Hans Zimmer's Lion King
Of all Disney animated classics before Walt Disney Animation Studios’ branching into mainstream 3D animation, there is only one film that comes to mind when it comes to a memorable musical score or perhaps the only one with a musical score, and that is The Lion King. Composed by the highly-acclaimed and highly renowned Hans Zimmer, The Lion King contains several memorable, emotional, and dramatic pieces that rival even the most famous of musical scores ever composed such as the likes of many of John Williams’ scores. I will not be discussing the lyrical music that was composed by Tim Rice and Elton John, only the score, though I do appreciate the 5 lyrical songs in it very much, my favourites being The Circle of Life and Be Prepared. I will also only be discussing select pieces, the ones that speak to me the most. With that said, let’s dive in.
This Land
I’ll be going in order of the album and starting with This Land which is Track 6 after the 5 lyrical songs. The song begins with a flute of some sort and you can even hear some sort of magic sounds (even though this is not a fantasy film) but I think is supposed to signify there’s something majestic and spiritual in the atmosphere and is clearly happening at night. Don’t associate the music with the scene in the film, make it your own interpretation. That’s the beauty of unworded music. Then we hear loud vocals accompanying the music as it gets louder and I can’t help but think that this song is meant to symbolize self-reflection. And it starts right at the 30-second mark. The insight into your self and self-reflection: this would best be done while standing on a high mountain whilst gazing into the stars at infinite space at night communicating with your Maker, with God, as he reveals great truths. At about 1:11 or 1:12 is when God reveals personal revelation about you. New truths for you to take with you. At 1:36 is when you come back down to Earth and ponder the great mysteries that you have learned. What will you do with these new revelations? At 2:35, signifies your self-enlightenment and that you will take these new self-discoveries to achieve new and great things. Run back to your family and friends. Tell them what you have learned.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_U4in8WeS0
To Die For
Next we discuss the most dramatic Disney musical piece ever: To Die For. This is the accompanying music to the wildebeest stampede scene, Mufasa’s death and Scar’s betrayal, and just ending at Simba’s exile. Let’s dive in. Immediately, the piece begins with a sense of terror and foreboding as Simba realizes he might be dead if he doesn’t run. Anybody who thinks that Frozen has better music or is just generally better than Lion King speaks blasphemy or clealy doesn’t understand the traumatic experience Simba went through and the forced mental growth he had to endure. From 1:11 to about 1:25 you can hear those chilling vocals, not knowing whether little Simba will make it or not. Just before 2:00, we know this is the mark where Mufasa falls. Cue the sad music afterwards. Simba lost his father and unneccesarily at the hands of a covetous and power-hungry-corrupted uncle. Simba lost a dear loved one and all because his uncle desired a throne. At 3:20 we hear sombre vocals and slight eerie and maleficent tone as Scar sinisterly makes Simba feels guilty, it’s eerie, just as the piece finishes at 4:07 with a couple of high flute notes as Simba is exiled by his conniving uncle.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCO8l2CaZaA
Under the Stars
Next we move on to Track 8- Under the Stars. It begins relaxing, soothing, peaceful. I personally imagine myself somewhere in the Arctic Circle at night, looking up at the thousands of stars, there is snow all-surrounding, me and my wife as we discuss the beauties of life, just laying there on the snow on our backs, and all is tranquil and serene. At 1:22 is when the Northern Lights appear, majestic and colorful and peaceful, yet there is something celestial about them. My wife and I are holding hands and pointing up while we gaze. At 1:40 they brighten even more. Nobody to bother us. Just her and I, in the Territories up north somewhere. Suddenly, a light appears at 1:50 and curious, we watch as it speeds towards the thick boreal down the hill. At 2:04, the light shines so bright and so magnificently, there is a strong desire to go to it. At 2:23, the light beckons we follow it as it enters a path into the mighty boreal and we do as the music intensifies. Just like Simba following Rafiki into the dense bush, so do we into the woods not knowing what we will find yet trusting. Then the music abruptly ends at 2:58 as our fates are left ambiguous. The rest of the music is Lion King which I did not associate interpretive thoughts to.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOf78z3Hi4U
King of Pride Rock
The last piece is King of Pride Rock. Probably my favourite one. Mature and dark. The piece starts with a sad tone, like something has been lost and the future looks bleak, and what is there to be done about this predicament? This individual must take action against the personal struggle inside him that he’s fighting that climaxes at 0:56. The guilt follows right afterwards beginning at 1:00. His enemy enters at 1:28 to remind of his mistakes and press the guilt even deeper into his soul. He relishes it. A glimmer of positivity comes in at just before 2:00 but is gone as quickly as it comes 10 seconds later as the enemy is too overbearing. The guilt he reminds the hero-warrior of is too strong and the warrior thinks about what he’s done from 2:22 to 2:33 and comes to terms with it as the sad music begins again. At 2:51, the enemy calls him out and reveals his unforgivable deeds. All seems lost as he seems to have won, but wait from 3:09 to 3:14, the hero bounces and pushes back as he fully overcomes the guilt and his enemy and vanquishes both as he learns to live with it. Whether what the hero had done in the past was his fault is irrelevant and will be left ambiguous. Whatever he had done, he is at peace now from 3:22 as he picks himself up and finds his identity again and rises to the challenge of becoming a king at 4:22. Whatever he had done, was forgiven him. A metaphorical piece for someone overcoming their demons in the darkest corners of their souls and finding and ascending towards the light again.