Love Will Find a Way (Disney song)

"Love Will Find a Way"
Song by Liz Callaway and Gene Miller
from the album Return to Pride Rock
Released1998
Recorded1998
Length3:00
LabelWalt Disney
Songwriter(s)
"Love Will Find a Way"
Single by Heather Headley and Kenny Lattimore
from the album Return to Pride Rock
ReleasedJuly 6, 1998
Recorded1998
GenrePop, R&B
Length4:30
LabelWalt Disney
Songwriter(s)

"Love Will Find a Way" is a song from the 1998 Disney film The Lion King II: Simba's Pride, written by Jack Feldman and Tom Snow. In the film, the song is sung by Liz Callaway and Gene Miller. In the end credits, a pop version is performed by Heather Headley and Kenny Lattimore. Both versions were featured on the album Return to Pride Rock: Songs Inspired by Disney's The Lion King II: Simba's Pride,[1] while the pop version was also released as a single.[2]

Context

The song is sung by Kovu and Kiara, who, despite being from opposing lion prides, fall in love. Kovu has just been exiled from the Pride Lands after being falsely accused of attempting to assassinate Simba.[3] They sing about how their love will conquer all opposition and ultimately bring them together again.

Reception

The New York Times called it a "detachable...mawkish...generic-sounding ballad", and disliked the blight against Kiara's character of not being "brave and strong and smart" that is included in the song's lyrics. However, the newspaper added that the line does call to attention her "colorless, indistinct character", which lacks the cleverness of Belle and the will of Ariel.[4] The Disney Song Encyclopedia describes it as a "romantic ballad" about how love can overcome all obstacles.[5] Bustle compared the line "Somewhere in my secret heart, I know love will find a way" to the work of Pablo Neruda.[6] Geeks Of Doom negatively compared the song to The Lion King's "Can You Feel the Love Tonight", but said the "overlooked" and "forgotten" song was a "touching" musical moment from the film about the "challenges of making relationships work" in the face of hurdles.[7] AllMusic deemed the song a "favourite".[8] Metro controversially deemed the tune Disney's 5th best song, positively comparing it to the "boring" and artificial "Can You Feel The Love Tonight"[9] commenting that the "romantic" tune "tugs at the heartstrings in a much more meaningful way".[10]

As of April 2017, the song is the 15th most streamed Disney song on Deezer, the second song on the list from The Lion King franchise after "Circle of Life".[11]

MsMojo ranked the song 8th place in their "Top 10 Best Lion King Songs" video, commenting that "while the scenery is simple throughout the song, it's still quite captivating and fitting for the message it evokes."[12]

References

  1. ^ Indianapolis Monthly. Emmis Communications. 1999-11-01.
  2. ^ Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 1998-07-11.
  3. ^ Hischak, Thomas S.; Robinson, Mark A. (2009-07-29). The Disney Song Encyclopedia. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 9780810869387.
  4. ^ James, Caryn (1998-10-23). "VIDEO REVIEW; A 'Lion King' With Girls as Stars". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2017-04-17.
  5. ^ Hischak, Thomas S.; Robinson, Mark A. (2009-07-29). The Disney Song Encyclopedia. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-0-8108-6938-7.
  6. ^ Mize, Chelsea. "19 Disney Quotes That Totally Describe Your Bae, Because You're Never Too Old For Fairy Tales". Retrieved 2017-04-17.
  7. ^ "Disney In Depth: Revisit These Overlooked Disney Songs (Part 1)". Geeks of Doom. 2017-02-16. Retrieved 2017-04-17.
  8. ^ "Lion King, Vol. 1 & 2 – Various Artists | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 2017-04-17.
  9. ^ Metro.co.uk, Duncan Lindsay for (2015-06-25). "Ranked – the top 20 Disney songs ever". Metro. Retrieved 2017-04-17.
  10. ^ Metro.co.uk, Duncan Lindsay for (2016-02-13). "Sorry but The Lion King 2 is better than the original and here's why". Metro. Retrieved 2017-04-17.
  11. ^ Metro.co.uk, Rebecca Lewis for (2017-04-12). "This ranking of streamed Disney songs will have you exclaiming 'Jiminy Cricket!'". Metro. Retrieved 2017-04-17.
  12. ^ "Top 10 Best Lion King Songs". youtube.com.