Mormon Life - Disney tag

Jenny Oaks Baker: A Whole New World

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:23:00 -0700

source: youtube.com

Mormon Life says: Grammy-nominated Jenny Oaks Baker just came out with this awesome new video of her classical take on "A Whole New World." We're loving it.

Jenny Oaks Baker: Grammy-nominated musician and real-life Cinderella

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 00:05:00 -0700

by SarahJo Ciotti
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: There’s a lot more work that goes into real-life fairy tales than one might think. Jenny Oaks Baker’s fairy tale--winning a Grammy nomination for the first time--is one of diligence and faith as she has striven to make all her wishes come true.

Just like any fairytale princess, Jenny Oaks Baker has worked to achieve her dreams. Although instead of spending hours every day cleaning after evil step-sisters, Baker spends hours practicing the violin; instead of dressing mice in home-made garb, she dresses each note played with passion and technique.

“Any time I’m about to go to a performance and I walk down in one of my gowns, my children gather around and get excited,” said Baker. “It’s fun, but I also have to say, ‘Oh, step back, you’ve got sticky hands.’ So it’s not like the Disney movies where it’s ‘Come around, come around’; it’s not as ideal as it is in the movies. In reality there are dirty faces and sticky hands.”

And instead of having an evil stepmother, Baker credits much of her success to her mother. Baker began playing the violin at age four and practiced every day with her mother until high school, at which point she was practicing three to four hours each day on her own. “Practicing with my mom was such a part of my development as a person as well as musically,” said Baker. Her mother guided her in more than music, praying together before and after performances, quoting scripture, and encouraging Baker to ask for blessings. “My faith was growing as my playing was developing; I’m grateful because it’s so interwoven.”

At age 18, Baker moved from Utah to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to attend Curtis Institute of Music. “I was so freaked out by all the people and the whole city atmosphere,” said Baker. “I was scared out of my mind and so lonely.” At Curtis, Baker began practicing six--sometimes even ten--hours a day. “I just approached it as what I was supposed to do to reach my potential and develop my talents,” said Baker. “I took advantage of the amazing opportunity the Lord had blessed me with. I’m so grateful that I worked so hard. I worked hard my whole life, but I worked my tail off my four years at Curtis.”

Later, at Julliard, Baker continued her rigorous schedule, but other things were now taking more attention. Before Baker moved to work on her master’s of music at The Julliard School in New York City, her mother was diagnosed with cancer.

At Baker’s first Sunday at the Manhattan Singles Ward, she was put in charge of handing out programs before the meeting began. It was then that she first met her prince charming. “Our eyes met and he got out of his seat to get a program, which I thought was a great sign,” said Baker. “I was determined to go sit by him. In order to sit by Matt, I had to climb over one guy, over Matt, and sit straight in the middle of the bench. I’m not very subtle.” Baker found out he was job searching for after he graduated. “He wanted to affirm that he was from a good Mormon family with upstanding parents, so he was telling me ‘My dad has been a bishop, stake president, and right now he’s a mission president.’ He just looked so proud of himself. And even though I never do this--I never do this--I said, ‘Well, my dad is an apostle.’ That was the beginning of the relationship.”

That Sunday, Baker and her family were fasting for her mom. “When my mom found out that she had cancer, she immediately began praying that I would find someone to marry,” said Baker, who was the youngest and only unmarried child in the family. “Even though our prayers that day weren’t answered, hers were. Losing my mom was so difficult--it still is--but having me go away to school so that the apron strings were a little loosened, and then having me meet my future husband and get married while she was still alive [helped]. God just worked miracles. Matt was only there that one Sunday and I just happened to sit by him. It is a fairy tale, but it’s definitely got the Lord’s hand in it. . . . I’m so grateful that Heavenly Father blessed me with a husband at the time I lost my mom; I would have been so lost.”

Now, Baker often includes her young daughters in performances when she is able. “I try to do the same thing [my mother did for me] with my own children and it’s tough! It makes me so grateful for my own mom for taking that time with me.” It’s worth it, though, she affirms. “Family. It’s all about family,” said Baker. “I love to be with my family, my children, my husband.”

