I finally watched the video and while I know it's a video and I'm not "in the moment," I feel that I get enough of the show to be able to form an opinion on it.
For me, it just doesn't work. It's awesome to see some new life and love put into the attraction (the smoking fiddle is a great touch!), but the show itself just isn't good.
The songs don't hit. Kiss the Girl is ok but even that isn't better than anything from the previous incarnation. Big Al singing Remember Me (in a VERY short scene) is a huge swing and a miss.
Even at the end of it's life the finale had people stomping feet and clapping...the videos I've watched just have people singing along to Bare Necessities... while they are singing...they're not "feeling it."
I keep seeing the Under New Management being brought up in comparison and how it's "better than that." Personally, I don't know if it really is. Compared to the Tiki Birds, Iago and Zazu were really good new animatronics. The show itself was annoying but isn't that in line with the characters? To me, this new CBJ show just falls flat and really has nothing to do with the Bears.
Why not license some songs to refresh it?
Big Al singing "Friends in Low Places"
Trixie singing "Tears on my Guitar"
The Bear Rugs could get the crowd stomping their feet with an original
Bonnets could sing a Dixie Chicks song.
I'm saddened by it because I had such high hopes with the Bare Necessities video they first posted. Loved the original show and now it's just another Disney singalong that has no connection to the theme.