Audiophile: George Strait- Pure Country

When you hear twin fiddles and a steel guitar...

From beginning to end, this is the George Strait album for fans who don't particularly like country music. With such a glowing intro, I'll be the first to tell you the associated movie is enjoyable but not worthy of an Oscar. However, you just gotta give kudos to a man who insists his wife will be the only woman he will ever kiss! That's George- a gentleman and an example in a world where true life love stories don't seem to exist. But back to the music...

From honky tonk to traditional ballads, George is king. I'm partial to the two versions of "Heartland", both the upbeat opener and the closer- the sweet ballad starring his son. If I'm not mistaken, the co-composer of the great Carpenters hits had a hand here writing this. Lyricist John Bettis proves a good song can be done well in any genre.

"She Lays It All On The Line" tells a lusty little tale of his gal but in an adult yet unexplicit manner. The play between the guitar and piano is classic. George's vocals are confident. He is thoroughly enjoying this song.

Being a newbie to George, I didn't expect the clever and not always so vague lyrics found on "Overnight Male". Comparing the Pony Express to his sexual prowess, George woos his lady effectively, even if his tongue is firmly is his cheek and not hers. It's fun and frothy- fully unexpected and successful at making you think twice about his ability to kick up his heels.

Before you think the collection is all made up of upbeat dance hall swing, be assured that there are plenty of traditional ballads here as well. If you like your country with a heavy dose of pop leanings, I Cross My Heart and Last in Love fill the bill just fine. Should you prefer a more traditional approach, George's great voice shines on When Did You Stop Loving Me and The King of Broken Hearts, drawing from the late 50s/early 60s style of country, all while sounding amazingly fresh.

That, in fact, is the best pony trick of all- George has discovered a way to consistently give the fans and critics exactly what they want. He delivers contemporary and instantly classic music without compromising artistic integrity. The title track tells the whole story behind the man.

Midnight Musings

Various and wandering thoughts in the middle of the night...

Things do eventually work themselves out.

Vacation is good!

When faith is being tested, it's difficult to stand back and trust God will do what is necessary.

A little ice cream and prayer does wonders for the soul.

The wicked will be punished- maybe just not during this life.

A warm sunny day is a reminder from God He is still working.

Dinner with family al fresco lightens the heart.

There's always tomorrow. One day at a time.

God will not fail us though others do. Jesus already did the hard stuff on the cross.

Wonderland's Transformation

Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland is a shocking feast for our eyes. The visuals stun, burn actually, and the storyline is blurred from Lewis Carroll's original literary masterpiece and Walt Disney's movie of the same name.

As expected, Johnny Depp's Mad Hatter commands the screen. He's half Pierrot, the sad clown, and the other the moody Captain Nemo. Our heroine is spunky, determined, and constantly a bit bewildered by all she sees- just like the viewers in our theater. Mia Wasikowska fits this role perfectly.

This Burton film is whimsy for a new generation- one jaded and cynical by life's realities with tiny shreds of good humor, little lightness, and a small glimmer of hope.

Ariel's Risky Undersea Adventure

Just as it was in 1989 when this movie debuted to (thankfully) critical acclaim, The Little Mermaid plays a very significant and potentially fortune changing role for today's Walt Disney Company. This time, it's not the animation division needing some punch, it is a couple of the theme parks.

Between Ariel's attraction being the centerpiece of the new Fantasy Forest in Florida's Magic Kingdom and being the star of the first real new attraction at California Adventure since the billion dollar overhaul was announced, there's a lot riding on her poor little tail!

You wouldn't have to read the Disney blogworld for long to discover that many in Disney fandom believe the days of impressive "E" Tickets like the ones of the Golden Age of Imagineering are behind us. Disney's artists struggle to prove otherwise. Yet, to date, what has been produced that compares to the Marc Davis era? Not much, I say. Finally, here is their chance.

Certainly, the accounting folks at the Company are banking on the Little Mermaid to turn around the fortunes of California Adventure as well as fend off Harry Potter. It's a tall order.

Will it work or does it really matter in Florida? At Walt Disney World, tourists flock to second hand tripe like the Stitch disasters since they are placed in the Magic Kingdom alongside the true must-sees.

Not so at California Adventure. Without first rate attractions beyond Soarin' Over California, more is at risk. Will the first Audio-Animatronic extravaganza in Anaheim's second gate become a must see headliner? I hope so, but any way you view it, this is quite the task to accomplish. Disney put all their chips on the line for the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror to turn around the park. Unfortunately, a half-baked version of the terrific Florida original resulted in disappointment for fan and company alike. The same mistake cannot be made twice.

