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Track Listings
| 1. Circle of Life |
| 2. Grasslands Chant |
| 3. The Morning Report |
| 4. The Lioness Hunt |
| 5. I Just Can't Wait to be King |
| 6. Chow Down |
| 7. They Live in You |
| 8. Be Prepared |
| 9. The Stampede |
| 10. Rafiki Mourns |
| 11. Hakuna Matata |
| 12. One by One |
| 13. The Madness of the King Scar |
| 14. Shadowland |
| 15. The Lion Sleeps Tonight |
| 16. Endless Night |
| 17. Can You Feel the Love Tonight |
| 18. He Lives in You (Reprise) |
| 19. Simba Confronts Scar |
| 20. King of Pride Rock/Circle of Life (Reprise)BONUS:Second DVD Disc: Behind the Scenes (video content) |
Editorial Reviews
Over 45 million people worldwide have come to discover the wonder, the majesty, and the experience that is The Lion King. On the CD, the score features Elton John and Tim Rice's music from the animated film along with 3 new songs composed by the duo and a
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
36 of 36 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
It's a story that rips off everything from HAMLET to one of Japan's favorite animated films. The original score was basically a redo of music from a different film (Hans Zimmer and Lebo M. previously collaborated on THE POWER OF ONE). The songs were by a great singer/songwriter who hadn't ever written a musical, and a lyricist who appeared to have had his best days behind him. And yet, when THE LION KING opened in theaters in 1994, it blew everyone away.
When Disney announced it would hire famed puppet theater director Julie Taymor to adapt the show for Broadway, a collective intake of breath could be heard around the world. Theater enthusiasts felt Taymor was selling out. Disneyphiles worried that the beloved story would be bloated beyond recognition. And the kids? Well, they just couldn't figure out how Simba would get off the screen and onto the stage.
The rest, as they say, is history. Disney's THE LION KING broke all records on Broadway (until THE PRODUCERS, years later), won a record number of Tonys and continues to play to packed houses both on tour and on the Great White Way.
What makes it work? An amazing collaboration between Taymor, Zimmer, Lebo M., John, Rice, and a few others. Where it lacks percussive power due to the nature of a theater orchestra, it makes up in emotional resonance and an increased emphasis on the deep feelings invoked by the story.
The familiar songs from the film are present, although Rafiki is no longer Robert Guillame's wily old baboon. Rafiki is now an extremely wise (though she occasionaly plays the fool) female baboon with some of the best lines, and certainly several of the best vocal moments in the entire show.
The cast is uniformly excellent, with surprising contributions from Samuel Wright (better known as Sebastian the Crab from THE LITTLE MERMAID) as Mufasa. Jason Raize, Heather Hadley, Max Cassella, and the rest of the cast bring the film characters to life (on stage through a combination of puppets, masks, etc.).
What sets the show apart, however, is the "new" stuff included in the songlist. Most of the "new" songs are adaptions of instrumental selections from the score ("Under the Stars" from the film becomes "Endless Night," "This Land," is now Nala's beautiful "Lea Halalelah") or songs written by Lebo M. and Mark Mancina for Disney's follow-up album to the original soundtrack, RETURN TO PRIDE ROCK. The best of these is "He Lives in You," which is heard first as sung by Mufasa, and later by the entire company.
Scar, the hyenas, and Zazu each get their own song (Scar's is a clever way of explaining quickly why Scar gets a little loopy in the story, while the hyenas have a rocking tune about chewing little lion cubs up). Zazu's was so popular it was animated and added to the SPECIAL EDITION of THE LION KING first released in Imax theaters and later on DVD.
The additional songs celebrating African culture and heritage (Rafiki's chants, the Lioness Hunt song, and "One by One") all take the story from contemporary Hollywood studio to traditional African story. It's a huge shift that works because of the awesomeness of the performers.
This is not the animated film soundtrack--it is a deeper listening experience that takes the discerning listener (child or adult) to places that most shows can't (or won't).
It's an idea that should not have worked...but to all our benefits (Disneyphiles, theater lovers, and young at heart), we are definitly thankful it did.
When Disney announced it would hire famed puppet theater director Julie Taymor to adapt the show for Broadway, a collective intake of breath could be heard around the world. Theater enthusiasts felt Taymor was selling out. Disneyphiles worried that the beloved story would be bloated beyond recognition. And the kids? Well, they just couldn't figure out how Simba would get off the screen and onto the stage.
The rest, as they say, is history. Disney's THE LION KING broke all records on Broadway (until THE PRODUCERS, years later), won a record number of Tonys and continues to play to packed houses both on tour and on the Great White Way.
What makes it work? An amazing collaboration between Taymor, Zimmer, Lebo M., John, Rice, and a few others. Where it lacks percussive power due to the nature of a theater orchestra, it makes up in emotional resonance and an increased emphasis on the deep feelings invoked by the story.
The familiar songs from the film are present, although Rafiki is no longer Robert Guillame's wily old baboon. Rafiki is now an extremely wise (though she occasionaly plays the fool) female baboon with some of the best lines, and certainly several of the best vocal moments in the entire show.
