The Lion King: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is the soundtrack album for the 1994 Disney animated feature film, The Lion King. It contains songs from the film written by Elton John and Tim Rice, and a score composed by Hans Zimmer. Elton John has a dual role of performer for several tracks. Additional performers include Lebo M, Carmen Twillie, Jason Weaver, Rowan Atkinson, Joseph Williams, Whoopi Goldberg, Jeremy Irons, Cheech Marin, Jim Cummings, Nathan Lane, Ernie Sabella, and Sally Dworsky. The album was released on May 31, 1994, on CD and audio cassette. The soundtrack was recorded in three different countries: the U.S., the U.K. and South Africa. It is the best-selling soundtrack album to an animated film in the United States with over 7 million copies sold, with 4,934,000 copies sold in 1994.[6]
The Lion King: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack | ||||
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Soundtrack album by Elton John, Hans Zimmer and various artists | ||||
Released |
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Recorded | 1993–94 | |||
Studio |
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Genre | ||||
Length |
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Label | Walt Disney | |||
Producer | ||||
Walt Disney Animation Studios chronology | ||||
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Elton John chronology | ||||
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Singles from The Lion King: An Original Motion Picture Soundtrack | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | (for 2003 Special Edition)[1] |
Robert Christgau | C[2] |
Filmtracks | [3] |
Vox | (10/10)[4] |
Sputnikmusic | 5/5[5] |
An expanded version of The Lion King soundtrack, featuring 30 minutes of previously unreleased material, was released as part of the Walt Disney Records: The Legacy Collection series on June 24, 2014. In 2014, Hot Topic released a vinyl picture disc of the soundtrack.[7]
In 2010, Rhapsody called it one of the all-time great Disney and Pixar Soundtracks.[8]
All songs are composed by Elton John with lyrics by Tim Rice. All scores are composed by Hans Zimmer.
No. | Title | Performer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Circle of Life" | 3:59 | |
2. | "I Just Can't Wait to Be King" |
| 2:50 |
3. | "Be Prepared" | 3:40 | |
4. | "Hakuna Matata" |
| 3:33 |
5. | "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" |
| 2:57 |
6. | "This Land" (score) | Hans Zimmer | 2:55 |
7. | "...To Die For" (score) | Hans Zimmer | 4:17 |
8. | "Under the Stars" (score) | Hans Zimmer | 3:45 |
9. | "King of Pride Rock" (score) | Hans Zimmer | 5:59 |
10. | "Circle of Life" | Elton John | 4:51 |
11. | "I Just Can't Wait to Be King" | Elton John | 3:37 |
12. | "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" (end title) | Elton John | 4:02 |
Total length: | 46:40 |
No. | Title | Performer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Circle of Life" | 3:59 | |
2. | "I Just Can't Wait to Be King" |
| 2:50 |
3. | "Be Prepared" | 3:40 | |
4. | "Hakuna Matata" |
| 3:33 |
5. | "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" |
| 2:57 |
6. | "The Morning Report" |
| 1:36 |
7. | "This Land" (score) | Hans Zimmer | 2:55 |
8. | "...To Die For" (score) | Hans Zimmer | 4:17 |
9. | "Under The Stars" (score) | Hans Zimmer | 3:45 |
10. | "King Of Pride Rock" (score) | Hans Zimmer | 5:59 |
11. | "Circle Of Life" | Elton John | 4:51 |
12. | "I Just Can't Wait To Be King" | Elton John | 3:37 |
13. | "Can You Feel The Love Tonight" (end title) | Elton John | 4:02 |
14. | "Can You Feel The Love Tonight (Remixed By Dave Reitzas And Jochem Van Der Saag)" (remix) | Elton John | 4:08 |
Total length: | 52:24 |
Walt Disney Records released an expanded edition of The Lion King soundtrack containing an additional thirty minutes of previously unreleased material from the film, as well as a collection of demo versions of cues.[7] This revision contains a new remastered mix by Alan Meyerson.
