 |
| Hakuna Matata | |
|---|---|
| |
| Attribution information | |
| Composer | |
| Lyricist | |
| Mixer | |
| Performers |
• Nathan Lane |
| Release information | |
| Released |
May 31, 1994 |
| Track |
4 |
| Length |
3:33 |
| Albums | |
| Appearances |
• The Lion King |
| Samples | |
| Versions | |
| “ | ” |
"Hakuna Matata" is a song composed by Elton John 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[]
"Hakuna Matata" was originally conceived as a musical number titled "Warthog Rhapsody". In this version of the song, Timon and Pumbaa boasted about their laid-back, grub-eating lifestyle to Simba. However, the filmmakers deduced that the song should move the plot along, and so it was changed to show Simba turning his back on his responsibilities.[1]
Releases and alternative versions[]
Best of The Lion King album.
"Hakuna Matata" was released on May 31, 1994, as part of the soundtrack of The Lion King.[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. "Hakuna Matata" was included on this album.[6]
In 1999, "Hakuna Matata" was re-released as part of The Lion King Collection.[7]
"Hakuna Matata" was re-released on September 30, 2003, as part of the film's Special Edition soundtrack.[8][9]
Also on September 30, 2003, the karaoke version of "Hakuna Matata" was released as part of Disney's Karaoke Series: The Lion King.[10][11]
In 2004, "Hakuna Matata" was released as part of The Lion King 1½: Songs From Timon and Pumbaa's Hilarious Adventure.[12]
Official artwork of "Hakuna Matata" from The Legacy Collection: The Lion King.
Best of The Lion King, an album comprised of songs from different installments in The Lion King franchise, was released on September 6, 2011. "Hakuna Matata" was included on this album, as was its original incarnation, "Warthog Rhapsody".[13][14]
On October 3, 2011, "Hakuna Matata" was released as part of The Lion King Collection (Deluxe Edition).[15][16]
The song was re-released as part of The Legacy Collection: The Lion King on June 24, 2014.[17][18]
"Hakuna Matata" was reimagined for the 2019 remake of The Lion King. It was released on July 11, 2019, as part of the film's soundtrack.[19][20]
Use[]
In the canon[]
Timon and Pumbaa encourage Simba to turn his back on his responsibilities during the "Hakuna Matata" sequence.
"Hakuna Matata" is the fourth song heard in The Lion King. It starts when Timon and Pumbaa introduce Simba to their philosophy of the same name. In the face of Simba's confusion, Timon and Pumbaa clarify that "Hakuna Matata" means "no worries." They then show Simba around their jungle home and encourage him to eat grubs instead of meat. Eventually, Simba warms to the idea and embraces the "Hakuna Matata" philosophy fully. Over the seasons, he grows up with Timon and Pumbaa.[21]
In The Lion King 1½, Timon and Pumbaa sing "Hakuna Matata" when they first discover the jungle. The scene is framed as a sing-along.[22]
In the "Bunga and the King" episode of The Lion Guard, Simba performs "Hakuna Matata" with his family, Timon, Pumbaa, and the Lion Guard for Ma Tembo's herd.[23]
In other media[]
A reimagined version of "Hakuna Matata" is heard in the 2019 remake of The Lion King. It plays during the same sequence of events as its 1994 counterpart.[24]
A version of "Hakuna Matata" is used as the opening theme for The Lion King's Timon & Pumbaa. An instrumental version of the song is used as the closing theme.[25]
The stage musical version of "Hakuna Matata" is much the same as the original, occurring during the same sequence of events.[4]
An instrumental version of "Hakuna Matata" 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.[26]
Lyrics[]
Timon:
Hakuna Matata
What a wonderful phrase
Pumbaa:
Hakuna Matata
Ain't no passing craze
Timon:
It means no worries
For the rest of your days
It's our problem-free
Philosophy
Hakuna Matata
(Instrumental break)
Timon:
Why, when he was a young warthog
Pumbaa:
When I was a young warthog!
Timon: (spoken)
Very nice.
