The Lion Sleeps Tonight Explained

The Lion Sleeps Tonight
Cover:The Lion Sleeps Tonight by The Tokens single cover.jpg
Type:single
Artist:the Tokens
Album:The Lion Sleeps Tonight
A-Side:Tina
Released:1961
Recorded:1961
Genre:
Length:2:41
Label:RCA Victor
Year:1961

"The Lion Sleeps Tonight" is a song originally written and first recorded in 1939 by Solomon Linda[2] under the title "Mbube",[3] through South African Gallo Record Company. Lyrics of Linda's original version were written in Zulu, while those of the English one were later written by George David Weiss.

The song has been adapted and covered internationally by many pop and folk artists. It was recorded as "Wimoweh" by the Weavers in November 1951, and published by "Folkways Music Publishers", a branch of the then-Folkways Records, in December of the same year.[4] Artists who have recorded various versions of the song include also R.E.M., NSYNC, Henri Salvador, Karl Denver, Jimmy Dorsey, Yma Sumac, Noro Morales, Roy Zimmerman, Miriam Makeba, and The Kingston Trio,[5]

In 1961, a version adapted into English with the title "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" by the doo-wop group the Tokens became a number-one hit in the United States. It earned millions in royalties from cover versions and film licensing. The pop group Tight Fit made a cover of the song in 1982, reaching number one hit in the UK. This song is in the key of F major.

History

The original song title was "Mbube" (the Zulu word for "lion") and was written and first recorded in 1939 by Solomon Linda,[6] a South African Zulu singer, who worked for the Gallo Record Company in Johannesburg as a cleaner and record packer. He spent his weekends performing with his musical ensemble, "The Evening Birds", and it was at this record label, under the direction of producer "Griffiths Motsieloa", that Linda and his fellow musicians recorded several songs, including "Mbube", which incorporated a call and response pattern common among many Sub-Saharan African ethnic groups, including the Zulu.

According to journalist Rian Malan:

"Mbube" wasn't the most remarkable tune, but there was something compelling about the underlying chant, a dense meshing of low male voices above which Solomon yodelled and howled for two exhilarating minutes, improvising occasionally. The third take was the best, achieving immortality when Solly took a deep breath, opened his mouth, and improvised the melody that the world now associates with these words:

In the jungle, the mighty jungle, the lion sleeps tonight.

Issued as a 78-rpm phonograph record[7] and marketed to black audiences, "Mbube" became a hit and Linda a star throughout South Africa. By 1948, the song had sold over 100,000 copies in Africa and among black South African immigrants in Great Britain. Linda's song also gave the name to a style of African A cappella music that evolved into Isicathamiya (also called Mbube music), popularized by the group Ladysmith Black Mambazo.[8]

In 1949 Alan Lomax, then working as folk music director for Decca Records, brought Solomon Linda's 78-rpm recording to the attention of his friend Pete Seeger, leader of the folk group The Weavers. In November 1951, after having performed the song for at least a year in their concerts, The Weavers recorded an adapted version with brass, string orchestra and chorus and released it as a 78-rpm single titled "Wimoweh", a mishearing of the original song's chorus of "Uyimbube" ("You are a lion" in Zulu). Their version contained the chanting chorus "Wimoweh" and Linda's improvised line. The Weavers credited the song as "Oral tradition", with arrangement by "Paul Campbell", later found to be a pseudonym used by The Weavers in order to claim royalties.[9] It reached Billboards top ten and became a staple of The Weavers' live repertoire, achieving further exposure on their best-selling The Weavers at Carnegie Hall LP album, recorded in 1955 and released in 1957.

Exotica singer Yma Sumac covered the song, for which Juilliard School-trained songwriter George David Weiss brought in soprano Anita Darian to let her perform before, during and after the soprano saxophone solo in such version, issued in 1952 on Capitol Records.[10] The song was recorded extensively by other folk revival groups such as the Kingston Trio, who released it in 1958.

Miriam Makeba also covered the song in 1960, with the original title "Mbube" and giving writing credits to "J. Linda". In 1961, two RCA Records producers, Hugo Peretti and Luigi Creatore, hired Weiss to arrange a Doo-wop and Rhythm and blues cover of "Wimoweh" for the B-side of a 45-rpm single called "Tina", sung by group The Tokens. Weiss wrote the English lines "In the jungle, the mighty jungle, The lion sleeps tonight..." and "Hush, my darling, don't fear, my darling...". "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" was issued by RCA in that year, and it rocketed to number one on the Billboard Hot 100. Weiss' "Abilene Music, Inc." was the publisher of this arrangement, and listed "Albert Stanton" (a pseudonym for "Al Brackman", the business partner of Pete Seeger's music publisher, Howie Richmond) as one of the song's writers or arrangers.

