The Lion King- Music and Stories

Background

Hi people. I had such a great time with the music and stories theme from last week that I’ve decided to do that topic again for this week. However, this week we will be focusing on one of the best Disney films ever made, The Lion King. The Lion King  is basically a retelling of the story Hamlet. The movie focuses on a young lion named Simba who is supposed to become king of the pride lands.  Simba runs away after Scar, Simba’s uncle, murders Simba’s father to gain control of the kingdom. While Scar is ruling the pride lands suffer and the animals run out of food. Simba is then prompted to return and challenge Scar for the throne (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lion_King)

“The Circle of Life” in Context

While there are many great songs in The Lion King  I have chosen to look at the opening song The Circle of Life. The Circle of Life was released on August 9, 1994 by Disney. Elton John wrote the music to the song, and Tim Rice wrote the lyrics. The Circle of Life was produced by Hans Zimmer, Mark Mancina, Jay Rifkin, and Chris Thomas (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circle_of_Life).

The Circle of Life is the opening to The Lion King. Through this song we are introduced to the African setting and the main characters. The specific context of the scene that the song is playing is that Simba is being shown to the kingdom as the future king. Having the lyrics talking about how life is a cycle is particularly impactful in the context of the succession of the throne, and how young Simba will one day take over the kingdom just like his father.

Musical Elements

Dynamics

The dynamics of The Circle of Life are both varied and interesting. The dynamics within the song change to fit the scene. It starts loud and powerful as the sun rises, and is also loud and powerful when Simba is raised into the air for the animals to see. The music is softer when the animals are traveling to Pride Rock, and when Simba is been adorned for the ceremony. Because there is no dialog and it’s the opening scene the music must reflect and add to the scenes, and having the varying dynamics helps to accomplish this.

Form

The Circle of Life is in a lose binary form. It has verses and a repeated chorus. The opening chant of the song is in Zulu, while the rest of the lyrics are in english. I say lose because it does no have a perfect A-B form. There is also an instrumental break between the chorus that acts as another verse. The form of this song is important when looking at the target audience of Disney. Although this movie is set in Africa, it is marketed to an American audience, therefore the songs represent western style music with an African influence (https://genius.com/Carmen-twillie-and-lebo-m-circle-of-life-lyrics).

Social Commentary

While there is less social commentary about The Circle of Life, there is plenty about The Lion King. One of the most interesting pieces that I came across discusses the representation of gender, sexuality, and race in the movie. Looking specifically at sexuality, the article proposes the circle of life means that heterosexuality will alway triumph over homosexuality (http://www.academia.edu/4893757/The_Representations_of_Gender_Sexuality_and_Race_in_Disney_s_The_Lion_King). Because the cycle must continue, offspring must be produced, which at least in this film supports heterosexuality over homosexuality. But in this context The Circle of Life becomes a not a celebration of life, but one of one groups domination over another.

My Opinion

The Circle of Life is one of my favorite Disney songs for its magnificent job of  opening the movie. It is able to introduce the landscape and characters in such a way that is instantly recognizable when parodied in other shows and movies.  As to my reaction about the social commentary reported above, I like to think that The Circle of Life is a celebration of life rather than a victory cry from one group who has gained power over another. Disney movies are suppose to have an element of magic and wonder to them, in which The Circle of Life accomplishes in a magnificent way.

Works Cited

“Carmen Twillie & Lebo M. – Circle of Life.” Genius, Genius Media Group Inc., 30 May 1994, genius.com/Carmen-twillie-and-lebo-m-circle-of-life-lyrics.

“Circle of Life.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 29 Nov. 2018, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circle_of_Life.

“The Lion King.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 29 Nov. 2018, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lion_King.

Vraketta, Georgia. “The Representations of Gender, Sexuality and Race in Disney’s The Lion King.” Academia.edu – Share Research, www.academia.edu/4893757/The_Representations_of_Gender_Sexuality_and_Race_in_Disney_s_The_Lion_King.

Into the Woods- Music and Stories

Background of Into the Woods 

Hi everyone. The focus of this weeks blog is using music to tell stories and I’ve decided to focus on one of my favorite musical movies Into the Woods. Into the Woods is a musical film brought to us courtesy of Disney. Into the Woods was originally a  broadway play created by James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim. The movie was directed by Rob Marshell after being adapted to film by James Lapine. It tells the story of “Little Red Riding Hood”, “Cinderella”, “Jack and the Beanstalk”, and “Rapunzel” from the Brothers Grimm fairytales who are all connected through a baker and his wife who are desperate to break the curse on their house to have a child (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Into_the_Woods_(film)

Context of Your Fault

The work within the work so to speak that I have chosen to exam is the song Your Fault. This song originates from the United States and was released on the album on December 15, 2014 while the film was released in the United States on December 25, 2014. The music and the lyrics are both by StStephen Sondheim and is performed by the main characters of the story. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Into_the_Woods_(film)

This song has a special context within the movie. It is the first time that all the main characters (little red riding hood, the baker, Jack, Cinderella, and the Witch) are together and are trying to figure what has happened. Because the individual characters only know snippets of the story this song serves to lay out the all the events that have taken place for both the characters and the audience. Most of the song is the characters trying to figure out who to blame for the giant destroying the kingdom. Through the course of the song each character realizes that they have all played a part in creating this mess, but agree to blame the witch who grew the beans.

Music Elements:

Lyrics

The lyrics are what makes Your Fault special. Because the song servers the purpose of recapping the story the lyrics have to summarize everything that has happened previously. It does this by breaking the story into three main events to help both the characters and the audience follow along. However, the lyrics also reflect the characters confusion into the why some things happened at all, as they try to justify their actions and put blame onto anyone but them self (http://www.themusicallyrics.com/i/443-into-the-woods-the-musical-songs-lyrics/5523-your-fault-lyrics.html).

Texture

The texture of this song is also interesting. For most of the song the texture is homophonic with the actors singing and the music accompanying. However, at the end of the song as the argument dissolves the texture switches to polyphonic as everyone is talking over each other, blaming each other. The texture then switches again at the end to monophonic as the characters come to an agreement that the witch is at fault. As everyone comes to the same conclusion, the voices sing together.

Social Commentary

One idea that is presented in Your Fault is that everyone is connected. Everyone said during the song is true, and it turns out that everyone has played a part in creating the situation. This is as true in real life as it is in the play, as everyone is connected to each other and we each play a part in creating the bigger picture. This song also hints at the point that at some point blame becomes irrelevant, while the real question becomes “what now”? (http://www.sondheim.com/discussions/uhm.html) .

My Opinion

I remember when I first heard this song I just started laughing. It reminded me of every group I’ve ever worked with when something goes wrong. Suddenly it is everyone’s fault your own. The more I’ve listened to it the more I have appreciated how the song neatly lays out what otherwise could be a fairly confusing movie. More then anything I love this song because it feels so relatable to a situation where something unexpected has happened and suddenly everyone is trying to figure out why instead of what to do next. I also appreciate the acting in the scene by the actors, as it makes the song that much better.

siminiblocker

Works Cited

“Into the Woods (Film).” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 23 Oct. 2018, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Into_the_Woods_(film).

Sondheim.com, www.sondheim.com/discussions/uhm.html.

“Your Fault Lyrics.” Musical Lyrics, Songs From Musicals, Lyrics Broadway Musicals, www.themusicallyrics.com/i/443-into-the-woods-the-musical-songs-lyrics/5523-your-fault-lyrics.html.