00:00Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today, we're counting down our picks for the best and most iconic
00:15moments from one of Disney's most beloved film franchises, The Lion King.
00:19Heads up for minor spoilers.
00:30Number 10.
00:31Hakuna Matata, The Lion King.
00:46What a wonderful phrase.
00:47Written by Timon and Pumbaa, Simba's friends in exile, it's a perfect and entertaining
00:52encapsulation of their fancy free lifestyle.
00:55It also provides a comic backstory to Pumbaa.
00:58Hakuna Matata is actually a genuine Swahili phrase that means no worries.
01:03The animators had in fact picked up the term from a tour guide in Kenya, incorporating
01:07it into the film.
01:14Composed by Elton John with lyrics by Tim Rice, this theme became one of Disney's best
01:18and most iconic hits.
01:20With its simple and easy charm, it's easy to see why this song has permeated pop culture.
01:36Number 9.
01:38The Lion King One and a Half.
01:46Quick before the hyenas come.
01:48This film, obviously inspired by Tom Stoppard's Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, follows
01:53Timon and Pumbaa's perspective of the events of The Lion King, hence the half portion of
01:58the title.
01:59Written by Seth Friedman and Martin Erskine, the song introduces Timon's meerkat colony
02:03and sums up their way of life in the catchiest way possible.
02:12This earworm is undoubtedly one of the highlights of this midquel, which has the advantage of
02:16better than usual animation.
02:18Either way, it's going to be stuck in our heads for a while, and for a direct-to-video
02:22sequel, the music is not half bad.
02:34Number 8.
02:35Remember Who You Are.
02:37The Lion King.
02:42The original film always wore its Hamlet inspiration on its sleeve, or at least it did when Disney
02:47CEO Michael Eisner felt the story could use some Shakespearean gravitas, and the production
02:52team realized their story did resemble Hamlet a great deal.
02:55Hence we get this powerful scene, where the traumatized layabout Simba is visited by the
02:59ghost of his father.
03:12The animation of Mufasa's apparition in the clouds is no less than stunning.
03:16James Earl Jones' sonorous voice gives solemnity to this unforgettable dialogue.
03:21It makes it all the more satisfying when Simba finally does confront his past and return
03:25to Pride Rock.
03:35Number 7.
03:36Not One of Us.
03:37The Lion King 2 Simba's Pride.
03:46Speaking of Shakespeare, we turn now to Romeo and Juliet.
03:50This sequel takes its story from that timeless tale of star-crossed lovers, with Simba's
03:54daughter Kiara falling in love with Kovu, a lion from Scar's Pride, the Outsiders.
03:59When the Outsiders try to kill Simba, immediate suspicion lands on Kovu, and an angry Simba
04:04orders Kovu's exile.
04:06This number, written by Jack Feldman and Tom Snow, is one of the strongest in the sequel,
04:21expressing the animal's sense of betrayal and Kovu's ostracization.
04:24The animation is even inspired.
04:26Kovu seeing Scar's face in the water's reflection was a stroke of genius that recalls the first
04:32movie.
04:33And that deception lives rent-free in our heads.
04:44Number 6.
04:45Can You Feel the Love Tonight?
04:46The Lion King.
04:58The most successful banger from this franchise, however, has to be this romantic ballad.
05:04Written by Elton John with lyrics by Tim Rice, childhood friends Simba and Nala reunite and
05:08fall in love.
05:09It's a lovely sequence, with dreamy vocals and brilliant color.
05:13It's also surprisingly sensual for a kids' movie.
05:16The song itself was a huge hit, winning the Academy Award for Best Original Song.
05:21Elton John also released his own piano ballad version, which reached number four on the
05:26Billboard Hot 100.
05:37Both sets of lyrics by Rice are an eloquent, poignant love song.
05:40It has since become one of Disney's treasured love songs.
05:43It's enough to make kings and vagabonds believe the very best.
05:57Number 5.
05:58He Lives in You.
06:00The Lion King 2 Simba's Pride.
06:11It's always great when a sequel ties back to the original film.
