Other than the positively glowing earliest reactionsOpens in a new tab to Disney’s new live-action The Lion King, most critics have not exactly been fondOpens in a new tab of the film. Much of the criticism, including some reviews that have been downright scathingOpens in a new tab, has cited the conundrum that there’s only so much emoting photoreal animals can doOpens in a new tab. Of course, The Lion King isn’t just a movie, it’s a musical, so no matter how good or bad it looks, how much audiences enjoy its songs will play a large part in determining how much they like the whole movie. But you don’t have to wait to see the new The Lion King to find out how it will sound, because Disney has made the entire soundtrack available to stream right nowOpens in a new tab.
The 19-track album includes Hans Zimmer’s iconic score, plus the cast’s takes on classic tracks like”Hakuna Matata” and “The Lion Sleeps Tonight,” as well as Donald Glover and Beyoncé’s duetOpens in a new tab of “Can You Feel the Love Tonight,” which might be the best song on the album. Beyoncé’s original song “Spirit” is also included, as is the all new “Never Too Late” by Elton John, whose work on the 1994 original still stands us some of the best music in movie history. South African composer Lebo M also contributed two new songs, which close out the album.
Be prepared, though, because some criticc’ biggest disappointment with the new soundtrack is Scar’s “Be Prepared,” which is a lot shorter and less sing-y than Jeremy Irons’ originalOpens in a new tab. (I kinda dig this new version myself, but I also love everything Chiwetel Ejiofor does, so I might not be the best judge.)
Even if audiences don’t end up liking the movie, they might still end up liking this soundtrack. A real-looking cat might be limited in how much they can emote with their eyes, but that’s not a problem with humans singing.
Featured Image: Disney