The soundtrack shipped over 10 million copies in the U.S. and eventually went 10× platinum in 1995, thus becoming the biggest-selling soundtrack ever from Disney's 1994 animated feature film. Its certification was promoted to Diamond when the award was instituted in 1999. According to Nielsen Soundscan the soundtrack, as of April 2014, has sold a total of 7.873 million copies in the US.[6] It is also the best-selling vinyl album in the Nielsen SoundScan era (starting 1991), with 1,043,000 copies sold as of June 2014.[9]
Awards | |||
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Award | Category | Recipient(s) and nominee(s) | Result |
Academy Awards[10] | Best Original Song | "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" – Elton John and Tim Rice | Won |
"Circle of Life" – Elton John and Tim Rice | Nominated | ||
"Hakuna Matata" – Elton John and Tim Rice | Nominated | ||
Best Original Score | Hans Zimmer | Won | |
British Academy Film Awards[11] | Best Original Music | Hans Zimmer | Nominated |
Best Sound | Terry Porter, Mel Metcalfe, David Hudson, Doc Kane | Nominated | |
Golden Globe Awards[12] | Best Original Song | "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" – Elton John and Tim Rice | Won |
"Circle of Life" – Elton John and Tim Rice | Nominated | ||
Best Original Score | Hans Zimmer | Won | |
Grammy Awards[13][14][15] | Song of the Year | "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" – Elton John and Tim Rice | Nominated |
"Circle of Life" – Elton John and Tim Rice | Nominated | ||
Best Song Written Specifically for a Motion Picture or for Television | "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" – Elton John and Tim Rice | Nominated | |
"Circle of Life" – Elton John and Tim Rice | Nominated | ||
Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media | Hans Zimmer | Nominated | |
Best Male Pop Vocal Performance | "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" performed by Elton John | Won | |
Best Musical Album for Children | Mark Mancina, Jay Rifkin, Chris Thomas, Hans Zimmer | Won | |
Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s) | Hans Zimmer and Lebo Morake – "Circle of Life" (performed by Carmen Twillie) | Won | |
MTV Movie Awards[16] | Best Song from a Movie | "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" – Elton John | Nominated |
Song Tracks (1-5 & 10-12)
Score Tracks (6-9)
Weekly charts edit
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Year-end charts edit
Decade-end charts edit
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Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Original album release | ||
Australia (ARIA)[48] | 4× Platinum | 280,000^ |
Austria (IFPI Austria)[49] | Platinum | 50,000* |
Belgium (BEA)[50] | Platinum | 50,000* |
Brazil | — | 1,200,000[51] |
Canada (Music Canada)[53] | Diamond | 1,200,000[52] |
China | — | 1,000,000[54] |
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[55] | Platinum | 20,000‡ |
France (SNEP)[57] | Gold | 1,000,000[56] |
Germany (BVMI)[58] | 3× Platinum | 1,500,000^ |
Italy | — | 600,000[59] |
Japan (RIAJ)[61] | Gold | 150,000[60] |
Netherlands (NVPI)[62] Mercury Records B.V. edition |
Platinum | 100,000^ |
Netherlands (NVPI)[63] Universal Music edition |
Gold | 50,000^ |
New Zealand (RMNZ)[64] | Platinum | 15,000^ |
Poland (ZPAV)[65] | Gold | 50,000* |
Sweden (GLF)[66] | Gold | 50,000^ |
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[67] | 2× Platinum | 100,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[68] | Platinum | 300,000^ |
United States (RIAA)[69] | Diamond | 10,000,000^ |
Summaries | ||
Europe (IFPI)[70] | 3× Platinum | 3,000,000* |
Original cast recording | ||
Australia (ARIA)[71] | Gold | 35,000^ |
France (SNEP)[72] | Gold | 100,000* |
Germany (BVMI)[73] | Gold | 250,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[74] | Silver | 60,000^ |
United States (RIAA)[75] | Platinum | 1,000,000^ |
Sing-Along shortform | ||
United Kingdom (BPI)[76] | Silver | 60,000^ |
United States (RIAA)[77] | 2× Platinum | 2,000,000^ |
Hans Zimmer Re-release | ||
United Kingdom (BPI)[78] | Silver | 60,000^ |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
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