Copyright issues

Social historian Ronald D. Cohen writes: "Howie Richmond copyrighted many songs originally in the public domain but now slightly revised to satisfy Decca and also to reap profits".[11] Howie Richmond's claim of author's copyright could secure both the songwriter's royalties and his company's publishing share of the song earnings.

Although Solomon Linda was listed as a performer on the record itself, the Weavers thought they had recorded a traditional Zulu song. Their managers, the publisher, and their attorneys knew otherwise because they had been contacted by — and had reached an agreement with — Eric Gallo of Gallo Record Company in South Africa. The Americans maintained, however, that South African copyrights were not valid because South Africa was not a signatory to U.S. copyright law. In the 1950s, after Linda's authorship was made clear, Pete Seeger sent $1000 to the South African artist. The folk singer also said he instructed TRO/Folkways to henceforth pay his share of authors' earnings to Linda. Seeger apparently trusted his publisher's word of honor and either saw no need, or was unable, to make sure these instructions to be carried out.

In 2000, South African journalist Rian Malan wrote a feature article for Rolling Stone in which he recounted Linda's story and estimated that the song had earned $15 million for its use in the Disney 1994 movie The Lion King alone. The piece prompted filmmaker François Verster to create the Emmy-winning documentary A Lion's Trail, released in 2002, which tells Linda's story while incidentally exposing the workings of the multi-million dollar corporate music publishing industry.[12] In 2003 a CGI animation French TV series, Pat & Stan, features protagonists, a brown hippopotamus and a yellow dog, singing "The Lion Sleeps Tonight". It marked the two's debut appearance and was the pilot episode to ITV's shorts and the sketch of the same name.

In July 2004, as a result of the publicity generated by Malan's article and the subsequent documentary, the song became the subject of a lawsuit between Linda's estate and Disney, claiming that the latter owed $1.6 million in royalties for the use of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" in the film and musical stage productions of The Lion King.[13] At the same time, the Richmond Organization began to pay $3,000 annually to the Linda's estate. In February 2006, the South African singer's descendants reached a legal settlement with Abilene Music Publishers, who held the worldwide rights and had licensed the song to Disney, to place the earnings of the song in a trust.[14] [15]

In 2012, "Mbube" fell into the public domain, owing to the copyright law of South Africa, while "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" is still in copyright. The copyright issues were also treated in the 2019 movie .[16]

Selected list of recorded versions

Mbube
Cover:Mbube (Singer GE 829).jpg
Type:single
Artist:Solomon Linda's Original Evening Birds
B-Side:Ngi Hambiki
Released:1939
Recorded:c. 1939
Studio:Gallo Recording Studios
Genre:
Length:2:44
Label:Gallo Record Company

The song has been recorded by numerous artists, and is a standard that has become a part of popular culture.

"Mbube"

"Wimoweh"

"The Lion Sleeps Tonight"

The Lion Sleeps Tonight
Cover:The_Lion_Sleeps_Tonight_-_Robert_John.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Robert John
Album:Robert John
Released:December 1971
B-Side:"Janet"
Genre:
Label:Atlantic
Producer:Hank Medress and Dave Appell
Prev Title:When the Party Is Over
Prev Year:1970
Next Title:Hushabye
Next Year:1972
The Lion Sleeps Tonight
Cover:The Lion Sleeps Tonight by Tight Fit.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Tight Fit
Album:Tight Fit
B-Side:Rhythm, Movement And Throbbing
Released:January 1982
Recorded:1981
Genre:Pop
Length:3:18
Label:Jive
Producer:Tim Friese-Greene[20]
Prev Title:Back to the Sixties Part II
Prev Year:1981
Next Title:Fantasy Island
Next Year:1982

Charted singles

The Tokens

Weekly charts

Chart (1961–1962)Peak
position
Australia Kent Music Report15
Canada CHUM Chart1
New Zealand Lever[32] 1
US Cash Box Top 100 1

Year-end charts

Robert John

Weekly charts

Chart (1971–1972)Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[34] 31
South Africa (Springbok)[35] 15
US Cash Box Top 100[36] 2

Year-end charts

Chart (1972)Rank
Australia 172
Canada 45
US Billboard Hot 100[37] 21
US Cash Box [38] 10

Tight Fit

Year-end charts

Chart (1982)Position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[40] 82
Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)[41] 11
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[42] 11
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[43] 11
West Germany (Official German Charts)[44] 46

R.E.M.

