Peak
18
Weeks
20
Score
2,476
Chart Year
1994
The tag-line for the animated motion picture The Lion King was "Life's greatest adventure is finding your place in the Circle of Life." Lyricist Tim Rice was reportedly stunned by how quickly composer Elton John was able to put Rice's words to music. This effort was rewarded with an Academy Award nomination, but lost to "Can You Feel The Love Tonight" from the same movie, also written by Tim Rice, and composed and sung by Elton John. The movie's version of this song in the opening scene was sung by Carmen Twillie, and Elton John's version is included on the soundtrack. The Lion King went on to become the best-grossing traditionally animated feature of all time, with the songs playing a key part. The song is also featured frequently in attractions that include The Lion King at Disney theme parks, such as parades. >> This is one of Elton's favorite songs in his considerable canon. Working on The Lion King got him out of the cycle of recording and album and then touring, and it led to more work on musicals, as he later contributed to Aida, Billy Elliot and The Vampire Lestat. Elton prefers "Circle Of Life" to his other Lion King hit contribution, "Can You Feel The Love Tonight?" While he rarely plays the later in concert, "Circle" is often in his setlist, as Elton thinks the lyric is "brilliant." The song is one of the few hits Elton wrote without his longtime lyricist Bernie Taupin. There were no hard feelings, as Taupin fully supported the effort. It was Tim Rice who approached Elton about putting the music to his words. Rice says that the movie studio didn't think Elton would do it, but when he asked, Elton was very excited to work on the project. Disney had another hit on their hands the following year with the movie Pocahontas, and once again, they made reference to the circle of life in the movie's theme song, "Colors Of The Wind," as the heroine sings, "we are all connected to each other, in a circle, in a hoop that never ends."
From the day we arrive on the planet And blinking, step into the sun There's more to be seen than can ever be seen More to do than can ever be done Some say, "Eat or be eaten" Some say, "Live and let live" But all are agreed as they join the stampede You should never take more than you give In the circle of life It's the wheel of fortune It's the leap of faith It's the band of hope 'Til we find our place On the path unwinding In the circle, the circle of life Some of us fall by the wayside And some of us soar to the stars And some of us sail through our troubles And some have to live with the scars There's far too much to take in here More to find than can ever be found But the sun rolling high through the sapphire sky Keeps great and small on the endless round In the circle of life It's the wheel of fortune It's the leap of faith It's the band of hope 'Til we find our place On the path unwinding, yeah In the circle, the circle of life It's the wheel of fortune, yeah It's the leap of faith It's the band of hope 'Til we find our place On the path unwinding, yeah In the circle, the circle of life On the path unwinding, yeah In the circle, the circle of life Writer/s: Elton John, Hans Zimme
| Week | Chart Date | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aug 27, 1994 | 85 | 41 |
| 2 | Sep 3, 1994 | 54 | 72 |
| 3 | Sep 10, 1994 | 43 | 83 |
| 4 | Sep 17, 1994 | 37 | 89 |
| 5 | Sep 24, 1994 | 34 | 92 |
| 6 | Oct 1, 1994 | 28 | 98 |
| 7 | Oct 8, 1994 | 24 | 102 |
| 8 | Oct 15, 1994 | 18 | 108 |
| 9 | Oct 22, 1994 | 20 | 106 |
| 10 | Oct 29, 1994 | 21 | 105 |
| 11 | Nov 5, 1994 | 25 | 101 |
| 12 | Nov 12, 1994 | 27 | 99 |
| 13 | Nov 19, 1994 | 37 | 89 |
| 14 | Nov 26, 1994 | 40 | 86 |
| 15 | Dec 3, 1994 | 43 | 83 |
| 16 | Dec 10, 1994 | 46 | 80 |
| 17 | Dec 17, 1994 | 46 | 80 |
| 18 | Dec 24, 1994 | 48 | 78 |
| 19 | Dec 31, 1994 | 55 | 71 |
| 20 | Jan 7, 1995 | 56 | 70 |