California theme park fans are giving the Walt Disney Company another chance to impress us. We'll be a forgiving bunch one more time as we not so patiently wait through a revamped Sun Wheel and Orange Stinger. But you cannot fool us twice. This time the company had better deliver the real deal or lose us for good. There's more fish in the sea beyond another pretty little mermaid.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Notable and Quotable: Corrie Ten Boom

"Faith is like radar that sees through the fog."

Holocaust Survivor Corrie Ten Boom

Raising Hopes at California Adventure

California Adventure's Blue Sky Cellar raises the hopes of the Disney fan who walks through those beautiful oak doors. The centerpiece of the display, Radiator Springs Racers, takes the fun and technology of Epcot's Test Track and marries it to the storyline of the Pixar smash film Cars. The result should be stunning. Phase One of the billion dollar extreme park makeover cannot be completed fast enough!

(Concept art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Mission Accomplished

Designed to make us want to go see their new film, The Bounty Hunter. Between the preview and this cover of Gerard Butler and Jennifer Aniston on W magazine, well... Mission Accomplished.

(Photo copyright W Magazine.)

Editor's Note: My wife was mildly upset when she read the blog. She proceeded to gently tease me about Jennifer Aniston, making her point known with wisdom and humor. Sometimes a guy just makes an error in judgment!

Games People Play

What is it about people lying to get what they want?

I'm in the middle of a situation where I'm attempting to bring reconciliation between parties, but I continue to discover a series of lies as one party chooses to slander the other repeatedly then hides behind more lies when confronted. Following the maze is an incredible experience!

Can we just be honest with each other- please?

Design Detail: Alice's Wonderland

Long before Tim Burton had his hand is redesigning Alice's wonderland, the Disney Imagineers created the first virtual reality experience from the film. Disneyland's little gem of an attraction sports whimsical leaves painted in eye-popping tones, while giant caterpillars wondering who we are takes guests on a fantastic exploration into her world.

As an attraction goes, Alice in Wonderland is not a showstopper in the "E" Ticket tradition of Pirates of the Caribbean or the Haunted Mansion. It is, however, just one of many smaller charms that truly set apart Walt's original park from all those which came after. With detail galore, the end result is something Johnny Depp himself would be proud to call his own.
(Photo copyright Mark Taft.)

Insights and Sounds 2nd Anniversary!

Today marks the Two Year anniversary of the Insights and Sounds blog. Thank you for reading!

Just as I did one year ago, I thought it would be good to recap my first post for a bit of fun. Now, with over 700 posts behind me, here it is:
"The biggest question on my mind today is "What am I doing here?" Or if I was in a fairly obnoxious mood, it might be "What are YOU doing here?"Random thoughts is a good name for this first post because I really don't know what I'll be sharing every time I add something. My hunch is this is where you'll hear about what interests me, what I think about what's going on in this world, what I'm trying to figure out, or how we can really make a difference. Maybe I'm really just looking for a place to journal...

Why "Insights and Sounds"? A play on words. Kinda thought it would be fun sharing reflections and revelations, music and movie perspectives, travel experiences and photos, and thoughts on faith. Regarding that last piece, a verse out of a letter called First Corinthians happens to be my favorite : "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him."

If you check in here often, you'll discover that I'm really a geek at heart, pretty sentimental, not sophisticated, and for the most part, that I really like people. Hope that works for you!"

In two years worth of time, this blog has become something very personal for me. I loved it, and I've hated it. It's become part family album, part music and movie review site, sometimes inspirational reading/writing blog, travelogue, and foremost an absolutely clear expression of my appreciation for the Imagineers and the Disney theme parks- especially the original: Disneyland.
Interestingly, many of my posts on sex and relationships are among the highest searched and read! (Guess my blog does reflect the Internet in general!)I'll be adding more of these as I feel the need or have some new and interesting insights to share. But feel free to search- and all of them are written in a "family friendly" way.

If this is your first visit, welcome! I'm glad you're here. You might like to see some examples of some of my favorite posts. They cover a wide range of topics just to keep things interesting. Here's 15 of the more than 700, with an emphasis on what was posted during Year Two:

Bargain Basement Imagineering- a multi-part series on the concept art and history of the development of Disney's California Adventure compiled in one place- Beginning with California Adventure's conception and on through the new "Blue Sky" phase. 
http://insightsandsounds.blogspot.com/2008/10/bargain-basement-imagineering.html

Pieces of My Heart- A bit more personal look at what makes me tick and how I am changing in my understanding about life. http://insightsandsounds.blogspot.com/2009/11/pieces-of-my-heart.html

Taking Off the Rose Colored Glasses- A recent glance at my current search for truth about the state of the Walt Disney Company. http://insightsandsounds.blogspot.com/2010/02/taking-off-rose-colored-glasses.html

