The Disney album you weren’t expecting: these rock artists who will shake up your childhood

Mickey and his friends team up with the band Simple Plan for a unique album revisiting Disney’s greatest musical classics. The first single, a pop-punk cover of “Can You Feel the Love Tonight,” is now available.

We have exciting news to share with you, dear Disney and music fans! Mickey and his friends have partnered with the famous Canadian pop-punk band Simple Plan to revisit Disney’s great musical classics. This unique collaboration will give birth to an album titled “A Whole New Sound,” with the first single just released.

Simple Plan covers “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” for The Lion King’s 30th anniversary

To kick off this exciting project, Simple Plan had the honor of performing a new rock version of the iconic song “Can You Feel the Love Tonight.” This emblematic song, composed by Sir Elton John for the animated film The Lion King in 1994, celebrates its 30th anniversary this year.

The members of Simple Plan, big Disney fans, took on the challenge of reinventing this song while respecting its essence. “We wanted to pay tribute to Elton John’s original version while bringing our own style to make it fun and energetic,” the band stated. “We are really excited about the result and we hope everyone will enjoy it.”

Available now on all streaming platforms, this pop-punk cover brings a breath of fresh air to this timeless classic. The electric power chords and the distinctive voice of singer Pierre Bouvier give a new dimension to this romantic ballad, which should win over fans of all ages and generations.

A rock and alternative cast to reinterpret Disney’s greatest hits

But the surprises don’t stop there! Simple Plan is just the first name on a list of carefully selected bands by Mickey himself for this star-studded album. A big music lover with an impressive vinyl collection, the famous mouse came up with the idea for this record bringing together some of his favorite artists from the rock, punk, and alternative scenes.

The goal: to rediscover iconic songs from Disney movies and series in completely new versions. Something to delight fans of all ages and generations! While the other participating bands have not been revealed yet, Mickey already promises an exceptional lineup and colorful reinterpretations.

A quirky new visual identity for Mickey and his gang

In addition to this musical announcement, Disney also took the opportunity to reveal the cover of this upcoming event album. And it’s safe to say that Mickey and his faithful companions are displaying themselves in a bold new graphical light!

No more of the usual image, the characters now sport trendier and more relaxed looks. Mickey and Goofy trade their traditional red pants for ripped jeans with chains. As for Donald, he rocks a black leather biker jacket for a rebellious effect.

This offbeat visual identity, which contrasts with the usual family-friendly image of Disney heroes, fits perfectly with the more rock and alternative musical direction of this record. A new creative breath and a strong desire to shake up established norms: this is what this bold crossover project between Disney and current music artists seems to promise.

Simple Plan live at D23 in August

The most eager fans to discover this collaboration can get a taste of the final result this summer. Simple Plan has announced their participation in the D23 Expo, the annual Disney fan gathering taking place from August 9 to 11 in Anaheim, California.

The band will take the stage to perform their live rendition of “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” in front of a select audience. A performance that is already shaping up to be one of the highlights of this essential event for all Disney universe enthusiasts. An opportunity also to properly celebrate the three decades of the cult classic The Lion King.

“We grew up watching Disney movies with our families, and today we have the chance to enjoy them with our own children, so it’s pretty amazing to have been invited to participate in this album”, rejoiced Simple Plan. Their enthusiasm is a pleasure to see and promises a collaboration rich in emotions and surprises.

An unexpected but promising marriage

The band Simple Plan, formed in 1999 in Montreal, made a name for themselves in the early 2000s with pop-punk and rock hits like “I’m Just a Kid,” “Welcome to My Life,” “Perfect,” and “Jet Lag.” Their upbeat musical style and lyrics often focused on the struggles of adolescence resonated with a whole generation worldwide.

The Canadian combo, consisting of Pierre Bouvier (vocals), Jeff Stinco (guitar), Sébastien Lefebvre (guitar and vocals), David Desrosiers (bass and vocals), and Chuck Comeau (drums), has sold over 10 million albums during their career. Regulars on worldwide tours and major festivals, from the Vans Warped Tour to Rock am Ring, Les Eurockéennes, or Hellfest.

Simple Plan is no stranger to collaborating with Disney, as the band has performed numerous times at the company’s parks during special concerts. Their energetic and unifying musical style fits perfectly with the festive and gathering spirit advocated by Mickey and his merry gang. This new collaboration seems to be a natural and coherent marriage between two seemingly distant universes.

The love story between Disney and music continues

This Disney foray into more alternative music genres may seem surprising at first. However, upon closer inspection, music has always played a central role in the success story of the big-eared studio.

From its beginnings in 1928 with the short film Steamboat Willie, Disney revolutionized the world of animation by being the first to offer a cartoon with a synchronized soundtrack. A technical feat for the time that paved the way for the use of music in animated productions.

Subsequently, legendary composers like the Sherman brothers in the 1960s or Alan Menken in the 1990s signed unforgettable soundtracks for Disney’s feature films. Who has never hummed “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” (Mary Poppins), “Under the Sea” (The Little Mermaid), or “A Whole New World” (Aladdin)?

At the same time, Disney parks have always featured musical shows with numerous concerts and musicals. An heritage that Mickey seems to want to perpetuate and enrich with new, more current sounds through original collaborations like the one with Simple Plan.

So, are you ready to rediscover Disney’s classic hits version 2.0 this fall? One thing is certain, Mickey and Simple Plan have some exciting surprises in store with this album, which is already shaping up to be one of the most exciting musical projects of the year. Bring on the rest!

Header image credit: DisneyMusicVEVO