I Just Can't Wait to Be King

Last updated
"I Just Can't Wait to Be King"
Song by Jason Weaver with Rowan Atkinson and Laura Williams
from the album The Lion King
ReleasedJune 12, 1994
Recorded1992 [1]
Genre Worldbeat, rock and roll
Length2:49
Label Walt Disney
Composer(s) Elton John
Lyricist(s) Tim Rice
Producer(s) Mark Mancina

"I Just Can't Wait to Be King" is a song written by Elton John (music) and Tim Rice (lyrics) for the Disney animated feature film The Lion King (1994). The song was performed in 1992 by American actor and singer Jason Weaver as the singing voice of young Simba, with English actor Rowan Atkinson and American actress Laura Williams providing supporting vocals in their roles as Zazu and the singing voice of young Nala, respectively. [2]

Contents

The song was featured in the 2019 film adaptation, performed by JD McCrary, Shahadi Wright Joseph, and John Oliver.

Analysis

The song is "An ode to youthful arrogance, invincibility and above all, impatience". [3]

Critical reception

The New York Times Film Reviews 1993–1994 deemed the song to be derivative as well as "cute, lilting [and] safe", and likened the song to Michael Jackson singing "Under the Sea". [4] The Cavalier Daily also compared the song to those from The Little Mermaid , [5] and Popdust compared it to Billy Joel's "River of Dreams". [3]

The New York Times Theater Reviews 1997–1998 felt that the song was "conventionally comic and upbeat". [6] Lakeland Ledger wrote that it is a "dazzling Busby Berkeley-style dancefest" with a "Rockettes kickline". [7] It has been described as "strutting", [8] "bouncy", [9] "grand", [10] and a "hubris-filled fantasy song". [11] News.com deemed it the underdog song of The Lion King, adding "this showstopper about the future didn't get the accolades its brethren received." [12]

Less favorable reviews have described the song as "irritating" and not very "thematically rich". [13] Popdust ranked the song 5 out of 6 songs in the film, and BoingBoing listed it as the 11th best "I Want" song in the Disney repertoire. [3] The Cavalier Daily deemed the Elton John reworking "uneventful and boring". [5]

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI) [14] Platinum600,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI) [15]
JD McCrary, Shahadi Wright Joseph, and John Oliver version 		Silver200,000‡
United States (RIAA) [16] 2× Platinum2,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Context

In film

"I Just Can't Wait to Be King" is a large contrast from the film's non-musical segments; the onset of the song sees a change from a neutral color palette. [17] The song is performed near the beginning of the film by a young Simba and Nala as to enunciate Simba's desires to become King. It is a prelude to Simba's lost innocence, being tricked into thinking he killed his father, his leaving Pride Rock, and attempt to forget his past.

Direct-to-video prequel

It also appears in DisneyToon's 2004 direct-to-video followup The Lion King 1½ . Timon and Pumbaa are disturbed by some noise from outside of their home, which is actually Simba, Nala, and the animals singing this musical number. Timon is angry and hits the leg of an elephant supporting the tower of animals with a stick. The elephant jumps in surprise and causes the tower to collapse, explaining why it collapses in the original film. Timon and Pumbaa's home is ruined by this event.

In musical

The song appears in the Broadway show and is performed by Scott Irby-Ranniar, Kajuana Shuford, and Geoff Hoyle on the 1997 Original Cast Recording. In the Spanish language version of The Lion King, "I Just Can't Wait to be King" was performed by Mexican singer and entertainer Kalimba. Elton John himself also recorded his own version of the song for the film's soundtrack.

