5 Other Great Songs by One-Hit Wonders

5 Other Great Songs by One-Hit Wonders

By: Brian Cotnoir

     The term “One-Hit Wonder” is used to describe a band or artist that had only one hit song. However, I always thought that term dumb term, because just because a band only recorded and released one song that had any mainstream success doesn’t mean that all their other songs weren’t good.  Many bands and musical artists may only be known for one or two songs in the mainstream, but a lot of them are still playing, recording, and even touring today.  So today we take a look at the bands and artist dubbed “One-Hit Wonders” by the media and introduce you to some of their lesser known—but just as good—tracks.

1.) “Superman’s Song” by the Crash Test Dummies

YOU KNOW THEM FOR:

 

 

YOU SHOULD ALSO CHECK OUT:

     Many people remember or know of the Canadian Alternative Rock band, The Crash Test Dummies from their 1993 song “MMMM MMMMM MMMMM”, but two years before the release of that song they had some moderate success in the U.S. with the track “Superman’s Song” from their album The Ghosts that Haunt Me.  It is soft mournful track eulogizing the loss of Clark Kent/Superman.  It’s a track that’s just as good as “MMMM MMMMM MMMM”.

 

2.)  “Good Times” by Marcy Playground

YOU KNOW THEM FOR:

 

 YOU SHOULD ALSO CHECK OUT:

 

Is there anyone out who doesn’t like Marcy Playground’s droney Alternative Rock Hit, “Sex & Candy”?  After the release of “Sex & Candy” in 1997, it spent a then-record 15 weeks as the #1 song on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks.  However, their failure to obtain further success in the mainstream wasn’t because their other songs weren’t as good, but more because they were one of those imageless bands; they were the kind of band that you could be standing next to in line at a bus stop and you wouldn’t know who the hell they were.  They had other great songs on their self-titled debut album such as “Shadow of Seattle”, “Poppies”, and “St. Joe on the School bus”.  However, the track I’m going to recommend for you is one of their more recent songs.  “Good Times” was released off their 2009 album Leaving Wonderland...in a Fit of Rage. It’s an upbeat song, about not letting the small things in life get you down and always remembering the good times in life.  It’s a track, I think most people can relate too.

 

3.)  House of Pain Anthem by The House of Pain

YOU KNOW THEM FOR:

 

 

YOU SHOULD ALSO CHECK OUT:

Everlast, Danny Boy, and DJ Lethal—better known as the House of Pain—rose to popularity in 1992 with their hit “Jump Around”, a track that’s still popular at house parties and sports arenas around the world.  However, in the beginning of the Music Video to “Jump Around” there is a sampling from another track off the same album “House of Pain Anthem”.  It has more of a Gangsta-Rap vibe, and a catchy chorus, and tough sounding lyrics.  

 

    

 

4.)  Digging the Grave by Faith No More

YOU KNOW THEM FOR:

YOU SHOULD ALSO CHECK OUT:

San Francisco based Funk-Metal band Faith No More rose to prominence with their 1989 hit “Epic”.  “Epic” is a track that gained even more popularity when it was featured on the popular music-based video game Rock Band.  Although is a great track, I feel like it was just the beginning for Faith No More.  Their follow up albums Angel Dust and King for a Day...Fool for a Lifetime are also packed with wonderful singles that display singer Mike Patton’s wide vocal range and prove he really is “Mr. One Thousand Voices”; tracks such as “Be Aggressive”, “Ugly in the Morning”, and “Digging the Grave”.

YOU SHOULD ALSO CHECK OUT:

 

 

5.)  Three Point One Four by The Bloodhound Gang

 

YOU KNOW THEM FOR:

 

YOU SHOULD ALSO CHECK OUT:

 

Who doesn’t know The Bloodhound Gang’s hilariously epic 1998 smash hit “Bad Touch”.  Who doesn’t enjoy the chorus “You and me baby aint nothing but mammals/so let’s do it like they do on the discovery channel”.  However, the Bloodhound Gang has recorded equally as offensive songs with sexualized lyrics such as “Kiss me where it smells funny”, “Screwing you on the Beach at Night”, and “Foxtrot Uniform Charlie Kilo”.  However, it is another track from their Hooray for Boobies album that has probably its most offensive and raunchiest song, “Three Point One Four”.  But don’t let the tame title of the song fool you, it’s actually a song with obscene and comedic lyrics.

