Trivia Challenge: Included in the 16 tracks on "Disney's Superstar Hits" is the only song from a Disney film to hit #1 on the Billboard Pop Charts. See if you can remember which one it is before I give the answer away at the end. No peaking ahead.The songs collected on "Disney's Superstar Hits" are mostly from the 1990s; there is "Once Upon a Time in New York City" from way back in 1988 from "Oliver and Company" and a few songs from the 21st century. But the only golden oldie is "Put It Together (Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo)," which comes from "Cinderella II" and not the original. The obvious frame of reference would be to see this collection as representing the Disney Renaissance ushered in by the Alan Menken/Howrad Ashman era, which makes it strange that nothing from "Little Mermaid" is included. But the common denominator to this collection is that the songs are not sung by the characters from these films, or, more properly, the people who did the voices for the characters. So instead of Angela Landsbury doing "Beauty and the Beast" it is Celine Dion and Peabo Bryson.
There are several songs from the less than stellar direct to video Disney sequels, such as "The Hunchback of Notre Dame II," "The Lion King II: Return to Pride Rock," "and "Cinderella II," which would be a minor complaint. But Tina Turner sings one of the songs, so it is hard to complain. In fact, the strength of this collection is indeed the superstar singers. Most of them are blasts from the past such as Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Phil Collins, Sting, Huey Lewis, and Randy Newsman, but there is also new blood such as Christina Aguilera, Sarah McLachlan, Vanessa Williams, and even Jennifer Love Hewitt. Peabo Bryson comes out ahead, with the aforementioned "Beauty and the Beast" and another duet, "A Whole New World" with Regina Belle.
This disc is perfect for grown ups, who like the "real" singers singing the best songs from the Disney movies their kids have been dragging them to for the past decade. Vanessa William's "Colors of the Wind" is my personal favorite, although it is hard not to recall the fantastic opening of "The Lion King" when you hear Elton John do "Circle of Life." On the fun side of the ledger I like Randy Newman and Lyle Lovett working their collective ways through "You've Got a Friend in Me" a bit more than Jimmy Cliff and Lebo M's "Hakuna Matata."
Trivia Answer: "A Whole New World" was #1 on the Billboard Pop Chart for one week starting on March 6, 1993. It is the song that replaced Whitney Houston's cover of Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You" after 14 weeks on top.