And through all those experiences, she has been prepared for the great things that are now coming her way, like her recent Grammy nomination. “I always knew growing up that the Lord had something in store for me, and I knew it was there and I had to work my hardest to be prepared to receive it and find it and go after it.” Even with such a great accomplishment, though, not much has changed. “I’ve had experiences where I started to be a little too diva-ish and Heavenly Father immediately nudged me back and reminded me of who I am and what I represent and the purpose of my gift,” said Baker. “I am truly grateful that Heavenly Father loves me enough to remind me who I am.”

{LDSL Blog} The Mormon Fascination with Disney

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 00:03:00 -0600

by Kate Ensign-Lewis
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: I love Disney, and I know I'm not unique among Mormons for that trait. Is it the happiness of all things Disney that draws us to it?

I love Disney. It has been ingrained in my being.

Scattered among the pictures of my childhood are happy images of my exploits in Disneyland. There’s the picture of my brother pulling four-year-old me up as I pull on the Sword in the Stone; seven-year-old me in a family holiday photo next to Walt Disney’s statue; 11-year-old me with my best friend just before she moved; and 18-year-old me in front of the Sleeping Beauty castle on my birthday. Considering it was an eight-hour drive for our family of seven, I’m astounded that my parents made such an effort. My family has gone for birthdays, holidays, and as part of multi-family trips, where we meet up with friends or extended family at the park. I have souvenirs including pennies flattened by the main street penny machine, Mickey Mouse hats with “Katie” scrolled on the back, and a Beauty and the Beast snowglobe that plays “Beauty and the Beast.”

Growing up, Disney (channel or movies) was also the only thing we could watch on Sundays, and the annual Disney movie release was always a theater-going event. We had piano books and CD collections. I still enjoy watching Disney movies as an adult. And most recently, I have been playing YouTube Disney songs for my bouncing three-month-old during the day and singing him the slower songs at bedtime.

This Disney devotion might seem singular, but I know I’m not alone in Mormon culture.

When LDS Living ran its “Favorite Disney Song” poll, some of us were astounded at the response. To be honest, I wasn’t. There’s something about Disney that strikes at the heartstrings of Mormons everywhere. I’ve been thinking for the last week about why this may be. Perhaps it’s because Disney represents good memories of wholesome, family entertainment. It reminds us of years gone by sitting with the family on Sunday evening to watch “The Wonderful World of Disney.”

Or, perhaps it’s because there’s something inherently good in Walt Disney’s dream—appreciating the sweet magic of children and trying to reclaim that purity and hope in the world. We are a people who, after all, strive to become more child-like. Why wouldn’t such an appreciation of goodness speak to us?

But, as I realized just a few nights ago, perhaps more than anything it is because (as a combination of these things) Disney entertainment allows us to simply feel good. Here’s what happened: Just before bed, my husband and I had been watching a TV drama that had a fascinating storyline but was also very intense. He had drifted off, but I was still wide awake. I felt that uncomfortable, anxious feeling that comes from watching something that throws you off-kilter, and being one that dreams about what I watch, I needed to watch something that would get my mind settled again before falling asleep. My first thought was Tangled, which was recently added to Netflix’s instant play selections. I knew the happy story and beautiful songs would help put my mind at ease. And it did.

I know Disney is not infallible for its selections, but on the whole, I would say it matches up pretty closely with our culture’s gravitation toward hope, happiness, and family. And while I know Disney holds a special place in the hearts of adults everywhere, I can’t help thinking it’s something special for our culture—at least for the grown ups among us who are just as excited to see the new animated movies as our children are and who look forward to going to Disneyland just as much as our children.

I, for one, can’t wait to see my little boy at Disneyland, mouse hat in tow, for the first time—with me returning to childhood by his side.

Why do you love Disney? What’s your favorite Disney memory?

---

Kate Ensign-Lewis loves cooking in her tiny kitchen, eating great new foods with her husband, finding good entertainment and art, and smothering her son with kisses. She likes (virgin) pina coladas, but does not like getting caught in the rain.

