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Blog posts tagged in Dawn_Heart
A Look at Music Fridays # 30: Childhood Favorites (With Dawn_Heart)
Tim: Hello and welcome back to Music Fridays. Today, I'll be taking a look at 2 songs that I consider childhood favorites. Two, that seems incredibly short for a Music Fridays. Well that is because today joining me once again on A Look at Disney is Dawn_Heart. After the wonderful time I had working with her on our first cross over, Top 6 Leading Ladies of Disney. Which is perhaps one of my favorite Top 6's, I knew that I had to get Dawn_Heart back on her somehow. Yes, true she along with many of my other CA friends appeared on Music Fridays # 20 but I wanted to do another individual cross over with her. Also take time to check out her series, My Thoughts on MMTT, a good first read and my favorite in the series thus far is her article on 3-D. Seeing as she is my guest, I'll let Dawn_Heart treat us with the two songs that she picked from her childhood.
Dawn_Heart's Picks
Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo
Meg: Thank you for the warm words. I always love being on here. So to start with I chose one of the earliest song I remember; Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo from Cinderella. This song is just pure fun and I probably bugged the heck out of my family singing it. It comes as a nice cheer up after a considerable low point in Cinderella. The Fairy Godmother is just so upbeat and cheery. She reminds me of my Latin teacher to be honest. I also love the random choir that comes out of nowhere at parts, I guess it’s the choir geek in me.
Tim: This is a fun choice, Dawn_Heart. I must agree that Fairy Godmother is such a fun character though for my money, the best character in this film is Gus Gus. As for this song, this is a great choice and you explained well why it was part of your childhood. Now I can't say the same myself. Don't get me wrong I liked this film but as a young boy I had a dim view on it somewhat but as all boys I grew out of that and have come to appreciate it. Something that this song shows and something I love is that it shows that Disney had fun with words in their songs. Though I must say Cinderella looks stunning in that dress but I gotta say the idea of a glass slipper sounds uncomfortable but then again as a guy, high heels sound uncomfortable in general.
Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride
Meg: As for next song I had to think about this one a bit, then it hit me. A song that I loved as a child and would sing all the time even if I knew I was saying half of it wrong. Hawaiian Rollercoaster Ride from Lilo and Stitch. I know this one isn’t a classic to some but it is too me. I love the idea of surfing being compared to riding a rollercoaster. It also sets a really cool musical tone for the movie, which is heavily influenced by Hawaiian music. I used to get this suck in my head for hours and I still do. I too is a lot of fun to sing.
Tim: Another fine choice and I'll agree with you that this is a childhood favorite. I was in middle school came out and it was during that time as a kid where it's uncool to like Disney. As a Disney fan, I call this the "Dark Period". Now I never really went through that but I have heard others talk about this. For me Disney brought me too much happiness to ever be mad and I must agree that I like the analogy of comparing surfing to a roller coaster. Though another thing I like about this sequence is that it makes Stitch who is an alien feel more human by showing that he has a fear and as I stated in my review of Lilo and Stitch, Stitch is just a child and it makes sense for him to have a fear. But he decides to face his fear. Maybe one day I'll face my fears of clowns and firemen poles. Hey, childhood fears are weird. The pole thing came from going to a firehouse and seeing the opening and I thought I was going to fall and break apart. As for the clown thing, the only clowns I like are the ones in Dumbo.
My Picks
Tim: Now it's time we delve into my childhood and take a look at two songs from then that I truly enjoyed. First up from The Lion King
Hakuna Matata
Tim: What a Wonderful Phrase? The Lion King is one of the earliest Disney films I recall seeing when I was little. When thinking of a song to pick I had to go with this one because I love the song and again it shows how Disney has fun with words. Back when I was little I didn't get all the jokes but the line, Pumbaa not in front of the kids always got a big chuckle out of me even though I didn't understand it. This song is a lot like Dawn_Heart's first pick in that it is a happy & upbeat song that comes right after a rather somber moment. Even still, it is a fun song and I have always enjoyed it.