 

 

Character Analysis: Thackery Binx

Character Analysis: Thackery Binx

By: Brian Cotnoir

     There’s no doubt about it: When you think Disney, you think animation.  However, Disney Film Studios have actually had a great deal of success with their live action films.  The “Pirates of the Caribbean” films have grossed over 4 billion dollars worldwide!  And yet, they are still known primarily as a animation film studio.  Well, there’s one live action film that Disney released that is very near and dear to the hearts of many from my generation, and every fall I see more and more people break out their copy to watch it for Halloween. I of course am talking about “Hocus Pocus”.  “Hocus Pocus” has some sentimental value to me.  Not only was it a film that was made and released during my childhood, but its set in my home state of Massachusetts, and parts of it were actually filmed in Salem, MA.  When I was in college my friends and I would go into Salem on Halloween, and I just got a feeling of sweet nostalgia every time we went.  It is an amazing film that’s filled with interesting and memorable characters, and I’m going to do a Character Analysis on one of the films characters, Thackery Binx.

CHARACTER: Thackery Binx from “Hocus Pocus” (1993)

Thackery Binx from "Hocus Pocus" (1993)

Thackery Binx is a young farm boy from 1693, who lives in Salem, Massachusetts.  One morning Thackery notices that his little sister Emily has been spirited away by the evil Sanderson Sisters, who are alleged witches.  The Sanderson Sisters lure the children of Salem out into their cottage in the woods in order to feed them a special potion that allows them to drain out the child’s life force so they can remain young and beautiful forever.  Thackery tries to rescue his sister, but his heroic plans are thwarted by the 3 sisters and he is transformed into a black cat.  The Sanderson Sister’s drain the life force of Emily, but are soon caught in the act by the Binx family and the residents of Salem.  Thackery’s family is completely unaware that their son has been transformed into a cat; a form in which is unfortunately doomed to spend the rest of his life in, until the curse is broken.  He is immortal and nothing—not time, disease, or even being run over by a car—can kill him.                  

Heeeeere kitty-kitty

    Flash forward 300 years to Halloween night and teenager Max Dennison (who just so happens to also be a virgin) lights the black flame candle in brings the Sanderson sisters back from the dead.  Max, his little sister Dani, and his friend Allison are now being pursued by the Sanderson Sisters and the only person who can help them is Thackery Binx.  Fortunately for Max and the others Thackery has the ability to communicate with them (which brings up the question, how come Max, Dani, and Allison can communicate with him, but Thackery’s parents were unable to talk to him 300 years ago?).

THE ACTORS:

One unique thing about Thackery Binx is that he is portrayed by two different actors.  In the opening and closing scene Thackery is played by actor Sean Murray.  However, the voice of Thackery is done by voice actor Jason Marsden, and not just when he’s Binx the Cat, he also voices all over of Sean Murray’s lines too.  I have no idea why they did that?  I have done my research and couldn’t find any reason why they chose to cast Thackery like that. I can’t understand they wouldn’t just have Sean Murray read the lines for Binx the cat or why they wouldn’t have had Jason Marsden play Thackery in the live action scenes.  To be perfectly, honest I would have preferred it if they would have had Jason Marsden play Thackery and be the voice of Binx the Cat.

Sean Murray, the actor who played Thackery Binx

 

Jason Marsden the voice of Thackery and Binx the Cat

CHARACTER IS SIMILAR TO OR INSPIRED BY:

     Thackery is similar to the character Salem Saberhagen from the Television series “Sabrina the Teenage Witch” (the 1^st episode of which came 3 years after “Hocus Pocus”).  Both are men who were transformed into black cats.  However, their similarities stop there.  Thackery was transformed into one for trying to stop the Sanderson Sisters from killing his sister.  Salem was transformed into a cat for trying to “take over the world”.  Thackery’s story and personality is more tragic and brooding, while Salem’s story and personality is more comedic.

