Lion King Soundtrack CD

This is a Hyper CD, which contains which contains regular audio tracks and also provides a link to the artist's website with the help of a web browser.

Principally recorded at Media Ventures and Ocean Way Studios, Los Angeles, California; Townhouse Studio, London, England; BPO Studios, Mmabatho, South Africa.

All songs written by Tim Rice and Elton John. Instrumental score written by Hans Zimmer.

"Can You Feel The Love Tonight" won the 1995 Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance; "Circle Of Life" won the Grammy for Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocals; and THE LION KING won the Grammy for Best Musical Album For Children. "Can You Feel The Love Tonight" and "Circle Of Life" were also both nominated for Song Of The Year and Best Song Written Specifically For A Motion Picture Or Television; and the album's instrumental tracks were nominated for Best Instrumental Composition Written For A Motion Picture Or For Television.

The heady influence of Paul Simon, Peter Gabriel, David Byrne--and all the other musicians who've introduced pop fans to the sounds and style of Africa--resonate subtly throughout the Hollywood flourishes of THE LION KING.

Part of THE LION KING's appeal can be traced to Hans Zimmer's imagistic evocative instrumental score. Instrumental excerpts such as "This Land" and "Under The Stars" are a vibrant amalgam of lush orchestral passages with flashes of idiomatic African vocal colors and ceremonial percussive textures (while "King Of Pride Rock" echoes elements of Mozart's REQUIEM and traditional African six-beat rhythms).

But it's THE LION KING's comic operetta songs and the Elton John/Tim Rice pop miniatures that ultimately distinguish this soundtrack and give it fresh legs for all holiday seasons. John's philosophical ruminations on "The Circle Of Life" are framed by power pop on a grand scale, with huge reverberant drum accents and massive sampled choruses and strings. But "I Just Can't Wait To Be King" is this collection's most engaging song, a sort of Afro-Rockabilly groove, tinted by the gospelish drive of John's Little Richard style piano.

THE LION KING won the 1999 Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album.

Recorded at Sony Music Studios, New York, New York.

Producers: Hans Zimmer, Mark Mancina, Jay Rifkin, Chris Thomas.

Compilation producer: Steven Stern.

Principal Cast: Tsidii Le Loka (Rafiki); Samuel E. Wright (Mufasa); Gina Breedlove (Sarabi); Geoff Hoyle (Zazu); John Vickery (Scar); Scott Irby-Ranniar (Young Simba); Kajuana Shuford (Young Nala); Tracy Nicole Chapman (Shenzi); Stanley Wayne Mathis (Banzai); Kevin Cahoon (Ed); Max Casella (Timon); Tom Alan Robbins (Pumbaa); Jason Raize (Simba); Heather Headley (Nala).

Producers: Mark Mancina, Lebo M, Jay Rifkin.

Principal Cast: Tsidii Le Loka (Rafiki); Samuel E. Wright (Mufasa); Gina Breedlove (Sarabi); Geoff Hoyle (Zazu); John Vickery (Scar); Scott Irby-Ranniar (Young Simba); Kajuana Shuford (Young Nala); Tracy Nicole Chapman (Shenzi); Stanley Wayne Mathis (Banzai); Kevin Cahoon (Ed); Max Casella (Timon); Tom Alan Robbins (PumbaRolling Stone (12/29/94-1/12/95, p.178) - "...The kids loved the music. Basically, with lyrics by Andrew Lloyd Webber's old mate, Tim Rice, Elton John seized the chance to pen the big-budget musical that has always threatened to emerge from his songs anyway..."
Entertainment Weekly (12/19/97, p.79) - "...an instant theater classic..."
- Rating: B
Q (12/94, p.134) - 3 Stars - Good - "...Hans Zimmer's instrumental passages are as broad and breathtaking as the African landscapes they evoke..."