Best "Frozen" Covers

WOW!!! Frozen has taken the world by storm! (See what I did there?) I know that I was HIGHLY anticipating the movie for years, but I probs liked it less than most everyone else. Especially my little brother; he is OBSESSED. He is also 19. Anyway, it seems like everyone and their mother in laws' dogs are doing a cover of Let It Go, unfortunately not all of them are worth watching. Luckily for you, I have scoured the internet to bring you a list of the best Frozen covers.  Lets begin shall we?

First and foremost, we have to address the Demi Lovato version. This song/video was released months before the movie for marketing purposes. Obvs I downloaded it immediately and listened to it way too frequently. I absolutely LOVE this song. Actually, when I saw the movie I was actually disappointed  by the Idina version just because I was so enamored with the Demi version. So far I am the only one that I know with the opinion that this one is better, but in any case, it's worth a watch.

And I am sure you guys have all seen this video floating around--it's kinda gone viral. It's the Alex Boye African Tribal Cover. Although the tribal element is super cool, Alex Boye is not the thing that makes this version so impressive. It is the 11 year old girl who is giving Idina a run for her money.

This next one will definitely leave you feeling the most cultured. Filmed in the same location as the previous video (Ice Castles and Frozen; it just works.)

Actually the Ice Castles' business probably increased exponentially because of this movie. I know my family waited in line for over an hour and a half to get into them. It was totally worth it though, we listened to Let it Go on a loop while waiting in line, and then ran around the castles like little kids. All my clothes were soaking wet from crawling, climbing, and sliding around in the ice.

Back to the video at hand; this is the Piano Guys doing a musical comparison of Let It Go with Vivaldi's Winter. The Piano Guys' channel is actually one of my favorite. I never cease to be amazed with the talent the exudes forth from these videos. Another fun fact is that they filmed this video with the RED. (For those of you who don't know, that is the highest quality camera on the planet--the same thing they used to film the hobbit.)

For you humor fans out there I have a special treat for you. This is a cover that [comically] compares Idina's version to Demi's and then goes off into what the song might sound like if it was done by some other well known singers. I don't know why I am describing it to you--you can just watch it. 

Finally, the cover that actually inspired this post. My wonderful, perfect, roommate posted this to my Facebook wall today (it was just the thing I needed too) and I am obsessed with it! I have been a long time fan of Sam's mash-ups, but this one is probs my favorite. Actually it's probs my favorite mash-up ever.

And for those of you non-adventurous out there who just prefer the original, here you go.

If there are any other good ones the appear I will let you all know. For now, these are the only ones worth watching. I mean, I guess that's technically just my "opinion", but I'm usually (wanted to truncate that word but couldn't figure out how to spell it; usch?) right about these types of things.

That being said, IF there are any good ones that I missed, let me know!

Fantasia

I can't lie, I actually skipped Fantasia. I know, I know--that ruins the integrity of the whole experience, but I'm over it. I did go back and watch it sometime between Fun and Fancy Free and Cinderella, but I didn't finish it. I couldn't--it was so boring!
I actually had seen Fantasia before. When I was a very small child, I remember it was the only kids movie that my grandmother had, so I think I watched parts of it. Obviously I didn't watch the whole thing as a child when I couldn't even get through it as an adult! Anyway, I didn't have any real clear memories of the movie itself.
This is the thing that I don't particularly like about a couple of these early ones--there is no story! It's just like Disney was so impressed with himself and the animation technology that he just wanted to show everyone what he could do, not tell a story. The first part is the very worst--the part with the conductor, the lights, and the shadows of the instrumentalists. Don't get me wrong, it is a very cool video effect and would require precise staging and cinematography, but that does not make up for the fact that it is boring as heck! The next sequence started out fun with the fairies and the flowers, but it also quickly became old.
I think that there is supposed to be a story created with the animation within each of the compositions. This is easy to distinguish in the magicians apprentice, but not in any of the other ones that I saw (keeping in mind that I didn't make it through the whole movie).
The one thing that I do think I got out of watching this movie is an urge to start listening to classical music. I bought the London Philharmonic Orchestra's 100 Most Essential Pieces of Classical Music, and I have enjoyed every minute of it!
So, that's about all I have to say about that. I think that this movie would be a good one to show really young kids who wouldn't understand a story line anyway. It might hold their attention with all the bright colors and animated choreography, and it will promote higher cognitive function through the classical music!

Pinocchio

When I say Pinocchio, what is the first thing that comes to mind? Is it a growing nose? Because that is what I always thought of. That, I would dare say, is Pinocchio's biggest claim to fame. Imagine my surprise when it only happens one time in the entire movie! I mean, the whole thing is really just a casually mentioned thought in a passing conversation.
Pinocchio is Disney's second animated feature, and one of the few Disney animated classics that I had never seen before beginning this movie club. It was really nothing like I expected. Looking back, I really did not know what I expected, but it wasn't what I got.
A couple of things really surprised me. First, the aforementioned lack of nose growing. Second, is the fact that they used the other word for donkey (the one that starts with an A). I also was thoroughly disappointed in Pinocchio for drinking and smoking! I suppose the point of Pleasure Island is to show kids that those things are bad but, even so, you don't expect to see those kind of things in a Disney movie. I am glad that I watched this movie before I went to Disney world though, because it gave me context for Disney's night club "Pleasure Island". (So what Disney taught us as kids was wrong is now a major Disney attraction for us as adults?)
This leads me to an interesting question though--do you think it is better to show kids to things like drinking to illustrate that it is wrong, or to not expose them to it at all?
Third surprise--I didn't realize that Jiminy Cricket was not a very skilled conscience. As Pinocchio goes through various experiences and their consequences, Jiminy learns how to better guide him. I think that it is an intentional parallel to reality, as young children often don't have a great sense of what is right or wrong. In fact, technically speaking, our brains do not stop developing well into our 20's. I think that is why teenagers are pretty much the meanest species on the face of the planet.
Similar to Snow White there are some very deliberate morals or lessons throughout the movie; a characteristic that is somewhat lost in future Disney movies but that I quite enjoy. All in all, I think that this is one that I would maybe own and show my kids. I don't know, I still have a while to decide on that one.

