The Tokens - "The Lion Sleeps Tonight"

[95-7 Ben FM]

1) Has this song ever been sampled or covered?

2) Was this song featured in any "Lion King" movie?

[JOJO SIWA DERANGEMENT SYNDROME]

In the first one, a couple lines from the song were re-sung by one of the characters. It wasn't actually used in the first one. And it's not on the soundtrack.

[SyrupBoy]

benq104957 said:

1) Has this song ever been sampled or covered?

Yes, a cappella by the Friends cast in the Super Bowl episode.

[95-7 Ben FM]

Thanks for your help. I was having an argument about whether or not the song was used in TLK. It would be an appropriate song to use, but I said that it was never heard or performed in the movie or any broadway play version of the movie (though it was used to promote "Ace Ventura, When Nature Calls" a few years later if my memory serves correctly).


I saved a screenshot of this topic and am going to send it to the people with whom I was arguing about if the song was in the movie.

[Hervard]

A wiener whip a wiener whip a wiener whip a wiener whip a wiener whip a wiener whip a wiener whip a wiener whip a wiener whip a wiener whip a wiener whip a wiener whip a wiener whip a wiener whip a wiener whip a wiener whip a wiener whip a wiener whip a wiener whip a wiener whip a wiener whip a wiener whip....

[cartman2002]

This tune reached #1 way way back in 1961

[Hervard]

benq104957 said:

1) Has this song ever been sampled or covered?

I believe Robert John hit the Top Five with the song in early 1972.

[Libra]

^ #3.

The success of The Lion King did spur a re-release of this song, and it reached #51 in the latter part of the summer of 1994.

Words can't do justice to how much of a classic this is.

[Walking Contradiction]

Yes, Robert John's version hit #3 in 1972, and has received more airplay on Classic Hits stations than the original in recent years. I thought that was also the version used in Ace Ventura 2, but apparently it's another cover version sung by Michael Ian Elias.

Although a full production of the song was not featured in The Lion King itself, the related CD release Rhythm of the Pride Lands had a cover version by Lebo M. This also appeared on the Broadway musical soundtrack, but again, it wasn't used in the show itself.

Of course, "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" itself is an adaption of the African song "Mbube", which later came to be known as "Wimoweh". The Weavers had a #6 hit by the latter title in 1952.

[🇯🇲 lucy88 🇯🇲]

Jan 27, 2005 14:04:29 GMT -5 95-7 Ben FM said:

1) Has this song ever been sampled or covered?

2) Was this song featured in any "Lion King" movie?

Yes, love that movie.

[djjoe1960]

I recall being at Disney World about 10 years ago and The Lion Sleeps Tonight was used in the Lion King stage show, to the best of my recollection.

[leonagwen]

Good song.