06:14Rafiki's poignant words to Simba became the title of the opening song in the sequel.
06:19In this sequence, Simba and Nala present their daughter, Kiara, while the spirit of Mufasa
06:23watches from above.
06:24The opening may not be as epic as the first film, but the song's lyrical sweetness is
06:29winning and refreshing.
06:38Written by Lebo M, Mark Mancina and Jay Rifkin, the song even went on to feature in The Lion
06:43King musical, first sung by Mufasa, then reprised by Rafiki.
06:47It's always nice for a song to come back around, almost like a circle of life.
07:00Number 4.
07:01Simba Ascends.
07:03The Lion King We're not crying, there's just something
07:13in our eye.
07:14After Simba's defeat of Scar and his death by Hyena, Simba finally becomes king of Pride
07:19Rock.
07:20This scene best exemplifies the power of not only stunning animation, with its transition
07:25from rain to brilliant summer, but of terrific music.
07:35Hans Zimmer's poignant score begins with mournful strings, a reprise of Mufasa's death
07:40theme, before the triumphant chorus greets Simba's ascent.
07:43With European classical gravitas combined with African power and harmony, the score
07:48segues seamlessly into a reprise of Circle of Life.
07:51And all without barely a word or two spoken, it's definitely one of Disney's best and
07:56most epic endings.
08:09Number 3.
08:10Be Prepared.
08:11The Lion King
08:20What is it about Disney villain songs that makes them not only consistently good, but
08:24a highlight of the whole film?
08:26In this case, there is only one answer.
08:28Tim Rice.
08:29Just kidding.
08:30Jeremy Irons' performance is no less than powerful.
08:33Before his voice gave out and Jim Cummings took over, that is.
08:36But it's Rice's slyly urbane style that really sells Scar's opportunism.
08:48punchy rhymes and sophisticated vocabulary.
08:51With eye-catching animation, lurid green smoke, and goose-stepping hyenas, Scar's villainous
08:57showcase is a winner on all levels.
08:59We're always prepared to listen to this number.
09:15Number 2.
09:16Mufasa's Death.
09:17The Lion King
09:18Ah, children's movies.
09:27What's not to like?
09:28They're fun, exciting, lovely at times, and sometimes absolutely traumatic.
09:33If you were lucky and unfortunate to have been a kid watching The Lion King for the
09:37first time, it's absolutely guaranteed that Mufasa's death has left some permanent marks
09:42in your psyche.
09:43It's not so much Scar's cold-blooded murder of him, although that was heartbreaking enough
09:47as it is.
09:59But it's Simba's attempts to revive him, first in denial and then in grief, that really bring
10:04out the waterworks.
10:05Hans Zimmer's theme during this sequence is one of the most poignant in the film.
10:20Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
10:24My Lullaby.
10:25The Lion King 2 Simba's Pride.
10:28Because while this song may be bloody, it kind of works for us.
10:41Simba vs. Scar.
10:42The Lion King.
10:43Because this epic fight is fire.
10:55I Just Can't Wait To Be King.
10:57The Lion King.
10:59Because if this is where the monarchy is headed, count us in.
11:14Love Will Find A Way.
11:15The Lion King 2 Simba's Pride.
11:18Because Kovu and Kiara are couple goals.
11:31Everything The Light Touches.
11:32The Lion King.
11:34Because James Earl Jones' performance cannot be bested.
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11:59Circle Of Life.
12:00The Lion King.
12:12The scene that truly makes The Lion King, well, The Lion King has to be this beloved
12:17opening.
12:18A sequence deeply ingrained in our cultural consciousness, and definitely one of the best
12:22openings to a Disney film, there is not a moment that isn't iconic.
12:26From the beautiful sunrise, to Leboem's Zulu chant, to the procession of the animals,
12:31to Zazu's arrival, it's breathtaking.
12:39But the climax of the song, with the presentation of Simba by Rafiki, truly elevates this opening.
12:45It's a tour de force on all levels, animation, music, and performance.
13:02Which other moment from The Lion King makes your heart soar?
13:05Let us know in the comments below.
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