From the day we arrive on the planet
And blinking, step into the sun
There's more to see than can ever be seen
More to do than can ever be done
There's far too much to take in here
More to find than can ever be found
But the sun rolling high
Through the sapphire sky
Keeps great and small on the endless round
It's the Circle of Life
And it moves us all
Through despair and hope
Through faith and love
Till we find our place
On the path unwinding
In the Circle
The Circle of Life
It's the Circle of Life
And it moves us all
Through despair and hope
Through faith and love
Till we find our place
On the path unwinding
In the Circle
The Circle of Life
| "Circle of Life" | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||||||||||||
| Single by Elton John | ||||||||||||||
| from the album The Lion King: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack | ||||||||||||||
| Released | August 9, 1994 | |||||||||||||
| Format | CD, vinyl record (7"), audio cassette | |||||||||||||
| Recorded | 1993 Santa Monica, California April 1994 BOP Recording Studios Mmabatho, South Africa[1] | |||||||||||||
| Genre |
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| Length | 4:51 | |||||||||||||
| Label | Hollywood, Mercury[2] | |||||||||||||
| Writer(s) | Elton John (music) Tim Rice (lyrics) | |||||||||||||
| Producer(s) | Hans Zimmer Mark Mancina Jay Rifkin Chris Thomas | |||||||||||||
| Elton John singles chronology | ||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
"Circle of Life"[note 1] is a song from Disney's 1994 animated film The Lion King. Composed by Elton John, with lyrics by Tim Rice,[4] the song was performed by Carmen Twillie (the deep female lead vocals) and Lebo M. (opening Zulu vocals) as the film's opening song.[5] In an interview, Rice said he was amazed at the speed with which John composed: "I gave him the lyrics at the beginning of the session at about two in the afternoon. By half-past three, he'd finished writing and recording a stunning demo."[6] Elton John sang a pop version of the song with the London Community Gospel Choir, which was included in the film's soundtrack and made into a music video. "Circle of Life" was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Song in 1994, along with two other songs from The Lion King: "Hakuna Matata" and "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" [7][8] which won the award.[7]
The song reached #11 in the UK and #18 in the United States, and is featured frequently in attractions based on The Lion King, such as Disney theme parks and parades. Michael Crawford sang it as part of a medley for The Disney Album in 2001.
Contents
[hide]- 1Theatrical version
- 1.1Act I
- 1.2Act II
- 2Circle of Stars version
- 3Other languages
- 3.1Movie version
- 3.2Musical version
- 4In popular culture
- 5Charts
- 6References
- 7External links
- 7.1Bibliography
Theatrical version[edit]
Act I[edit]
In the theatrical adaption, the opening sequence is noticeably different from the opening of the film. For example, the song is sung by the Rafiki character instead of an off-screen female narrator.
With the sun rising over the Pride Lands, Rafiki commences the start of the production by beginning the opening chant of the song and summoning the various animals of the surrounding area for baby Simba's presentation. As the first two verses of the musical number end, a representation of Pride Rock appears onstage carrying its two reigning rulers, Queen Sarabicradling the small puppet representing her newborn cub in her arms. As the choir chants excitedly in the background, Rafiki accompanies them atop Pride Rock to bless the baby prince before raising him high in the air, singing joyfully alongside the chorus as the gathered animals bow before their new prince.
Act II[edit]
At the end of Act II, Simba's friends and family acknowledge him as the rightful king after Simba and the Pridelanders defeated Scar and the hyenas. Rafiki crowns Simba with the mantle of kingship after his victory, and Simba ascends Pride Rock. He gives a mighty roar across the whole kingdom, and the animals come back to the Pridelands to recognize Simba as the rightful king.
For example, the assembly of animals that appear are slightly different from the beginning of Act I without the wildebeests and the adult elephant, only two zebras instead of three, three gazelles instead of five and half of the bird ladies instead of four. Only the baby elephant, the rhino, the giraffes, the cheetah and the birds appear as poles on cranes as kites. The lionesses celebrate the continuing circle of life when they present a newborn cub who is the son of Simba and Nala. The musical ends as Rafiki presents Simba and Nala's newborn cub to all of the animals. A blackout finishes Act II and leads to the curtain call at the end of the second act.
Circle of Stars version[edit]
| "Circle of Life" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Disney Channel Circle of Stars | ||||
| from the album DisneyMania 2 | ||||
| Released | October 7, 2003 | |||
| Format | Digital download, CD single | |||
| Recorded | 2003 | |||
| Label | Walt Disney | |||
| Writer(s) | Elton John (music) Tim Rice (lyrics) | |||
| Disney Channel Circle of Stars singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
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 lineup was significantly different when their next rerecording, "A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes," was released two years later.
Other languages[edit]
Movie version[edit]
| [show]"Circle of Life" in other languages |
|---|
Musical version[edit]
Like it happened with the movie, when the musical was translated into other languages, the song also was translated. The versions below are those that are available for the public through cast recordings of the respective productions. The Brazilian and Korean productions were the only non-English productions of the show that didn't have a cast recording released at the time the show played in the respective countries.
| [show]"Circle of Life" in other languages |
|---|
In popular culture[edit]
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 an episode of the 1990s cartoon Animaniacs, in which the theme of "Circle Of Life" was parodied with "Surprises In Life", with vocals by Jim Cummings and Cree Summer as lead singer.
The Tenth Doctor finds himself subconsciously quoting "Circle of Life" during a confrontation with the Sycorax leader in the 2005 Christmas special of the revived Doctor Who series, "The Christmas Invasion".
In one of Disney's many self references, "The Circle of Life" appeared as a false beginning of the film Chicken Little, when Buck was trying to open the movie.
South Park did a parody-song called The Circle of Poo that shows the endless circle of food and defecation in the episode A Very Crappy Christmas.
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 Circle of Life: An Environmental Fable from 1995 with Timon, Pumbaa, and Simba discussing environmental topics at the Walt Disney World Resort as well.
At the 2011 White House Correspondents' Dinner, President Barack Obama jokingly claimed he was going to show his long-form birth video, spoofing an earlier controversy about refusing to show his long-form birth certificate to prove he was, in fact, born in the United States. The opening chant was played from the film, and Simba was seen being lifted to the skies. This was used to poke fun at Obama's alleged Kenyan heritage.[15]
Charts[edit]
| Chart (1994-1995) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA Singles Chart)[16] | 60 |
| Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[17] | 30 |
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[18] | 5 |
| Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[19] | 1 |
| Canada Top Singles (RPM)[20] | 3 |
| Germany (Official German Charts)[21] | 10 |
| Ireland (IRMA) | 9 |
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[22] | 5 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[23] | 13 |
| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[24] | 3 |
| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[25] | 2 |
| UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[26] | 11 |
| US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[27] | 2 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[28] | 18 |
| US Mainstream Top 40 (Pop Songs)[28] | 26 |
References[edit]
- ^
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