Mufasa: The Lion King

「ずっと"兄弟"でいたかった…」── ディズニー史上最も温かく、切ない"兄弟の絆"の物語。ムファサを偉大な王にした兄弟の絆に隠された、驚くべき"秘密"とは?心ゆさぶる楽曲にのせて、超実写版で描くキング・オブ・エンターテイメント、『ライオン・キング-ムファサ-』のサウンドトラック。

Arriving in theaters 30 years after the 1994 Disney animated classic and five years after the 2019 "photorealistically animated" version of the same story, Mufasa: The Lion King is a prequel and sequel to the 2019 film. Whereas the 2019 movie mostly rehashed songs from the 1994 musical alongside two new ones (including "Spirit" by Beyonce), Mufasa includes seven original songs in all by franchise newcomer Lin-Manuel Miranda, warranting a 16-minute songs-only soundtrack release. (A separate score recording with material by Dave Metzger, Nicholas Britell, and Lebo M. was also issued, as was a deluxe soundtrack that combined the songs, score, and instrumental versions of the songs.) Notably featuring contributions from the South African Cultural Gospel Choir -- who sing in English, Swahili, and Zulu here -- the new tunes are highlighted by "We Go Together," an uplifting group number delivered by Aaron Pierre (Mufasa), Kelvin Harrison, Jr. (Taka), and Tiffany Boone (Sarabi), among others. Elsewhere, Anika Noni Rose (as Afia) and Keith David (Masego) duet on the ballad "Milele," and Braelyn Rankins (Cub Mufasa) and Theo Somolu (Cub Taka) contribute to "I Always Wanted a Brother." Despite the soundtracks short length and lack of Beyonce-level star power, Mufasa: The Lion Kings music was a moderate hit, cracking the Billboard 200 and the Top Ten of the Billboard Top Soundtracks chart. ~ Marcy Donelson