Meg: I love this song, I love the Lion King in general. I think this is just one of those songs that everyone knows. I think I've grown to like it more over the years because I didn't get that joke as a kid too, but now I do and it gets a laugh out of my still. I think that song could be a pretty big part of a 90's childhood and something that defines it...if that makes any sense.
Friend Like Me
Tim: If you haven't noticed by now I have a thing for songs sung by the comic relief characters. I have always loved this song and as a little kid, I thought this was such a fun song. Especially when Genie dances with the giant hands and does "Wa Wa". To me that is the highlight. This song is just so random and bizarre and that is what makes it so much fun. Add onto that Robin Williams actually sang this and did a fine job. Only thing left to say is "Wa Wa". I know that probably isn't the right spelling but it's a sound not a word. At least give me credit for trying to figure that thing out.
Meg: I think there is a 'h' at they end of "Wah wah" though I'm the worst person to ask spelling questions to. I love this song because it’s so wild and crazy. Unlike a lot of people I didn’t see this movie until I was older, maybe almost my pre-teen years I think. I still love it though. The Genie is one of my favorite Disney characters. The song also reminds me of an over the top 40s style stage show. With the pretty lights and the girls dancing and just the spectacle of it all. This song always makes me smile.
Tim: That does seem to make a bit more sense and this song does a vaudeville like vibe to it. I'd once again like to thank Dawn_Heart for joining me on this special Music Fridays. Seeing as this is my 30th Music Fridays, it just felt right to make this special and have a guest appear. Join me next week for Pt. 1 of a 2 part Music Fridays where there are There's 104 days of summer vacation.
As I take a look at the music of...
Phineas and Ferb
Meg: Yay! I love that show and I find myself huming the tune to a lot of the show's songs often. Thanks for having me here again, I always enjoy it.
A Look at Disney Music Fridays # 20: Favorite Songs of My CA Pals (With Patrick_O,BigBlackHatMan, Manic_Expression, & Dawn_Heart)
Tim: Woo-hoo, we've made it to the 20th Music Fridays. That's right, I have made it this far with what is my favorite thing to do for you guys. I have talked about so many songs over the past 19 entries and I have loved most of them. You know when I started Music Fridays, it was because I wanted to be able to talk about the songs I loved without that consuming too many articles and I feel that I have done that. Though today, join me as three of my Channel Awesome pals shed some light on their favorite Disney songs and I will close this puppy out by talking about a Disney song that I have always loved but which one. You'll have to read to find out.
Tim: All right our first song comes from Patrick_O, author of At The Scene of The Crime. The song is....
My Lullaby - The Lion King II: Simba's Pride
Tim: Here is what Patrick had to say about the song.
Patrick: Not your typical choice, is it? Personally, I consider "The Lion King 2" to be one of the underappreciated Disney sequels, right along The Rescuers Down Under (like the first movie, but cooler!) and Cinderalla III (where the villain is no longer an evil lady, but an evil lady with a stick!).
I enjoy this song because it's a kick-ass villain song. Zira, who is singing, is not an original villain- she's more or less a regurgitation of Scar, with a motive a lot more ambiguous than Scar's (who was just after power). She's just evil, but what makes her a somewhat intimidating villain is how unrepentant she is about it. "Yeah, I'm evil," she seems to be saying. "What are you gonna do about it, you schmuck?"
It starts off as an apparently sweet and innocent children's lullaby, and yet there's a hostile, sharp edge to the words that make it a very aggressive song, far from the passive song you'd expect it to be. Heck, there's nothing wrong really with the words themselves- it all depends on the delivery, which is excellent, as the sweet lyrics are delivered with a bitter edge.
Then, all of sudden, Kovu has apparently gone to sleep, or he's at least not in the room, and Zira drops the act. She allows the words to get as cruel and bitter as her emotions, and she relishes at the prospect of murder, violence, and power. That she chooses such a song to serenade a child with is just creepy, and the way young Vitani eagerly swallows the words up is also kind of disturbing.
Yet, odd as it seems, that's what gives the whole thing its charm. It is a grotesque- a child's lullaby that would frighten any child out of their mind. But this paradox really appeals to me, and it's an interestingly effective way of making the villain menacing. And at any rate, it's a lot more successful than a similar experiment in
"Pete's Dragon", a song about child abuse (You know, for kids!) called The Happiest Home In These Hills.
