"The Lion King: The Gift" (frequently referred to as simply The Gift) is a soundtrack album created by American singer Beyoncé for the 2019 photorealistic animated remake of Disney's movie The Lion King and for Black Is King (2020).
It was released on July 19, 2019, by Parkwood Entertainment and Columbia Records. The album was also produced by Beyoncé and features African artists such as Wizkid, Shatta Wale, Burna Boy, Mr Eazi, Tiwa Savage, Tekno, Yemi Alade, Busiswa, Moonchild Sanelly and Salatiel, as well as appearances from Jay-Z, Blue Ivy Carter, Childish Gambino, Pharrell Williams, Kendrick Lamar, Tierra Whack, 070 Shake, and Jessie Reyez, among others.
Background and release[]
On July 9, 2019, it was revealed that Beyoncé produced and curated an album titled The Lion King: The Gift, which features new songs inspired by the film, as well as "Spirit" from the soundtrack. Beyoncé called the album "Sonic Cinema" and said that the film "Is a new experience of storytelling", and that the album "Is influenced by everything from R&B, Pop, Hip Hop and Afro Beat". Beyoncé also said that "[She] wanted to put everyone on their own journey to link the storyline" and that the songs were inspired by the remake's storyline, which "Gives the listener a chance to imagine their own imagery, while listening to a new contemporary interpretation". The songs were also produced by African producers, which Beyoncé said was because "Authenticity and heart were important to [her]", since the film is set in Africa.
Critical reception[]
At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received a weighted average score of 77, based on 13 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".
Writing for AllMusic, Neil Z. Yeung describes the album as "a buoyant hybrid of futuristic, cross-Atlantic Afro-pop", adding that the "expertly curated collection is an artistic showcase celebrating Africa and black musical traditions, elevating the movie experience with strategic thematic interludes that could help this album endure far longer than the film. " The Lion King: The Gift was chosen as The New York Times's Critic's Pick, with Jon Pareles writing that "Beyoncé flexes both her musicianship and her cultural leverage... It's her latest lesson in commandeering mass-market expectations, as she bends The Lion King to her own agenda of African-diaspora unity, self-worth, parental responsibility and righteous ambition." A.D. Amorosi for Variety praises the album as "a wild, wonderful offering dedicated to sounds and soul of the motherland", calling it an "offering to the idea of bringing connection to those who never realized such was possible, maintaining heritage in the face of aborted and abbreviated histories".
Accolades[]
At the 2019 Soul Train Music Awards, "Spirit" was nominated for Best Video of the Year and Best Dance Performance, while "Brown Skin Girl" was nominated for Best Collaboration and The Ashford & Simpson Songwriter's Award, winning the latter. The Lion King: The Gift was nominated for Best Pop Vocal Album at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards while "Spirit" received two nominations: for Best Pop Solo Performance and Best Song Written for Visual Media. "Brown Skin Girl" went on to Best Music Video at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards.
Vibe included The Gift on their list of the 30 best albums of 2019, while The Fader also included the release on their selections of the best albums of the same year. Both City Pages and Fuse included The Gift on their lists of the best albums of 2019, while Brooklyn Vegan listed the soundtrack at number 22 on their ranking of the best rap and R&B albums of the same year. In December 2020, PopMatters named The Lion King: The Gift (Deluxe Edition) the 9th best pop album of 2020.[1]
Tracklist[]
Standart Edition[]
- Balance (Mufasa Interlude)
- BIGGER
- The Stars (Mufasa Interlude)
- FIND YOUR WAY BACK
- Uncle Scar (Scar Interlude)
- DON'T JEALOUS ME
- Danger (Young Simba & Young Nala Interlude)
- JA ARA E
- Run Away (Scar & Young Simba Interlude)
- NILE
- New Lesson (Timon, Pumbaa & Young Simba Interlude)
- MOOD 4 EVA
- Reunited (Nala & Simba Interlude)
- WATER
- BROWN SKIN GIRL
- Come Home (Nala Interlude)
- KEYS TO THE KINGDOM
- Follow Me (Rafiki Interlude)
- ALREADY
- Remember (Mufasa Interlude)
- OTHERSIDE
- War (Nala Interlude)
- MY POWER
- Surrender (Simba & Scar Interlude)
- SCAR
- I'm Home (Mufasa, Sarabi & Simba Interlude)
- SPIRIT (From Disney's "The Lion King") Title
Deluxe Edition[]
- BIGGER
- FIND YOUR WAY BACK
- DON'T JEALOUS ME
- JA ARA E
- NILE
- MOOD 4 EVA
- WATER Title
- BROWN SKIN GIRL
- KEYS TO THE KINGDOM
- ALREADY Title
- OTHERSIDE
- MY POWER
- SCAR
- SPIRIT (From Disney's "The Lion King") Title
- BLACK PARADE (Extended Version) Title
- FIND YOUR WAY BACK (MeLo-X Remix) Title
- BLACK PARADE
Audio[]
Spotify[]