Unoffical Guide to WDW 2012 says "New songs might be added to CBJ"

[Frank&Ollie]

Modernizing CBJ that much would ruin it in my opinion. Rascal Flatts there would be as bad as Miley Cyrus at RnRC

Amen to that!

To quote the CBJ regarding Jim Hill on this one... "I think they should shoot him instead" :ROFLOL:

 

[cwolnowski]

If Disney is considering changing Country Bear Jamboree, I hope they have learned from the mis-steps made during its "hip-and-edgy" era. For a great article about this, which as been posted before, see:

<http://imagineerebirth.blogspot.com/2007/02/be-yourself.html>

I personally preferred the 'Vacation Hoedown' show better than the current show (the current show is the same one that existed on opening day in 1971 and was re-introduced again in 1992) but I realize that "making attractions better" is a cornerstone of Disney entertainment (see above article as to that). Nevertheless, the Country Bear Jamboree is supposed to be a "good 'ol fashioned hoedown", but would a group of country bears really be playing country pop to the likes of Rascal Flatts? I would think a new show with bluegrass-esque tunes that are akin to the theme and mood of Frontierland would be more appropriate. I guess it's just the image of Trixie and Teddy Barra singing Carrie Underwood that I can't see 'clicking' (much like I thought Zazu singing Gloria Estefan never clicked either).

 

[devoy1701]

updating with bands such as Rascal Flatts = horrible idea. :hurl:

:lol:

Updating with other newer artists in the same satirical style as the original show sounds like a great idea! Would love to have artists like Travis Tritt, Trace Adkins, Reba, George Strait, Lady A, Toby Keith, Keith Urban, Alan Jackson, (even Steve Martin's band!) etc with new original songs!

 

[Tigger1988]

updating with bands such as Rascal Flatts = horrible idea. :hurl:

:lol:

Updating with other newer artists in the same satirical style as the original show sounds like a great idea! Would love to have artists like Travis Tritt, Trace Adkins, Reba, George Strait, Lady A, Toby Keith, Keith Urban, Alan Jackson, (even Steve Martin's band!) etc with new original songs!

That's just as bad as the Rascal Flatts idea...

 

[devoy1701]

That's just as bad as the Rascal Flatts idea...

If they don't make any updates to it, it's just a matter of time before the attraction closes. Redoing the attraction with country artists who are relavent today (like they did in the 70s) is a great way to spark interest in it again. Rascal Flatts is just way to pop-ish for this attraction.

 

[aladdin2007]

I wouldnt mind some Dolly Parton or Loretta Lynn in there (at least its a little more classic traditional), but in general this sounds like a horrible idea. Makes me think another lame attempt to be hip and would turn out like Tiki Room Under New Management. When Disney tries to be hip it gets outdated way too fast and comes off as cheesy. The show does need a refurbishment for sure as it and Pan are falling apart.

Please no Miley though or any of those others, its bad enough that awful pumping up the party now song still blasts down main street. Or did they finally do away with that?

 

[Tigger1988]

If they don't make any updates to it, it's just a matter of time before the attraction closes. Redoing the attraction with country artists who are relavent today (like they did in the 70s) is a great way to spark interest in it again. Rascal Flatts is just way to pop-ish for this attraction.

Yeah updating it and making it modern worked well for Tiki Room.

 

[WDWGoof07]

Ugh, this is a terrible idea, and I hope it's nothing more than a wild rumor. Contemporary country would clash terribly with the current hoedown style of music currently in the CBJ and the rustic setting of Frontierland.

The current show is perfect the way it is. I'd just like it to get some TLC.

 

[RSoxNo1]

I was listening to an podcast and was catching up by listening to old episodes. On 1 was a interview with Jim Hill from 2006. I got to tell you, some of the stuff he fired off with that sounded iffy is now a reality. He made mention (in this interview or one not too long later) of the intention of Disney to expand Fantasyland and focus much of their near term development on it. He was questioned as this sounded far fetched at the time, but he was right on. Now, I admit he is not 100% accurate, but some of that is bad info and some of that is changed plans.

(on a more recent interview he said that Carsland is slated for DHS in 2015-2016 time frame and that is why they have not re-themed the Tommorrowland Speedway... maybe, maybe not)

My understanding is that they're waiting to see how successful Carsland is in DCA - if it proves to be successful I would expect that it would be built (or at least announced) within 5 years at DCA.

Since you brought up the Unofficial Guide, did Primeval Whirl make the cover for the third year in a row?

No, they're back to Everest this year. Whoever decides on the cover (Bob? Len?) has a strange obsession with Animal Kingdom.

I called out Len on this a while ago, and I guess what happens is that they submit multiple photos to the publisher and the publisher chooses the photo they like the best. It largely has to do with the quality of the photo - they're more likely to look for an indication of action in the shot, and Primeval Whirl does a good job visually of representing that.

