Aladdin on DVD... It's about time!
I haven't watched the movie itself yet, saving that for tonight with my wife. So far I have been checking out the musical bonus features. I was pleasently surprised that they included several additional deleted songs besides Proud Of Your Boy. I was really surprised that the version of You Can Count On Me is actually a DIFFERENT VERSION than the one previously available on Music Behind The Magic! I had noticed the sound was slightly off from what I am used to and thought it was just my TV, but then the end had different lyrics which was pretty cool, though I still prefer the older version. Speaking of enjoying the older version more...
I was so excited about Clay Aiken recording Proud Of Your Boy. It has always been one of my favorite deleted Disney songs and now it was finally going to get the treatment it deserves! Upon hearing the Clay version I am rather disappointed. Clay doesn't put enough into it, especially the beginning of the song. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed hearing it, it's just I don't get the same emotional response I do when I listen to Alan Menken singing it (Which for those who do not have Music Behind The Magic, is also included on the DVD) Alan's version is not as grand, and his singing voice is nothing compared to Clay's, but there is just something missing from the new version that was in the original, and whatever that something is, I really miss it. I still say that I would give half my Disney collection to have a recording of Brad Kane (Aladdin's singing voice) singing it.
The new version of A Whole New World is also included. It is sung by real life husband and wife Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson. They do a good job with the song, although they really don't add anything new to it. It's basically the same musical arrangement as the original Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle version. I enjoyed it, and it has a place alongside the many remakes of A Whole New World that have come out on various Disney CDs over the past 10 years. Is it better than the original? Of course not! But still good.
Gotta go, there's alot more stuff to find on the DVDs, and I haven't even touched the deleted scenes or Disc 2 yet!