The Lion King (1994 soundtrack)

The Lion King: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Artwork for original release
Soundtrack album by
Elton John, Tim Rice, Hans Zimmer and various artists
ReleasedMay 31, 1994
Recorded1992–1994[1]
Studio
Genre
Length
  • 46:40 (1994 original release)
  • 52:08 (2003 Special Edition)
LabelWalt Disney
Producer
Walt Disney Animation Studios soundtrack chronology
Aladdin: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
(1992) 		The Lion King: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
(1994) 		Pocahontas: An Original Walt Disney Records Soundtrack
(1995)
Elton John chronology
Duets
(1993) 		The Lion King: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
(1994) 		Chartbusters Go Pop
(1994)
Singles from The Lion King: An Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
  1. "Can You Feel the Love Tonight"
    Released: May 2, 1994
  2. "Circle of Life"
    Released: August 9, 1994
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic (for 2003 Special Edition)[2]
Robert ChristgauC[3]
Filmtracks[4]
Smash Hits3/5[5]
Sputnikmusic5/5[6]
Vox(10/10)[7]

The Lion King: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is the soundtrack album for the eponymous Disney film. It contains songs from the film written by British singer, composer and pianist Elton John and English lyricist Tim Rice, and a score composed by German score composer and music producer Hans Zimmer. Elton John has a dual role of performer for several tracks. Additional performers include South African singer and songwriter Lebo M, American actress and singer Carmen Twillie, American actor and singer Jason Weaver, English actor Rowan Atkinson, American rock singer Joseph Williams, American actress Whoopi Goldberg, English actor Jeremy Irons, American actor Cheech Marin, American actor Jim Cummings, New Jersey actor Nathan Lane, New York actor Ernie Sabella, and American singer 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.[8] 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.[9]

In 2010, Rhapsody included the soundtrack as one of 10 essential Disney and Pixar soundtracks.[10]

Track listing

All songs are composed by Elton John with lyrics by Tim Rice. All scores are composed by Hans Zimmer.

The Lion King: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
No.TitlePerformer(s)Length
1."Circle of Life"
4:00
2."I Just Can't Wait to Be King"
2:51
3."Be Prepared"
3:41
4."Hakuna Matata"
3:34
5."Can You Feel the Love Tonight"
2:58
6."This Land" (score)Hans Zimmer2:56
7."...To Die For" (score)Hans Zimmer4:18
8."Under the Stars" (score)Hans Zimmer3:46
9."King of Pride Rock" (score)Hans Zimmer6:00
10."Circle of Life"Elton John4:52
11."I Just Can't Wait to Be King"Elton John3:38
12."Can You Feel the Love Tonight" (End Title)Elton John4:02
Total length:46:40

The Legacy Collection release

Main article: Walt Disney Records: The Legacy Collection § The Lion King

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.[9] This revision contains a new remastered mix by Alan Meyerson.

Commercial performance

The soundtrack shipped over 10 million copies in the U.S. and eventually was 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 by the RIAA. According to Nielsen Soundscan the soundtrack, as of April 2014, has sold a total of 7.873 million copies in the US.[8] 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.[11]

Accolades

Awards
Award Category Recipient(s) and nominee(s) Result
Academy 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
"Hakuna Matata" – Elton John and Tim Rice Nominated
Best Original Score Hans Zimmer Won
British Academy Film Awards[13] Best Original Music Hans Zimmer Nominated
Best Sound Terry Porter, Mel Metcalfe, David Hudson, Doc Kane Nominated
Golden Globe Awards[14] 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[15][16][17] 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[18] Best Song from a Movie "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" – Elton John Nominated

Personnel

Song Tracks (1–5 & 10–12)

Score Tracks (6–9)