 

[devoy1701]

Yeah updating it and making it modern worked well for Tiki Room.

Ugh, this is a terrible idea, and I hope it's nothing more than a wild rumor. Contemporary country would clash terribly with the current hoedown style of music currently in the CBJ and the rustic setting of Frontierland.

The current show is perfect the way it is. I'd just like it to get some TLC.

Completely different scenario of completely changing the storyline and the heart of the attraction. Many of the artists that were featured in the original CBJ were very popular during the 70s. How is using artists who are popular today to re-record some of the songs or to come of with new songs along the same theme any different?

@WDWGoof - many of today's contemporary country artists do also have hoedown/bluegrass/raw country type tracks on their albums too. Usually 1 or 2 songs...this includes artists like Blake Shelton, Keith Urban, Toby Keith, Taylor Swift, Zac Brown Band, etc. You need to look past the stuff you hear on the radio and assuming that a re-recorded project would mean a contemporary mainstream country sound.

If the songs are done in the same style, there's absolutely no chance of a clash. Yet it would make the attraction relevant again for the next decade or 2.

 

[WDWGoof07]

Completely different scenario of completely changing the storyline and the heart of the attraction. Many of the artists that were featured in the original CBJ were very popular during the 70s. How is using artists who are popular today to re-record some of the songs or to come of with new songs along the same theme any different?

@WDWGoof - many of today's contemporary country artists do also have hoedown/bluegrass/raw country type tracks on their albums too. Usually 1 or 2 songs...this includes artists like Blake Shelton, Keith Urban, Toby Keith, Taylor Swift, Zac Brown Band, etc. You need to look past the stuff you hear on the radio and assuming that a re-recorded project would mean a contemporary mainstream country sound.

If the songs are done in the same style, there's absolutely no chance of a clash. Yet it would make the attraction relevant again for the next decade or 2.

I realize that, but, in my experience, older songs in that genre are more intrinsically charming and humorous. I'm guilty of generalizing in my last post when I criticized the potential for a musical clash with Frontierland because I liked Vacation Hoedown, which featured disparate musical styles. Even then, the songs featured were not contemporary at the time the show was running. Rather, they were time-tested, beloved classics and had the same charming qualities of the music in the original show, so I stand by my conviction that updating CBJ with contemporary artists would be a bad idea. I like modern country music, but I just don't think it has the down-to-earth whimsy that would make it right at home in a Disney park like the current CBJ songs do, even if you consider modern artists' "raw country" songs.

I don't like the idea of having the current songs re-recorded by celebrity voice artists either. The voice work is one of the strongest parts of CBJ right now, and it would add nothing to, and possibly detract from, the show to do new recordings for the sake of giving the bears voices that are famous today.

The show is perfect as it is right now. Why mess with it? There are so many other show improvements they could make elsewhere that seem like they should be a higher priority.

 

[_Scar]

I think there are quite a few notable country singers to take on this role. It's not like it's going to be T-Swift with her pop-country songs. WDI should know that people love CBJ because of its charm. I say update it. New AA's, songs, effects, characters, and maybe some possums.

 

[menamechris]

If they don't make any updates to it, it's just a matter of time before the attraction closes. Redoing the attraction with country artists who are relavent today (like they did in the 70s) is a great way to spark interest in it again. Rascal Flatts is just way to pop-ish for this attraction.

I don't think interest necessarily has anything to do with the music presented. I the majority of children (and adults) are not as fascinated with having a seat in a theater and having a bunch of animatronics sing to them for 10-15 minutes. It is not the marvel that it once was - most people would rather be on a actual ride of some sort. But these types of shows will always remain in the parks, because they still are very simple (and pretty low maintenance) shows that can still entertain the very young, the very old, and those who enjoy them for nostalgic purposes...

 

[prberk]

It can be done well, keeping its folksy charm and with artists and instrumentalists who understand the tone.

Whoever produced the "O Mickey Where Art Thou" soundtrack for Disney, for example, got it right. That was not just a cheesy children's album. It was actually a very, very well-done album with some of the best (not the most popular) country and bluegrass artists doing the songs. If they involve the producers of that album, I would have confidence that they can pull off a good, modernly-recorded update that was still timeless.

Either way, they should involve folks who know their country and bluegrass music history, and have a love for it -- and yet also understand showmanship overall. And there ARE some folks in Nashville who do get it. T-Bone Burnett ("O Brother" producer) and Eddie Stubbs (WSM announcer) and Keith Bilbry (former Opry announcer and current Music City Roots show announcer) and Kyle Cantrell (former Opry announcer and Sirius Satelllite Radio host and historian) are further examples.

 

[NoChesterHester]

It can be done well, keeping its folksy charm and with artists and instrumentalists who understand the tone.

Whoever produced the "O Mickey Where Art Thou" soundtrack for Disney, for example, got it right. That was not just a cheesy children's album. It was actually very, very well-done album with some of the best (not the most popular) country and bluegrass artists doing the songs. If they involve the producers of that album, I would have confidence that they can pull off and good update that was still timeless.