Space Mountain, Universal Thrills- An old favorite, both post and attraction. The History of the Disney attraction throughout the world- http://insightsandsounds.blogspot.com/2008/09/space-mountain-universal-thrills.html

Invasion: Dinosaurs Take Over the Disney Parks- To date the longest post I've ever written. Quite fun to do but time consuming. Part art, part photos, part history and part trip report. Wanna see how dinos rule the Disney worlds? This is the article for you- http://insightsandsounds.blogspot.com/2010/02/invasion-dinosaurs-take-over-disney.html

Indiana Jones: The Attractions- Stories, details, and rare concept art on all the Disney Indy based attractions worldwide. Somewhere there's a movie review, too!- http://insightsandsounds.blogspot.com/2008/05/indiana-jones-attractions.html

Saving Epcot- How to restore the world's greatest theme park to the grandeur of prior years. EPCOT Center was mind blowing. Another oldie but goodie- http://insightsandsounds.blogspot.com/2008/05/saving-epcot.html

Islands of Mixed Adventure- After decades of visiting only Walt Disney World, I stop in and see what Universal turned out in Florida, pre-Harry Potter!- http://insightsandsounds.blogspot.com/2008/06/islands-of-mixed-adventure.html

The Horizon Review- a series of posts spotlighting the albums and career of a much loved and missed female vocalist, Karen Carpenter. Yes, I start with Offering/Ticket to Ride, and I am up to Christmas Portrait as of this date. However, if you want to read about the best album ever produced by Karen and Richard Carpenter, go here: http://insightsandsounds.blogspot.com/2009/02/horizon-review-carpenters-masterpiece.html

The Disneyland Historical Preservation Society- Uncovering a secret society that exists within and outside the halls of the Walt Disney Company. http://insightsandsounds.blogspot.com/2009/11/disneyland-historical-preservation.html

Trains, Planes, and Automobiles- our 2007 European Adventure in words and photos: London, Paris, Venice, Tuscany, Wales, and Germany- http://insightsandsounds.blogspot.com/2008/03/planes-trains-and-automobiles.html

Disney's Animal Kingdom, A True Life Adventure- a continuing series (Five parts so far!) on the creation, execution, and history of this beautiful but controversial park. Lots of rare concept art and plenty of photos from my many visits there- http://insightsandsounds.blogspot.com/2008/10/disneys-animal-kingdom-true-life.html

When the Future Was Forward Thinking- Will Tomorrowland Ever return to Thinking Ahead? A series of concept art, photos and insights on the subject. http://insightsandsounds.blogspot.com/2009/11/when-future-was-forward-thinking.html

I've got much more of Disney concept art to share, music reviews including a look at American Idol, segments on what it means to me to be a man of faith in our day, and more trip reports and photos from our travels- Disney and beyond. My popular posts on Walt Disney World circa 1989 (The World's largest expansion to date- a photo heavy trip report on the Studios and Pleasure Island and the Resorts)is still up. Also my reports on the Disneyland Resort, other Florida trips, and Disneyland Paris can be found too. No Asian Disney resorts- yet! ;)

I'll sneak in a few family photos old and new from time to time- thanks for letting me indulge. If you want a more personal look at who I am, here's my acceptance speech.

Thank you again for joining me for so long now. I appreciate your feedback even if I do not always agree with you! You've been good friends, making me think hard about my life, my faith, and the company I love to follow. Really, I am so blessed to have you with me!Let's begin Year Three, shall we?

Always Epcot

Whenever I am in the mood to go to a Disney park, it seems it's almost always Epcot.

What is it about this place that continues to draw me to Walt Disney World?

Certainly, it is not the new attractions in Future World. Nemo is nice, Soarin's much closer to me in California, and soon enough, I'll find a Test Track like experience at California Adventure with Radiator Springs Racers. Maybe, the old standbys of Spaceship Earth and Living with the Land still do the trick.

Can it be World Showcase? Hmm, that might be it. Admittedly, I deplore what the Imagineers have done to El Rio del Tiempo in my beloved Mexico pavilion. The gorgeous Impressions of France film badly needs to be upgraded and/or replaced- but not like the disaster that is the newly minted film found in Canada. The whole of China is still wonderful, and soon enough the lure of a new Italian pizzeria sounds nice. Yet, this doesn't explain the almost gravitational pull.

Every visit to the park leaves me delighted, even in awe at times. This is true in spite of that fact that some of my favorite attractions have left (Journey into Imagination, World of Motion, Horizons) and World Showcase has been left to stagnate. My wife and my family have always enjoyed ourselves none the less. My photos prove it.

