Circle of Life

The harmony of 'Circle of Life' is elegant in its simplicity — diatonic chords in Bb major with no chromatic surprises, allowing the orchestration and vocal performance to carry the emotional weight. The descending bass line in the chorus (Bb-A-G) provides a sense of inevitability and grandeur, while the verse's circular I-vi-IV-I progression subtly reinforces the song's lyrical theme. The harmony serves the melody rather than drawing attention to itself, a hallmark of effective film songwriting.

Tim Rice wrote the lyrics and brought them to Elton John during a writing session for The Lion King. Rice was astonished at the speed of John's composition, later recalling that he gave John the lyrics at the beginning of the session around two in the afternoon, and by half-past three John had finished writing and recording a stunning demo. Hans Zimmer contributed to the orchestral arrangement, blending African musical elements with John's pop sensibility.

Written by Elton John with lyrics by Tim Rice for Disney's 1994 animated masterpiece The Lion King, 'Circle of Life' opens with Lebo M's iconic Zulu chant before building into a soaring power ballad. Nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song and the Grammy for Song of the Year, it remains one of the most recognizable film songs ever recorded.