Either way, they should involve folks who know their country and bluegrass music history, and have a love for it -- and yet also understand showmanship overall. And there ARE some folks in Nashville who do get it. T-Bone Burnett ("O Brother" producer) and Eddie Stubbs (WSM announcer) and Kyle Cantrell (former Opry announcer and Sirius Satelllite Radio host and historian) are further examples.

Excellent post.

The attraction needs TLC. Everyone agrees with that. I personally want every attraction to have a little bit of updating from time to time. You can update a classic and not ruin the bones (see Haunted Mansion 2007).

 

[WorldKey]

Excellent post.

The attraction needs TLC. Everyone agrees with that. I personally want every attraction to have a little bit of updating from time to time. You can update a classic and not ruin the bones (see Haunted Mansion 2007).

I have no problem with the music (songs)....they are funny, classic, and go along with the theming of the CBJ. I agree that they should update the sound and animatronics to 2011 standards (compliance) but changing the songs changes too much (should we update the song to It's a Small World or Pirates of the Carribean, etc.? They've been around since the 60s...OMG).

The HM update added a couple of things, it did not change the entire 'show'. Just because the songs are original does not make them obsolete. I don't think a refurb has to include changes to the overall show/songs. Many of us like a classic to stay a classic. There are those that don't like CGJ and just want to rip on it....OK we get it, you don't like CBJ.

 

[WorldKey]

sure hope this never happens. I hate modern country music. Would totally ruin the charm of what's made the CBJ what it's been through all these years. I get to hear enough pop/rock/country hits covered at Chuck E Cheese.

Amen - some people don't seem to get that the songs (music and lyrics) were 'crafted' to stereotype the backwoods/hoedown/bluegrass theme to the extreme. The words and music even 'fit' the characters (Big Al, Liver Lips, etc.) I would hate to see them try to find 'modern' songs to fit into the show....it would ruin the whole originally 'imagineered' idea of CBJ. IMHO

 

[Ignohippo]

I think there are quite a few notable country singers to take on this role. It's not like it's going to be T-Swift with her pop-country songs. WDI should know that people love CBJ because of its charm. I say update it. New AA's, songs, effects, characters, and maybe some possums.

As much as Iove CBJ, it's time for a re-do. If there's any attraction at WDW that needs a major refurb, it's CBJ. The audio is almost unlistenable at this point.

As long as they're careful, and don't go the Under New Management route, I'd love to see the attraction updated. I still think the concept is fantastic, it's just not much more than you can see at any Chuck E. Cheese at this point. If they could update it with today's technology, make it a bit more interactive and a bit more "current" (without falling into the trap of being abrasive or tapping into the latest fad), it could go strong for a long time.

 

[devoy1701]

I have no problem with the music (songs)....they are funny, classic, and go along with the theming of the CBJ. I agree that they should update the sound and animatronics to 2011 standards (compliance) but changing the songs changes too much (should we update the song to It's a Small World or Pirates of the Carribean, etc.? They've been around since the 60s...OMG).

The HM update added a couple of things, it did not change the entire 'show'. Just because the songs are original does not make them obsolete. I don't think a refurb has to include changes to the overall show/songs. Many of us like a classic to stay a classic. There are those that don't like CGJ and just want to rip on it....OK we get it, you don't like CBJ.

CBJ is one of my favorite attractions and I'm for updating it.

The key difference between your examples of Pirates and IASW with CBJ is that the music of CBJ is the main feature (virtually the only feature) of the attraction...there isn't anything else. The style of music was very popular near when this attraction first opened and this is not the case now. And the current music and show can't even captivate the audience of today for more than a couple minutes. So while loosing that style of music to an update would undoubtably change the heart of the attraction, simply updating the songs and using recording artists from today would not. But what it would do would give the chance for the attraction to once again reconnect with today's guests with something that is relevant to today instead of just be viewed as a "classic" (though certainly not timeless) attraction.

Pirates and IASW also have the benefit of being ride through attractions with intricate set designs that accompany the music. Not to mention those songs have been extremely popular. I think that most people that would be able to name and sing a few bars from the songs of Pirates and IASW would also not remember a single song from CBJ...that's a problem.

 

[devoy1701]

Amen - some people don't seem to get that the songs (music and lyrics) were 'crafted' to stereotype the backwoods/hoedown/bluegrass theme to the extreme. The words and music even 'fit' the characters (Big Al, Liver Lips, etc.) I would hate to see them try to find 'modern' songs to fit into the show....it would ruin the whole originally 'imagineered' idea of CBJ. IMHO

There is also a difference between using "modern songs" and "modern artists". No one here is suggesting that they overlay the attraction with modern country hits. Just that they use modern artists to record new tracks or re-record original tracks in the same spirit of the original attraction.