The unforgettable songs
Storytime: the first time we saw the musical in West End years ago, we burst into tears when the stage lit up with the sunrise background and Rafiki started belting out the opening number. The same thing happened when we saw the Broadway version, and an elderly gentleman in the next seat handed us a tissue and whispered, “I know how you feel.”
It must be universally agreed upon that the musical performances are the absolute heart and soul of The Lion King. We love that the nameless narrator who sings Circle of Life in the original animated film has been merged with the character of Rafiki, who was then changed to become female in the stage production. Most of the songs are sung either partially or entirely in various African languages; for example, the chants in the track Rafiki Mourns were written by Tsidii Le Loka, who originated the role of Rafiki on Broadway.
Prepare to be blown away by the live performances of all your favourite songs from the film, including the high-energy I Just Can’t Wait to Be King, the short but iconic comedic number The Lion Sleeps Tonight, and of course, the breathtaking Circle of Life, which, when paired with Rafiki’s stunning vocals and the procession of all the animals, elicits a visceral and emotional reaction from anyone who hears it.
Let’s also not forget the original songs written for the musical. We must confess that we’re not normally fans of new additions to already great soundtracks—because they usually fail to match up to the standard of the original tracks (we’re looking at you, Suddenly from the 2012 film adaptation of Les Misérables)—but The Lion King’s new songs are amazing in their own right. Our absolute favourite is He Lives in You. While not in the original film, this song was arranged by Lebo M. and released on Rhythm of the Pridelands, an album inspired by The Lion King, and was later used in The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride, as well as the onstage production. It is a deeply spiritual track with themes of ancestry and history. Combined with the scenes it’s in, is one of the musical’s most moving pieces.