MK Country Bear Jamboree is getting new songs and acts

[Charlie The Chatbox Ghost]

Thanks! The entire album is on Spotify now. They have full-length versions of quite a few of the songs. It’s roughly 18 min long.

What a great thing to wake up to!!

 

[MisterPenguin]

Didn't Tiana used to do meet and greets in Liberty Square?

Yes. At times with Naveen.

 

[Charlie The Chatbox Ghost]

Funny they recorded full versions of all the songs when only a little bit was used in the show itself.

Interesting that the version of A Whole New World is different than the show- Chris Thile isn’t doing a voice for Wendell.

No Remember Me, either… could that add to the rumor that Blood on the Saddle was going to be Al’s original song?

EDIT: Continuing to listen through- Fixer Upper is entirely instrumental?? Damn. I was really hoping for all the songs in the show to be how they sounded in the show…

 

[Streetway]

Interesting that the version of A Whole New World is different than the show- Chris Thile isn’t doing a voice for Wendell.

No Remember Me, either… could that add to the rumor that Blood on the Saddle was going to be Al’s original song?

EDIT: Continuing to listen through- Fixer Upper is entirely instrumental?? Damn. I was really hoping for all the songs in the show to be how they sounded in the show…

Remember me is a good replacement for blood in the saddle, it just needed more time to breathe.

 

[Charlie The Chatbox Ghost]

Remember me is a good replacement for blood in the saddle, it just needed more time to breathe.

Yeah I think it works, just wish it was on the album. The album is pretty much all different audio from the actual show. The opener is the same, Try Everything and Kiss the Girl are long versions of what we got, Supercali- is identical to the show, and then everything after that is entirely different recordings. Whole New World doesn’t have Wendell’s voice, Fixer Upper is entirely instrumental, and the rest are different recordings. Bare Necessities does sound good still, with some solos from a few characters akin to the Christmas/Vacation finales.

So much for having the source audio!! Hopefully someone can get that uploaded in high quality.

 

[Casper Gutman]

Guests who see the current show with no familiarity with the original will have no idea why Big Al is beloved. People just keep projecting memories onto the hollow new version.

 

[Streetway]

Yeah I think it works, just wish it was on the album. The album is pretty much all different audio from the actual show. The opener is the same, Try Everything and Kiss the Girl are long versions of what we got, Supercali- is identical to the show, and then everything after that is entirely different recordings. Whole New World doesn’t have Wendell’s voice, Fixer Upper is entirely instrumental, and the rest are different recordings. Bare Necessities does sound good still, with some solos from a few characters akin to the Christmas/Vacation finales.

So much for having the source audio!! Hopefully someone can get that uploaded in high quality.

you think they had a diff show at one point?

 

[Casper Gutman]

Remember me is a good replacement for blood in the saddle, it just needed more time to breathe.

It really isn’t.

 

[Charlie The Chatbox Ghost]

you think they had a diff show at one point?

I’d imagine they went through a lot of versions. The final show audio is likely the “final” takes and the album are some earlier ones. Except for Ernest’s, what we hear in the show and album is the first and only take- the dude nailed it on the first try!

 

[999th Happy Haunt]

Fantasyland is more than princesses - Aladdin, Buzz Lightyear, and the Muppets have been put in Adventureland, Tomorrowland, and Liberty Square.

If you can only imagine these lands with cartoon characters and Muppets - well, then you are (EDITED for sensitive souls).

Idk if I’m just blanking right now but where are the muppets in adventureland and tomorrowland

 

[Streetway]

bears have a lot of small rumors of things that could happen for them

• Potential return to Disneyland in some form
• Maybe a Henry costume
• And now maybe pecos bill?

What do you think happpened that the bears are getting so much love rn? Is this a sign they are here to stay?

 

[wdwgreek]

So after allowing this to sit for a week, I have my thoughts finally gathered. I will preface this by saying that I loved the original show and I found the 2012 refurbishment such an abject basterdization of the original. The Country Bear Jamboree at its heart was a vaudeville style variety show, a medium that was dying in the 1920's and effectively dead by the 1970s save for tv variety shows popular in the 50s and 60s and extending into late night. The original full show was filled with enchanting wit, humor and a mix of characters which were expertly designed. In 2012 when the spare dialogue was cut, the songs were tightened, and the order of the show shuffled, something was lost. The show is meant to evolve, it has naturally built levels, making the audience believe that the ensemble was a real troupe of actors. The cuts were extremely detrimental to this and made the show feel rushed and shallow... but enough of this yick yak and flim flam onto the review.

I was crushed when the show closure was announced, but my review of the new show cannot be a comparison of the prior show. I have to judge it on its own merits. My criteria is as follows: 1. Structure of the show. (Pacing, plot, immersion, cohesiveness). 2. Content of the Show (Humor, set list, performances) 3. Ascetics (AA quality, costumes, other artistic elements).