Salem from "Sabrina the Teenage Witch" (1996)

 

FATE OF THE CHARACTER:

     The Curse on Thackery is broken after Max, Dani, Allison, and Billy Butcher (a resurrected zombie) vanquish the Sanderson sisters, by exposing them to the sun light the day after Halloween.  Binx is now dead, and his spirit is scene in the graveyard.  He thanks Max, Dani, and Allison for their help setting him free from the curse that was put on him over three centuries ago.  The last we see of Thackery is walking off into the sunrise with the spirit of his long deceased sister Emily, to happily spend eternity together in the afterlife.

Robin Williams Tribute

                

                   I drew that at work this morning for all to see. I wanted to see what people would do/say. Mostly people didn't talk much about the tragedy, instead it roused a few smiles! You see, people remember Robin Williams and smile because that is what he did! He made us smile. We all grew up with him in one way or another, I saw him most in his films, others can recite his stand-ups without hesitation. His death is a great loss for everyone who loved him and the world is just a bit darker without him.
                  One coworker of mine recalled her tears the night before. She said how she wondered why she was crying when she didn't know him. I told her we all knew him, in a way. Robin was an artist; and as an artist he showed everyone who he was. He let us all know him, in a way. 
                  Through his acting we saw his heart, his passion for theater and he always gave it his all. No matter what the script, comedy or drama, one can just tell that he loved to tell stories, wether it be as a character in one or alone on a stage speaking to an audience. Through his stand up we saw his mind, he imbued his comedy with his experiences and stories he had lived and relayed how he thought about subjects like the president and gun control ("The National Rifle Association says you have the rights to own armor piercing rounds if you're a hunter. WHY? How many deer wear bulletproof vests?!")
                  After hearing the news I immediately lit a candle and went to my dvds to find Mrs. Doubtfire, which is apparently the first film of his that comes to mind for me. Not finding it I went to netflix and began watching Hook. About half way through I realized how many times I had seen the film and went off to find one of my favorites: Bicentennial Man. This movie brought me to tears when I first saw it and I had been meaning to see it again. It still makes me cry. I watched that, and his stand up Weapons of Self Destruction until the candle went out (a tiny tea light). Getting into bed, still watching his stand ups I realized the irony in the fact that I was laughing at the man to get over his demise. 
                   That's what makes him great. Great comedy can make us laugh no matter what the situation. Another reason he was great is that it seemed that he was always on. Even when he wasn't on stage or a set, in interviews, on the red carpet, it seemed he love to make others laugh, and he was brave enough to do things to get those laughs that most others would not. 
                   I spoke to him. My vivid imagination could conjure a ghost of him, standing in my apartment. I told him through tears he was going to live forever. The films he was in, his stand up, they will be watched for generations to come, and remembered long after that. We live for as long as our memories are held dear and what better way to be remembered than making people smile?
                   So many people have posted tributes, condolences, and good-byes (the one quoted in my drawing brought me to tears again after I thought I was done!). I am no different. I cannot find a new way to say this that has not been said countless time in the past 24 hours. There is only one way to say farewell to the huge talent the Robin Williams was: Cry, watch his films and stand-ups, and promise to help him live on by showing them to others. I hope I never need to hear someone ask "Who is Robin Williams?" That's up to us. Generations to come need to see this man, because he is great, and he is an inspiration.
                   In his Inside the Actor's Studio interview he said that he hopes that there is laughter in heaven. Well, Mr. Williams, if there wasn't any before, there certainly is now!
                   But here in life the man was an artist, a genius of comedy who makes us laugh even in the wake of his death. Through that art, through our laughter, he will live forever.

1. July 21, 1951-August 11, 2014

RIP Robin Williams

One of the best. One of the greats!

5 Reasons why King Candy from "Wreck-It Ralph" is the Worst Disney Villain Ever

5 Reasons why King Candy from “Wreck-It Ralph” is the WORST Disney Villain Ever

By: Brian Cotnoir

Welcome back to this, the third instillation of my Disney Villain Top 5’s.  This week will be looking at who I consider to be the Worst Disney Villain.  Now most people would assume that I’d go with someone like Hans from “Frozen” or Gaston from “Beauty and the Beast”, but no there is a villain whose for worst, far more pathetic, and probably the worst movie Villain, Disney has come up with yet.  I of course am talking about King Candy from Disney’s “Wreck-It Ralph” and here are 5 reasons why I think he is the Worst Disney Villain. 