On another note, did you know that Pinocchio gets hanged in the original story? It's true! You can download the whole story here. Don't worry--the story is public domain so it's totes legal. Chapter 15 is where you will find the hanging.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

First of all, watching Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was such a joy for me! Truly, I reveled in each moment--and it was kind of surprising to me. My brother and I tried to do a similar thing to this Magic Movie Club a couple of years ago. I say "tried" because we only watched one movie before we let life get in the way, but that movie was Snow White. To be perfectly honest with you I remember being kind of bored. Clearly I was not as enlightened as I am now. Watching the movie at that time, however, sparked something in me and Snow White has grown to become my favorite Disney Princess.

One of the Three Posters that Accompanied the
Theatrical Release of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in 1937

Artwork by Gustaf Tenggren

I love Snow White for a myriad of reasons. One is because she is the epitome of western beauty. (She has inspired me to wear sunscreen whenever I go out of the house, so as to maintain a pale complexion.) She is also a domestic goddess which is basically the one thing that I aspire to be but am farthest from. As in I don't cook or clean--ever. And I am so for traditional gender roles! Obviously I think that women should be educated, get paid as much as men, and be able to make our own decisions. I also don't particularly like the idea of women being property. (Now a days we call that 'human trafficking'.) That being said, I think that women need to earn their independence and rights not by acting more like men, but by elevating the things that make us women to a higher standard in the eyes of the world. Snow White does that. She is feminine and gentle and cleans in a dress, but she is not submissive or oppressed by men. In fact, the only person in the film who treats her without respect is the Evil Queen who, is herself, a woman.

The other reason that I think that this movie is really great is because it is so obviously trying to teach children. There is a whole song describing how to 'wash up' for dinner!! Snow White also says a little poem about being afraid and letting your imagine get away from you. Perhaps if I had watched this as a youngling I wouldn't be afraid of the boogieman--still, to this day.

Easter Eggs; The Disney Princess Collection

In honor of Easter, here are my eggs; The Disney Princess Collection.

I'm not above a little self-promoting at my friend's Easter party (even if my cursive  skills are sub-par).

Snow White

Cinderella

Sleeping Beauty
(I thought I was dropping the egg in pink dye. It turned out to be the red dye.)

The Little Mermaid

And one of the other ladies did this beautiful Kingdom Sun from Tangled. 

Happy Easter From the Disney Princesses!

Magic Movie Schedule

This is a list of all the Disney Animated Classics, Pixar Films, and six other films that I decided to include because, aside from being Disney, they fit the mold and were a part of my childhood. Click below to get it!

Magic Movie Schedule

Join the Club!

Welcome to Whitney's Magic Movie Club!! Our goal is to watch all 52 Disney Animated Classics and 13 Disney Pixar Movies in order of release date. (Technically the numbers will be 53 and 14 by the time we are done.) Does that sound fun to you? It sounds like a dream to me!! So let's get started!

You may be apprehensive about going on such an adventure, so let me answer the questions you are asking yourself right about now.

"I know that Disney has made WAY more than 52 animated movies, so where is she coming up with this random number? How is she distinguishing Disney Animated Classics? I bet she is just picking her 52 favorites and telling us all to watch them with her because she is lonely."

Yes, you are very correct. I am lonely. And there are more than 52 animated movies that have been produced, animated, or distributed by Disney. But at some point Disney started numbering the big ones for marketing purposes, and thus we actually have and Animated Classic or Animated Feature canon. I am releasing an entire post about this exact topic soon so stay tuned!

"I can watch these movies on my own time, why should I do it by this girl's schedule?"

Because movies are meant to be enjoyed as an audience. You also might find that I have a lot of great insight! Or you might not find that, but something else, like... the magic of...internet movie...clubs......
The point is, this way you, me, all your friends, and a bunch of other people on the internet can be passionate about this together and share our thoughts about each movie. And I don't know about you, but I go around acting like a Disney expert (who of us doesn't?) but I have actually never seen many of these! A schedule like this makes sure that I get to experience every single one of them!

"What is the schedule anyway?"

I am going to watch each movie every Sunday evening. So if you live in the area, come on over!! Seriously. If, sadly, we are not in geographical proximity to each other or Sunday night doesn't work for you, get your own group together and watch the movie sometime during the week. I will post about that movie the following Sunday afternoon and I want everyone else to post their thoughts as well!

"Okay, so how do I know what movie to watch each week?"

Go to the next post to see our list! Or, if you are feeling brave, check out this quiz.You have 5 minutes to list off all 52 of the current Animated Classics.

Tips; the timer starts as soon as the page loads, you don't have to list them in order, and the text will disappear as soon as you type in a correct answer so you can move on to the next one!

Tell me what movies were you surprised to see given this coveted title and, and what ones were you surprised were not. Post your score in the comments below!