Search - Various Artists :: Walt Disney Records : Children's Favorite Songs, Vol. 2 : 25 Classic Tunes

The musical equivalent of strained carrots

Harry Eagar | Maui | 06/14/2008

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Lordy, how I detest the Disney machine. So much skill, so little taste.



Here's what I think you'd want in a collection of songs aimed at young and maybe not so young children: bland arrangements, erring on the peppy side; a friendly, enthusiastic singer who obviously enjoys the songs (think Burl Ives); children's favorites.



Here's what you get on disc 2 of Disney's collection: bland arrangements erring on the extra bland; a crooner with a voice like yogurt who is just putting in his day at the office; and, of course, from Disney, some corporate trash.



In this case, three "favorite" songs that the children have never heard before because they're new; and will never become favorites because they are dull, wordy and impossible for young children to sing.



You can just hear the ghost of Walt whispering in the ear of the producer (Jymn Mogan), "Throw in some extra crap, the parents will pay for it and the dumb clucks won't know any better."



Disney didn't tamper with the lyrics as much as I had expected, but what sort of idiot changes "am" to "is" is "Polly Wolly Doodle"?"