1.) He’s Prejudice

Aint no Glitches allowed in my Candy Kingdom

King Candy is a prejudicial ruler.  The group he targets, game glitches.  Throughout the film he does everything he can to prevent Vanellope Von Schweetz (a game glitch) from racing in the candy kingdom.  King Candy is so bent on preventing Vanellope from participating in the race that he levies’s a toll of one gold coin/medal in order to enter the race.  Coins/medals to gain race entry are typically given to race winners...making it practically impossible for Vanellope to be able to enter the race.  Vanellope had to steal Wreck It Ralph’s medal, she probably wouldn’t have been able to enter the race at all.  Even after, Vanellope gains entry in the race, King Candy does everything he can to keep her from racing.  He goes as far as to hack the game code and extract her medal to prevent her from being allowed to race.

2.) He’s (possibly) a pedophile

     Am I the only person who thinks it’s sketchy that an older adult male is competing in a sport with only little girls?  Yeah, King Candy sends up all kinds of red flags.  Why is it that King Candy hates glitches, but wants to race with little girls?   Yeah, that’s pretty darn sketchy if you ask me.  I think there’s a reason to suspect that King Candy is a potentially a pedophile.

King Candy is such a creep!

 

3.) He is Egotistical

     King Candy has an ego.  He thinks he’s better than everyone; he tries to tell people what to do and how to live their lives.  He very well possibly has a God-complex too.  He is willing to put the lives of other videogame characters in danger to get exactly what he wants, including murder... 

You cocky Jerk, you!

 

4.) Murders and attempts to murder other game characters

     SPOILERS: King Candy is actually another video game character named Turbo, who was a part of a popular racing arcade game, however when Turbo’s popularity began to dwindle he left his game and went into another more popular game causing both games to sabotage it, but as a result cost both games to suffer serious malfunctions and as a result both gamesunplugged: meaning everyone in both games was killed.  After both games were unplugged King Candy snuck into the Sugar Rush game and re-wrote some of the games code in hopes of taking over the game.  He killed before and was more than willing to kill off all the characters in Sugar Rush to satisfy his over-inflated ego.

Heeeeeeeeeeerrrrrreeeeee'ssss Turbo!

 

5.) He doesn’t even get a villain song

     How can you be a good Disney villain if you don’t even get a villain song?  Yes, there’s a song on the soundtrack called “King Candy”, but it’s only an instrumental, no lyrics, or singing from King Candy whatsoever.  How can you ever be a great Disney Villain if you don’t even get your own Villain song?  That reason alone was more than enough to make me count King Candy from “Wreck-It Ralph” as the Worst Disney Villain Ever.

5 Reasons why Ursula from "The Little Mermaid" is the Best Disney Villainess Ever

Character Analysis: Oogie Boogie

Character Analysis: Oogie Boogie

By: Brian Cotnoir

     So a while back I asked my friends to vote on which character from “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas” I should do a Character Analysis on.  Much to my surprise the winner was not Jack Skellington or Sally, or even Dr. Finklestein, but the Mayor of Halloween Town who they chose.  Well, I was actually hoping that my friends would vote for my favorite character from the film, Oogie Boogie, but he only came in 3^rd (Lock, Shock, and Barrel came in second).  Well this is my blog, and I really want to do an Analsyis on Oogie Boogie so I’m doing it.  So kick back and enjoy my character Analysis on Oogie Boogie from “The Nightmare Before Christmas”.

CHARACTER: Oogie Boogie from “The Nightmare Before Christmas” (1993)



That's Mister Oogie Boogie to you!

In a town that is full of witches, goblins, zombies, werewolves, and other paranormal beings, Oogie Boogie is a social outcast.  While everyone in Halloween Town appears to be friendly and kind, Oogie Boogie is a pariah.  He lives on the outskirts of town, and is rarely ever seen (but can be heard early throughout the movie).  The only contact he has with the outside world comes from his three trick or treating minions, Lock, Shock, and Barrel.  After his minions kidnap Santa Clause, for Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King, Santa is brought to Oogie Boogie’s lair (against Jack’s request).  It is that this point that we finally see the Boogie Man.  He is short, portly, and his external appearance consists of a green burlap bag.  He dances and sings about his apparent gambling addiction to Santa Clause and informs him that he is a “gamblin’ Boogie Man” and that his favorite time to gamble is when “life’s are on the line”.  However, Oogie Boogie is a sore loser with a bad temper and Santa Clause’s life is on the line unless someone comes to his rescue.

