Wife. Mom. Churchgoer. Pixie-Duster.
Years ago, before The Hunger Games movies came out, I read the books and was enamored of the song, The Hanging Tree. So solemn, so moving. And a melody popped into my head for it. So, naturally, I wrote it down. Also, naturally, I kept it to myself for YEARS. (Bad habit I’m trying to break.)
Well, big news, I’ve finally recorded my version and shared it on my youtube channel! I hope you enjoy listening as much as I enjoyed creating this song.
Welcome to my weekly dump of the geeky stuff in my life! For the previous geeky list, click here.
I had to skip the past few weeks because #lifehappens. Now that everyone isn’t sleep deprived/sick/going to the ER (relax, everyone is FINE), I can actually get back to writing. Yay!
Again. Because I have a toddler. Luckily, both movies still move me to tears even after I know every. single. part.
“McQueen is fading!… fading… fading…”
No, kid, Mommy is totally not crying… it’s the pollen…
That’s the interesting way to say “Not a damm thing.” Also the interesting way to say, I actually did start writing that story I’ve been longing to tell! And I’m already so happy about where it’s going.
Like I said, it’s been a rough two weeks, so it’s a little blurry and nothing was out of the ordinary or primarily focused upon. Summary:
Do you love angsty, beautiful pop music? Do you have an obsession with ancient Greek mythology? Then do I have the song for you! Icarus has been on all my playlists for about a week now, and I’m still not sick of it. It’s oddly beautiful, catchy, and nerdy all at once. *happy sigh* Take a listen below!
That’s my four for this week! What geeky things have been in your life this week?
I had a Tangled/Disney themed wedding (not overly cheesy or blatant, if I do say so myself), and since I’m a musician, the music for both the ceremony and the reception was a HUGE deal! A while ago I made a list for my piano playing business about ways to add a little more magic to your wedding day, via Disney music, and figured I would share it over here. So, here are some musical ideas for every part of your wedding that will add a hint of pixie-dust!
*Marks a song I used at my own wedding!
Entrance Songs:
-So This is Love from Cinderella
-Can You Feel the Love Tonight? from The Lion King (Elton John version)
-One Song from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
-Married Life from Pixar’s UP
Recessional Song:
-True Love’s Kiss from Enchanted
-Once Upon A Dream from Sleeping Beauty
-Learn Me Right from Brave (A friend of mine had this as her first dance song!)
First Dance:
-I See the Light from Tangled*
-Love Is An Open Door from Frozen
-Beyond the Sea from Finding Nemo
-A Whole New World from Aladdin
-Love from Robin Hood
-Ma Belle Evangeline from The Princess and the Frog
Mother/Son Dance:
–You’ll Be In My Heart from Tarzan*
-Baby Mine from Dumbo
-Your Mother and Mine from Peter Pan
Father/Daughter Dance:
-How Does a Moment Last Forever? from Beauty and the Beast (Celine Dion version)
-Baby Mine from Dumbo
-Cinderella by Steven Curtis Chapman (technically not Disney, but it gives the same vibe and guarantees happy tears)*
Bouquet Toss:
-I Won’t Say I’m In Love from Hercules*
-Someday My Prince Will Come from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Garter Toss:
-Be A Man from Mulan*
-A Girl Worth Fighting For from Mulan
If I were to put together my perfect “Disney Wedding Program” with selections from this list, here’s how it would look:
Prelude:
Married Life (Because I love a good prelude!)
Entrance:
So This is Love
Recessional:
Learn Me Right
First Dance:
I See the Light
Entrance into Reception:
The Throne Room from Star Wars: A New Hope
Mother/Son Dance:
You’ll Be In My Heart
Father/Daughter Dance:
Cinderella by Steven Curtis Chapman
Bouquet Toss:
I Won’t Say I’m In Love
Garter Toss: Be A Man
What have I been listening to this week? Amid the repeated requests for the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Theme, the Hot Dog Dance, and Paw Patrol, I have managed to get some “Mommy Music” in as well, a la Beauty and the Beast!
I’ve been digging the soundtrack from the new live-action movie, especially Evermore (confession: I listen to this song repeatedly. Both the Dan Stevens version and the Josh Groban cover; both are fantastic and wonderfully emotional without being copy-cats of each other).
If you’re like me and on a too-tight-to-buy-music-budget, good news: YouTube has a playlist of the full soundtrack! You can listen by clickingthe link here.
My faves:
Enjoy!
What are you listening to this week? Do you have a fave on this album I didn’t mention? Leave a comment and tell me about it!
Oh, how fitting that the worst of the worst should be on the thirteenth day of the challenge. (Though really, shouldn’t today’s question be ‘what Haunted Mansion ghost is your favorite?’)
This is again an easy choice, but one that I know even die-hard Disney fans–the kind that would have a favorite HM ghost–would probably agree with me on.
I feel that I must again state that I did not have the pleasure of visiting the happiest place on earth until about two years ago, so I did not tire of this song from too many rides as a child. No, my loathing of this song came from its unwanted appearance on “Disney’s Best Songs” CD’s that I listened to growing up. One moment you think, ahh, how lovely! Bella Notte, The Second Star the the Right, When You Wish Upon A Star….
