Published on Apr 9, 2000
I sometimes dread reviewing certain titles from Walt Disney
Records – mainly because the older I get, the harder it is for me
to put myself in the role of a child listening to these items. Oh,
I can appreciate certain aspects of these discs, but in the end, I
realize I am listening to something that was not targeted towards
people like myself.
Such is the case with
Radio Disney Jams Vol. 2, the latest mix of snippets and
music that are featured on numerous “Radio Disney” stations around
the country. There’s enough music on this disc for Mom and Dad to
appreciate, and the kids should love the mix. But something makes
me wonder whether they’re starting to scrape the bottom of the
barrel creatively.
Example: the absolutely inane redo of Lou Bega’s hit, now
christened “Disney Mambo #5 (A Little Bit Of…)”. I can understand
why Disney would want a more sanitized version of the song (if my
daughter’s reaction to the song is indicative, kids seem to love
the original), but after I’ve been happily inundated with the
original version, it’s a bit unnerving to hear Bega singing, “A
little bit of Minnie in my life.” I believe I read somewhere that
Bega originally wasn’t interested in recording another version. As
an adult, I wish he had listened to that little voice. (Then again,
with the lead-in he got on
The Tigger Movie, that’s great face time with the kids.)
I would also ask out loud why two cuts from
Mulan are here, but none from
Tarzan. Maybe “You’ll Be In My Heart” isn’t necessarily a
song the kids would latch onto? Just a thought.
If you can’t stand the flood of teeny-bop artists, you’ll want
to stay away from
Radio Disney Jams Vol. 2, ’cause they’re here by the
boatload. In one corner, you’ve got Backstreet Boys (“I’ll Never
Break Your Heart” – a little slow for my tastes) and Youngstown
(“I’ll Be Your Everything” – actually a decent effort). In another
corner, you’ve got Britney Spears (“Sodapop” – the jury in my mind
is still out on Spears) and Christina Aguilera (“Reflection”). And
from the “I’ve-never-heard-of-them” department, you also are
treated to some up and coming acts, Steps (“One For Sorrow”) and
Aaron Carter (“Girl You Shine”), both of whom are quite good.
Of course, you also have the old stand-bys. Will Smith checks in
with “Just The Two Of Us,” a rather mature but touching song.
“Weird Al” Yankovic’s instant-classic “The Saga Begins” is also
here – including the one toned-down line “Do you see him talking to
the queen”, instead of “hitting on the queen”. (Yankovic explained
on his Web site why the lyrical change occurred – and it made
perfect sense.)
And for the old fogies like myself, you’ve got the party tracks,
featuring artists like KC And The Sunshine Band (“Boogie Shoes”),
Village People (“YMCA”) and Queen (I’m sorry, but if I hear “We
Will Rock You” and “We Are The Champions” one more time, I’m going
to throw up). I don’t know necessarily if these tracks allow kids
to release pent-up energy; my daughter does that with Motorhead,
but she’s advanced for her age.
In the end, though,
Radio Disney Jams Vol. 2 is meant for the under-12 market,
and there’s no denying that this disc will provide them with plenty
of enjoyment. Because, in the world of Disney, it doesn’t matter
what adults think – kids rule. Word up.