Tim: Our next song comes from Mark, who you may know as BigBlackHatMan, the author of such great blogs as Support Your Classic Westerns and M*A*S*H* Notes and the song is...
Why Should I Worry - Oliver & Company
Tim: Here is what BBHM had to say about the song.
BBHM: Well, the simplest answer to why I like it is that it is a ton of fun. Dodger is clearly kind of a jerk, but you can't help but get into it as does most of the city. Dodger reeks havoc on the city and has a blast doing it. Oliver, of course, is completely disgusted. Really, it is the fun.
Our next song comes from James Daniel Walsh, author of Stop The Hate and a good pal of mine. Someone that kept me going on this blog. The song is...
You'll Be In My Heart - Tarzan
JDW: "You'll Be in My Heart" from Disney's underrated classic Tarzan would be my choice for a number of reasons. First of all, its performed by my favorite singer of all time, Phil Collins. That alone might give it the edge over everything else, but there are many other factors. When the movie came out in 1999, I was 19 and had just left home after an ugly fight with my parents. The songs themes of unconditional parental love really touched a cord with a kid who never felt that. When I had my own child, the song took on a different meaning. I went from seeing the song from the perspective of the child to seeing it through the eyes of a parent. One reasons Phil's music always meant so much to me is that it evolves. What many of his songs meant to me when I was a teenager is completely different than what they mean to me now. "You'll Be in My Heart" may be the best example of that.
Tim: The final song to come from a CA pal of mine comes from Dawn_Heart or Meg, if you will. Meg just as James and Patrick have all collabed with me in the past and when Meg joine me, it was on the Top 6 Leading Ladies of Disney and well, it was no surprise what her choice of song as it goes hand in hand with her choice for her # 1 leading of Disney and the song is...
God Help The Outcasts - The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Meg: As much as I love the songs from The Lion King this song is my favorite. This one really speaks to me and I think it is one of the best songs to come out of Disney. Esmeralda is praying a selfless prayer for the outcasts like her while others are asking for things they want for themselves. It also shows a lot about Esmeralda's charater as a kind and caring person. The singer really hits this one out of the park and even though I've heard it many, many times I still get chills
Tim: Now there is just one person left to include a song and that is me. But what song, I have talked about so many great songs over these past few Music Fridays. It wasn't easy picking a song that I wanted to talk about but in the end, I had to go back to A Goofy Movie as that it is where one of my all time favorite songs comes from...
After Today - A Goofy Movie
Tim: Now, I don't know what it is about this song but I just have so much fun each time I listen to it. As I have stated in the past that I use to have this summer traditon when I was still in school that on the first day of summer, I would watch this movie. I think part of the reason that I enjoy this song so much is because of how much I can relate to Max as I had a girl I wanted to ask about but I felt like a goof around her and I just love the lines from all the other characters that make this song really fun such "I'm gonna sit on my but". That cracks me up each time. It is just by and large a fun song that I always find myself singing along to. No doubt about it, this had to be the one to be included.
Tim: I'd like to thank Patrick, Mark, James and Meg for joining me on this special Music Fridays. You guys made this really awesome. I'd also like to thank anyone that has taken the time to not just read a Music Fridays but any of the A Look at Disney articles as that means a lot to me. Thanks again and I hope you guys have enjoyed this rather special Music Fridays. Join me next week though when things go back to normal as I take a look at the Firehouse Five Plus Two.
A Look at Disney: Top 6 Leading Ladies of Disney (With Dawn_Heart)
Tim: Welcome to a rather special Top 6. Today, I'll be counting down my Top 6 favorite Leading Ladies of Disney but I'll have a special guest alongside me to give her input on the characters and to reveal her # 1 favorite leading lady of Disney. Please give a warm welcome to Dawn_Heart.
Meg: Hello everyone! I'm Meghan or Dawn_Heart, call me what ever you wish. I've been on the site for about 9 months.I love movies and some okay really most of my favorite ones are Disney so I'm going to enjoy talking the female characters I grew up with.
Tim: Thanks for joining me, Meghan and with that said. Let's begin.
