Friday Mailbag - 4/9/21
On Disney soundtracks, plus the "shirt of the summer"
Welcome to the Friday Mailbag. Busy times here at the N.E.H. HQ. In addition to embarking on this chapter of my life as a t-shirt mogul, I’ve started a new job. Nevertheless! I promise more entries soon. In the meantime…
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The Fry Guy shirt “went crazy,” and we (that is, me and Kyle) had to print more.
We are once again proud to offer sizes S-XXL. $25 shipped. Feel free to e-mail me (newexperimentalhours@gmail.com), comment on this post, or check out my Depop.
I understand this will be the “shirt of the summer,” so don’t sleep.
AND NOW TO THE MAILBAG…
Loyal N.E.H. reader, Jonathan, asks:
1) Favorite Disney soundtrack?
This question is brutal. I like many Disney soundtracks, and there are a handful that I love. On the other hand, even the best soundtracks have weak songs (“Les Poissons,” “When I Am Older”). And let’s not forget that these films are made for children, so maybe me liking the music is irrelevant? Anyway, [Donny Osmond voice] let’s get down to business.
My answer is A Goofy Movie. The highlights are just so good. “I2I” and “Stand Out” answer an age-old question: “What if Disney hired peak Tevin Campbell to write and record songs in the style of Michael Jackson?” And “Nobody Else But You” is one hell of a ballad–super underrated–and right up there with more iconic tracks like “Something There” and “Can You Feel the Love Tonight.” Bonus: it’s about the love between a father and son, not romantic love. “Lester’s Possum Park” and “On the Open Road” work well in the context of the film, but I never go out of my way to listen to them. “After Today,” however… I will karaoke the hell out of “After Today.” It’s the lifeblood of the whole soundtrack.
I won’t pretend that nostalgia isn’t at play here. I’ve watched A Goofy Movie a million times. These songs live inside of me. The other Disney movies didn’t stand a chance.
Of course if we’re being pedantic, A Goofy Movie isn’t technically a Disney movie–it’s a Disney MovieToons movie. If we narrow the field to just films by Walt Disney Pictures, then my favorite soundtrack is Moana, followed closely by The Lion King, Mulan, and The Little Mermaid.
Got a question? Feel free to comment on this post or e-mail me at newexperimentalhours@gmail.com. Thanks!
So long, friends! Until next week!