Cover versions

Related Research Articles

<i>The Lion King</i> 1994 American animated film

The Lion King is a 1994 American animated musical coming-of-age drama film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released by Buena Vista Pictures Distribution under the Walt Disney Pictures banner. The film was directed by Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff and produced by Don Hahn, from a screenplay written by Irene Mecchi, Jonathan Roberts, and Linda Woolverton. The film features an ensemble voice cast that includes Matthew Broderick, Moira Kelly, James Earl Jones, Jeremy Irons, Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Niketa Calame, Nathan Lane, Ernie Sabella, Whoopi Goldberg, Cheech Marin, Rowan Atkinson, and Robert Guillaume. Its original songs were written by composer Elton John and lyricist Tim Rice, with a score by Hans Zimmer. Inspired by African wildlife, the story is modelled primarily on William Shakespeare's stage play Hamlet with some influence from the Biblical stories of Joseph and Moses, and follows a young heir apparent who is forced to flee after his uncle kills his father and usurps the throne. After growing up in exile, the rightful king returns to challenge the usurper and end his tyrannical rule over the kingdom.

<i>The Lion King II: Simbas Pride</i> 1998 animated film

The Lion King II: Simba's Pride is a 1998 American animated direct-to-video musical drama film produced by Walt Disney Video Premiere. It is the sequel to Disney's 1994 animated film, The Lion King, with its plot influenced by William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, and the second installment in The Lion King trilogy.

<i>Timon & Pumbaa</i> (TV series) 1995 American animated television series by Disney

The Lion King's Timon & Pumbaa is an American animated buddy comedy television series produced by Walt Disney Television Animation. It was based on Disney's 1994 animated feature film The Lion King, centering on Timon the meerkat and Pumbaa the warthog as they continue to live by their problem-free philosophy hakuna matata. Compared to most other The Lion King media, the tone of the series is more slapstick comedy-oriented.

<i>The Lion King 1½</i> 2004 animated Disney film

The Lion King 1½ is a 2004 American animated direct-to-video musical comedy film directed by Bradley Raymond, produced by DisneyToon Studios and released on February 10, 2004. The third installment in the Lion King franchise, the film is both a prequel and a sidequel to The Lion King, focusing on the supporting characters Timon and Pumbaa. A majority of the voice cast from the first film returns to reprise their roles, including Nathan Lane and Ernie Sabella as the voices of Timon and Pumbaa, respectively. The film's structure is inspired by Tom Stoppard's Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, a tragicomedy that tells the story of Hamlet from the point of view of two minor characters. The Lion King 1½ received generally positive reviews from critics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Simba</span> Main character of The Lion King

Simba is a fictional character and the main protagonist of Disney's The Lion King franchise. First appearing as a lion cub in The Lion King (1994), the character flees his homeland when his father, King Mufasa, is killed by his treacherous uncle, Scar. Several years later, Simba returns home as an adult to reconcile his childhood trauma, confront Scar, and reclaim his rightful place as King of the Pride Lands. He subsequently appears in sequels The Lion King II: Simba's Pride and The Lion King 1½. Simba was originally voiced by actors Matthew Broderick and Jonathan Taylor Thomas as an adult and cub, respectively; various actors have voiced the character in sequels, spin-offs, and related media.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Can You Feel the Love Tonight</span> 1994 song from Disneys The Lion King

"Can You Feel the Love Tonight" is a song from Disney's 1994 animated feature film The Lion King composed by English musician Elton John with lyrics by Tim Rice. Released as a single in May 1994, the song was a hit in the UK, peaking at number 14 on the UK Singles Chart, and achieved success in the United States, reaching number four on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was a number-one hit in Canada and France. At the 67th Academy Awards in March 1995, it won the Academy Award for Best Original Song. The same year, the song also won John the Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. Completing a trifecta, the song also won a Golden Globe at the 52nd Golden Globe Awards held in 1995 for Best Song - Motion Picture.

<i>The Lion King</i> (musical) Musical

The Lion King is a stage musical with music by Elton John, lyrics by Tim Rice, and a book by Roger Allers and Irene Mecchi, with additional music and lyrics by Lebo M, Mark Mancina, Jay Rifkin, Julie Taymor, and Hans Zimmer. It is based on the 1994 Walt Disney Animation Studios' film of the same name. Directed by Taymor, the musical features actors in animal costumes as well as giant, hollow puppets. The show is produced by Disney Theatrical Productions.

