Mufasa: The Lion King soundtrack – Lin-Manuel Miranda on inspiration behind new songs

As a seasoned movie enthusiast who has witnessed the evolution of storytelling through music, I find myself utterly captivated by Lin-Manuel Miranda’s extraordinary journey. From his Pulitzer Prize-winning Hamilton to his enchanting compositions for Disney animations like Moana and Encanto, this New Yorker has undeniably left an indelible mark on the world of entertainment.

Lin-Manuel Miranda, 44, is an awards-hoovering songwriter, dramatist, actor and director.

For his groundbreaking work on the hit Broadway musical Hamilton, as well as his scores for Disney productions Moana and Encanto, this New Yorker has earned a Pulitzer Prize, two Olivier Awards, two Emmys, three Tonys, and five Grammys. Additionally, he has been nominated for two Oscars.

Now, he’s channeling his musical skills into Barry Jenkins’s live-action adaptation of the Lion King prequel, titled “Mufasa: The Lion King.

How old were you when you started composing?

In your own words, Could you describe the unique aspects of composing music for movies like Moana, Encanto, and the recent live-action adaptation of The Little Mermaid?

In another scenario, I wasn’t present when Hamilton was being considered during the interviews for Moana, which was already in development for several years. However, I was fortunate enough to secure the opportunity. Similarly, I joined the team as they assembled for Encanto, where we combined our family tales into a pot, and the result was this wonderful story. For Mufasa, the script was already well-written, so my role was to support Barry in telling the story he wanted to tell.

In the 1994 version of The Lion King, songs like “Circle of Life,” “Be Prepared,” “Hakuna Matata,” and “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” were showcased. On the vast savannah, how do you emulate the masterpieces crafted by Sirs Elton John and Tim Rice?

If we were discussing movies sequentially, excluding the 2019 remake and considering the original as the first one, I would have declined! It’s a series of fantastic films, it’s flawless. However, what’s fascinating is that there’s an expansive universe surrounding The Lion King, particularly the Broadway musical – to me, The Lion King feels more like a genre of music than just a movie.

Can you give us a taste of one of your new songs for Mufasa?

In the tale, Taka, Mufasa’s confidant, shares a secret: “I’ve always yearned for a brother.” This struck me as an excellent idea for a song! As a father of two sons, I had never come across this sentiment expressed in music before. It was intriguing to portray Mufasa and Scar (who becomes known as Taka), not as the adversaries we know from the 1994 movie, but as brothers and closest companions instead.

What do your boys Sebastian (10) and Francisco (six) think of the films you’ve worked on?

I can’t separate the films from their childhoods. The day I got the job for Moana was the day we found out we were having our eldest. Encanto was written during lockdown, so my youngest loves that because he heard Daddy writing it. The beta testing of all my songs is catching my kids singing them without knowing I’m around. Then I know I’m in good shape.

Did you watch Disney films as a kid yourself?

I’m currently holding onto a VHS copy of The Little Mermaid. When the lively, Caribbean tune “Under the Sea” began beneath the waves, it sparked my creativity as if no other before.

In the 2018 movie “Mary Poppins Returns”, did you work on perfecting a Cockney accent by paying attention to British music-hall tunes? Do you recall any specific ones?

I remember Tommy Steele! But listen, when it came to Mary Poppins, I knew Dick Van Dyke had a famously derided accent. So I thought, “Either I’ll jump that bar, which is a very low bar, or I’ll meet him down there and they’ll go: ‘Oh, he has a s*** accent, it’s a tradition!’” I think I landed somewhere in between!

Have you had a considerable amount of time working on the BBC’s His Dark Materials series, specifically in Cardiff, Wales? If so, what were your experiences and feelings during that period?

Many of my friends from London tended to be quite snooty about Wales, but we found ourselves utterly captivated by it. At the time, my children were at an age where having a castle around every corner was incredibly exciting. I developed a fondness for a pub called Porter’s, which hosted a music theater event named Jane’s Calamity. I even managed to make local news by participating in karaoke with a group of strangers there.

Could you tell me about the thought process that led to creating your fresh, hip-hop-inspired musical concept album, which is based on the iconic 1979 gang film “The Warriors”?

As a passionate film enthusiast, I’m often asked about my optimistic outlook even amidst the turbulent political climate in the U.S. Here’s how I manage to keep that positive spirit alive:

For about 10 years, I was deeply engrossed in a popular social media platform known as Twitter (now called X). However, I left this virtual realm approximately three to four years back, well before Elon Musk began his antics there. Maintaining a positive outlook involves safeguarding your energy, but it doesn’t mean you ignore global events. Instead, you can avoid spending your day arguing with strangers online, something I used to do excessively!

2024-12-05 04:17

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