The Lion King: Special Edition [Enhanced, Soundtrack]

Various Artists (Composer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Composer: Various Artists
• Audio CD (September 30, 2003)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced, Soundtrack
• Label: Walt Disney Records
• ASIN: B0000CABJ2
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (118 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #682 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #13 in Music > Pop > Vocal Pop > Contemporary
  • #15 in Music > Broadway & Vocalists > Musicals > General
  • #19 in Music > Children's Music > Disney

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Elton John doesn't seem like a natural choice to write for a Disney musical, but he rose to the task on The Lion King, transcending his usual penchant for the softest of soft rock. Sir Elton's collaboration with Tim Rice (former writing partner of Andrew Lloyd Webber) helps connect the soundtrack to the theatrical lineage of all Disney musicals--so much so that, like Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King was eventually adapted for Broadway. Undistinguished songs like "Can You Feel the Love Tonight?" are far outnumbered by stirring, stately tunes that lent the film so much of its sense of pageant and play. --John Sanchez

Product Description

2004 reissue includes a newly remastered version of the 1994 soundtrack with one new song written & recorded by Elton John & Tim Rice ('The Morning Report') as well as a remixed version of the Elton John hit 'Can You Feel The Love Tonight'. The bonus disc ('Rhythm Of The Pridelands') features songs written by Lebo M that were inspired by the original 'Lion King', many of which have gone on to become part of the stage show. Bonus tracks, 'Circle Of Life', 'He Lives In You', 'Hakuna Matata', 'The Lion Sleeps Tonight', 'Kube', 'Lea Halalela (Holy Land)', 'It's Time', 'One By One', 'Warthog Rhapsody', 'Lala', 'Busa', & 'Noyana'. 26 tracks in all. Disney. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

86 of 92 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Special? I think not, good .. yes., February 1, 2004

By 

Ramsis Lion "ramsislion" (Long Island, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Lion King: Special Edition (Audio CD)

As an owner of the Special Edition Lion King DVD, I was at first quite curious to see that there was a Special Edition Lion King CD as well as I coudln't imagine what they would have put on here. But besides a fancy package and the inclusion of the over hyped "Morning Report" song that is found in said special edition DVD there is really very little to make this a 'Special Edition' CD. Yes they have a remix of "Can You Feel the Love Tonight?" by the writer of the song and famous musican Elton John, Which isn't bad, but still is this enough to warrent a whole new CD that has exactly what the original soundtrack has on it besides? I would have to say yes and no.

A yes, if you never bought the orignial soundtrack and just got into the music and movie with the rerelease of the DVD. It's a great buy as you get the new song you will have heard as well as all the original songs that fill this movie.

A no, if you like millions of people own the original soundtrack and aren't that crazy about a very short song of the "Morning Report" and can't get all excited about a CD having 3 versions of the same song on it.

It still is a great overall soundtrack though. It has "Circle of Life", "I Can't Wait to Be King" "Hakuna Matata" and all the other songs you will remember from the movie. It has the insturmentals and the Elton John versions of the main songs from the movie. The only special thing though is the addition of two songs and one of them being short and isn't even that thrilling.

So the choice is yours. If you already own this it isn't worth buying again. You can hear the Morning Report in the DVD version and not feel like this is a must have either way. If you have never had this before definitely get this as you may as well get extra songs to listen to if you are going to get the soundtrack anyway.

It is very disapointing that Disney didn't go more out here to truly make this a special edition for Lion King fans. Like maybe putting the edited out part that Timon had in Hakuna Matata that we find in deleted scenes on the DVD, or the Timon version of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" Just something to really add something new and "SPECIAL" to this CD. It comes off more as a cheap ploy to milk more money on things people have by making them want to buy it again and all I can say is get this if you don't have the original soundtrack already but otherwise don't bother as it just doesn't offer enough that is differnet or truly special.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the greatest Disney soundtrack, not a very special special edition though., June 6, 2006

By 

Any - Ren He "Princess Kiara" (Nanning, Guangxi/Wuxi, Jiangsu China) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Lion King: Special Edition (Audio CD)

My father bought me the initial edition of this soundtrack when I was an 8-year-old pupil, and I was attracted by it, then I listened to it before I went to bed every night. After The Lion King's platinum edition series have been published, I bought the DVD, and also collected this special edition soundtrack. In fact, the songs in this special edition soundtrack are not very different from the ones in the initial, except the new song "The Morning Report". But I think this special edition soundtrack is really collectable to Lion King fans.
Actually, till today, I can't say which song is the theme song of this movie, "Can You Feel The Love Tonight" or "Circle of Life"? They're both so good and very famous, they have wonderful melody and excellent backgroud music. "Circle of Life" has faithful and beautiful lyric that tell us the endlessness and strength of life. "Can You Feel The Love Tonight" has romantic lyric, and the romantic atmosphere often attract our attention and will always be remembered by everyone. When I was young, the song "I Just Can't Wait to Be King" was the most impressive and attractive to me. Maybe it was because that I was at the age of Simba and had the emotions and thoughts that Simba had. Besides, the tune and vocals of this song are great and funny. "Be Prepare" is a good song too, it expressed the absolute careerism of Scar, the rhythm and musical instruments that used are good and suitable. "Hakuna Matata" is a very humorous and comical song, it makes me feels that leading a problem-free life is wonderful. The new song "The Morning Report" is funny, but I think Simba's dubber in this song was not very good, the voice was too different from the initial dubber's of Simba. The scores are so glorious, sometimes I think they feel like symphony! I love "To Die For" and "King of Pride Rock" very much. "To Die For" is so powerful, while "King of Pride Rock" is very inspired, especially the last several seconds that the chorus sang "Circle of Life", it's so beautiful!
Well, when I'm listening to this special edition soundtrack, my emotions and feelings are a little different from that I had about 11 years ago when I first listened to the initial edition, though the songs are almost the same. Maybe it's because that I just enjoyed myself when I was first listening to it 11 years ago, but now, I can often recall many good memories in my childhood when I'm listening to this, including the laughter and tears when I first watched this glorious movie. This soundtrack is a great thing to who was moved by "The Lion King" and love it so much.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I LOVE LION KING!, July 12, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Lion King: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Audio CD)

Lion King is a great movie with great music! First there's the full-of-spirit "Circle of Life", performed by the wonderful Carmen Twillie and Lebo M., and another version performed by Elton John, as well. Then there's the lively "I Just Can't Wait To Be King", performed by Jason Weaver, Rowan Atkinson as Zazu and Laura Williams as Nala. "Be Prepared" is the song that warns us about Simba's evil uncle's plans of becoming king. "Hakuna Matata" will always be a classic,with Timon and Pumbaa telling about how to live a worry-free life. And the lovely "Can You Feel the Love Tonight?" as a perfect love song, also performed beautifully by Elton John. It's a great soundtrack for fans of the movie or beautiful music!