Circle of Life
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| "Circle of Life" | ||||||||||||||
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| Single by Elton John | ||||||||||||||
| from the album The Lion King soundtrack | ||||||||||||||
| Released | August 9, 1994 | |||||||||||||
| Format | CD single | |||||||||||||
| Recorded | 1993 Santa Monica, California April 1994 BOP Recording Studios Mmabatho, South Africa[1] |
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| Genre | Pop, soft rock | |||||||||||||
| Length | 4:51 | |||||||||||||
| Label | Walt Disney Records | |||||||||||||
| Writer(s) | Elton John (music) Tim Rice (lyrics) |
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| Producer | Hans Zimmer Mark Mancina Jay Rifkin Chris Thomas |
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| Elton John singles chronology | ||||||||||||||
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"Circle of Life" is a song from Disney's 1994 animated film The Lion King, composed by Elton John with lyrics by Tim Rice.[2] It was sung by Carmen Twillie (female vocals) and Lebo M (opening isiZulu vocals) in the film as the opening song,[3] and Elton John also sang a pop version with the London Community Gospel Choir which was included in the film's soundtrack and made into a music video. It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Song in 1994 together with two other songs from The Lion King: "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" and "Hakuna Matata".[4][5] "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" won the award.[4] The song reached #11 in the UK and #18 in the US.
The song is also featured frequently in attractions that include The Lion King at Disney theme parks, such as parades.
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[edit] Animated film
In The Lion King, the sun rises as the opening chant of the song calls out, with various animals all seemingly becoming alert to a single thing. Animals are shown traveling through various environments. As a giraffe and her calf step out into the sunlight, the first verse of the song begins. The giraffe notice a herd of animals in the distance and run over to join them.
The opening chant is sung in Zulu by Lebo M. and translates as: "Here comes a lion, Father / Oh yes, it's a lion / Here comes a lion, Father / Oh yes, it's a lion / A lion we're going to conquer / A lion a lion and a leopard come to this open place/"[6]
As the first verse ends and the chorus begins, the camera pans upwards over a herd of animals to show Pride Rock. Zazu flies in, lands, and bows in front of King Mufasa.
Rafiki arrives and Sarabi is shown holding a young Simba. Rafiki anoints and blesses the cub before lifting him up and displaying him to the animals gathered below Pride Rock. The animals leap, stomp, and cry out in celebration. Towards the end of the song, the gathered animals are shown bowing. The camera slowly zooms out from Pride Rock, and on the final drumbeat the title card - The Lion King in red text over a black background - is shown.
The chorus of the song is reprised at the end of the film in the song "King of Pride Rock."
[edit] Musical
In the musical version of The Lion King the opening chant is sung by Rafiki with two antelope and the chorus engaging in call and response. The length of the opening before the first verse varies in length between companies and Rafiki and one of the antelope ad-lib towards the end of the opening. As Rafiki sings, the sun rises behind her and two giraffes and a cheetah walk out onto the stage, shortly followed by a zebra.
As the first verse gets underway, white birds, antelope, and ostriches appear. Two elephants (an adult and child), more white birds, rhinoceroses and wildebeest walk up the aisle between the lower level of seats and up onto the stage. Zazu then appears as a kite swung around on a pole by his puppeteer.
Mufasa and Sarabi appear with their son Simba on Pride Rock as the two antelopes engage in more call and response. Rafiki goes over to them and takes the cub Simba, lifting him into the air as the song draws to a close. The animals below turn to face Pride Rock and bow as Simba is presented.
As in the film, the song is reprised at the end of the production by the chorus.
[edit] Circle of Stars version
| "Circle of Life" | ||||
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| Single by Disney Channel Circle of Stars | ||||
| from the album DisneyMania 2 | ||||
| Released | October 7, 2003 | |||
| Format | Digital download, CD single | |||
| Recorded | 2003 | |||
| Genre | Pop | |||
| Label | Walt Disney Records | |||
| Disney Channel Circle of Stars singles chronology | ||||
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The song was re-recorded in 2003 by the Disney Channel Circle of Stars, a group of actors and actresses who have appeared in Disney Channel television series and original movies. The line-up was significantly different when their next re-recording, "A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes," was released two years later.
[edit] Popular culture
Due to the film's impact on popular culture, the song "Circle of Life" is often referenced in other media.
The opening to the Lion King was parodied in the 90s cartoon Animaniacs in which the theme of "Circle Of Life" was parodied with "Surprises In life" vocals by Jim Cummings and Cree Summer as lead singer, the whole parody is known as "The Tiger Prince". The short song parody took place similar to "Pride Rock" in the film, the character Yakko Warner taking the role as Rafiki, and when the time came to hold up the cub, he accidentally drops it and replies with "Ooh...I thought they were supposed to land on their feet!"