Bingo- that's it! It's my memories of Epcot and how I see it through those rose colored glasses that draw me. So, some things must remain the same to bring out the feeling of discovery and exploration the Disney advertising team sells us.

The wide open spaces of Future World sometimes still do convey a sense of wide eyed optimism. There are times the music of old fills the air, and I hear the tunes calling me back to the day when Disney could create the future- and not just make a caricature of it. I can still hear my kids laughing at Figment as he discovers so much about his world. The sheer awe and magnitude of the Living Seas. The special family meals at The Good Turn restaurant as it revolved inside The Land.

Daytime in World Showcase has its charms as well. Yet at nighttime, ah, now we're talking! Illuminations still surprises me. Walking around "the world" in the cool evening as the lights of each country are turned on. Dining together, exploring exotic flavors, talking with the natives from each locale. Enjoying a sense of unity with the rest of my family as we play and laugh, forgetting our troubles.

Oh, the memories of EPCOT Center! I'm sure today's families find Florida's second Disney park just as magical, but our world is not as optimistic and hopeful as it once was. Innocence lost and "maturity" found. It's now Epcot Center, Figment's more annoying than charming, sometimes World Showcase mocks its host countries, and the future is bypassed because it looks dim.

Maybe one day, we can be inspired again- wowed by greatness- with new countries to explore versus exploit, and new pavilions in Future World to help us think beyond today. If there's any park in the Disney worldwide kingdom that can make this happen, it's Epcot. Always Epcot.
(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Randomness and Nothingness

A very random post today, catching up on things I've wanted to say...

American Idol: Michael Lynche was really good last night! My money is still on Lee DeWyze, but hey, I've been wrong before. Casey James was a washout. Good for Kara to redeem herself with an honest appraisal.

Yep, Karen Carpenter would have turned 60 yesterday. Go to the A&M Corner under the Carpenters tab, you'll find a link to some amazing photos. Ones I had never seen before. Her voice continues to bless me, her loss saddens me, too.

Disneyland and California Adventure: Nothing new it seems. Captain Eo draws a mixed bag of reactions, while the ongoing prep for World of Color is getting exciting.

This Sunday is the 2nd anniversary of the blog. Look for a special post then.

Work and life are busy, but God is good! I'll have much to say in the days ahead!Thanks for reading.

Main Street's Meat Market

When designing Disneyland, Walt Disney and his newly minted "Imagineers" originally opted for a very realistic take when deciding what exactly would become Main Street U.S.A.

Along with the once proposed residential section (complete with an early rendition of the Haunted Mansion), shops along the avenue would take on a different approach to life at the turn of the century than how the California park was eventually built.

Many Disney geeks are familiar with the "Wizard of Bras" corset shop, but how many of us knew there were also plans for a butcher to make his presence known? As you can tell from the concept art above, no idea was left unexplored. Alas, this one never made the final cut.
(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

My Best Days

While we rush head first into 2010's American Idol season, Danny Gokey has been planning first debut disc for quite awhile now. It finally arrives today.

Those fans that love his renditions of Carrie Underwood's Jesus Take the Wheel or Rascal Flatts' What Hurts The Most will be pleased, as Gokey eschews the pop and rhythm and blues leanings of his idol performances for a solid country release. The man's got a warm, comfortable voice. Nice sense of control and a good stage presence.

Local lore has it that legend Randy Travis told Gokey to go country. Good call. Mark Bright, producer of both Carrie and Rascal Flatts steps into the studio to lead Danny's first effort. The man will have a long career on the charts if he continues to choose great material and equally great producers. Let's hope Danny's fans follow through and buy the disc, really making these his Best Days.

Tired of Tim

The man is certainly visionary.

That said, I am just plain tired of the same twisted visual look of his films. From Nightmare Before Christmas to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory to Corpse Bride and onto Alice in Wonderland, Tim Burton's quirky style is becoming a bit boring- a one trick pony. His art used to be surprising but now has become almost cliche. It is unfortunate that his Alice would be predictable before the first images even became accessible! Maybe he should collaborate with someone other than the magnificent Johnny Depp to stretch him- and stretch Johnny as well!

Tim's presence at the Disney parks grabs the crowds but is in danger of being passe as well. The yearly transformation of Disneyland's Haunted Mansion into its Halloween meets Christmas form was once thrilling. Yet, last visit, I found myself sorely missing the attraction in its original Marc Davis and Claude Coats incarnation.

In order to assure his ongoing importance and enduring legacy, it's time for Mr. Tim to return to the drawing boards once again. Bring us something fresh. Bring us something bright, even something cheery. Surprise us and delight us once again.