You know, a name like Superstar Hits: The Ultimate Collection of Movie Hits sets some pretty high expectations for an album. Add to the mix that it's all Disney movies, and you should have a sure-fire bonafide success, right? Well, not really.

The thing about this album is that it's far from the "ultimate collection" of songs from Disney's movies. Instead of focusing on quality songs, it seems like Disney is focusing on the performers of these songs -- the "superstar" instead of the song. Well, one thing about this album is that it's not short of superstars. Celine Dion and Peabo Bryson, Elton John, Sting, Tina Turner, Bonnie Raitt, Wynona, Christina Aguilera -- it's an impressive list. But the problem isn't the performers, it's the material.

While there are some genuinely good songs on this album ("When She Loved Me" by Sarah McLachlan, "If I Didn't Have You" by Billy Crystal and John Goodman, "You've Got a Friend in Me"), many of the songs here would appeal only to the most fervent Disney fan. Honestly, how many of you will remember Sting's rendition of "My Funny Friend & Me" from The Emperor's New Groove or The Lion King II's "He Lives in You" by Tina Turner?

I'll give Disney the "superstar" label, but this is a far cry from an "ultimate" collection. A more accurate title would be "The Mediocre Collection of Disney Movie Hits from the early 1990s to Today." Disney has a much better catalogue of music to offer its fans. In fact, Disney supports this claim in the CD jacket. Open it up and what do you see? An advertisement for Disney's Greatest Volumes 1 through 3 -- "The GREATEST songs from all your favorite flims. A must-have collection of Musical Magic." Sadly enough, Disney is telling you themselves that they've got better music on another album.

- Rambles
written by C. Nathan Coyle
published 9 April 2005