Circle of Life

"Circle of Life"
Song by Elton John
from the album The Lion King soundtrack
ReleasedAugust 9, 1994
Recorded1993
Santa Monica, California
April 1994
BOP Recording Studios
Mmabatho, South Africa[1]
GenrePop
Length4:51
LabelWalt Disney Records
Songwriter(s)Elton John (music)
Tim Rice (lyrics)
Producer(s)Hans Zimmer
Mark Mancina
Jay Rifkin
Chris Thomas
Elton John singles chronology
"Can You Feel the Love Tonight"
(1994) 		"Circle of Life"
(1994) 		"Believe"
(1995)

"Circle of Life" is a song from the 1994 animated Disney movie The Lion King. The song's lyrics (words) were written by Tim Rice, and the music was written by Mbongeni Ngema.[2] It was sung by Carmen Twillie and Lebo M.[3] The song was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Song in 1994. Two other Lion King songs were also nominated: "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" and "Hakuna Matata."[4][5] "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" won the award.[4]

The beginning of the song is written in the Zulu language.[6] The meaning is:[7]

Zulu lyrics English meaning
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala A lion and a leopard come to this open place
Nants ingonyama bakithi Baba Here comes a lion, Father
Siyo nqoba We will conquer

References

  1. ↑ Josh Wilmes, ed. (24 May 1994). "The Lion King: Film Notes". lionking.org. Retrieved 2011-07-03.
  2. ↑ Rosenthal 2001, p. 379.
  3. ↑ Rosental 2001, p. 380.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Willis 2000, p. 52.
  5. ↑ "1994 Academy Awards Nominees and Winners by Category". BoxOfficeMojo.com. Retrieved 2011-07-03.
  6. ↑ Burt 2007, p. 774.
  7. ↑ ""Circle of Life" lyrics". lionking.org. Retrieved 2011-07-03.

Works cited