The Tenth Doctor finds himself unconsciously quoting "Circle of Life" during a confrontation with the Sycorax leader in the season two premiere of the revived Doctor Who series, The Christmas Invasion.
In an episode of the television series The Critic, there was a song that parodied "The Circle of Life" involving New York City pests and the opening vocals of Hepatitis. In the 17th episode of season 4, A Very Crappy Christmas, in South Park, Mr Hankey the Christmas Poo parodies this song, by singing a song called "The Circle of Poo" with his song Cornwallace.
It is currently the main theme song for Disney's Animal Kingdom at the Walt Disney World Resort. Disney's Epcot park currently features a cinema-type film called "The Circle of Life" with three of the characters at the Walt Disney World Resort as well.
In Channel 4 comedy Green Wing, the character Sue White sings the song after giving birth to a lion herself, parodying the opening sequence.
On The Daily Show the song and segment was used with Barack Obama on the skit Barack Obama: He Completes Us.
In 2009, the song was used in the pilot episode of Modern Family, when Cameron holds up his and Mitchell's newly adopted baby in a parody of the Disney film. In one of Disney's many self references, this also appeared as a false beginning of Chicken Little when Buck was trying to open the movie.
Ronan Keating recorded a cover for "Disneymania".
[edit] Charts
| Chart (1994) | Peak position |
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| Canadian Adult Contemporary[7] | 1 |
| Canadian Top Singles[8] | 3 |
| New Zealand (RIANZ)[9] | 13 |
| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[10] | 3 |
| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[11] | 2 |
| UK Singles (The Official Charts Company)[12] | 11 |
| US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[13] | 2 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[14] | 18 |
| US Mainstream Top 40 (Pop Songs)[14] | 26 |
| Chart (1995) | Peak position |
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| Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 75)[15] | 30 |
| Germany (Media Control AG)[16] | 10 |
| Netherlands (Mega Single Top 100)[17] | 7 |
[edit] References
- ^ Josh Wilmes, ed (24 May 1994). "The Lion King: Film Notes". lionking.org. http://www.lionking.org/text/FilmNotes.html. Retrieved 2011-07-03.
- ^ Rosenthal 2001, p. 379.
- ^ Rosental 2001, p. 380.
- ^ a b Willis 2000, p. 52.
- ^ "1994 Academy Awards Nominees and Winners by Category". BoxOfficeMojo.com. http://boxofficemojo.com/oscar/chart/?view=allcategories&yr=1994&p=.htm. Retrieved 2011-07-03.
- ^ ""Circle of Life" lyrics". lionking.org. http://www.lionking.org/lyrics/OMPS/CircleOfLife.html. Retrieved 2011-07-03.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary Tracks" (PHP). RPM Vol. 60 (No. 15). 31 October 1994. ISSN 0315-5994. http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.2635&type=2&interval=50&PHPSESSID=m89iq841abagb37ld9c0fdc1f3. Retrieved 12 July 2011.
- ^ "100 Hit Tracks & Where to Find Them" (PHP). RPM Vol. 60 (No. 16). 7 November 1994. ISSN 0315-5994. http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.2648&type=2&interval=50&PHPSESSID=m89iq841abagb37ld9c0fdc1f3. Retrieved 12 July 2011.
- ^ "Charts.org.nz – Elton John – Circle of Life". Top 40 Singles. Hung Medien.
- ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Elton John – Circle of Life". Singles Top 60. Hung Medien.
- ^ "Elton John – Circle of Life – swisscharts.com". Swiss Singles Chart. Hung Medien.
- ^ "Archive Chart" UK Singles Chart. The Official Charts Company.
- ^ "Elton John Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Adult Contemporary Songs for Elton John. Prometheus Global Media.
- ^ a b "Elton John: Charts & Awards – Billboard Singles". Allmusic. United States: Rovi Corporation. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p4617/charts-awards/billboard-singles. Retrieved 12 July 2011.
- ^ "Elton John – Circle of Life – Austriancharts.at" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Hung Medien.
- ^ "Die ganze Musik im Internet: Charts, News, Neuerscheinungen, Tickets, Genres, Genresuche, Genrelexikon, Künstler-Suche, Musik-Suche, Track-Suche, Ticket-Suche – musicline.de" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Elton John – Circle of Life" (in Dutch). Mega Single Top 100. Hung Medien / hitparade.ch.
[edit] Bibliography
- Rosenthal, Elizabeth (2001). His Song: The Musical Journey of Elton John. Billboard Books. ISBN 978-0823088935.
- Willis, John (2000). Screen World 1995 Film Annual. Volume 46. Applause Books. ISBN 978-1557832337.
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