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Upendi
Lion-king2-disneyscreencaps.com-5803
Attribution information
Composer

Randy Petersen

Lyricist

Kevin Quinn

Performers

   Liz Callaway
   Robert Guillaume
   Gene Miller

Release information
Released

September 8, 1998

Track

3

Length

2:54

Albums
Appearances

The Lion King II: Simba's Pride

Kovu: Where's he taking us?
Rafiki: To a special place in your heart...called Upendi!
Kovu and Rafiki[src]

"Upendi" is a song composed by Randy Petersen for The Lion King II: Simba's Pride. It was released on September 8, 1998, as part of the film's soundtrack.

Releases and alternative versions[]

Song Info Box 2

Return to Pride Rock soundtrack.

"Upendi" was released on September 8, 1998, as part of Return to Pride Rock.[1]

An Africanized version of "Upendi" sung by Wes Madiko was released in 1999 as part of The Lion King Collection.[2] The original version of the song was also included on the album.[3]

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 "Upendi" was included on this album.[4][5]

On October 3, 2011, the original version of "Upendi" was re-released as part of The Lion King Collection (Deluxe Edition), as was the Wes Madiko version of the song.[6][7]

Use[]

Lion-king2-disneyscreencaps

Rafiki encourages Kovu and Kiara to fall in love during the "Upendi" sequence.

"Upendi" is the fourth song heard in The Lion King II: Simba's Pride. It starts when Rafiki confronts Kovu and Kiara, and urges them to follow him. Once they have followed him to a jungle clearing, he tells them that he has brought them to a "special place" in their hearts called "upendi." He proceeds to ferry the two lions around on a giant leaf in a river while he sings about upendi. Eventually, Kiara deduces that "upendi" must mean "love." As Pride Landers join in the song, they form a conga line past Kovu and Kiara. Once the animals reach the end of the line, Rafiki tosses fruit into their mouths, and they ride off on a nearby river. Kovu and Kiara soon join the conga line, and Rafiki tosses fruit into their mouths. They then get carried down the river and fall off the end of a waterfall, parachuting into the sky. Afterward, as the two are walking home together, they sing "Upendi" together playfully.[8]

Lyrics[]

Rafiki:
There's a place where the crazy moon
Makes the monkeys sing and the baboons swoon
And the sultry scent of the lotus bloom
Will carry you away

Where the hippos swing from the jungle vines
And the rhinos rhumba in a conga line
And the pink flamingos are intertwined
As the stars come out to play

In Upendi
Where the passion fruit grows sweet
And it's so divine
That you lose your mind
As it sweeps you off your feet

In Upendi
Without a worry or a care
It just takes two
To make it true
Your heart will lead you there

Kiara: (spoken)
Where is it?

Rafiki: (spoken)
No place you don't take with you.

Rafiki:
You better watch your step 'cause the path is steep
Better hold your breath 'cause the water's deep
It's a long way down over Lovers' Leap
But falling's half the fun!

In Upendi
Where the passion fruit grows sweet
And it's so divine
That you lose your mind
As it sweeps you off your feet

In Upendi
Without a worry or a care
It just takes two
To make it true
Your heart will take you there

You can beat the bush like there's no tomorrow
From Tanganyika to Kilimanjaro
But you'll find Upendi wherever you are
Oh, underneath the sun

Kiara: (spoken)
Upendi means love, doesn't it?

Rafiki: (spoken)
Welcome to Upendi!

Rafiki:
In Upendi
Where the passion fruit grows sweet
And it's so divine
That you lose your mind
As it sweeps you off your feet

In Upendi
Without a worry or a care
It just takes two
To make it true
Your heart will take you there

Upendi
Down in Upendi
Way down
In Upendi

Trivia[]

Media[]

References[]

  1. Various – Return To Pride Rock: Songs Inspired By Disney's The Lion King II - Simba's Pride. Discogs. Zink Media. Retrieved on January 27, 2023.
  2. Various – Disney’s The Lion King Collection. Discogs. Zink Media. Retrieved on January 22, 2023.
  3. Various – The Lion King Collection. Discogs. Zink Media. Retrieved on January 30, 2023.
  4. Best of the Lion King. iTunes. Apple. Retrieved on January 20, 2023.
  5. Best Of The Lion King. Soundtrack.Net. Autotelics. Retrieved on January 20, 2023.
  6. The Lion King Collection (Deluxe Edition). iTunes. Apple. Retrieved on January 21, 2023.
  7. The Lion King: Deluxe Collection. Soundtrack.Net. Autotelics. Retrieved on January 21, 2023.
  8. Revealed in Disney's The Lion King II: Simba's Pride (1998). Written by Flip Kobler and Cindy Marcus, and directed by Darrell Rooney. Distributed by Buena Vista Home Entertainment.
  9. Revealed in "The Harmattan" from Disney Junior's The Lion Guard. Season 3, Episode 2. Written by Gus Constantellis and directed by Tom Derosier and Howy Parkins. Originally aired September 7, 2019.
Return to Pride Rock
He Lives In You    We Are One    Upendi    One of Us    My Lullaby    Love Will Find a Way    We Are One    She Believes in You    Song for the Children    I Want to See the Moon    The Lion Sleeps Tonight    Love Will Find a Way (End Title)
The Lion King Collection
He Lives in You    Circle of Life    Lea Halalela    Upendi    Busa    One of Us    Love Will Find a Way    Can You Feel the Love Tonight    We Are One    One By One    It's Time    Noyana    In Youpendi    Be Prepared    He Lives In You    My Lullaby    Hakuna Matata    I Just Can't Wait to Be King    The Lion Sleeps Tonight
Best of The Lion King
Circle of Life    I Just Can't Wait to Be King    Can You Feel the Love Tonight    Warthog Rhapsody    Lea Halalela    Hakuna Matata    Digga Tunnah Dance    Upendi    One of Us    The Lion Sleeps Tonight    Be Prepared    They Live In You
The Lion King Collection (Deluxe Edition)
He Lives in You    Circle of Life    Lea Halalela    Upendi    Busa    One of Us    Love Will Find a Way    Can You Feel the Love Tonight    We Are One    One By One    It's Time    Noyana    In Youpendi    Be Prepared    He Lives In You    My Lullaby    Hakuna Matata    I Just Can't Wait to Be King    The Lion Sleeps Tonight    Circle of Life    Grazing in the Grass    Can You Feel the Love Tonight    Warthog Rhapsody    Kube    This Land    Digga Tunnah Dance    The Morning Report    Love Will Find a Way (End Title)    The Lion Sleeps Tonight    Be Prepared    They Live In You
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