 

THE VOICE ACTOR:

Voice Actor Ken Page

Oogie Boogie in “The Nightmare Before Christmas” is voiced by actor Ken Page.  Page has an extensive Broadway acting background, and “The Nightmare Before Christmas” is one of his few appearances on film.  Most of Page’s dialogue consists of song.  Even when he’s just saying his lines, he’s so loud and bombastic, it sounds like he’s singing his lines.  Besides Oogie Boogie Ken Page is also known for being the voice of King Gator from Don Bluth’s 1989 Animated film “All Dogs Go to Heaven” (aka the scene that gave birth to the “Big Lipped Alligator Moment”).  Kevin Page has wonderful deep singing voice to compliment the showmanship and theatrics of Oogie Boogie in “The Nightmare Before Christmas”.

 

CHARACTER IS SIMILAR TO OR INSPIRED BY:

     While researching Oogie Boogie’s character, I found something rather interesting on-line.  It turns out that his character was inspired a character from a Bettie Boop short in the 1930’s.  Oogie Boogie’s voice is inspired by Big Band Jazz leader Cab Calloway’s character the Old Man of the Mountain from the short “The Old Man of the Mountain” (1933).  Hell, they even quote the Old Man of the Mountain in “The Boogey Song”.  The line where Santa Clause asks Oogie Boogie “What are you going to do?” and he replies “I’m going to do the Best I can”, comes from the short.  

 

4:50 mark was used in the film.

              

     Besides being a close distant relative to Cab Calloway’s, Old Man of the Mountain, I also think that Oogie Boogey shares some similar qualities to Audrey II form “The Little Shop of Horrors”.  I don’t think you can deny that Kevin Page and Levi Stubbs have very similar singing voices.  Hell, for the longest time I believed that Audrey II and Oogie Boogey had the same voice actor.  Plus, both characters are somewhat flamboyant, over-the-top, and have insatiable appetites.

 

FATE OF THE CHARACTER:

 

After a failed attempt to free Santa Clause from Oogie Boogie’s clutches, Santa and Sally lives are now in grave danger.  Oogie Boogie tries to send both of them to their deaths, but he is thwarted by Jack Skellington.  After a brief battle, Jack manages to get Oogie Boogie’s burlap skin caught in a trap ripping off his skin, and revealing his true form:  Oogie Boogie is comprised of thousands of tiny insects controlled by one master insect.  As this master insect tries to escape with the others he is squished to death by Santa Clause, thus ending the life of Oogie Boogie.

CURSE YOU JACK SKELLINGTON!

 

 

Character Analysis: The Mayor of Halloween Town

Character Analysis: Hobo

Character Analysis: Hobo

By: Brian Cotnoir

Once Again, I am here to talk about one of my favorite characters from one of my favorite films.  I remember the first time I watched “Hobo with a Shotgun”, it was violent, it was gory, it was funny, it was a PERFECT tribute to the old Grindhouse cinema of the 1970’s, and what’s very funny is that this film wasn’t even supposed to be made.  It was a joke trailer made to go with the 2007 film “Grindhouse”, and it actually ended up being made into a feature length film.  Well the Hobo is the main character of the film, and we’re going to take a look at him today.

CHARACTER: Hobo from “Hobo with a Shotgun” (2011)

The nameless Hobo is a man who arrives in the fictional Canadian town of “Hope Town” on a Box car.  Shortly after his arrival, he realizes that coming to Hope Town may have been a mistake.  Hope Town is controlled by a ruthless and vicious crime boss known as The Drake and his two adult sons, Slick & Ivan.  Whatever the Drake and his sons order happens and no one will stop them.  Besides the Drake, there is also rampant crime throughout the city: corrupt cops, pedophile Santa’s, violent robbers, pimps and prostitutes, and a slew of other devious felons.  The Hobo rescues a prostitute, named Abby, from being raped and murdered by Slick (the Drake’s “Favorite Son”).  However, the attack on Slick makes the Hobo the new target for the Police Department—who are all bribed by the Drake.  While in the Police station, the Hobo is held down by Ivan and the Police Chief, while Slick carves the word scum into his chest by the Slick.  The Hobo is eventually found clinging to life by Abby who takes him in, cleans his wounds, and gives him a warm bed to stay for the night.                                              

