true original.  I tried spelling the song title without looking it up and was proud of myself for getting it spot on, though more impressive is Julie Andrews' ability to say it backwards with ease (1:18 of the video above).  And bonus points for this song are due to the version done by Mannheim Steamroller - great stuff.

#49: The Tiki Tiki Tiki Room

To Listen: Click Here

The Facts:
  • Writers: Richard and Robert Sherman
  • Year: 1963
  • Key:  E Major

Heard In: 
The Enchanted Tiki Room

Background / Personal Connection:
From "Enchanted" to the "Enchanted Tiki Room!"  I've listened to this one a lot lately because my 3 year-old is a big fan (just goes to illustrate the timelessness of many of these songs).  Whereas the Tiki Room was a show that everyone in my family liked to skip when we were in WDW, I was always a fan and liked to see it at least once (I enjoyed the relaxed nature of the show and also am a fan of all things Polynesian).  Despite it being dated and somewhat slow-paced even in the 80's, it is fortunately still in business (and back to its original state after an attempt to update with Iago from Aladdin went up in smoke, literally).

As for the song itself, #49 is probably a bit too high for it, but I gave it bonus points due to this fun cover from Hilary Duff.  Normally these type of teen-pop remixes don't do much for me, but this one is particularly catchy.

Coming up next time I talk to the writing team of #48 on my list, a truly underrated Disney song! 

No comments:

Post a Comment