The cast is uniformly excellent, with surprising contributions from Samuel Wright (better known as Sebastian the Crab from THE LITTLE MERMAID) as Mufasa. Jason Raize, Heather Hadley, Max Cassella, and the rest of the cast bring the film characters to life (on stage through a combination of puppets, masks, etc.).
What sets the show apart, however, is the "new" stuff included in the songlist. Most of the "new" songs are adaptions of instrumental selections from the score ("Under the Stars" from the film becomes "Endless Night," "This Land," is now Nala's beautiful "Lea Halalelah") or songs written by Lebo M. and Mark Mancina for Disney's follow-up album to the original soundtrack, RETURN TO PRIDE ROCK. The best of these is "He Lives in You," which is heard first as sung by Mufasa, and later by the entire company.
Scar, the hyenas, and Zazu each get their own song (Scar's is a clever way of explaining quickly why Scar gets a little loopy in the story, while the hyenas have a rocking tune about chewing little lion cubs up). Zazu's was so popular it was animated and added to the SPECIAL EDITION of THE LION KING first released in Imax theaters and later on DVD.
The additional songs celebrating African culture and heritage (Rafiki's chants, the Lioness Hunt song, and "One by One") all take the story from contemporary Hollywood studio to traditional African story. It's a huge shift that works because of the awesomeness of the performers.
This is not the animated film soundtrack--it is a deeper listening experience that takes the discerning listener (child or adult) to places that most shows can't (or won't).
It's an idea that should not have worked...but to all our benefits (Disneyphiles, theater lovers, and young at heart), we are definitly thankful it did.
32 of 33 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Audio CD
If you're thinking of not buying this CD because you already have the movie soundtrack, HOLD IT RIGHT THERE! Not only does the Original Broadway Cast Recording have more songs than there are in the movie, but the original songs have been adapted and, in some cases, lengthened quite a lot. To be honest, there are a few poor attempts of "filler" and trying to add something with a rock edge, but the beautiful, rhythmic african chants and additions such as "Shadowland" and "Endless Night" bring tears to my eyes. They're worth paying for the entire thing. This CD gives you more of an emotional look at all of the characters and their despair. Disney followed the same trend they did with BEAUTY by adding a dozen songs with only a couple worth listening to, but they're tear jerkers and if you just sit back and listen to the chants and ballads, they're sure to touch your heart as they did mine... just skip the stuff in between. But it's a MUST HAVE for anyone even SLIGHTLY interested. Cuz I'm not even a Lion King Movie fan.
25 of 26 people found the following review helpful
By Sallia
Format:Audio CD
In my opinion, The Lion King is one of the best stories out there. I love the movie and the play. The play's soundtrack is better than the movie's though. With songs that were not even in the movie (The Morning Report, Endless Night, They Live In You, etc) this soundtrack seems more complete. All of the songs featured are incredible. They all have a certain amount of pep that can cheer me up after a hard day. All of the artists featured are incredibley gifted and are going somewhere as far as Broadway goes. I highly reccommend this to anyone who loves The Lion King as much as I do.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great!
Fantastic! Exactly what I wanted. The CD sounds just like the Broadway Musical & will be enjoyed for years to come.
Published 8 days ago by Jennifer Pope
5.0 out of 5 stars
Disneyland musical treat.
It was great to hear the whole show!!The great African harmonies combined with modern pop music.I want to see the show again!!
Published 1 month ago by nikolas margerrison
5.0 out of 5 stars
My favorite cd!
In my opinion, The Lion King is the best movie and Broadway play, like ever. (Although Wicked is a close second.) The music is absolutely gorgeous! Read more
Published 1 month ago by Sempare
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic!
The Lion King is one of my favourite disney movies of all time, and this recording only makes me love it more! Read more
Published 1 month ago by Dawn
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Music
Great Music: I love the MP3 Downloads. I can put the music on my iPhone and take it with me!
Published 2 months ago by Lois Lynette Guthrie
5.0 out of 5 stars
My 7 year old son cannot get enough of this album
We enjoyed the show on Broadway earlier this week. The CD has been playing an average of 8 hours per day since and our son believes his future career is on Broadway. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Andrew M O'Shaughnessy
5.0 out of 5 stars
Well duh!
Anyone who hasn't seen the Lion King musical is missing out on so much!!!! I was lucky enough to see it this previous summer, and it was amazing!!!! Read more
Published 4 months ago by K. Foster
4.0 out of 5 stars
Awesome adaptation!
Loved all the music when I saw the play in New Orleans! The only reason it is not 5 stars is because I wanted to hear the New Orleans performers that were in the play. Read more
Published 4 months ago by James Brunet, Jr
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Soundtrack!
I took my mother and mother-in-law to this show and they both were blown away, as I was the first time I saw it. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Andrea Keen
5.0 out of 5 stars
beautiful
great album with some powerful vocals. New songs are so great. Especially loved he lives in you and shadowland. great work Disney!
Published 5 months ago by S. Busch
Listmania!
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