Disney Releases A Whole New Sound Album Featuring Reimagined Classic Songs
Disney's A Whole New Sound - Yellowcard ● Photo Credit: The Walt Disney Company
BURBANK, Calif., September 6, 2024 (ENTERTAINMENT INTERVIEWS) – Disney has officially released A Whole New Sound, an album featuring reimagined versions of classic Disney songs performed by pop-punk artists. The album, now available on major streaming platforms such as Apple Music, Amazon Music, and Spotify, includes tracks from well-known bands like New Found Glory, Simple Plan, Yellowcard, and more.
In celebration of the release, Yellowcard has debuted a new music video for their version of "A Whole New World" from Aladdin (1992), featuring guest vocals by Chrissy Costanza. This rendition adds a contemporary rock twist to the classic duet from the animated film. Yellowcard vocalist Ryan Key expressed his excitement about being involved with Disney’s project, stating, “From the moment this opportunity came up, we had 'A Whole New World' in mind with the idea to feature our friend Chrissy Costanza. Her voice is amazing, and she definitely did Jasmine proud.”
Yellowcard will perform the song live at Epcot on September 8 and 9 as part of Disney’s Eat to the Beat concert series.
The album A Whole New Sound features a collection of songs reinterpreted by pop-punk bands, including New Found Glory's take on "Part of Your World" from The Little Mermaid and Simple Plan’s cover of "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" from The Lion King. The album offers a blend of Disney nostalgia with the energy of pop-punk music.
Tim Pennoyer, director of brand marketing for Disney, described the album as “a love letter to the pop-punk fans, blending the energetic spirit of the genre with the timeless nostalgia of Disney classics.”
Other notable artists on the album include Mayday Parade, Boys Like Girls, We The Kings, and Tokio Hotel, each contributing their unique interpretations of Disney songs. Additional singles from the album, including Simple Plan’s "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" and Magnolia Park’s "I2I," are now available across streaming platforms, with accompanying music videos already released.
Watch the the official music video HERE.
Source: The Walt Disney Company via PR Newswire
Donald Duck Celebrates 90th Anniversary with Special Appearance on 'Hot Ones'
Photo Credit: The Walt Disney Company
BURBANK, Calif., August 23, 2024 (BUSINESS WATCH GLOBAL) - The Walt Disney Company has marked the 90th anniversary of Donald Duck with a special episode of the popular internet show "Hot Ones." In this custom episode, Donald Duck, supported by Daisy Duck and Mickey Mouse, takes on the challenge of eating cauliflower wings coated with Disney-themed hot sauces while answering questions from host Sean Evans.
The episode is designed to highlight Donald Duck's long history and his well-known temperamental personality. Donald has been a central character in Disney's storytelling for 90 years, earning widespread recognition, including a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and his footprints outside the Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.
"Mickey Mouse and his friends, including Donald Duck, have always been a part of popular culture, so it only made sense that Donald and Mickey appear on one of the most recognized internet shows with celebrity guests," said Tim Pennoyer, director of Brand Marketing at The Walt Disney Company.
The animation for the episode was created by Walt Disney Animation Studios, under the direction of Eric Goldberg, who is known for his work on "Aladdin" and "Pocahontas." Tony Anselmo provided the voice of Donald Duck, while Bret Iwan voiced Mickey Mouse. "It's been a great honor to direct two of our greatest stars, Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse, on this special episode of 'Hot Ones,'" Goldberg stated.
The special episode is part of a series of events celebrating Donald Duck's 90th anniversary. Fans can view the episode online and expect to see more appearances from Donald and Mickey in future Disney projects.
For further information, visit The Walt Disney Company website.
Source: The Walt Disney Company via PR Newswire
Disney Names Adam Smith Chief Product & Technology Officer for Disney Entertainment & ESPN
Adam Smith (Photo Credit Kim Reierson)
BURBANK, Calif., August 16, 2024 (ENTERTAINMENT INTERVIEWS) – Adam Smith has been appointed Chief Product & Technology Officer for Disney Entertainment and ESPN, according to an announcement made by Disney Entertainment Co-Chairmen Alan Bergman and Dana Walden, along with ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro.
In his new role, Smith will oversee the global Product and Technology group, which spans Disney’s entertainment and sports media businesses. He will be responsible for the technology strategy, development, and deployment across the company’s streaming platforms, networks, consumer digital touchpoints, proprietary advertising technology, and emerging technologies. Smith’s responsibilities will include leading a global team of technologists, including engineers, product managers, designers, data scientists, and technical operations teams.
Smith will officially join Disney on September 3 and will report jointly to Bergman, Walden, and Pitaro. The three chairmen expressed their enthusiasm in a joint statement, saying, “We could not be more thrilled to have Adam join the Disney team in this pivotal role. We’ve been aggressive in advancing our technological capabilities to better support our world-class media, streaming, and advertising businesses, and Adam brings a bold, consumer-focused vision for the future and a proven ability to effectively lead global teams in implementing ambitious, scalable and flexible products and technology that will continue to elevate storytelling as the center of the Disney experience.”
Smith also shared his excitement about joining Disney, stating, “Disney has built and nurtured an unparalleled portfolio of brands bringing joy and delight to fans of all ages, thanks to a culture of creativity that embraces innovation. I believe Disney is uniquely positioned to thrive in the next evolution of media and has made significant progress in a very short time while keeping storytelling front and center.”
Before joining Disney, Smith served as Vice President of Product Management at YouTube, where he led Music and Premium services, as well as Subscriptions and Commerce, since 2016. His career at Google and YouTube spans over 20 years, where he held various executive roles, including leading key consumer-facing products and global content strategies. Smith’s extensive experience also includes roles at Random House/Bertelsmann. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of California, Berkeley, and an MBA from Stanford University.
Source: The Walt Disney Company