6. Rapunzel - Tangled 
Tim: Now ever since I saw Tangled, I have loved Rapunzel. She is one of the best female characters to come along in a long time. She is relatable in that she has a dream. She just wants to leave the tower that Mother Gothel has kept her in all these years. We all have a dream and something that is holding us back. Be it a tower or a fear of something. One such example I would love to try and do a stand up comedy routine but I have stage fright. Even after taking three years of high school drama. She reminds me of the Princess characters from the '90s Disney films with a mix of the Walt-era Princess characters as well. Honestly, the two female characters that I think of the most when I think of Rapunzel are Belle and Ariel. Also you have to love a woman that uses a frying pan as her main weapon that is just awesome.
Meg: I first saw this movie on a long, long bus trip up to New York with 30 other people. We all loved it! My friend and I discussed how much we like Rapunzel afterwards. She's sweet, brave, funny (The frying pan stuff nearly had us out of our seats laughing) and ends up saving the guy. We also liked that she would be a good role model for our younger cousins, like Belle was to us when we were kids
5. Minnie Mouse 
Tim: Now you can't do a leading ladies of Disney countdown without mentioning Minnie. Minnie is great and classic. She has developed quite well over time. People complain that today she is just a Mickey clone but I don't think so. I think that she started out as Mickey clone then in the '00s on House of Mouse and Mickey Mouse Works, she finally became her own character. Of course, you could also say her TV special, Totally Minnie developed her even if it was rather lackluster. Save for her duet with Sir Elton John. Now I know some of you reading this aren't going to be happy with Minne only placed at # 5 and it may even confuse some as I have said that Mickey is my favorite character. The only reason she is at # 5 is because Minnie can be assertive but sometimes for the wrong reason. Such as in Mickey's Twice Upon a Christmas when her and Daisy got into a fight over the ice show. Minnie had her eyes set on the prize but she let the prize get in the way of her friendship. Even if she did learn her lesson in the end. Don't get me wrong, I still like Minnie but I do have to agree that in certain cartoons she can come across as a Mickey clone.
Meg: I like Minnie because of the only way I really know her, House of Mouse. Before that show I had never seen any cartoons staring Mickey and the Gang. So that's really the only way I know her. Minnie to me is well organized, smart, and independent but a bit bossy and has quite the temper if I remember some shows right. Bossiness aside she can be sweet and would do anything for her friends (I remember a few shows where Daisy would annoy Minnie to death but she would put up with it). A final thought is that if there ever were to do a movie about Mickey and put it on the big screen I would really like to see Minnie and Mickey get married, they sure have been dating long enough
Tim: Those are some good observations about Minnie and you are right that Minnie is independent but as I stated she was not always that way. House of Mouse helped to develop her into that role. Sorry to tell you though according to Disney, there are no plans to ever have Mickey and Minnie tie the knot. Even though they sell Mickey and Minnie wedding stuff. As you said, they have been dating forever. So why not. Although Wayne Allwine, the previous voice of Mickey who has passed on was married to the current voice actress of Minnie Mouse, Russi Taylor. So in a way, Mickey and Minnie were married only off-camera.
4. Belle - Beauty and The Beast
Tim: Now I have always liked Belle. Belle to me represents a new age of the Disney Princess characters. She is strong-willed. She knows what she wants. She isn't just after a man and she wants people to like her for more than just her looks. Belle believes knowledge is also important as observed by her love of reading. Another reason, I love Belle. I enjoy reading a good book and I could just picture myself having a nice conservation over classic literature with Belle.
Meg: Aww that's sweet about Minnie and Mickey. Now about Belle, the reason I brought up that Belle was a role model for me and my friend was because she was a lot like us. Girls who were considered a bit odd and always with our nose in a book and she's also a bit stubborn like us. I like Belle because I can see myself acting the same way if I was in her shoes though I'd probably freak out a lot more over the talking and singing items. She cares more about what is inside a person than outside as she manages to look past the Beast's curse and fall in love with him.
