Happy Birthday, Alan Menken!

This is a little off-beat, but we had two big names celebrating birthdays today, so there was no way I could leave both of them off the posts. We're also celebrating the 62nd birthday of composer and songwriter Alan Menken, who forged his career by crafting some of the most memorable songs and scores for some rather iconic Disney films. Sure, he's dabbled here and there on some other projects with other studios, but anyone who knows about Alan Menken can't deny the fact that he owes a lot of his success to Disney. So what I've done here is list my five favorite cinematic scores that Menken has produced over the years. Not so ironically, they are all from his times with Disney, but that's neither here nor there. He's been able to craft some of the most magical musical compositions I've ever heard, and I hope you enjoy these just as much as I do. Once again, happy birthday, Alan Menken!

5. The Hunchback of Notre Dame
1996


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4. Enchanted
2007


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3. The Little Mermaid
1989


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2. Aladdin
1992


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1. Beauty and the Beast
1991


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Awards
2007: Nominee - Best Original Score
2010: Nominee - Best Original Score

Happy Birthday, Robin Williams!

On this July 21, I'd like to take the time to celebrate the 60th birthday of Robin Williams, one of the funniest men in Hollywood. While he's been a little hit-and-miss in the past few years, Williams definitely made a name for himself during the 1980s and 1990s, playing a wide assortment of characters in both comedic and dramatic roles. He's even dabbled in voice work, offering some of the liveliest animated characters to grace the silver screen. So for his birthday, I've tweaked things a little bit. Instead of just giving you my five favorite of Williams' performances (which you'll find a little ways down this post), I'm giving you my three favorite of his voiced roles as well. I hope you enjoy this list as you help me celebrate his birthday!

3. Batty Koda
FernGully: The Last Rainforest (1992)


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2. Ramon
Happy Feet (2006)


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1. Genie
Aladdin (1992)


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And here's my favorite live-action Robin Williams roles!

5. Armand Goldman
The Birdcage (1996)


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4. Dr. Malcolm Sayer
Awakenings (1990)


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3. Jack Powell
Jack (1996)


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2. Adrian Cronauer
Good Morning, Vietnam (1987)


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1. Sean Maguire
Good Will Hunting (1997)


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Awards
2002: Nominee - Best Supporting Actor, Comedy
2006: Winner - Best Voice Acting; Nominee - Best Supporting Actor, Comedy

Favorites: DISNEY SONGS

For those of you who don't know, I saw Disney's 50th animated movie, Tangled, yesterday in theaters, and it got me thinking about my favorite Disney songs of all time. So, I have compiled a list of my twenty favorite ones. PLEASE UNDERSTAND that they are simply my favorite ones - I'm not saying they're the best ones of all time. My favorite does not mean I think they're the best. I tried to keep it to only animated movies, but one exception had to be made! But please, enjoy :]

20. "When She Loved Me"
from Toy Story 2



19. "Once Upon a Dream"
from Sleeping Beauty



18. "Friend Like Me"
from Aladdin



17. "The Bare Necessities"
from The Jungle Book



16. "Hakuna Matata"
from The Lion King



15. "Beauty and the Beast"
from Beauty and the Beast



14. "Why Should I Worry?"
from Oliver & Company



13. "Cruella de Vil"
from 101 Dalmatians



12. "Bella Notte"
from Lady and the Tramp



11. "Part of Your World"
from The Little Mermaid



10. "You've Got a Friend in Me"
from Toy Story



9. "I'll Make a Man Out of You"
from Mulan



8. "Kiss the Girl"
from The Little Mermaid



7. "I See the Light"
from Tangled



6. "You'll Be in My Heart"
from Tarzan



5. "Go the Distance"
from Hercules



4. "Best of Friends"
from The Fox and the Hound



3. "So Close"
from Enchanted



2. "When You Wish Upon a Star"
from Pinocchio



1. "A Whole New World"
from Aladdin