Customer Reviews

Bayou Boogie: Inspired By Princess & Frog

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3 star:		(2)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

No reviews for this thing 3 months after it came out, huh? Well, for anyone who doesn't see it on the cover, these are songs -INSPIRED- by The Princess and the Frog. You aren't getting any songs that were in the movie on this cd. None. So what you're getting here is a whole new cd, sung by the original character voice actors, which is a real treat. Most companies wouldn't bother bringing back the original actors/singers for something that isn't official music from the movie. The music that accompanies most of the tracks here sounds like it came straight out of the movie, and definitely captures the New Orleans vibe.

The songs though...eh, they sound like songs that didn't make the final cut for the movie, and for good reason- it's hard to get into any of them for the most part. I feel bad for saying that, especially considering the original actors came back to sing, but you can only hear Louis say he was born to blow his horn so many times in one verse before you skip to the next track. Mama Odie's Kitchen Song is one that I absolutely couldn't stand, and a lot of the others are the kind of songs you'd expect in a direct to dvd sequel...HEY WAIT A MINUTE! THAT'S what all the songs on here sound like they should be from!

I don't know if kids will get much out of it either. The only tracks on this cd that I liked enough to mention in this review are Shadow Man, Everyday Princess and Love is a Magical Mystery. I can't praise Keith David's work on here enough, and Michael-Leon Wooley's work as Louis deserves mention, as his voice is great but his goofy lyrics make it a little hard to see that. The song writers definitely dropped the ball with this album, though I suspect they rushed this one out to go along with the dvd/blu-ray release of the movie.

So sample the songs on here and then see if you want to pay for everything. Keep this in mind though- the album has 13 songs but only runs for 34:44. 'not very long.

LOVE IT ...LOVE IT ...LOVE IT THIS WAS THE PERFECT MUSIC FOR THE PARTY. THE KIDS LOVED IT AND SURPRISINGLY THE ADULTS DID TOO!

I admit, I wasn't a big fan of the movie or it's songs. However, I did like most of the actors and how they actually sang their own songs, giving them more panache than they might have had. So I listened to this character image album, and I say it's certainly no worse than the movie proper.

For me, the highlight of the album is "When You're In Love You'll Understand", sung by veteran voice actor Jim Cummings as Ray the firefly. I can normally spot when he's in a role, especially when it's in a song (such as supplying much of Scar's vocals in Lion King's "Be Prepared"). However, this song was surprising in that he seems nearly unrecognizable, and that's a good thing for a voice actor to achieve. In fact, the man spent a chunk of his life in New Orleans, and that shows clearly through his mastery of a thick Creole drawl. The tune itself, with a simple guitar and brushy back-beat, is a short but sweet ditty that exemplifies the "less is more" mantra. To me, it captures how a grandpa might answer his grandkids squirming from cooties with a "You'll get it someday" wink. Cumming's other songs are also quite enjoyable, "Zippin' to the Zideco" more so than "Life in the Swamp".

Other highlights include Michael-Leon Wooley as Louis the alligator, who gives his songs a fair bit of depth despite some repetitive lyrics ("I Was Born to Blow This Horn") or sub-par, synth-y instrumentals ("Live to See You Smile", which especially suffers when he starts his "supposed" trumpet solo).

Jenifer Lewis as Mama Odie has an interesting sound to her; sharp and breaking but crisp and sweet like apple crumble. "Night and Day" showcases both the benefits and the detriments of this; the first half puts her wavering voice to good use, giving the lyrics a golden dusty enchantment, but it sadly falls apart near the end when she starts to go wild with improvisation and starts sounding like Elmo in drag...

Next, what I didn't find so great, starting with Tiana's songs, performed by Anika Noni Rose. The same problems I had with Tiana in the movie, underwhelming and preachy, I had here, no more so than in the opening track, "Everyday Princess". I don't know if I'm in a minority here, so listen to the samples, and if you like them and liked her performance in the movie proper, they'll probably serve you fine.

Keith David as Dr. Facilier, the villain of the piece, certainly provides the same sultriness and swagger he gave in the film, but is dragged down somewhat by the uninspired lyrics, especially in "Shadow Man". "Love is a Magical Mystery" is also an odd one, having the dark doctor sing about the intricacies of love that magic, such as his own, can't begin to unravel. But...he is the VILLAIN, right?

So in short, if you liked the film, you'll most likely enjoy this album. If you didn't like the film, well, you might like some of these songs despite that. The samples are certainly handy to have, ain't they?

Now here's a parting question: we get the princess, but where's the FROG on this CD? Naveen has nary a croak anywhere here, much less a duet with his love interest, which seems like a wasted opportunity considering the closest musical moment they had in the film was shared with a giant alligator...

Now that my 7yr old daughter receive an ipod for her b-day and was lookin for her favourite cds to download,i realize i never receive the cd.would really like to receive item.