3. Mary Poppins - Mary Poppins
Tim: Ah, Mary Poppins. Such as classic leading lady of Disney if there ever was one. I don't know what it is about Mary but she is fun, yet serious. She takes the Banks children on these fantastic adventures while still teaching them lessons. She likes to play games and isn't afraid to show her silly side. Which I think is the best part of she shows us, that you always need to make time for fun. You could even say she's Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. I think that everyone could use a Mary Poppins in their life. Also any woman that can use an umbrella to fly is awesome in my book.
Meg: I agree that everyone could use a Marry Poppins in their life. I kind of see her as a fixer of things. She comes in and brings a distant family closer together, fixing them in a sense. She's smart, magical, and loving. She also seems to have a huge fan club because everywhere she goes people and animals just adore her.
2. Ariel - The Little Mermaid
Tim: By now, it should be no big surprise that Ariel is on this list. As you all know I adore The Little Mermaid. There is just something about Ariel that really puts the movie over the top for me. Unlike Rapunzel, who is shy and timid. Ariel is not. She is ambitious and knows what she wants. Just as with Belle, she wishes to learn. Even if Triton disapproves of her hobby, she doesn't care. While she does want to visit the land to be with Eric. She also wants to learn about our lifestyle. Her adventurous nature is another thing that I love about her. She is ready for any journey that comes her way and she'll tackle it head on. Now the only big flaw with her is that she can be gullible at times.
Meg: I like Ariel a lot more now than I did as a kid. As a kid I didn't understand why she wanted to leave her home and I thougt she was too rebellious. Now as a teen I can relate to her more. She wants to be independent and explore new places and fall in love. I also think of her as being gullible as well as impulsive which gets her into a lot of trouble, but again I can relate on those points too.
Tim: Now as I said both Meghan and I will reveal her own # 1 choice. I have decided to let Meghan go first and reveal her # 1 leading lady of Disney. Her # 1 leading lady of Disney is.
Meg: My #1 Leading Lady has to be Esmeralda- The Hunchback of Notra Dame.
Esmeralda is my favorite for many reasons. She is smart and can think on her feet by avoiding Frollo's guards. She can take care of herself and is strong and even ends up saving Phoebus . She is also very caring. When poor Quasimodo is tied to that wheel and being mocked by the crowd she is the only person caring enough, and brave enough to stand up to Frollo. After this Esmeralda sings one of my favorite songs to come out of a Disney movie "God help the Outcasts." In it she doesn't pray for herself but for the less fortunate than her. She also sees past Quasimodo appearnce and doesn't treat him like a monster and helps him realize that he is not for himself.
Tim: Good choice. The Hunchback of Notre Dame is one of my favorite movies and I feel that you have explained her character quite well. As you said, she is caring and willing to stand up to Frollo. Which I think scares him as he has never had a woman stand up to him before but Esmeralda isn't going to stand by and watch as Frollo destroys the lives of her people. She may be outspoken but that's good and rare for a woman in her day and age. Excellent choice, Meghan.
Tim: Now it's time for me to reveal my # 1 leading lady of Disney and she is...
1. Mulan - Mulan
Tim: I went back and forth over which lady to place in the # 1 spot but in the end, I just had to go with Mulan. Out of all the characters on this list, I think she goes through the best character development. Starting out as a young girl unsure of herself but when she pretends to be Ping in the army to protect her father. She really comes into her own and matures quite well. Also as I said she goes into war to protect her father, who is too old to fight. That is showing some true love to your family, if you are willing to risk your life just to protect your family and it's honor. No doubt about it, Mulan has to be my # 1 choice.
Meg: I had a feeling your number one was going to be Mulan and it's a really good choice. I agree that she is an extremely brave and cares a lot for her father and family. Not to mention the fact that she saved an entire country, now that is saying something. What I like about both characters is that they go beyond the "Damsel in Distress" role and save the things they care about. Perhaps that's why I love these movies so much. Thank you for having me and letting me give my take on the character's I grew up with
Tim: Well, there you have it, this rather special Top 6 with guest, Dawn_Heart. Meghan, thank you for joining me on this rather fun Top 6 and it was a joy to work with you. All of your input on these characters was rather interesting both about the characters and yourself. Again, I thank your for taking part in this Top 6 with me.
