CD/DVD Review: Disneyland HK Grand Opening Celebration Album

[Loomis]

I can't imagine this review existing anywhere else on the board, so I thought I would post it here.

I bought this package from YesAsia a few weeks ago, and haven't really had a chance to sit down and report on it since then. For all of you Disney completists, or theme park enthusiasts, this is a great little item.

Of course, if a certain admin wants me to expand this into a full review:

<center>Disneyland Hong Kong: The Grand Opening Celebration Album</center>

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v342/ ... kcover.jpg" alt="Cover of Album/DVD" align=left> Running Time: 47 minutes(CD)/16 minutes (DVD)/ Rating: Not Rated
1.33:1 Fullscreen/Widescreen
Dolby 2.0 Stereo (Chinese, Mandarin and English singing)
Subtitles: Chinese
Studio: Walt Disney Records/Song BMG
Single-sided, single-layered disc (DVD-5)
Retail Price: $19.95
Red gatefold; booklet; CD/DVD package


On 12 September 2005, in the midst of the original Disneyland Resort's 50th Anniversary Celebrations, another historic Disney moment was happening. Disney's eleventh park, or its fifth resort if you prefer, opened in Hong Kong.

This significant event was the first major step into the Chinese market, and is rumoured to be followed by a Shanghai park in the future. This album commemorates the opening of the park in the best Disney tradition - song!


What's in the Box?

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v342/ ... dhk006.jpg" alt="Opened Box" align=left>The sleek gatefold package contains a CD, a DVD and a booklet.

The CD, which is the focus of the set, contains 13 tracks:

1. Let the Wonder Soar - Jacky Cheung (Cantonese)
2. It's A Small World - Various
3. A Whole New World - ?
4. When You Wish Upon a Star - Karen Mok
5. Mickey Mouse Theme - Twins
6. Under the Sea - ?
7. On a Date With Him to Disneyland - kellyjackie
8. Bare Necessities - ?
9. Colours of the Wind - Coco Lee
10. Undying True Love - Joey Young
11. Reflection on Me - Kelly Chen
12. Can You Feel the Love Tonight - Harlem Yu
13. Let the Wonder Soar - Jacky Cheung (Mandarin)

So most of you will be thinking "Hey, I've already got most of those songs on CD". Sure, but do you have them in Cantonese or Mandarin? Have you heard It's a Small World with a rap break-down?

The first and last songs on the CD appear to be the official theme tune for the new park, although I have no idea what Jacky Cheung is singing about. It all sounds fairly positive though. The only other original song on the CD is kellyjackie's On a Date With Him to Disneyland. Once again, I have no idea what the song is about except what can be gathered from the title. It is a bit of a piano-driven ballad which I can only imagine is a trip down memory lane to a time when kellyjackie went with a man to Disneyland. One can only assume that this was an overseas park, as this song was evidently recorded prior to the opening of the Hong Kong theme park. Unless, of course, kellyjackie made the whole thing up. Shame, shame.

The rest of the album will either prove to be a fascinating look at how Disney songs are translated, or the most painful experience of your life. We get some idea of what we are in for when the second track, It's a Small World, is performed by Twins, Boy'z, Isabella, Kenny, Yumiko and Hanjin. A slightly faster and beat-driven version of the song appears to be going pretty much like the original - after all, we have heard the song in different languages by simply being on the ride, so the Cantonese isn't all that jarring. Suddenly, a rap breaks loose. In Chinese. I couldn't help myself, so I just got down and shook my rump-a.

Most of the songs feature slightly re-arranged versions of the songs. The only real surprise was a slightly punk-rock Bare Necessities (Jungle Book). Even the dance remixes of Under the Sea and the Mickey Mouse Theme rap didn't throw me. The most faithful versions of the songs are found in Kelly Chen's Reflections of Me and Harlem Yu's Can You Feel the Love Tonight. Both are arranged in much the same way as their original counterparts, and many will already be familiar with a Chinese version of the former, thanks to the Mulan: Special Edition DVD. However, instead of going for Jackie Chan on this CD, they've opted for some hot young thing.

For many this CD will be a curiosity. For others - especially those who collect all Disney records and/or DVDs - this will become a rare collector's item, especially given the exclusive songs on this disc. I'm sure there are those of you who detest hearing Disney songs in any version but their original form, but it must be remembered that this is a promotional CD for a new market.

The DVD

While I was hoping for a tour, or at least a 'sizzle reel', for the new theme park, the bonus DVD only contains three music videos and some trailers.

The first music video - actually the first TWO music videos - is Jacky Cheung's Let the Wonder Soar. This plays out in both Cantonese and then Mandarin. This could almost be seen as a tourist campaign for the park, with Jacky catching a train to the park and then wandering around its various attractions. However, the size of the park is evident from this video as we really only get to see three or four areas: the castle forecourt; Tarzan's Treehouse Island; the front of Tomorrowland and bits of Main Street. Jacky mugs the camera, joins cast members and characters before dancing the day away on Main Street with a rent-a-crowd.

The third video is kellyjackie's On a Date With Him to Disneyland. This contains two women singing near a piano. One does the playing, the other seems to look nostalgically at various Disney souvenirs.

The most annoying thing about the video is that fact that Chinese subtitles are 'burnt in' to the picture, meaning that some great shots of the park were marred by white text.

The disc is rounded out with English trailers for Cars, The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, Chicken Little and Sky High. The CARS trailer seems to be a proper trailer, and contains far more information than the two teaser trailers currently online. It tells the story of the car being impounded and having to show its worth. For this sceptic, I am starting to be won over. The other two trailers are virtually identical to the ones available elsewhere.


Other

Other gubbins in the box include a cute little Disneyland Hong Kong bag, and a poster. The poster doubles as a map for the new park (showing the forthcoming Autopia) and a calendar that takes us through to August 2006.

Images:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v342/ ... dhk005.jpg (Map & Bag)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v342/ ... hkg001.jpg (Map)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v342/ ... hkg002.jpg (Calendar)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v342/ ... dhk004.jpg (Booklet)

Summary

As I said above, how much you enjoy this is going to depend on how much you like Disney or Disneyland. I'm a sucker for anything Disneyland related, so the map and video were enough to keep me satisfied. Less interested viewers will see this for the big advertisement that it is. However, the CD alone is probably worth the price for collectors, as it contains things you just aren't going to find elsewhere.

The DVD is probably not worth the purchase alone, although the shots of Disneyland Hong Kong were good to see in such a high-quality video. I look forward to visiting it later this year (well, that's the plan anyway).

Recommended for hardcore fans only.