So who are these composers? Well, I think we all know the genius who is Elton John. He's always been well known and his songs are amazing. But I'm sure many other '90s kids will agree that Elton John became a musical figure for them, when he wrote the songs for The Lion King. It is true that Elton John receives most of, if not all of the credit for the soundtrack to the film, but what did he really do? Well, Elton John's work includes such songs as the wonderful "Circle of Life", "I Just Can't Wait to be King", "Be Prepared", "Hakuna Matata", and the very moving "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" - songs which are the first to spring to mind when one thinks of the soundtrack to The Lion King. I need not say much more about Elton John, as his worldwide reputation is colossal. So let's move on to Tim Rice, shall we?
Tim Rice, an English lyricist and author who wrote lyrics for numerous film and theatre music, including other Disney classics, Aladdin, and Beauty and the Beast. The Lion King was not his only collaboration with Elton John and Hans Zimmer. The trio also collaborated on the score for The Road to El Dorado in 2004. So what did he do for The Lion King? Well, where Elton John wrote the music and the melodies for the songs I mentioned above, Tim Rice was the one to write the lyrics for all of those songs. So next time you're singing Elton John's "Can You Feel the Love Tonight", or "Circle of Life", remember the there were two people in the creation of that song - both of them equally brilliant.
This brings me to my main point - the man of the moment - the genius himself - the one - the only - Hans Zimmer! The German-born composer had his first taste of success when he was a member of a band known as The Buggles. Their very well-known single 'Video Killed the Radio Star' became a world wide hit, and is still much loved today. Not only was it successful all over the world, but it was, in fact, the first music video ever to be aired on MTV, on their first day, August 1st, 1981. This was only the beginning of a new era of entertainment - MTV is still watched by young people all over the world, though there have been a number of changes since August 1st 1981 - all that terrible reality TV for one!
Interesting as this all sounds, I began talking about Hans Zimmer's amazing musical talent, and I intent to continue. Just a bit of background information: Zimmer scored for a number of popular films including The Last Samurai (2003) which was his 100th score, believe it or not; The Prince of Egypt (1998); all four of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies (2003, 2006, 2007 and 2011); Batman Begins (2005) and The Dark Knight (2008); Inception (2010); Megamind (2010); the amazing film that is Gladiator (2000); and even The Muppets Treasure Island (1996) which is one that will bring all of us 90's kids back to our childhood, I'm sure! There are too many others to mention, but if you really want a lengthy list of his work, check it out here.
Zimmer is completely self-taught, learning everything through collaboration with other composers, including the likes of that genius of a man, Andrew Lloyd Webber, the incredible Klaus Badelt, and various others. However, in his collaboration with Elton and Tim, he created a wonderful score for an equally wonderful film. In The Lion King, Zimmer's work is entirely his own - unlike Elton John's work, for which half of the credit goes to Tim Rice. Zimmer didn't compose the songs that are sung by the characters, but the music in the background that is barely noticeable.
A good film composer writes a score that can barely be noticed - it doesn't draw attention away from the film, but enhances the drama and the emotion. For example, when Mufasa dies, the music in the background heightens the viewer's despair, yet if I asked you to sing the melody to me right now, you would most likely need to watch the scene back to remember it (unless, of course, you're one of those fanatics who can say every line of the film, and sing every melody).
Zimmer's work in The Lion King includes the following songs:
- Life isn't fair, is it?
- The Once and Future King (one of my personal favourites, this is where we hear that motive I've named the 'King motif').
- Plotting
- The Elephant Graveyard
- Kings of the Past (this is at the part where Mufasa explains to Simba that the stars are the kings of old - a very gentle and touching way of saying "I'll die some day, but I'll always be with you." Again, we can hear a variation of my 'King motif').
- Life isn't Fair, is it?
- Stampede (I think we all remember this scene, even those of us who haven't seen the film in years).
- ...To Die For.
- What Have You Done?/Run Away (one of the most heart breaking moments in the film, without a doubt. It was here that we said goodbye to Mufasa, and it was here that I shed four tears! No, that's not a lot, but I don't cry at movies, so its a big deal for me!).
- A New Era/Bowling for Buzzards (the very comical moment where Pumba and Timone arrive!)
- On Our Side/Simba Awakens
- Under the Stars/Simba Alive (not only does that beautiful. melancholy 'King motif' return, but near the end of this track is the moment where that delightful baboon, Rafiki realises that Simba is alive!)
- Hunting/Pinned Again/Reunion
- An Argument/You're Mufasa's Boy/ Remember (one of my favourite moments in the film is at the end of this track - when Mufasa appears in the sky and reminds Simba who he is - again we hear that gorgeous 'King motif' - probably my favourite motive in the history of motives at this moment in time!).
- This is My Home (quite a joyful moment when the king returns home, but, of course it gets sad when he returns to see what his home has become).
- The Return/Battle of Pride Rock/Cleansing Rain/The Ascension/End Credits (the name says it all, really).
Writing for animals is completely different to writing music for people. People can easily show emotion in their facial expressions. The characters in The Lion King are all animals, and do not show emotion as easily as humans, but Zimmer seems to get over this quite easily. "I'd never written for talking fuzzy animals before," he says, "I knew how to write to human emotions but these were animals. It took me a while to get over that and do what you do which is just treat them like human characters." (quote taken from here)
Zimmer also had a personal bond with Simba. When writing for Mufasa's death he relates to the emotion that a young child would feel. "I thought how do we deal with, in a children's movie, the idea that a father dies, and make an emotional, yet not horrifying experience. And it's very simple. It's my point of view because my dad dropped dead when I was six. I had nobody to talk to about it." (Ibid). It kind of makes him a mirror image, or a human version of Simba. Simba lives on, unable to speak to his new friends about his father's death. Zimmer, lived on, unable to talk to anyone about his own father's death.
The collaboration of Hans Zimmer, Elton John and Tim Rice resulted in a number of awards - and no wonder! The awards include Academy Awards: "Best Original Score" to Hans Zimmer, and "Best Original Song" to Elton John and Time Rice, for "Can You Feel the Love Tonight". The same two received Golden Globe Awards - and well deserved they were too!
I feel Hans Zimmer doesn't get as much credit for the score as Elton John, but just listen to it, and you'll see the difference this legendary composer made to the film. His work is phenomenal. Don't get me wrong, Elton John and Tim Rice did some fantastic work too! This truly was a musical collaboration made in Heaven.
One of the most inspirational quotes of the film:
(Rafiki hits Simba across the head)
Simba: What was that for?
Rafiki: It doesn't matter, it's in the past!
Simba: Yeah, but it still hurts.
Rafiki: Yes, the past can hurt, but the way I see it, you can either run from it, or learn from it. (He swings his stick again and Simba ducks). Ah! You see?"
An excellent scene, taken from Youtube. Here you'll hear the theme "Remember", by Hans Zimmer. Remember, I'm posting this video because of the music, so try to listen in. Enjoy!!
17 Oct 2011
by Jessica Thompson
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