Hakuna Matata (song)

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“Hakuna Matata”
“Hakuna Matata” cover
Single by Jimmy Cliff
Released 1995
Format CD single
CD maxi
Recorded 1995
Genre Soundtrack
Length 4:24
Label Polydor
Writer(s) Elton John
Tim Rice
Producer Jay Rifkin
Fabian Cooke
Mark Mancina
Certification Silver France, 1995
Alternate cover
CD-Maxi
CD-Maxi

"Hakuna Matata" is a song from Disney's 32nd animated feature The Lion King. It is characterized by its simple 4/4 time, upbeat message and catchy lyrics.

Contents

[edit] Music

The musical score was written by Elton John and the lyrics by Tim Rice. In the film the song is sung by Timon (a meerkat voiced by Nathan Lane), Pumbaa (a warthog voiced by Ernie Sabella), and Simba, a young lion voiced by Jonathan Taylor Thomas (as a cub) and Matthew Broderick (as an adult). The two main comedy characters in the film, (Timon and Pumbaa), try and convince Simba to forget his troubled past and forget his worries. The song also provides a backstory for Pumbaa, explaining that he was ostracized from animal society for his excessive flatulence. It contains several breaks at which the music grinds to a halt and then starts again. It makes use of a large proportion of the orchestra as well as many other more unusual instruments including an elaborate drum kit.

The Broadway version of the song is slightly modified (especially concerning the instruments used) but remains very similar to the original.

The song was performed by Jimmy Cliff featuring Lebo M.

[edit] Early production

The song was based on an earlier song written early on in the production stage called "The Warthog Rhapsody".[citation needed] Although the two songs shared the same message and position in the film, when Elton and Tim began to work on the music the song was completely rewritten and it eventually evolved into "Hakuna Matata".

[edit] Meaning

Hakuna matata is a Swahili phrase that is frequently translated as "no worries". In a bonus features of The Lion King Special Edition DVD, the film's production team claims that it picked up the term from a tour guide while on safari in Tanzania.[citation needed] It was then developed into an ideology that, along with the seemingly antithetical value of duty to the monarchy, is central to the moral content of the film.[citation needed]

[edit] Success

The song proved enormously popular and was nominated for Best Song at the Academy Awards in 1995 and lost only to "Can You Feel the Love Tonight", one of three Lion King song nominations (the other was "Circle of Life").[1] It was also ranked 99th in the AFI's list of the 100 best American movie songs of all time.[2]

A shortened version of "Hakuna Matata" was used as the theme song of the spinoff Timon & Pumbaa TV show.

[edit] Track listings

CD-Single
  1. "Hakuna Matata" (4:24)
  2. "He Lives in You" (4:50)
CD-Maxi
  1. "Hakuna Matata" (Rap Version) (3:50)
  2. "Warthog Rhapsody" - by Nathan Lane & Ernie Sabella (3:06)
  3. "Hakuna Matata" (Album Version) (4:24)

[edit] Charts

Chart (1995)[3] [4] Peak
position
Belgian (Flanders) Singles Chart 46
Belgian (Wallonia) Singles Chart 6
Dutch Singles Chart 10
French Singles Chart 7
Swiss Singles Chart 32
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles 5
US Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks 26

[edit] In popular culture

 This section does not cite any references or sources. (May 2008)
Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed.
  • In one of Disney's many self references, the "Hakuna Matata" song can be heard briefly in the 1995 Pixar film Toy Story, in which it was played on Andy's car while Molly sees Woody and Buzz Lightyear through one of the sideview mirrors.
  • Bunny Wailer covered the song on Reggae for Kids: Movie Classics.
  • In the Seinfeld episode "The Merv Griffin Show", Elaine says that she was caught in the office singing "Hakuna Matata".
  • In the film Mouse Hunt, Ernie Smuntz (Nathan Lane) bows to a sheik who is seeking to bid for his home and greets him with the words "Hakuna matata," a reference to Nathan Lane's portrayal of Timon.

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Academy Awards Database. Retrieved on 2008-05-02.
  2. ^ American Film Institute (2004). The Top Movie Songs of All Time (PDF). Retrieved on 2008-05-22.
  3. ^ JIMMY CLIFF & LEBO M. - HAKUNA MATATA (CHANSON). Lescharts.com. Retrieved on 2008-05-05.
  4. ^ JIMMY CLIFF singles. Billboard.com. Retrieved on 2008-05-05.
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