Hakuna Matata (song)
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"Hakuna Matata" | |
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B-side | "He Lives in You" |
"Hakuna Matata" is a song from Disney's 32nd animated feature The Lion King.[1] The song is based on Timon and Pumbaa's catchphrase in the movie, Hakuna matata, which is a Swahili phrase; it means 'no worries'. It is characterized by its simple 4/4 time, upbeat message and catchy lyrics.
Music
The musical score was written by Elton John and the lyrics by Tim Rice. In the film the song is sung by Timon (a meerkat voiced by Nathan Lane), Pumbaa (a warthog voiced by Ernie Sabella), and Simba, a young lion voiced by Jason Weaver (singing voice as a cub) and Joseph Williams (as an adult). The two main comedy characters in the film, (Timon and Pumbaa), talk to Simba about moving forward from their troubled pasts and forgetting their worries, and Simba grows from cub to adult as the song progresses. The song also provides a backstory for Pumbaa, explaining that he was ostracized from animal society for his excessive flatulence. It contains several breaks at which the music grinds to a halt and then starts again. It makes use of a large proportion of the orchestra as well as many other more unusual instruments including an elaborate drum kit.
A second version of the song, produced for the companion album Rhythm of the Pride Lands, was performed by Jimmy Cliff featuring Lebo M. This version of the song is slightly modified the previously unreleased verse focusing on Timon's past being partially rewritten with a different instrument arrangement but remains very similar to the original. It was released as a single with "He Lives in You" as a B-side, and was ultimately used in the Broadway theatrical version of The Lion King.
Rice is said to have got the idea for the lyrics for the song from watching the comedy series Bottom and at one point wanted the show's stars Rik Mayall and Adrian Edmondson to play Timon and Pumbaa.
Early production
The song was based on an earlier song written early on in the production stage called "Warthog Rhapsody".[citation needed] Although the two songs shared the same message and position in the film, when Elton and Tim began to work on the music the song was completely rewritten and it eventually evolved into "Hakuna Matata". "Warthog Rhapsody" was eventually re-produced and released on Rhythm of the Pride Lands. The melody of Warthog Rhaspody was used in The Lion King 1½ for the song "That's All I Need".
Meaning
Hakuna matata is a Swahili phrase that is frequently translated as "no worries". In a bonus features of The Lion King Special Edition DVD, the film's production team claims that it picked up the term from a tour guide while on safari in Kenya. It was then developed into an ideology that, along with the seemingly antithetical value of duty to the monarchy, is central to the moral content of the film.
The title phrase is pronounced with American English phonology within the song, including a flapped "t", rather than as it is pronounced in Swahili.
Critical reception
The song proved enormously popular and was nominated for Best Song at the Academy Awards in 1995 and lost only to "Can You Feel the Love Tonight", one of three Lion King song nominations (the third one was "Circle of Life").[2] It was also ranked 99th in the AFI's list of the 100 best American movie songs of all time, Disney's fourth and last entry of songs on the list (the others being "When You Wish Upon a Star" from Pinocchio at #7, "Some Day My Prince Will Come" from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at #19, and "Beauty and the Beast" from Beauty and the Beast at #62).[3]
A shortened version of "Hakuna Matata" was used as the theme song of the spinoff Timon & Pumbaa TV show.
In popular culture
- Alvin and the Chipmunks covered the song in their 1995 album When You Wish Upon a Chipmunk, with Alvin and Simon performing Timon and Pumbaa's parts, respectively, and replacing "warthog" with "chipmunk".
- In one of Disney's many self references, the "Hakuna Matata" song can be heard briefly in the 1995 Pixar film Toy Story, in which it was played in Andy's mom's car while Molly sees Woody and Buzz Lightyear through one of the side view mirrors. This song can be heard in the 2015 Disney and Pixar movie Inside Out.
- In the Seinfeld episode "The Merv Griffin Show", Elaine says that she was caught in the office singing "Hakuna Matata".
- It appears in Mannheim Steamroller's 1999 album Mannheim Steamroller Meets the Mouse.
- The song was covered by Jamaican group Baha Men for the Disneymania CD.
- The song was covered by Debby Ryan for the Disneymania 7 CD.
- On 2012 album Disney - Koe no Oujisama Vol.2, which features various Japanese voice actors covering Disney songs, this song was covered by Hiro Shimono and Nobuhiko Okamoto
Track listings
- CD single
- "Hakuna Matata" — 4:24
- "He Lives in You" — 4:51
- CD maxi
- "Hakuna Matata" (rap version) — 3:50
- "Warthog Rhapsody" by Nathan Lane & Ernie Sabella — 3:06
- "Hakuna Matata" (album version) — 4:24
Charts
Peak positions
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End of year charts
Certifications
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References
- ^ King, Alex P. (2004). Hit-parade — 20 ans de tubes (in French). Paris: Pascal. p. 339. ISBN 2-35019-009-9.
- ^ Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. "Academy Awards Database". Retrieved 2008-05-02.
- ^ American Film Institute (2004). "The Top Movie Songs of All Time" (PDF). Retrieved 2008-05-22.
- ^ a b c d "JIMMY CLIFF & LEBO M. - HAKUNA MATATA (CHANSON)". Lescharts.com. Retrieved 2008-05-05.
- ^ a b "Single top 100 over 1995" (pdf) (in Dutch). Top40. Retrieved 17 April 2010.
- ^ German Singles Chart Charts-surfer.de (Retrieved August 6, 2008)
- ^ a b "JIMMY CLIFF singles". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2008-05-05.
- ^ 1995 Belgian (Wallonia) Singles Chart Ultratop.be (Retrieved August 6, 2008)
- ^ 1995 French Singles Chart Disqueenfrance.com (Retrieved January 30, 2009)
- ^ French certifications Disqueenfrance.com (Retrieved August 6, 2008)