    The Hobo’s ultimate goal is to go legit and start his own lawn mowing business.  He begs and does demeaning acts in hopes of buying a used lawn mower at a local pawn shop.  However, the day the Hobo goes to buy the lawn mower a trio a violent gun-toting thugs attempt to rob the Pawn Shop.  The Hobo notices a Remington Shot Gun for sale hanging on the wall and uses it to execute the robbers.  He then decides to buy the shotgun and said and goes on a rampage to right the injustices of Hope Town “one shot gun shell at a time”.

THE ACTOR:

Actor Rutger Hauer plays "The Hobo

In the Original “Grindhouse” trailer the Hobo was played by David Brunt, but he turned down the role for the Full-Length version of the film and instead was casted as a Shotgun-wielding Dirty Cop in the film.  The role of the Hobo was re-cast and given to actor Rutger Hauer.  Hauer was an excellent choice for the role.  The way he looks, the way he delivers his lines, just everything he does in the role of the Hobo is perfect.  I honestly can’t think of any other actor that could do the role of the Hobo as well as Rutger Hauer.

CHARACTER IS SIMILAR TO OR INSPIRED BY:

Praise Hobo Jesus!

I’m not sure if anyone else has noticed this, but there are a lot of Biblical Themes, References, and Allegory’s in “Hobo with a Shotgun”.  The most prevalent of those Biblical themes is that the Hobo is an Allegory for Jesus. Think about it: he enters a world of sin, and wants to do away with that sin.  The only difference is Jesus used to words and humility to combat the sin, while the Hobo used a shotgun.  But that’s not all.  There’s a scene where Ivan and Slick are having a meeting with their father and they’re sitting at table in front of a portrait of Da Vinci’s “The Last Supper”.  Not only that, but during this meeting Slick expresses his desire to “crucify [the Hobo] to a homeless shelter”.  Sort of like how Pontius Pilot wanted to crucify Jesus; coincidence? I think not!  Not only that, but when Slick makes an obscene reference about Mother Teresa, the Hobo attacks Slick and claims that “Mother Teresa is a God D@mn Saint!”.

FATE OF THE CHARACTER:

The Drake and his sons put a hit out on the Hobo.  If people of Hope Town don’t kill all the homeless and bring the Hobo to him, then the Drake and his sons will start killing off all the children in Hope Town.  After evading the Drake and the towns people—and committing a few more vigilante style killings in the process—the Hobo is eventually captured by a mysterious duo known as “The Plague”.  The Plague turns the Hobo over to the Drake who plans a violent execution for him, known as “the Glory Hole”.  He places a man whole cover around his neck and drops him in the sewer he then places a barbwire noose around his neck (I’m guessing the crown of thorns was a bit too cliché for the film’s director), but before the Drake can decapitate the Hobo he is ambushed by Abby and the fed up residents of Hope Town.  It all comes down to a final epic showdown.  If the Hobo kills the Drake, the police have orders to open fire and execute the Hobo.  The Hobo looks down at the Drake and proclaims “You and me are taking a car ride to hell...and you’re riding shot gun!”.  He kills the Drake and then the police kill the Hobo...Gee, it’s almost like the Hobo was DYING FOR THE SINS of Hope Town. Seriously, if you do not see the Hobo is an Allegory for Jesus, you may need to watch it again and take a closer look.  

5 Reasons why Ursula from "The Little Mermaid" is the Best Disney Villainess

5 Reasons Why Ursula from the “Little Mermaid” is the Best Disney Villainess

By: Brian Cotnoir

     Well here we are again doing another countdown of the Best and Worst Disney Villains.  I asked my committee who they felt was the Best Disney Villain or Villainess and reasons why they felt that way, and in a stunning upset, Ursula from “The Little Mermaid” was the top pick of my committee (with Scar from “The Lion King” coming in 2^nd and Maleficent from “Sleeping Beauty” coming in 3^rd). I got a wide variety of reasons why too so here are 5 reasons why Ursula from “The Little Mermaid” is the Best Disney Villain.

