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| Circle of Life | |||
|---|---|---|---|
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| Attribution information | |||
| Composer | |||
| Lyricist | |||
| Mixer | |||
| Performers |
• Carmen Twillie | ||
| Release information | |||
| Released |
May 31, 1994 | ||
| Track |
1 | ||
| Length |
3:59 | ||
| Albums |
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| Appearances | |||
| Samples | |||
| Versions |
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"Circle of Life" is a song composed by Elton John and Hans Zimmer for The Lion King. It was released on May 31, 1994, as part of the film's soundtrack. It was re-released on September 30, 2003, as part of the film's Special Edition soundtrack.
Conception and development[]
During production of The Lion King, "Circle of Life" was simply a short prayer sung in Swahili. The song ended as the Pride Landers reached Pride Rock, and the rest of the scene was communicated through visuals and dialogue only.[1]
Releases and alternative versions[]
The Lion King: Special Edition soundtrack.
"Circle of Life" was released on May 31, 1994, as part of the soundtrack of The Lion King. Also included on the soundtrack was a pop cover of the song performed by Elton John.[2][3]
The stage musical version of the song was released in 1997 as part of the original cast recording.[4][5]
Also in 1997, Disney released an album titled Jungle Boogie, which consisted of songs from both The Lion King and The Jungle Book franchises. The original version of "Circle of Life" was included on this album.[6]
"Circle of Life" was re-released on September 30, 2003, as part of the film's Special Edition soundtrack. Also included on the soundtrack was the Elton John version of the song.[7][8]
Official artwork of "Circle of Life" from The Legacy Collection: The Lion King.
Also on September 30, 2003, the karaoke version of "Circle of Life" was released as part of Disney's Karaoke Series: The Lion King.[9][10]
Best of The Lion King, an album comprised of songs from different installments in The Lion King franchise, was released on September 6, 2011. The original version of "Circle of Life" was included on this album.[11][12]
On October 3, 2011, "Circle of Life" was released as part of The Lion King Collection (Deluxe Edition).[13][14]
The song was re-released as part of The Legacy Collection: The Lion King on June 24, 2014, as was the Elton John version of the song.[15][16]
"Circle of Life" was reimagined for the 2019 remake of The Lion King. It was released on July 11, 2019, as part of the film's soundtrack.[17][18]
Use[]
In the canon[]
"Circle of Life" is the first song heard in The Lion King. It opens the film, with the sun rising over the Pride Lands as Lebo M sings the opening chant. Various Pride Landers begin to travel from across the Pride Lands to Pride Rock, where Mufasa awaits them atop the promontory. Rafiki soon arrives and anoints Mufasa's newborn son, Simba, with sand and gourd juice. He then carries the cub to the promontory and holds him high for all to see. The Pride Landers cheer for Simba as Mufasa and his mate, Sarabi, look on proudly.
Rafiki presents Simba to the Pride Landers during the "Circle of Life" sequence.
At the end of the film, there is a reprise of "Circle of Life". The reprise begins as Simba roars over his kingdom, formally becoming the king of Pride Rock. There is a brief flash-forward in which the Pride Lands recover from the famine under Scar's reign. The Pride Landers journey back to Pride Rock and witness the presentation of Simba and Nala's newborn cub.[19]
In The Lion King 1½, the opening chant of "Circle of Life" is briefly heard as Timon and Pumbaa travel toward Pride Rock. The music fades into the background as Pride Landers gallop on-screen, running the two over. The song picks up and continues as Timon and Pumbaa run toward Pride Rock, only to get abruptly cut off when they notice the crowd of Pride Landers at Pride Rock's base.[20]
In other media[]
A reimagined version of "Circle of Life" is heard in the 2019 remake of The Lion King. It plays during the same sequence of events as its 1994 counterpart.[21]
The stage musical version of "Circle of Life" is much the same as the original, occurring during the same sequence of events. However, instead of being sung by a chorus, it is sung by Rafiki and various Pride Landers.[4]
An instrumental version of "Circle of Life" is heard in the 1994 video game The Lion King. There are two slightly different versions of the song: one for Genesis and one for SNES.[22]
Lyrics[]
Lebo M:
Nants ingonyama bagithi baba (Here comes the lion, my people, the father [of our nation])
Sithi uhm ingonyama (We hail this coming of the lion)
Ingonyama (A lion)
Nants ingonyama bagithi baba
Sithi uhhmm ingonyama
Ingonyama
Siyo nqoba (We will have victory)
Ingonyama
Chorus:
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala (The royal lion wears his leopard spots)
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala
(Se to kwa) (Don't go to)
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala
(Asana) (No)
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala
(Se to kwa)
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala
(Asana)
Carmen Twillie:
From the day we arrive on the planet
And, blinking, step into the sun
There's more to see than can ever be seen
More to do than can ever be done
There's far too much to take in here
More to find than can ever be found
But the sun rolling high
Through the sapphire sky
Keeps great and small on the endless round
It's the circle of life
(Balek' ingonyam'i ya gale'!) (Run, the lion will attack!)
And it moves us all
(Ingonyama nengwe wema!) (The lion and the leopard, oh, what a sight!)
Through despair and hope
Through faith and love
Till we find our place
On the path unwinding
In the circle
The circle of life
Chorus:
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala
(Se to kwa)
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala
(Asana)
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala
(Se to kwa)
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala
(Asana)
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala
(Se to kwa)
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala
(Asana)
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala
(Se to kwa)
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala
(Asana)
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala
(Se to kwa)
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala
(Asana)
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala
(Se to kwa)
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala
(Asana)
Carmen Twillie:
It's the circle of life
(Balek' ingonyam'i ya gale'!)
And it moves us all
(Ingonyama nengwe wema!)
Through despair and hope
Through faith and love
Till we find our place
On the path unwinding
In the circle
The circle of life
Trivia[]
- "Circle of Life" was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1995 but lost to "Can You Feel the Love Tonight".[23]
- The opening notes of "Circle of Life" can be heard in Chicken Little when Buck Cluck considers possible introductions to the film.
- Hans Zimmer improvised the massive drum beat that ends the song due to time constraints.[24]
Media[]
References[]
|
| The Lion King (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) |
|---|
| The Lion King: Special Edition |
|---|
| Best of The Lion King |
|---|
| The Lion King Collection (Deluxe Edition) |
|---|