DisneyExaminer

  • Home
  • About
  • Movies
  • Disney+
  • Theme Parks
  • Products
  • Editorials
  • Disneyland Tickets

[EXCLUSIVE] Glee’s Matthew Morrison did an album of reimagined Disney songs inspired by being a father

  • by Jordan Poblete
  • in Celebrities · Walt Disney Studios
  • — 13 Mar, 2020

The first track of Disney Dreamin’ with Matthew Morrison, the newest album from the Fox “Glee” star, is “Friend Like Me.” It sounds like the animated film’s version of the song — playful, big sounding, energetic, fun.

But as soon as you hit the Next button, you’ll enter into a whole new world (no pun intended) of sound, specifically how you hear your favorite Disney music classics. “It was important for me [to make them different],” said Morrison to DisneyExaminer in an exclusive phone interview from New York. “At the same time, I wanted to honor them properly. They are classics, but they can be made fresh and different.”

Morrison himself isn’t a stranger to the songs as he, like many, started life with Disney. He went on to say that he grew up in Southern California and frequented Disneyland as a pass holder with his friends “like many who live in the area did.”

Combining that love of Disney with his musical theater talents in high school, Morrison knew he wanted to do a project like this all along. However, it wasn’t until he became a father that pushed it all forward.

“I was inspired to do a children’s album at first,” he said speaking about becoming a father back in 2017. “Initially I was planning to write and record my own children’s songs, but Disney found out about the idea and offered their timeless songbook to me. Generations of kids songs are Disney songs!”

Those generations are represented in the 10-song track list chosen by Morrison himself. “There are songs from my childhood like “The Bear Necessities” all the way to more modern kids classics like “You’ve Got A Friend In Me.”

As for the reimagining of the Disney songs, Morrison worked directly with his longtime arranger to craft specific arrangements for each cover. “I wanted a Mumford & Sons feel for ‘Go The Distance’ and REO Speedwagon version of ‘When I see an Elephant Fly’; everything had its own inspiration.”

When it came to each song’s tempo, he spoke about his son again, saying that it matched up with how he and his wife connect with him. “My wife and I sing lullabies to him at bedtime and then do dance parties to wake up. The album’ songs connect in that way too, with half slower and the other half upbeat.”

No matter the song or the inspiration, he hopes that people just enjoy the magic that is this type of music. “The Disney songbook is timeless for a reason,” he said. “It’s a universal, time-spanning feeling of extreme happiness that comes the moment you hit Play or hear it at Disneyland. It makes you feel good, and we can always use more happy things like that.”

You can listen to Disney Dreamin’ with Matthew Morrison on your favorite streaming service or by purchasing it online. Our special thanks to Matthew Morrison for contributing to this story!

print
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)

Related

Share
Avatar

— Jordan Poblete

DisneyExaminer Founder + Publisher. Walt inspired Disneyland, Disneyland inspired DisneyExaminer. Catch me at Disneyland. Reach me at jordan@disneyexaminer.com or on Twitter @jordiepoblete

You may also like...

  • “Join Us.” 5 Nov, 2012
  • Reach For The Stars – Neil Armstrong [1930-2012] 25 Aug, 2012
  • The happy untold story of how Sleeping at Last created his cover of ‘it’s a small world’ in a COVID-19 world 15 May, 2020
  • Monorail Blue // Episode 29: Disneyland Paris Expansions + Food & Wine Festival 2 Mar, 2018
  • Previous story The Coronavirus is affecting every part of Disney, but times like these call for Disney more than ever [op-ed]
  • Next story Here are official Disney things you can do online to ride out the Coronavirus
  • Today is

  • Happening Now

    My Tweets
  • What’s Trending

    beauty and the beast behind the scenes buena vista street business california adventure cars land christmas D23 expo DCA disney disney animation disney california adventure disney channel disney consumer products disneyexaminer disney interactive disneyland disneyland resort disney movie disney parks disney parks and resorts downtown disney exclusive food frozen FYI lucasfilm main street USA marvel marvel studios movie review new pixar review spoiler free star wars technology the force awakens walt disney walt disney animation studios walt disney company walt disney imagineering walt disney parks and resorts walt disney studios walt disney world
  • News Archive

  • Home
  • Walt Disney Parks and Resorts
  • Celebrities
  • [EXCLUSIVE] Glee’s Matthew Morrison did an album of reimagined Disney songs inspired by being a father
  • Hiya, Pal

    DisneyExaminer is a premier independent online magazine that takes a closer look at all things Disney.

    Founded and lovingly made in Orange County, California.

  • Subscribe To Our YouTube Channel

  • Search

  • Home
  • About
  • Movies
  • Disney+
  • Theme Parks
  • Products
  • Editorials
  • Disneyland Tickets

© 2008 - 2022 DisneyExaminer. All rights reserved.

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.