The YouTube video went viral after several websites featured the video from a performance of the operatic group Il Divo in their "A Musical Affair" world tour with the legendary Lea Salonga. All of the articles from these websites were amazingly surprised to hear Princess Jasmine singing live on stage the iconic theme of the 1992 Disney animated film Aladdin, and sounded pretty much the same from more than two decades ago. Lea Salonga's 2014 rendition is as perfect as her 1992's. Everyone is stunned! I wasn't! You know why? Because Lea Salonga is just PERFECT!
It's been two weeks since the first showing day of the movie Les Miserables here in the Philippines. Like a true-blue fan of the Les Miserables musical, of course, I watched it. I have been anticipating its run here from the time its promotional trailer was released on YouTube about more than 9 months ago. Were my expectations met? That would be a whole different post. Watching the movie naturally wasn't enough. I'd like to know what others especially netizens think of the movie as well. While scouring YouTube for reactions to the Les Miserables movie, I came across Lea Salonga's "sold-out-open-to-the-public-dress-rehearsal" rendition of the beautiful Scott Alan original song, "Look (A Rainbow)". Needless to say, I WAS MESMERIZED, and have totally forgotten about Les Miserables. Well, who wouldn't?
I grew up with the Disney classics. Well, now they're classics, but in the 80's and 90's they're just DIsney animated features, and they formed part of my growing-up years. Would it be selfish of me to introduce Belle, Ariel and Princess Jasmine to my 5-year old niece? Or Hercules, Tarzan, and the Hunchback of Notre Dame to my 8 year-old nephew? I really do not know what kids are watching these days. I honestly feel however, that they should be initiated with the DIsney classics.
Aside from the valuable life lessons they could learn from these DIsney classics, they can learn to appreciate good music. I'm talking about really great quality songs composed by top caliber musicians and sung by gifted singers. A lot of people probably heard the songs Reflection, A Whole New World, Colors of the Wind, or Part of Your World but could not tell who the singers were (much less the composers). So, in their honor, I present the Disney princesses and their singing voices. See the real-life princesses! How odd it is, or probably it's just me, but the real-life people somehow resemble their counterpart princesses. Don't you think so, too? Who's your favorite Disney princess? Which Disney princess for you has the best singing voice?
Lea Salonga, of course my favorite, lent her ethereal golden voice twice to add life to Princess Jasmine and Mulan. She sang A Whole New World with Brad Kane for the movie Aladdin, and Reflection for the movie Mulan.
Lea Salonga with Anika Noni Rose, Paige O'Hara and Jodi Benson were elevated as Disney Legends August of last year (2011). All of these consummate singers featured above are Disney Legends except for Judy Kuhn. Well, someday soon I know she'll get her Disney Legend award.
Here is the once-in-a-lifetime event. The four Disney Princesses sang at their awarding ceremonies in Los Angeles. Sit back, relax, and enjoy this wondrous treat. Play the video please.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
The beautiful lifelike rendition of the Disney princesses are by this very talented Finnish graphic design student at the Arts University College in the U.K.. HIs name is Jirka Vinse Jonatan Vaatainen. He used photos of real people and combined them with animation pics to come up with lifelike versions. I discovered his masterpieces while "stumbling". Do visit his weblog if you want to see more of his beautiful works of art. His blog is at http://jirkavinse.wordpress.com.