Nala (<i>The Lion King</i>) Fictional character from The Lion King franchise

Nala is a fictional character in Disney's The Lion King franchise. Introduced in The Lion King (1994), Nala subsequently appears as a less prominent character in The Lion King II: Simba's Pride (1998) and The Lion King 1½ (2004), and serves as a recurring character in The Lion Guard (2015–2019) television series. In the original animated film trilogy, the adult Nala is voiced by American actress Moira Kelly. Young Nala's speaking voice in the original film is provided by actress Niketa Calame, while singers Laura Williams and Sally Dworsky provide the singing voices of young and adult Nala respectively. Nala is introduced as the daughter of an unnamed lion and Sarafina, the best friend of Simba, and ultimately becomes his wife as well as the daughter-in-law of Mufasa and Sarabi and the niece-in-law of Scar by the end of The Lion King. Nala becomes Simba's wife as well as his Queen Consort. Nala is also the mother of Kiara and Kion, and in The Lion King: Six New Adventures, she is the mother of Kopa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Timon and Pumbaa</span> Fictional meerkat and warthog duo from Disneys The Lion King franchise

Timon and Pumbaa are an animated meerkat and Warthog duo introduced in Disney's 1994 animated feature film The Lion King and its franchise. Timon was played through his many appearances by Nathan Lane, Max Casella, Kevin Schon, Quinton Flynn, Bruce Lanoil in the Wild About Safety shorts and Kingdom Hearts II, while Pumbaa is voiced by Ernie Sabella, and was portrayed by Tom Alan Robbins in the original cast of the Broadway musical. In the CGI remake, the characters are portrayed by Billy Eichner and Seth Rogen, respectively. Nathan Lane and Ernie Sabella first came to audition for the roles of the hyenas, but when the producers saw how well they worked together, they decided to cast them as Timon and Pumbaa.

"Be Prepared" is a song written by Elton John and Tim Rice from Disney's 1994 animated feature film The Lion King. The song was originally performed in this film by Jeremy Irons and Jim Cummings, with Whoopi Goldberg and Cheech Marin providing supporting vocals.

There have been seven theme park live adaptations of The Lion King at Disney Parks since the Disney animated feature film The Lion King was released by Walt Disney Animation Studios in 1994. These have included a parade, two theater-in-the-round shows, and four stage shows.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hakuna Matata (song)</span> 1994 song from The Lion King film

"Hakuna Matata" is a song from Disney's 1994 animated feature film The Lion King. The music was written by Elton John with lyrics by Tim Rice. The song is based on Timon and Pumbaa's catchphrase in the movie, Hakuna matata, a Swahili phrase meaning "No worry(ies)".

The Lion King is a Disney media franchise comprising a film series and additional media. The success of animated original 1994 American feature film, The Lion King, directed by Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff, led to a direct-to-video sequel and prequel, a live-action remake in 2019, a television film sequel, two spin-off television series, three educational shorts, several video games, merchandise, and the third-longest-running musical in Broadway history, which garnered six Tony Awards including Best Musical. The franchise is one of the highest-grossing media franchises of all time. The franchise as a whole has EGOT-ed, meaning it has won the four biggest awards of American show business.

<i>The Lion Guard</i> 2016 TV series by Ford Riley

The Lion Guard is an American animated television series developed by Ford Riley and based on Disney's 1994 film The Lion King. The series was first broadcast with a television film titled The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar on Disney Channel on November 22, 2015, and began airing as a TV series on January 15, 2016, on Disney Junior. It is the second television series to be based on The Lion King, the first being The Lion King's Timon & Pumbaa (1995–1999). The Lion Guard is a sequel and spin-off to The Lion King, and takes place during the time-gap within the 1998 direct-to-video sequel The Lion King II: Simba's Pride, while the third and final season takes place in parallel with the film's second act, with the final two episodes serving as an epilogue.