1. Structure: The show I think has a fairly strong structure. It does open now with a humorous interlude by Buff, Max and Melvin, whose interrogation into the show, makes them feel like part of the ensemble rather than audience members. Their banter throughout the show is a highlight and adds to the immersion factor. The show also adds back Rufus from later editions of the CBJ, which is a welcome return. These elements help make the show feel immersive and reinforces the notion the show is a "real" troupe of actors putting on a variety show. The structure keeps Gomer playing an introduction and then the bear band plays. This is where the first knock of the structure comes in, whereas before the bear band played numerous times, the house band is relegated to a minor 58 second song rather then a larger accompaniment same with Gomer. Recall that originally both these features returned multiple times throughout the show, not just at the beginning and end. The show continues with a nice flow although, I have serious critiques for not allowing each bear to shine as a solo act, the squeezing together of Teddy and Wendell as well as the Sun Bonnets and Trixie really are poor choices. I am all for reclaiming size, Trixie could have done that without the Sun Bonnets who deserve their own spotlight and not back up. The finale also feels rushed and could have used one more refrain and is missing a wow factor. Overall it felt a bit rushed and it needed a bit more air. I give the structure a 7/10 overall.

2. Content: Some of this was alluded to above. I have to accept they are choosing Disney songs, although I wish they choose songs more obscure from the catalogue they all work with the exception of Try everything and most egregiously a whole new world. These two songs are jarring in the context of the show. I can't get settled with them. Turning a whole new world into a song with a dopey bear singing to a sexualized bear is such a strange contrast for a love song. Teddy singing it solo would have been a much better choice. Other songs excel, particularly you've got a friend in me, fixer upper, remember me and the Mary Poppins interlude. The idea the drunk Big Al can't sing a forlorn love song is actually very funny and executed well. The new introduction song, Musical Jamboree is fun, but needs another 45 seconds of content. The return of Come Again and the choice of Bare Necessitates also fit very nicely. Overall 7/10.

3. Ascetics: These bears look great. There is no denying the animatronics look fantastic. I don't believe i've ever seen them looking so sharp and clean. Their movements are excellent and the programming is fantastic. They have so much animation in them. There are a few costume choices like Trixie's that I really don't care for, but overall this is the strongest aspect of the refurbishment. 9/10.

overall? 7.6 A solid C, its fine show. It is not everything I hoped it would be, but given the alternative, A toy story musical revue or nothing. I will gladly take this and will be coming again to see it.


For Reference, I give the original show a 10/10, the Christmas show a 9.5/10, Vacation hoedown 8/10 and the 2012 version a C+. Note while this show is a downgrade from original content, it at least maintains a good sense of immersion, great banter from the trio on the wall and really lets Henry shine as the MC who has finally allowed himself to get into the fun and not just be the straight man. Thanks for reading!

 

[Charlie The Chatbox Ghost]

bears have a lot of small rumors of things that could happen for them

• Potential return to Disneyland in some form
• Maybe a Henry costume
• And now maybe pecos bill?

What do you think happpened that the bears are getting so much love rn? Is this a sign they are here to stay?

Chapek is out, and a creative is head of WDI. Could be a good sign.

 

[Streetway]

Chapek is out, and a creative is head of WDI. Could be a good sign.

So much bears tho. I’m not complaining lol.

 

[Moth]

bears have a lot of small rumors of things that could happen for them

• Potential return to Disneyland in some form
• Maybe a Henry costume
• And now maybe pecos bill?

What do you think happpened that the bears are getting so much love rn? Is this a sign they are here to stay?

If we go by the Imagination rumor-mill starting again, constant updates to the Mansion, and also Big Thunder retrack rumors, I assume higher management is starting to realize the value of in-park IPs and is taking steps to expand on some and maintain some.

 

[FigmentJedi]

So your argument is that IP in the lands that are not Fantasyland is bad?

There's long been a thought that Fantasyland was the designated cartoon IP containment zone while ignoring that Pecos Bill was in Frontierland from day one. When you start making movies that don't neatly fit into the "European Fairy Tale" mold, you're gonna start seeing them show up outside the European Fairy Tale zone.

>But Princess and the Frog is a European fairy tale
It is a story about people remembering the premise of a European fairy tale and proceeding to screw it up set in America, the country that loves screwing up European fairy tales.

 

[Streetway]

If we go by the Imagination rumor-mill starting again, constant updates to the Mansion, and also Big Thunder retrack rumors, I assume higher management is starting to realize the value of in-park IPs and is taking steps to expand on some and maintain some.

Fingers crossed, I like the sound of that. Hopefully this works out on the figment end. But with bears taking over pecos bills potentially, and the shooting range being gone, I once again raise you: is Frontierland even about cowboys or the frontier anymore, sans big thunder?

 

[Streetway]

And if we’re talking about in park ip returning, one I know they never will touch again but I would LOVE it if they did is xs tech/new Tomorrowland 94. Maybe an xs tech/alien encounter themed buzz retheme?

 

[Moth]

Fingers crossed, I like the sound of that. Hopefully this works out on the figment end. But with bears taking over pecos bills potentially, and the shooting range being gone, I once again raise you: is Frontierland even about cowboys or the frontier anymore, sans big thunder?

I heard Critter Country may be the final outcome for Frontierland and Frontierland might be "moved" to BTTM

 

[zipadee999]

I heard Critter Country may be the final outcome for Frontierland and Frontierland might be "moved" to BTTM

WDW fan: Hey did you hear the bears are back in Critter Country!
DL fan: Really?!
WDW fan: Yeah right here in Florida!
DL fan: