THE MUSICAL CAST OF TOYS FEATURING WENDY & LISA - THE CLOSING OF THE YEAR (MAIN THEME FROM TOYS)

Wow, how was that for a mouthful???  Despite the endless title, this disc holds a prized place in my Wendy & Lisa collection.  It's an import, (the song was never released in the US as a single), and it's one of their lesser known achievements.  Probably because they didn't write the song.  For now, I want to focus on the reason for disc existing in the first place...

"Toys" was a complicated, ambitious film that literally imploded on itself because of the scope of the film-makers vision.  And I mean imploded because it never sparked that inner child so many of us feel when we watch "Charlie And The Chocolate Factory" or other such films.  It just crushes you with sights, sounds and colors.  "Toys" was full of wide open empty spaces that engulfed the viewer rather than embraced them.  You felt lost and exposed half the time.  Robin Williams and Joan Cusack's characters were both too weird to truly love.  You could never find a place in your heart for either one of them.  Robin Williams was a complicated man.  And this role allowed him to complicate his humor in order to complicate this character.  I love him in dramatic roles, but this one was confusing.

I'm not trying to bash the film because I intend to like it every time I watch it.  I want to like it.  I want to love it.  I respond to the innocence of childhood it tries to invoke.  But I never really find that footing in the film. 

However...  The soundtrack is one surprise after another.  And this track is the best example.  As far as modern Christmas carols go, I think Trevor Horn did an OK job.  On its own, the song is a bit disorganized and free flowing to ever find a place in popular Christmas culture.  But that's where Wendy & Lisa work their magic best.  Under their guidance, the song transforms from a partially developed idea into a virtual masterpiece.  The life of the song erupts through their performance and delivery.  Wendy's voice is fragile and just delicate enough to sound like an Angel calling to you through the snow.  She has that lilting bell quality to draw you in and hold you tightly.  Seal's golden bravado steals the show when he steps in and adds yet another dimension to this already layered cake of Christmas caroling and in the background, the famous harmony Wendy & Lisa so naturally achieve, swells like breakers rushing toward the northern shores of Santa's home.  And the bells...  The bells burst forth - like Christmas morning! - in glory and wonder!

But it's not over...  If you can get your hands on an extended version of the song, the girls take you on a snippet of jazz rock that's more satisfying and exciting than the actual tune itself.  Sadly, even the extended portion fades out leaving you breathless for more.  Wondering to yourself...  What would've happened next???  What if we could hear the whole song?

In that instance, the song achieves what "Toys" the movie fails to deliver.  And once again, Wendy & Lisa take a mediocre piece of work from another musician and turn it into gold.  There are 3 edits of the song on this single.  And my final words are:  3 AREN'T ENOUGH...!

THE MUSICAL CAST OF TOYS FEATURING WENDY & LISA - THE CLOSING OF THE YEAR (MAIN THEME FROM TOYS)
01. The Closing Of The Year (Main Theme From Toys) (Edit)
02. The Closing Of The Year (Main Theme From Toys) (Instrumental)
03. The Closing Of The Year (Main Theme From Toys) (Smooth Variation Featuring Wendy & Lisa & Chris Bruce)