  • Hans Zimmer – arrangements
  • Lebo M – vocal arrangements
  • Andraé Crouch – choir arrangements
  • Nick Glennie-Smith – choir arrangements
  • Tonia Duvall – vocal contractor
  • Don Davis, Brad Dechter, Gordon Goodwin, Don L. Harper, Larry Kenton, Dave Metzger, Conrad Pope, Carl Rydlund, Mark Watters – orchestrations
  • Yvonne Moriarty – additional orchestrations, french horn
  • Steve Becknell, David Duke, William Lane, Brian O'Connor, Richard Todd, Brad Warnaar, Phillip Yao – french horns
  • Walt Fowler, Malcolm McNab – trumpets
  • Sandy DeCrescent – orchestra contractor
  • Bruce Fowler – vocal arrangements, trombone
  • Alan Kaplan, Charlie Loper, Bill Reichenbach, Phillip A. Teele, Lloyd Ulyate – trombones
  • Richard Harvey – flute, ethnic pipes
  • Sheree Ali, Monica Zierhut – music coordinator
  • Andy Hill – music supervisor

Technical

Greg Penny - Dolby Atmos Mix

Charts

Certifications and sales

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Original album release
Australia (ARIA)[54] 4× Platinum 280,000^
Austria (IFPI Austria)[55] Platinum 50,000*
Belgium (BRMA)[56] Platinum 50,000*
Brazil — 1,200,000[57]
Canada (Music Canada)[59] Diamond 1,200,000[58]
China — 1,000,000[60]
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[61] Platinum 20,000‡
France (SNEP)[63] Gold 1,000,000[62]
Germany (BVMI)[64] 3× Platinum 1,500,000^
Italy — 600,000[65]
Japan (RIAJ)[67] Gold 150,000[66]
Netherlands (NVPI)[68]
Mercury Records B.V. edition 		Platinum 100,000^
Netherlands (NVPI)[69]
Universal Music edition 		Gold 50,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[70] Platinum 15,000^
Poland (ZPAV)[71] Gold 50,000*
Sweden (GLF)[72] Gold 50,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[73] 2× Platinum 100,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[74] Platinum 300,000^
United States (RIAA)[75] Diamond 10,000,000^
Summaries
Europe (IFPI)[76] 3× Platinum 3,000,000*
Original cast recording
Australia (ARIA)[77] Gold 35,000^
France (SNEP)[78] Gold 100,000*
Germany (BVMI)[79] Gold 250,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[80] Gold 100,000‡
United States (RIAA)[81] Platinum 1,000,000^
Sing-Along shortform
United Kingdom (BPI)[82] Silver 60,000^
United States (RIAA)[83] 2× Platinum 2,000,000^
Hans Zimmer Re-release
United Kingdom (BPI)[84] Gold 100,000‡
Summaries
Worldwide — 20,000,000[85]

