The Lion King (1994 soundtrack)
The Lion King: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is the soundtrack album for the 1994 Disney animated 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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One of cover arts for the original 1994 release | ||||
Soundtrack album by Elton John and Hans Zimmer with various artists | ||||
Released | May 31, 1994 (original release) September 30, 2003 (Special Edition) | |||
Recorded | 1993–94 | |||
Studio | Media Ventures, Los Angeles Ocean Way Studios, Los Angeles Snake Ranch, London Angel Recording Studios, London BOP studios, Mmabatho | |||
Genre | Pop, world, film score | |||
Length | 46:40 (1994 original release) 52:08 (2003 Special Edition) | |||
Label | Walt Disney | |||
Producer | Hans Zimmer, Mark Mancina, Jay Rifkin, Chris Thomas | |||
Walt Disney Animation Studios chronology | ||||
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Elton John chronology | ||||
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Review scores | |
---|---|
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]
Track listing
All music is composed by Elton John with lyrics by Tim Rice. All scores 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 | 4:01 |
Total length: | 46:40 |
No. | Title | Performer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
13. | "The Morning Report" |
| 1:36 |
14. | "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" (remix) | Elton John | 4:08 |
Total length: | 52:24 |
The Legacy Collection release
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.
Chart and commercial success
The soundtrack shipped over 10 million copies in the U.S. and eventually went 10x platinum in 1995, thus becoming the biggest-selling soundtrack ever from an animated 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.[8]
In 2010, Rhapsody called it one of the all-time great Disney and Pixar Soundtracks.[9]
Charts
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
Decade-end charts
|
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Original album release | ||
Australia (ARIA)[35] | 4× Platinum | 280,000^ |
Austria (IFPI Austria)[36] | Platinum | 50,000* |
Belgium (BEA)[37] | Platinum | 50,000* |
Brazil | — | 1,200,000[38] |
Canada (Music Canada)[39] | Diamond | 1,000,000^ |
China | — | 1,000,000[40] |
Denmark (IFPI Denmark)[41] | Platinum | 20,000 |
France (SNEP)[42] | Platinum | 1,260,000[43] |
Germany (BVMI)[44] | 3× Platinum | 1,500,000^ |
Japan (RIAJ)[45] | Gold | 150,000[46] |
Netherlands (NVPI)[47] Mercury Records B.V. edition |
Platinum | 100,000^ |
Netherlands (NVPI)[47] Universal Music edition |
Gold | 50,000^ |
New Zealand (RMNZ)[48] | Platinum | 15,000^ |
Poland (ZPAV)[49] | Gold | 50,000* |
Sweden (GLF)[50] | Gold | 50,000^ |
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[51] | 2× Platinum | 100,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[52] | Platinum | 300,000^ |
United States (RIAA)[53] | Diamond | 10,000,000^ |
Summaries | ||
Europe (IFPI)[54] | 3× Platinum | 3,000,000* |
Original cast recording | ||
Australia (ARIA)[55] | Gold | 35,000^ |
France (SNEP)[56] | Gold | 100,000* |
Germany (BVMI)[57] | Gold | 250,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[58] | Silver | 60,000^ |
United States (RIAA)[59] | Platinum | 1,000,000^ |
Sing-Along shortform | ||
United Kingdom (BPI)[60] | Silver | 60,000^ |
United States (RIAA)[61] | 2× Platinum | 1,000,000^ |
Hans Zimmer Re-release | ||
United Kingdom (BPI)[62] | Silver | 60,000^ |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
Accolades
Awards | |||
---|---|---|---|
Award | Category | Recipient(s) and nominee(s) | Result |
Academy Awards | 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 | |
Golden Globe Awards | Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy | Don Hahn | Won |
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 | 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 |
See also
References
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- Christgau, Robert (November 29, 1994). "Consumer Guide: Turkey Shoot". The Village Voice. New York. Retrieved January 1, 2013.
- Clemmensen, Christian (September 24, 1996). "Review: The Lion King". Filmtracks Publications. Retrieved August 19, 2009.
- Phillips, Shaun. "Review: Various Artists – The Lion King (Phonogram 522690-2)". Vox. IPC Media (VOX48, September 1994): 104.
- Grein, Paul (April 30, 2014). "Chart Watch: Sell 14K Albums, Make The Top 10". Yahoo Music.
- Grisham, Lori (May 7, 2014). "Walt Disney Records to release legacy collection". USA Today. Retrieved June 25, 2014.
- Grein, Paul (June 18, 2014). "Chart Watch: Vinyl Boosts Jack White". Yahoo! Music.
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(help) - "French album certifications – BOF/COMEDIE MUSICALE – LE ROI LION" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved May 14, 2017.
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- "British album certifications – Various Artists – The Lion King Sing-Along". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved April 22, 2017. Select albums in the Format field. Select Silver in the Certification field. Type The Lion King Sing-Along in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
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