<i>The Lion King</i> (2019 film) 2019 Disney film by Jon Favreau

The Lion King is a 2019 American musical drama film that is a photorealistically animated remake of the traditionally-animated 1994 film The Lion King. Directed by Jon Favreau, written by Jeff Nathanson, and produced by Walt Disney Pictures and Fairview Entertainment, the film stars the voices of Donald Glover, Seth Rogen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Alfre Woodard, Billy Eichner, John Kani, John Oliver, Florence Kasumba, Eric André, Keegan-Michael Key, JD McCrary, Shahadi Wright Joseph, with Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, and James Earl Jones. The plot follows Simba, a young lion who must embrace his role as the rightful king of his homeland following the murder of his father, Mufasa, at the hands of his uncle, Scar.

Timon and Pumbaa's Virtual Safari is a series of interactive virtual games that were included as bonus-features within several of Disney's The Lion King-related DVD releases throughout the 2000's. The series of games centers on Timon and Pumbaa going on a variety of safari adventures. The Virtual Safari games are a cross between the Jungle Cruise and Indiana Jones-related Disney theme park rides along with Kilimanjaro Safaris. Players press the left or right arrow buttons on their DVD player's remote at decision making points to decide which way the vehicle travels.

<i>Mufasa: The Lion King</i> Upcoming film directed by Barry Jenkins

Mufasa: The Lion King is an upcoming American musical drama film directed by Barry Jenkins from a screenplay written by Jeff Nathanson. Produced by Walt Disney Pictures, the film is photorealistically animated, and both a prequel and sequel to the 2019 remake of the 1994 film The Lion King. Donald Glover, Seth Rogen, Billy Eichner, John Kani, and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter reprise their roles from the remake; new cast members include Aaron Pierre, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Tiffany Boone, Mads Mikkelsen, Thandiwe Newton, Lennie James, Anika Noni Rose, and Blue Ivy Carter in her feature film debut.

Matewa Media is a New Zealand production company that dubs Disney animated films into the Māori language.

References

  1. ↑ https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/24/movies/lion-king-simba-jason-weaver.html#:~:text=During%20an%20hour%2Dand%2Da,pridelands%20from%20his%20father%2C%20Mufasa.
  2. ↑ "Lion King Production Notes" (Press release). Walt Disney Pictures. 1994-05-25. Retrieved 2008-08-05.
  3. 1 2 3 "Ranking the Songs From "The Lion King"". Popdust.
  4. ↑ Times, N. Y. (1996). The New York Times Film Reviews 1993-1994. Garland Publishing, Incorporated. ISBN   9780824075934.
  5. 1 2 "The Cavalier Daily - Google News Archive Search". google.com.
  6. ↑ Smith, C. S. (13 October 2014). The New York Times Theater Reviews 1997-1999. Routledge. ISBN   9781136750335.
  7. ↑ "Lakeland Ledger - Google News Archive Search". google.com.
  8. ↑ "'The Lion King 3D' review". Digital Spy.
  9. ↑ AOL. "'Lion King' Actress Shannon Tavarez Dies at 11". PopEater.
  10. ↑ Staff Writer (8 June 2013). "The Lion King – A Review - Stabroek News". Stabroek News.
  11. ↑ "Review: Kroll Show: "Karaoke Bullies" · TV Club · The A.V. Club". avclub.com. 4 February 2015.
  12. ↑ "The best and most underrated songs from your favourite Disney films". NewsComAu.
  13. ↑ "All of Disney's "I Want" songs, ranked". Boing Boing. 17 April 2015.
  14. ↑ "British single certifications – Jason Weaver – I Just Can't Wait to Be King". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved June 13, 2022.
  15. ↑ "British single certifications – Mccrary/Wright Joseph/Oliver – I Just Can't Wait to Be King". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved September 16, 2024.
  16. ↑ "American single certifications – Jason Weaver – I Just Can't Wait to Be King". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  17. ↑ "Lighting Dimensions". Lighting Dimensions Associates. 22: 83. 1998.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.