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

See also

References

  1. ^ "'The Lion King' at 30: Jason Weaver Sang for Simba but Few Knew It". The New York Times. June 24, 2024. Archived from the original on September 18, 2024. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
  2. ^ Legget, Steve. "The Lion King – Hans Zimmer". AllMusic (Allrovi). Retrieved August 29, 2011.
  3. ^ Christgau, Robert (November 29, 1994). "Consumer Guide: Turkey Shoot". The Village Voice. New York. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved January 1, 2013.
  4. ^ Clemmensen, Christian (September 24, 1996). "Review: The Lion King". Filmtracks Publications. Archived from the original on November 24, 2020. Retrieved August 19, 2009.
  5. ^ Cochrane, Emma (July 20, 1994). "New Albums". Smash Hits. p. 61. Archived from the original on October 8, 2024. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
  6. ^ "Soundtrack (Disney) - the Lion King (Album review ) | Sputnikmusic".
  7. ^ Phillips, Shaun. "Review: Various Artists – The Lion King (Phonogram 522690-2)". Vox. No. VOX48, September 1994. p. 104.
  8. ^ a b Grein, Paul (April 30, 2014). "Chart Watch: Sell 14K Albums, Make The Top 10". Yahoo Music. Archived from the original on October 18, 2014. Retrieved May 4, 2014.
  9. ^ a b Grisham, Lori (May 7, 2014). "Walt Disney Records to release legacy collection". USA Today. Archived from the original on September 14, 2015. Retrieved June 25, 2014.
  10. ^ 10 Essential Disney & Pixar Soundtracks Archived October 2, 2011, at the Wayback Machine Referenced July 27, 2010
  11. ^ Grein, Paul (June 18, 2014). "Chart Watch: Vinyl Boosts Jack White". Yahoo! Music. Archived from the original on September 1, 2014. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
  12. ^ "The 65th Academy Awards (1995) Nominees and Winners". oscars.org. October 5, 2014. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
  13. ^ "Film in 1995". BAFTA Awards. Archived from the original on July 25, 2024. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
  14. ^ "SEARCH – The Lion King". Hollywood Foreign Press Association. Archived from the original on July 12, 2010. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
  15. ^ "37th Grammy Awards - 1995". Rock On The Net. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
  16. ^ Newman, Melinda (March 4, 1995). "Predictions For 37th Grammy Awards And Prizes For 3rd Annual Beatties" (PDF). Billboard. p. 12. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
  17. ^ "Winners Of The 37th Annual Grammy Awards" (PDF). Billboard. March 11, 1995. p. 100. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
  18. ^ "MTV Movie Awards | 1995". MTV. Archived from the original on February 8, 2015. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
  19. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Soundtrack – The Lion King". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  20. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Soundtrack – The Lion King" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  21. ^ "Ultratop.be – Soundtrack – The Lion King" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  22. ^ "Ultratop.be – Soundtrack – The Lion King" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  23. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Image 2556". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  24. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Soundtrack – The Lion King" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  25. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Soundtrack – The Lion King" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  26. ^ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 1995. 15. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
  27. ^ "Highest position and charting weeks of The Lion King: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack". oricon.co.jp (in Japanese). Oricon Style. Archived from the original on May 19, 2008. Retrieved December 12, 2013.
  28. ^ "Charts.nz – Soundtrack – The Lion King". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  29. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Soundtrack – The Lion King". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  30. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Soundtrack – The Lion King". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  31. ^ "Soundtrack Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  32. ^ "Soundtrack Chart History (Soundtrack Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  33. ^ "ARIA Charts – End of Year Charts – Top 50 Albums 1994". aria.com.au. Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on February 29, 2016. Retrieved December 12, 2013.
  34. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Image 2686". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  35. ^ "Top Selling Albums of 1994". Recorded Music NZ. Archived from the original on August 31, 2017. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  36. ^ "Billboard.BIZ – Year-end Charts – Billboard 200 – 1994". billboard.biz. Retrieved November 10, 2010.
  37. ^ "ARIA Charts – End of Year Charts – Top 50 Albums 1995". aria.com.au. Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on April 10, 2013. Retrieved December 12, 2013.
  38. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Jahreshitparade 1995" (ASP) (in German). Hung Medien. Archived from the original on April 25, 2005. Retrieved December 12, 2013.
  39. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1995". Ultratop. Archived from the original on February 2, 2021. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
  40. ^ "Rapports Annuels 1995". Ultratop. Archived from the original on April 1, 2021. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
  41. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Image 2839". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  42. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1995". dutchcharts.nl. Archived from the original on June 20, 2019. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
  43. ^ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Archived from the original on May 9, 2015. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
  44. ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1995". hitparade.ch. Archived from the original on January 23, 2021. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
  45. ^ "Billboard.BIZ – Year-end Charts – Billboard 200 – 1995". billboard.biz. Archived from the original on October 8, 2012. Retrieved November 7, 2010.