Pumbaa: (spoken)
Thanks!
Timon:
He found his aroma lacked a certain appeal
He could clear the savanna after every meal
Pumbaa:
I'm a sensitive soul, though I seem thick-skinned
And it hurt, that my friends never stood downwind!
And, oh, the shame!
Timon:
He was ashamed!
Pumbaa:
Thought of changin' my name!
Timon:
Oh, what's in a name?
Pumbaa:
And I got downhearted!
Timon:
How did you feel?
Pumbaa:
Every time that I-
Timon: (spoken)
Hey, Pumbaa! Not in front of the kids.
Pumbaa: (spoken)
Oh, sorry.
Both:
Hakuna Matata
What a wonderful phrase
Hakuna Matata
Ain't no passing craze!
Simba:
It means no worries
For the rest of your days
Timon: (spoken)
Yeah, sing it, kid!
Simba and Timon:
It's our problem-free...
Pumbaa:
Philosophy...
All:
Hakuna Matata!
Instrumental Break
Timon and Pumbaa:
Hakuna! Matata!
Hakuna! Matata!
Hakuna! Matata!
Hakuna!
Simba:
It means no worries
For the rest of your days
All:
It's our problem-free
Philosophy
Timon:
Hakuna Matata
Pumbaa:
Hakuna! Matata!
Hakuna! Matata!
Hakuna! Matata!
Hakuna! Matata!
Simba:
Hakuna Matata!
Timon:
Hakuna Matata!
Simba:
Hakuna Matata!
Timon:
Hakuna Matata!
Pumbaa:
Ooh-ooh-ooh!
Timon:
Hakuna Matata!
Simba:
Hakuna Matata!
Hakuna Matata!
Yeah!
Timon:
Matata!
Matata!
Ha, ha, ha!
Trivia[]
- "Hakuna Matata" means "no worries" in Swahili.[27]
- The song was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1995 but lost to "Can You Feel the Love Tonight".[28]
- In 2004, the American Film Institute placed "Hakuna Matata" at #99 on the list of AFI's 100 Years...100 Songs.[29]
The "Hakuna Matata" sequence is referenced in the "Shake Your Djibouti" episode of The Lion King's Timon & Pumbaa.
- "Hakuna Matata" is referenced three times in The Lion King's Timon & Pumbaa:
- In "Swiss Missed", Timon is about to perform "Hakuna Matata" for Fronk Fegnugen, only for Fegnugen to interrupt him that he does not have time for an entire musical number.[30]
- In "Shake Your Djibouti", after Timon, Pumbaa, and Simba accept Bartholomew as an additional member of their Hakuna Matata club, the four sing "Hakuna Matata" while walking on a log. But Bartholomew accidentally breaks the trunk due to his weight, causing the four to fall into a ravine.[31]
- In "To Be Bee or Not To Be Bee", Timon tells Buzz to take a deep breath and repeat, "Hakuna Matata," after him. After Buzz does so, Timon and Pumbaa sing "Hakuna Matata" alongside Buzz and the rest of his colony, as they teach the bees to relax and enjoy life with no worries.[32]
- "Hakuna Matata" is heard briefly during Toy Story. It plays inside Andy's mother's car as Molly watches Woody and Buzz Lightyear attempt to catch up to the moving van.
- Director Bill Condon had actors sing "Hakuna Matata" at the auditions for the 2017 live-action Beauty and the Beast. The auditions helped measure the actors' singing voices and determined whom Condon chose for the final cast.[33]
- There have been rumors that Tim Rice's "Hakuna Matata" lyrics were inspired by the British sitcom Bottom. However, Rice has stated that he meant to craft the number as a philosophical conversation.[34]
Media[]
References[]
|
| The Lion King (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) |
|---|
| The Lion King Collection |
|---|
| The Lion King: Special Edition |
|---|
| The Lion King 1½: Songs From Timon and Pumbaa's Hilarious Adventure |
|---|
| Best of The Lion King |
|---|
| The Lion King Collection (Deluxe Edition) |
|---|