The Lion King
Hans Zimmer
" I'm gonna be King of Pride Rock "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the deluxe edition
The Lion King, 20 years after its release, is finally here in a super deluxe treatment. 2 Cd's full of magical / thematic material and award winning songs. Making it possible to discover how much detail and thought that actually went in Hans Zimmer's music. For instance, "Didn't Your Mother Tell You Not to Play With Your Food" has a brief "Be Prepared" melody popping up, and there are more where those came from. Strangely the recording sounds slightly different from the film version. While there is a lot of warmth and emotion coming from this recording (most of the vocals are strong and clear, giving you emotional goosebumps as much as possible). But in return, there is a lack of power during the eruptions which I remember to be more potent during the picture. The choral vista eruption in "We are All Connected" lacks oomph, the rescue fanfare of Mufasa at the end of "Elephant Graveyard" is hardly memorable and for instance the final fight sequence between Scar and Simba in "The Rightful King" is just not exploding with power. Not as how I remember it in the film. And I'm not imagining things, considering now the music feels more magical and warm but less powerful at times, giving us a different recording that will dissapoint perhaps several fans. After all, it were the eruptions of the unreleased material that I was looking forward to the most.
The second disc has multiple demos (they hurt the ears so don't play them too loudly) and Elton John's memorable versions, making it a fan favorite for many years. True, this is not the score everyone wanted, considering it does sound different from the film version. And let it be the film version that many people fell in love with. But now with the full warmth coming from the recording, who am I to deny that The Lion King remains a grand emotional moment in Hans Zimmer's career, elevating an equally emotional blockbuster to the highest peak of Pride Rock. Though not as astounding as his one and only masterful piece The Prince of Egypt, it's a damn magical ride nonetheless.
Finally available after all this time, fuck yeah!
The detail is staggering, now we suddenly discover the amount of theme and song statements in Hans Zimmer's score
There is a lot of warmth and emotion coming from this recording, it's not the film version I remember it to be.
The choral material remains amazing. Most of the African rhythms are dancing of joy, and the choral eruption of the theme in "King of the Past" is truly amazing.
Score and songs show a plethora of themes that stand the test of time.
The score sounds amazing, but somehow less powerful in the moments that made an impact in the film. Strange and kinda sad.
Score: ****12
Songs: *****
Track Listing
CD 1: 73.48
1. Circle of Life / Nants' Ingonyama: Carmen Twillie & Lebo M (3.59) Excellent track
2. Didn't Your Mother Tell You Not to Play With Your Food (2.08)
3. We Are All Connected (3.02)
4. Hyenas in the Pride Land (3.51)
5. I Just Can't Wait to Be King: Jason Weaver, Rowan Atkinson & Laura Williams (2.52) Excellent track
6. Elephant Graveyard (4.48)
7. I Was Just Trying to Be Brave (2.16) Excellent track
8. Be Prepared: Jeremy Irons, Whoopi Goldberg, Cheech Marin & Jim Cummings (3.40) Excellent track
9. Simba, It's To Die For (0.48)
10. Stampede (3.22) Excellent track
11. Mufasa Dies (3.27)
12. If You Ever Come Back We'll Kill You (1.38)
13. Bowling for Buzzards (0.30)
14. Hakuna Matata: Nathan Lane, Ernie Sabella, Jason Weaver & Joseph Williams (4.08)
15. We Gotta Bone to Pick With You (1.08)
16. Kings of the Past (2.48) Excellent track
17. Nala, Is It Really You? (4.11)
18. Can You Feel the Love Tonight: Joseph Williams, Sally Dworsky, Nathan Lane, Ernie Sabella & Kristle Edwards (2.52) Excellent track
19. Remember Who You Are (7.48) Excellent track
20. This Is My Home (2.45)
21. The Rightful King (11.46) Excellent track
CD 2: 47.38
1. The Morning Report: James Earl Jones, Jeff Bennett & Evan Saucedo (1.37)
2. Warthog Rhapsody: Nathan Lane & Ernie Sabella (3.06)
3. We Are All Connected (Demo) (3.05)
4. I Was Just Trying to Be Brave (Demo) (2.16)
5. Stampede (Demo) (3.23)
6. Mufasa Dies (Demo) (3.27)
7. This is My Home (Demo) (2.28)
8. The Rightful King (Demo) (11.42)
9. Circle of Life (Instumental Demo) (4.02)
10. Circle of Life: Elton John (4.52) Excellent track
11. I Just Can't Wait to Be King: Elton John (3.37) Excellent track
12. Can You Feel the Love Tonight (End Title): Elton John (4.03) Excellent track
The second disc has multiple demos (they hurt the ears so don't play them too loudly) and Elton John's memorable versions, making it a fan favorite for many years. True, this is not the score everyone wanted, considering it does sound different from the film version. And let it be the film version that many people fell in love with. But now with the full warmth coming from the recording, who am I to deny that The Lion King remains a grand emotional moment in Hans Zimmer's career, elevating an equally emotional blockbuster to the highest peak of Pride Rock. Though not as astounding as his one and only masterful piece The Prince of Egypt, it's a damn magical ride nonetheless.