  46. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 2019". Ultratop. Archived from the original on February 22, 2020. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
  47. ^ "Soundtracks – Year-End 2019". Billboard. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
  48. ^ "Soundtracks – Year-End 2020". Billboard. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
  49. ^ "Soundtracks – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 19, 2022. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
  50. ^ "Soundtracks – Year-End 2022". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 1, 2022. Retrieved January 18, 2026.
  51. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 2024" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Archived from the original on January 1, 2025. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  52. ^ "Soundtracks – Year-End 2025". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 18, 2026. Retrieved January 17, 2026.
  53. ^ Mayfield, Geoff (December 25, 1999). "1999 The Year in Music Totally '90s: Diary of a Decade – The listing of Top Pop Albums of the '90s & Hot 100 Singles of the '90s". Billboard. Retrieved October 15, 2010.
  54. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  55. ^ "Austrian album certifications – Soundtrack – The Lion King" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved May 14, 2017.
  56. ^ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – albums 1995". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  57. ^ Malena Segura Contrera (1996). O mito na mídia: a presença de conteúdos arcaicos nos meios de comunicação (in Portuguese). Selo Universidade, Annablume. p. 85. ISBN 9788585596552. Retrieved May 14, 2017.
  58. ^ "Disney Enjoys Success of Universal Canada Deal". Billboard. April 8, 2000. p. 51. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  59. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Various Artists – The Lion King – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack". Music Canada.
  60. ^ "A History Of Rock Records". Billboard. January 22, 2000. p. R-8. Retrieved November 3, 2019.
  61. ^ "Danish album certifications – Soundtrack – The Lion King". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  62. ^ Hamard, Jonathan (July 27, 2010). "Quelles sont les B.O les plus vendues en France ?". Charts in France (in French). Charts in France. Archived from the original on July 29, 2010. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
  63. ^ "French album certifications – B.O.F. – Le Lion King" (in French). SNEP.
  64. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Diverse; 'Walt Disney - Der König der Löwen')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved May 14, 2017.
  65. ^ "Walt Disney: Il Futuro E' Rock" (in Italian). Adnkronos. June 10, 1996. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  66. ^ McClure, Steve (February 19, 1995). "Abroad Perspective - Tokyo". Billboard. p. 50. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
  67. ^ "Japanese album certifications" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved July 21, 2022. Select 1994年9月 on the drop-down menu
  68. ^ "Dutch album certifications – Diverse artiesten – The Lion King" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved December 16, 2020. Enter The Lion King in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 1995 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
  69. ^ "Dutch album certifications – Diverse artiesten – The Lion King" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved December 16, 2020. Enter The Lion King in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 2005 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
  70. ^ "NZ Top 50 Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. November 19, 1995. Retrieved April 22, 2017.
  71. ^ "Wyróżnienia – Złote płyty CD - Archiwum - Przyznane w 1995 roku" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Archived from the original on January 25, 2025. Retrieved April 22, 2017.
  72. ^ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 17, 2011. Retrieved April 22, 2017.
  73. ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('The Lion King (Elton John)')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved April 22, 2017.
  74. ^ "British album certifications – Original Soundtrack – The Lion King – OST". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved April 22, 2017. Select albums in the Formats field. Type The Lion King – OST Original Soundtrack in the "Search:" field.
  75. ^ "American album certifications – Soundtrack – The Lion King". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved April 22, 2017.
  76. ^ "IFPI Platinum Europe Awards – 1996". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved April 22, 2017.
  77. ^ "ARIA Catalogue Albums – Week Commencing 31st March 2014" (PDF) (1257). Australian Recording Industry Association. March 31, 2014: 12. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 16, 2014. Retrieved May 14, 2017. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  78. ^ "French album certifications – B.O.F. – LE ROI LION" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved May 14, 2017.
  79. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Musical; 'Walt Disney – Der König der Löwen')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved May 14, 2017.
  80. ^ "British album certifications – Original Broadway Cast – The Lion King". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved July 19, 2024. Select albums in the Formats field. Type The Lion King Original Broadway Cast in the "Search:" field.
  81. ^ "American album certifications – Soundtrack – The Lion King (Original Cast)". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved May 14, 2017.
  82. ^ "British album certifications – Walt Disney – The Lion King Sing-Along". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved April 22, 2017. Select albums in the Formats field. Type The Lion King Sing-Along Walt Disney in the "Search:" field.
  83. ^ "American album certifications – Various – Lion King Sing-Along". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved April 22, 2017.
  84. ^ "British album certifications – Hans Zimmer – The Lion King – OST". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved July 19, 2024. Select albums in the Formats field. Type The Lion King – OST Hans Zimmer in the "Search:" field.
  85. ^ Fourny, Marc (July 20, 2019). "Elton John va encore arrondir sa fortune avec le nouveau " Roi Lion "". Le Point. Retrieved October 1, 2024.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.