1.) She’s a sea witch (rather than an ordinary human)

The Disney Villain Mold typically follows the same pattern of the Disney Princess Mold.  There’s a villain who is evil for the sake of pure evil or who just wants power.  You have to admit that most Disney Villains look very humanlike, but Ursula is different.  She has purple skin, a short hair cut and a full-figure rather than a traditional tall slender frame.  Not only is she different from the other Disney Villains, but she is unlike any other character in the film.  Unlike the other undersea beings like the mermaids who have fins for legs, she has tentacles for legs.  She’s also more creature than human and since she was the villain in Disney’s First Princess story film in over 20 years, Ursula set the standard for Disney Villains to be different at the beginning of the so-called Disney Renaissance.

2.) She proves Big Girls can be just as bad.

Ursula is a very—shall we say—curvaceous character.  You have to admit that even Disney tries to make their villains attractive.  The Evil Queen from “Snow White” is an fairly attractive women, Gaston from “Beauty and the Beast” has muscles and a long hair,  and have you seen Angelina Jolie in the live action version of “Maleficent” girl is thin, sexy, and absolutely gorgeous  The fact that Ursula is a heavier built character is quite an impressive feat.  She not only proves that bigger girls can be just as bad as the other Disney Villains, but they can maybe be the baddest of them all.

3.) She has valid motivation (and kept her end of the bargain)

Anyone else think she'd be a great James Bond Villain???

Ursula is one of the few Disney villains out there that actually puts a lot of thought into their evil plans.  It’s not like Ariel just showed up and she made it up on the fly in hopes that everything would work flawlessly; no, she knew exactly what she was doing from the beginning.  She convinces the naïve Ariel to sign a contract with her saying that she will give Ariel legs in exchange for her voice.  Ariel will have 3 days to receive a kiss from her true love or else she will be transformed back into a mermaid and belong to Ursula.  Unbeknownst to Ariel, Ursula plans to sabotage the whole thing so that her father, King Triton, will have to come and rescue her and sacrifice himself to save his youngest daughter.  Once King Triton is out of the way, Ursula will be the ruler of the undersea kingdom of Atlantica, which is what she wanted all along.  And even though, Ursula planned to betray Ariel the whole time, she still kept her end of the bargain.  I’m not saying she was morally right, I’m saying from a legal standpoint she was right.   

4.) She’s a Transgender advocate.

True Story

Ursula’s design, for those of you weren’t already aware, was inspired by a Drag Queen named Divine.  Wow, you know for a company that prides itself on being very Family Oriented and Traditional, I would not expect any writers or storyboard artists from Disney to use a transvestite as a model for one of its characters.  Well, in retrospect, it’s good idea because “The Little Mermaid” does have some subtle—unintentional—nods to transgender advocacy.  In my “5 Reasons why Ariel from The Little Mermaid is the Most Misunderstood Disney Princess Article” I also talked about how Ariel is a Transgender Advocate (she was a born a mermaid, but wants to be human; in a similar way to some people in the world want to change their own genders).  So there’s another way of how Ursula helped change the standard of how Disney Villains are written and designed.

5 Reasons why Ariel from "The Little Mermaid" is the Most Misunderstood Disney Princess

5.) She has Best Disney Villain Song

     How great of a song is “Poor Unfortunate Souls”?  I mean it has to be one of the —if not the BEST—Disney Villain song ever written.  Howard Ashman and Alan Menken wrote a fantastic original number for this film and voice actress Pat Carroll sings it better than anyone else.  I mean it’s better than “Be Prepared”, better than “Hellfire”, better than “Friends on the Otherside” (which are all great Villain songs in their own respect), but “Poor Unfortunate Souls” is set the standard for what a Great Villain Song truly is. 

     So there are 5 Reasons why Ursula from “The Little Mermaid” is the Best Disney Villainess.  Be sure to check out some of my other Disney Villain Articles and stay tuned for future articles on Disney Villains.  Take Care all.

Das Film Junkie

5 Reasons why The Coachman from "Pinocchio' is the Most TERRIFYING Disney Villain Ever