HOLY CRAP WHAT IS THIS LOUD SQUEAKY NOISE UNRAVELING MY PEACEFUL DISNEY SONG REVERIE?!?!?!
Okay, so the ride wasn’t that bad. The song is still the most annoying song I have ever heard, which, as a music major who has had to listen to a lot of modern, cutting-edge academic “music” (aka noises in patterns), is saying something.
My husband knows that this is the song to sing when anything else is in my head, since its aural stench is so strong that it takes up all available auditory room in the human brain.
Look, even Disney knows that no one likes their song.
People love to hate this song. It gives park-goers a camaraderie, a camaraderie usually found only in the annoyance of waiting for an hour in the still Florida heat for the parades to come by.
Now, don’t think that I have a problem with the kum-ba-yah sentiment in this song. It’s cool. I willingly put forth that I am the first person to enjoy and even tear up a little at the small-world element in IllumiNations.
But the singing dolls… Look, Mr. Disney, we all have a slight problem with dolls moving on their own. We grew up watching The Twilight Zone and know that if dolls move by forces unseen, we’re all doomed to die.
And, of course, it being some anniversary of this ride, not only can’t you escape the song, but there are DOLLS.
That SING.
Okay, so those dolls are pretty cute. And, I’ll admit, I love pretty dolls, and have my own older collection of American Girl Dolls packed away who are pretty. But I still get creeped out by ventriloquist dummies (Except for Achmed the Dead Terrorist. Him and his buddies are okay, minus that weird dude with the Prius.)
But I hate that song.
It has to go.
Ahh, another easy day for this challenge!
There are a lot of good villain songs in the Disney-verse. (Though I must admit, my recent realization that Jafar really doesn’t have his own personal song made me kind of sad.)
I have two honorable mentions:
Props to Ursula for monologuing only to her minions, and not to the heroine of the story.
Also, I just love how low of an alto voice you need to sing this song. It’s just fun to sing.
As far as villains go, Dr. Facilier is one of my favorites to meet in Disney Parks. Probably him and Gaston.
Really this is one of my top faves because of the detail in the animation during the song sequence. Look closely at the picture. See the difference in the wallpaper that is in the Dr.’s shadow, and the wallpaper that’s in the light? Yup, those are skulls and crossbones.
Plus it’s just a catchy song. But the reason it doesn’t win is because Voodoo and calling on evil spirits is creepy. My first reaction to watching the movie was “Holy canolli, Disney people, that sh*t is real!! This is a kids’ movie!”
At this point we all know that I love Tangled, and find Mother Gothel to be a spectacular villain.
I love this song partially for Gothel’s singing (what a voice!), but mostly because we go from this…
…to this.
What a demonstration of character building, and showing how the villain can develop from annoying and bad to evil and bad.
And now the winner of today’s category is…
You want a song to motivate you to do housework?
I’ve found, surprisingly, that this one works better than “I’ll Make a Man Out of You.”
Scar’s got the best dramatic flair. And Jeremy Irons actually sung his part, which is a huge plus.
It’s another case of the villain talking up his plan, but still being smart enough to not monologue to his enemy, the good guy.
What’s your favorite Villain song?
At last! A day of the challenge that is really easy.
Technically, I See the Light is a love song, but it is also about finding a dream. And since it is my favorite song in yesterday’s post, I’ve picked another love song that is just lovely.
I know what you’re thinking. “Man, this girl really likes her obscure Disney!”
Which I do.
But this song has always been a favorite, and one that comes to mind whenever I think “Disney Love Song.”
Honorable mentions:
Bella Notte-Lady & the Tramp
So This Is Love-Cinderella
A Whole New World-Aladdin
Kiss the Girl-The Little Mermaid (only because I like to squack Scuttle’s part)
There is a very important blogging lesson I have learned: when one takes on a challenge that is supposed to have you “do ____ for _____ number of days, all in a row, and don’t skip a day!…” you’re going to skip days. Whether it’s been an exercise challenge, a writing challenge, anything, there will be days that you have to skip, for one reason or another (like, say, road trips that take all day, National Novel Writing Month, or Thanksgiving turkeys that are completely frozen even though they’ve been thawing for two extra days… to be completely non-specific, of course).
But enough about why this 30 Day challenge is turning out to be a 2 Month challenge! Let’s go on to the hardest question on this list:
I know a lot of people who would not have a hard time with this question. Thank goodness there are four categories of songs in this challenge, so I can whittle my list down a little bit. But here’s just a tiny bit about my life, so you can understand my dilemma.
I grew up listening to and watching almost every Disney sing-along video cassette that was ever made.
As far back as I can remember, my little sister has had rather severe autism. Growing up, Disney movies made her happy, but I believe that back then, it had more to do with the music than with the stories. My sister would Continue reading “Music, Autism & a Favorite Song – 30 Day Disney Challenge: Day 10”
The Merry Mousewife 