Russians ban religious Mickey Mouse painting

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 10:46:00 -0600

source: deseretnews.com

Mormon Life says: In this painting, he is likened to Jesus Christ. While some Western Christians may not balk at C.S. Lewis presenting Jesus as a lion, a central Russian court is not so patient about a depiction of him as Mickey Mouse.

The Kaluga Region court has banned as extremist a painting by Alexander Savko that depicts the Sermon on the Mount with Mickey Mouse sitting on a rock surrounded by halo-clad disciples and admiring onlookers, reports RIA Novosti.

The world's most famous mouse wears the robes of Jesus and raises his three-fingered white gloves in blessing. A large round shoe peeks out from under the robe. Mickey's expression is somewhat quizzical, as if he were telling a ghost story instead of delivering the Beatitudes. The image was part of a series of paintings Savko created under the moniker "Mickey Mouse's Travels Though Art History."

{Poll} What's Your Favorite Disney Song?

Thu, 18 Aug 2011 00:07:00 -0600

by Kaela Worthen
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: We loved listening to the songs on Jenny Oaks Baker's new CD, Wish Upon a Star. It got us wondering: what's your favorite Disney song? I own several Disney soundtracks. And sometimes, it’s just as much fun to rock out to “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King” as it is to whatever’s on the top of today’s pop charts. With their fun music that brings movies to life and makes you want to sing and dance along, Disney songs seem to have a nearly universal appeal. And because Mormons seem to watch Disney movies more prolifically than perhaps your average American because of their much cleaner content when contrasted with the increasingly sketchy world of Hollywood, we seem to also have a much greater love for the music than your average person.

What’s your favorite Disney song? We’ve taken all the top, Oscar-nominated Disney songs and broken them up into categories in order to make your decision easier. We know this won't cover all of them--even Walt Disney's favorite, "Feed the Birds," isn't on the list. He used to have it played for him every Friday afternoon. If your top song isn't here, leave us a comment below.

{A&E} Listen to This: Jenny Oaks Baker Goes Disney

Thu, 18 Aug 2011 00:04:00 -0600

by Kaela Worthen
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: I wasn't sure about a CD with remakes of my favorite Disney songs, but I was in for a happy surprise with these violin arrangements. I’m a traditional sort of person. When I hear a song and fall in love with it, I don’t like to hear people mess it up with variations. A classic is a classic, and that’s the way it is. What’s that saying about “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”? Yeah.

So I was a little apprehensive when I sat down to listen to Jenny Oaks Baker’s new CD, Wish Upon a Star. Because it’s a remake of classic Disney songs. Uh oh.

But as I started listening, I was surprised, then confused, then pleased, then very pleased. This is Disney like you’ve never heard it before. You may not even realize at first that what you are listening to is Disney because the music is so flowing and elegant that it sweeps you away completely. But then—suddenly—you think, “Wait! I recognize this tune!” And sure enough, emerging out of the intricate melodies of violin and accompaniments is a familiar Disney favorite.

Kurt Bestor has written beautiful arrangements that differ enough from the Disney songs to become their own unique masterpieces while still stirring up remembrances of the emotions captured in the Disney originals, and Jenny Oaks Baker performs flawlessly. With this as my first introduction to both the composer and the violinist, I am now an eager convert.

These are the tracks:

Colors of the Wind

When You Wish Upon a Star

Beauty and the Beast

A Whole New World

God Help the Outcasts

A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes

Mary Poppins Fantasia:
A Spoonful of Sugar
Chim Chim Cher-ee
Step in Time, Feed the Birds
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious
Let's Go Fly a Kite

Part of Your World

Once Upon a Dream

Can You Feel the Love Tonight?

Baby Mine

Check out this video to see one of my favorites, “Colors of the Wind,” performed live.

And click here to vote on your favorite Disney song!

—
Kaela Worthen is the associate editor at LDS Living. A self-titled “ultimate grammar nerd,” she also battles serious addictions to news and food websites and a compulsion to dance to the radio while driving.

"Colors of the Wind" by Jenny Oaks Baker

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 10:07:00 -0600

source: youtube.com

Mormon Life says: Beautiful music. Jenny Oaks Baker performs "Colors of the Wind" from her most recent CD, Wish Upon a Star. This version is so beautiful -- as are all the other tracks on the CD as well.