The Lion King: The Gift

2019 soundtrack album by Beyoncé

The Lion King: The Gift (sometimes shortened to The Gift) is a soundtrack album by American singer Beyoncé for the 2019 live action remake of The Lion King[3][4][5] and for Black Is King (2020). It was released on July 19, 2019, by Parkwood Entertainment and Columbia Records.[1] 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.[6][7]

The Lion King: The Gift
Soundtrack album by
Beyoncé and various artists
ReleasedJuly 19, 2019
Recorded2019
StudioNRG Recording
Genre
Length54:00
Label
Producer
Beyoncé chronology
Homecoming: The Live Album
(2019)
The Lion King: The Gift
(2019)
Renaissance
(2022)
Singles from The Lion King: The Gift
  1. "Spirit"
    Released: July 10, 2019
  2. "Brown Skin Girl"
    Released: July 23, 2019[2]
  3. "Black Parade"
    Released: June 19, 2020

Critical reception change

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic77/100[8]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [9]
Consequence of SoundB−[10]
The Daily Telegraph     [11]
Entertainment WeeklyB−[12]
The Guardian     [13]
HipHopDX4.3/5[14]
NME     [15]
Pitchfork7.3/10[16]
Rolling Stone     [17]
Variety8.4/10[18]

The Lion King: The Gift received generally favorable reviews from music critics, many who liked the combination of Afrobeats, hip hop and R&B musical genres.[8]

Deluxe edition change

On July 31, 2020, with the release of Black is King, Beyoncé released a deluxe edition of the album. The album includes all the tracks that were in the film as well as three new tracks. This includes the standard and extended versions of "Black Parade", which was released on June 19; the extended version of the song was only available on Tidal up until the album's release. The other track included is a remix of "Find Your Way Back" by MeLo-X.

Track listing change

Credits adapted from Beyoncé's website.[19] All tracks were produced by Beyoncé and Derek Dixie, except where noted.

The Lion King: The Gift – standard edition
No. TitleProducer(s) Length
1. "Balance (Mufasa Interlude)" (James Earl Jones)  0:43
2. "Bigger" (Beyoncé)  3:46
3. "The Stars (Mufasa Interlude)" (James Earl Jones)  0:46
4. "Find Your Way Back" (Beyoncé)
  • Beyoncé
  • Bubele Boii
  • Magwenzi
  • Dixie[b]
  • Guilty Beatz[b]
2:42
5. "Uncle Scar (Scar Interlude)" (performed by Chiwetel Ejiofor)  0:13
6. "Don't Jealous Me" (Tekno, Lord Afrixana,[20] Yemi Alade and Mr Eazi)
2:35
7. "Danger (Young Simba & Young Nala Interlude)" (JD McCrary and Shahadi Wright Joseph)  0:16
8. "Ja Ara E" (Burna Boy)
  • Beyoncé
  • P2J
  • Dixie[b]
3:10
9. "Run Away (Scar & Young Simba Interlude)" (JD McCrary and Chiwetel Ejiofor)  0:29
10. "Nile" (Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar)
1:47
11. "New Lesson (Timon, Pumbaa & Young Simba Interlude)" (Billy Eichner, Seth Rogen and JD McCrary)  0:53
12. "Mood 4 Eva" (Beyoncé, Jay-Z and Childish Gambino featuring Oumou Sangaré) 4:32
13. "Reunited (Nala & Simba Interlude)" (Beyoncé and Donald Glover)  0:09
14. "Water" (Salatiel, Pharrell and Beyoncé)
  • Beyoncé
  • P2J
2:32
15. "Brown Skin Girl" (Beyoncé, Saint Jhn and Wizkid featuring Blue Ivy Carter)
  • Beyoncé
  • P2J
  • Dixie[b]
4:08
16. "Come Home (Nala Interlude)" (Beyonce)  0:14
17. "Keys to the Kingdom" (Tiwa Savage and Mr Eazi)
3:18
18. "Follow Me (Rafiki Interlude)" (Donald Glover and John Kani)  0:31
19. "Already" (Beyoncé, Shatta Wale and Major Lazer)
  • Beyoncé
  • Diplo
  • Picard Brothers
  • Guilty Beatz[a]
3:42
20. "Remember (Mufasa Interlude)" (James Earl Jones)  0:45
21. "Otherside" (Beyoncé)
3:39
22. "War (Nala Interlude)" (Beyoncé)  0:18
23. "My Power" (Beyoncé, Nija, Busiswa, Yemi Alade, Tierra Whack, Moonchild Sanelly and DJ Lag) 4:19
24. "Surrender (Simba & Scar Interlude)" (Donald Glover and Chiwetel Ejiofor)  0:14
25. "Scar" (070 Shake and Jessie Reyez)
3:06
26. "I'm Home (Mufasa, Sarabi & Simba Interlude)" (performed by James Earl Jones, Alfre Woodard and Donald Glover)  0:43
27. "Spirit" (performed by Beyoncé)
4:33
Total length:
54:00