Finally available after all this time, fuck yeah!
The detail is staggering, now we suddenly discover the amount of theme and song statements in Hans Zimmer's score
There is a lot of warmth and emotion coming from this recording, it's not the film version I remember it to be.
The choral material remains amazing. Most of the African rhythms are dancing of joy, and the choral eruption of the theme in "King of the Past" is truly amazing.
Score and songs show a plethora of themes that stand the test of time.
The score sounds amazing, but somehow less powerful in the moments that made an impact in the film. Strange and kinda sad.
Score: ****12
Songs: *****
Track Listing
CD 1: 73.48
1. Circle of Life / Nants' Ingonyama: Carmen Twillie & Lebo M (3.59) Excellent track
2. Didn't Your Mother Tell You Not to Play With Your Food (2.08)
3. We Are All Connected (3.02)
4. Hyenas in the Pride Land (3.51)
5. I Just Can't Wait to Be King: Jason Weaver, Rowan Atkinson & Laura Williams (2.52) Excellent track
6. Elephant Graveyard (4.48)
7. I Was Just Trying to Be Brave (2.16) Excellent track
8. Be Prepared: Jeremy Irons, Whoopi Goldberg, Cheech Marin & Jim Cummings (3.40) Excellent track
9. Simba, It's To Die For (0.48)
10. Stampede (3.22) Excellent track
11. Mufasa Dies (3.27)
12. If You Ever Come Back We'll Kill You (1.38)
13. Bowling for Buzzards (0.30)
14. Hakuna Matata: Nathan Lane, Ernie Sabella, Jason Weaver & Joseph Williams (4.08)
15. We Gotta Bone to Pick With You (1.08)
16. Kings of the Past (2.48) Excellent track
17. Nala, Is It Really You? (4.11)
18. Can You Feel the Love Tonight: Joseph Williams, Sally Dworsky, Nathan Lane, Ernie Sabella & Kristle Edwards (2.52) Excellent track
19. Remember Who You Are (7.48) Excellent track
20. This Is My Home (2.45)
21. The Rightful King (11.46) Excellent track
CD 2: 47.38
1. The Morning Report: James Earl Jones, Jeff Bennett & Evan Saucedo (1.37)
2. Warthog Rhapsody: Nathan Lane & Ernie Sabella (3.06)
3. We Are All Connected (Demo) (3.05)
4. I Was Just Trying to Be Brave (Demo) (2.16)
5. Stampede (Demo) (3.23)
6. Mufasa Dies (Demo) (3.27)
7. This is My Home (Demo) (2.28)
8. The Rightful King (Demo) (11.42)
9. Circle of Life (Instumental Demo) (4.02)
10. Circle of Life: Elton John (4.52) Excellent track
11. I Just Can't Wait to Be King: Elton John (3.37) Excellent track
12. Can You Feel the Love Tonight (End Title): Elton John (4.03) Excellent track