There are two versions of this song … the one from the animated Disney hit, The Lion King, and the Elton John version. I love both … as far as the music, I am partial to the Elton one, but I have to admit that I cannot watch the Disney version without a huge smile.
The Disney version was performed in the film by Kristle Edwards, Joseph Williams, Sally Dworsky, Nathan Lane, and Ernie Sabella, but the Elton version was played over the closing credits. The Elton version was performed by … well, Elton!
The song won the 1994 Academy Award for Best Original Song, and the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song. It also earned Elton John the Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance.
Working on The Lion King was a welcome opportunity for Elton, who had a say in how the songs he wrote for the film were used. He contributed most of the songs on the soundtrack, including Circle Of Life, which was also hit (Elton says that “Circle” is a better song and more deserving of the Academy Award).
Just a few years out of rehab, the soundtrack provided a career resurgence for Elton and led to more work writing for musicals – he would later write for Aida and Billy Elliot.
Elton wrote the music, Tim Rice wrote the lyrics. Rice made a name for himself putting lyrics to showtunes by Andrew Lloyd Webber. They wrote songs for Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ, Superstar, and Evita. Like Elton, Tim Rice has been knighted.
And now … heeeeeere’s Elton …
And, in case you need a bit of a warm, fuzzy glow, here’s the Lion King clip …
Can You Feel the Love Tonight
Elton John
There’s a calm surrender to the rush of day
When the heat of the rolling world can be turned away
An enchanted moment and it sees me through
It’s enough for this restless warrior just to be with you
And can you feel the love tonight? It is where we are
It’s enough for this wide-eyed wanderer that we got this far
And can you feel the love tonight? How it’s laid to rest
It’s enough to make kings and vagabonds believe the very best
There’s a time for everyone, if they only learn
That the twisting kaleidoscope moves us all in turn
There’s a rhyme and reason to the wild outdoors
When the heart of this star-crossed voyager beats in time with yours
And can you feel the love tonight? It is where we are
It’s enough for this wide-eyed wanderer that we got this far
And can you feel the love tonight? How it’s laid to rest
It’s enough to make kings and vagabonds believe the very best
It’s enough to make kings and vagabonds believe the very best
Songwriters: Elton John / Tim Rice
Can You Feel the Love Tonight lyrics © Walt Disney Music Company
Thanks, Jill. These are lovely. My daughter really loved that movie. 🙂 — Suzanne
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I’m so glad you liked them! It was a great movie, I thought, but every time I watched it, my heart broke when Mufasa died in the stampede. 😥
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That was kind of like the death of Bambi’s mother. 😦 — Suzanne
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Exactly!
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You’re really earning your pay recently pulling out my favourite artists like this. Not living with a young child it was a long time before I saw this film but I’d heard Elton sing the songs. I had to bite my tongue a bit when I did see it and not say ‘I don’t do musicals’ .Favourite Elton song…..You got to love someone. Can’t keep still.
Cwtch
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Why thank you! I’m happy you’ve been (mostly) pleased with my choices. I love that one (You Gotta Love Someone) also. So, did you actually manage to sit through the entirety of The Lion King? With Reuben, unless I miss my guess. I think I watched it at least 150 times with Miss Goose, and at one time could have recited the dialog word for word. 😉
Cwtch
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Thank you Jill. I admit I had a tear or two listening while watching the video. Hugs
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Awww … I’m glad you liked the song, but sorry if it made you cry. Hugs!!!
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My youngest was like a poster child for The Lion King. Toys, records.. we own the movie which I happily warched with him a hundred times. It was like a ritual of sorts. It did take a sombre turn when, while my oldest was in high school, a friend there committed suicide. It had been her favorite movie and she, too, had many stuffed toys which they placed in the casket. They also,played both of the main songs from the film..the Elton John versions. When I tell you it was the most heart wrenching funeral I have attended in my life, I am not exaggerating. People flowed out of the doors. I still love the songs and cling to the happy memories they have provided. PS. I refused to watch any of the sequel films. It would just ruin the perfection for me. Thanks for a lovely tune on this Saturday.
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What a tragic story!!! I imagine you picture that day in your mind every time you hear the song. I watched The Lion King at least 150 times, as well as Pooh’s Grand Adventure, with granddaughter Natasha (aka Miss Goose), and at one time could have recited the dialogue word for word. Like you, I have watched none of the sequels. I think when something is that good … leave well enough alone. But, Disney is in it for a profit … sigh.
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And they will rake it in. I did love the new Christopher Robin film. Ewan McGregor…..
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That is one that I AM planning to see … I’m glad to know you saw it and liked it! I’m waiting for it to come on DVD so that I can watch it with closed-captioning. I saw the trailer a month or two before it came out and was left wanting more!
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It was incredibly tender and touching and humorous. One I wish to own. If you love Pooh philosophy and Disney magic, you will love this film. Oh. Bring tissues…
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Yep, I love Pooh Philosophy and Disney magic, so this one is definitely for me! Thanks for the heads-up on the tissues!!!
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