Notes

  • ^[a] signifies a co-producer
  • ^[b] signifies an additional producer
  • ^[c] signifies an uncredited additional producer
  • ^[d] signifies a producer credited on the extended version of the song
  • All song titles are stylized in all caps
  • All interlude titles are stylized in all lowercase
  • "Bigger" features vocals by Raye
  • "Spirit" features background vocals by Labrinth, Ilya, Jamal Moore, Maurice Smith, J Rome, Derrick Charles, DeP, George Young, Vernon Burris, TJ Wilkins, Andre Washington, Mabvuto Carpenter, Jason Morales, Johnny Gilmore, Stevie Notes, Marcus Eldridge, Edward Lawson, and Steve Epting

Sample credits change

  • "Find Your Way Back" contains elements of "Maradona", written by Sarz and performed by Niniola.
  • "Mood 4 Eva" contains elements of "Diaraby Nene" written and performed by Oumou Sangaré; contains an interpolation of "Sweet Green Fields" written by Jimmy Seals; contains an interpolation of "(Think) About It" written by James Brown.

References change

  1. 1.0 1.1 "Beyoncé Produces And Performs On Multi-Artist Album "The Lion King: The Gift"". PR Newswire. July 9, 2019. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
  2. "Top 40/R Future Releases". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on July 23, 2019. Retrieved July 24, 2019.
  3. Giorgis, Hannah (July 19, 2019). "The Blind Spot of Beyoncé's Lion King Soundtrack". The Atlantic. Retrieved July 20, 2019.
  4. Nolfi, Joey (July 19, 2019). "Listen to Beyoncé's Lion King: The Gift album featuring Jay-Z, Pharrell, more". EW. Retrieved July 20, 2019.
  5. McCarthy, Kelly (July 16, 2019). "Beyoncé explains how she created a new music genre for 'The Lion King' album". Good Morning America. Retrieved July 20, 2019.
  6. "Stream Beyoncé's 'The Lion King: The Gift' Album f/ JAY-Z, Kendrick, Childish Gambino, and More". Complex. July 19, 2019. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
  7. Eaglin, Maya (July 19, 2019). "Beyoncé Enlists Hip-Hop A-List And Global Artists For 'The Lion King: The Gift'". NPR. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
  8. 8.0 8.1 "The Lion King: The Gift by Beyoncé Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
  9. Yeung, Neil Z. (April 17, 2019). "The Lion King: The Gift - Beyoncé | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  10. Graves, Wren (July 23, 2019). "Beyoncé, Disney, and a Pack of Guests Struggle to Find Balance on The Lion King: The Gift". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
  11. McCormick, Neil (July 19, 2019). "Beyoncé, The Lion King: The Gift, review – All hail the lion queen". The Telegraph. Retrieved July 24, 2019.
  12. Josephs, Brian. "Beyoncé's The Lion King: The Gift tries to do a bit too much". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved July 24, 2019.
  13. Petridis, Alexis (July 19, 2019). "Beyoncé: The Lion King: The Gift review – superstar shows impeccable taste". The Guardian. Retrieved July 24, 2019.
  14. Giacomazzo, Bernadette (July 25, 2019). "Review: Beyoncé's "The Lion King: The Gift" Album Pads Her Legacy". HipHopDX. Retrieved July 25, 2019.
  15. Balram, Dhruva (July 22, 2019). "Beyoncé – 'Lion King: The Gift' review". NME. Retrieved July 24, 2019.
  16. Kim, Michelle. "Various Artists The Lion King: The Gift". Pitchfork. Retrieved July 24, 2019.
  17. Schwartz, Danny. "'The Lion King: The Gift' is Beyonce's Love Letter to Blackness". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 24, 2019.
  18. Amorosi, A. D. (July 19, 2019). "Album Review: Beyoncé's 'The Lion King: The Gift'". Variety. United States. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
  19. "Beyoncé: THE LION KING: THE GIFT (2019)". Beyonce.com. Archived from the original on July 20, 2019. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
  20. 20.0 20.1 "Beyoncé: THE LION KING: THE GIFT: Credits: THE LION KING: THE GIFT". Archived from the original on August 5, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
  21. "Beyoncé – The Lion King: The Gift [Deluxe Edition]". Apple Music. July 31, 2020. Retrieved July 31, 2020.