Year-end charts

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Stanley, Bob . 2022 . Let's Do It - The Birth of Pop Music: A History. Revival: Trad Jazz and Folk. Pegasus Books. New York. 477.
  2. News: Malan. Rian. Rian Malan. In the Jungle. https://web.archive.org/web/20200214102148/http://reprints.longform.org/in-the-jungle. 14 Feb 2020. Longform.org. Rolling Stone. 2000. 5 Mar 2022. dmy-all.
  3. News: 2020-12-29. Seeking justice for Lion Sleeps Tonight composer. en-GB. BBC News. 2021-01-04.
  4. Book: Library of Congress. Copyright Office.. Catalog of Copyright Entries 1952 Published Music Jan-Dec 3D Ser Vol 6 Pt 5A. 1952. U.S. Govt. Print. Off.. United States Copyright Office. English.
  5. Book: William and Mary Libraries Special Collections Research Center. Cash Box. 1952-05-17. Cash Box Pub. Co..
  6. Frith, Simon, Popular Music: critical concepts in media and cultural studies, Volume 4, London: Routledge, 2004. . p. 271
  7. Web site: Cad. Saint. Top 10 Famous Songs With Unknown Originals. 31 July 2012. listverse.com. 21 June 2013.
  8. Book: Frith, Simon . Simon Frith. Popular music: critical concepts in media and cultural studies, Volume 4 . London . Routledge . 2004 . 978-0-415-33270-5.
  9. David Hutcheon, "The Story Behind the Song: The Lion Sleeps Tonight", Mojo '60s, #9, 2017, pp. 18-19
  10. Web site: Show 18 — Blowin' in the Wind: Pop discovers folk music. [Part 1] |work=[[Pop Chronicles]] |publisher=UNT Digital Library |date=18 May 1969 |access-date=24 September 2010].
  11. Book: Cohen, Ronald D. . Rainbow Quest: the Folk Music Revival and American Society . registration . Amherst . . 2002 . 71.
  12. "National Television Academy Presents 27th Annual News & Documentary Emmy Awards" (press release), 25 September 2006.
  13. Web site: 3rd Ear Music Forum - Mbube - Mickey Mouse Under House Arrest in SAfrica? . 3rdearmusic.com . 29 March 2014.
  14. News: Penniless singer's family sue Disney for Lion King royalties . David . Blair . 30 October 2004 . . 1 July 2017 .
  15. News: It's a Lawsuit, a Mighty Lawsuit . https://web.archive.org/web/20070515085439/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,995466,00.html . dead . 15 May 2007 . 25 October 2004 . Time.com . 14 February 2007.
  16. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9046576/
  17. News: Seeking justice for Lion Sleeps Tonight composer. BBC News. 29 December 2020.
  18. Web site: Karl Denver . The Official Charts Company .
  19. Web site: Tom . Breihan . The Number Ones: Robert John's "Sad Eyes". . February 19, 2020 . In 1972, John recorded an adult-contempo cover of the Tokens’ “The Lion Sleeps Tonight”.... July 12, 2023.
  20. Book: Rice , Jo . 1982. The Guinness Book of 500 Number One Hits. 1st. Guinness Superlatives Ltd . Enfield, Middlesex. 222. 0-85112-250-7.
  21. Web site: CHUM Hit Parade - December 11, 1961.
  22. Web site: RPM Top 100 Singles - October 10, 1966.
  23. Web site: RPM Top 100 Singles - March 11, 1972.
  24. Book: McFarlane . Ian . Ian McFarlane . . Encyclopedia entry for 'Dove' . https://web.archive.org/web/20040803181404/http://www.whammo.com.au:80/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=291 . http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=291 . 1999 . . . 3 August 2004 . 1-86508-072-1 .
  25. Book: Roberts , David . 2006. British Hit Singles & Albums. 19th. . London. 1-904994-10-5. 406.
  26. News: UK's million-selling singles: the full list . Ami . Sedghi . . 4 November 2012 . 4 November 2012 .
  27. Web site: RPM Top 100 Singles - April 5, 1986.
  28. Web site: 2021-05-15. 21 March 2014. Jimmy Fallon and Billy Joel Sing "The Lion Sleeps Tonight". Time Magazine.
  29. Web site: Tight Fit — Together — Almighty Records. Almightyrecords.com. 21 March 2018.
  30. Web site: 2024-01-25. Voiceplay ft. J. None sing "The Lion Sleeps Tonight". Youtube.
  31. Web site: 2024-07-11. The Fun Foundation - Nature's Symphony". Spotify.
  32. Web site: flavour of new zealand - Lever hit parades. Flavourofnz.co.nz. 1 May 2019. 6 April 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230406041334/http://www.flavourofnz.co.nz/index.php?qpageID=Lever+hit+parades&qyear=1962&qmonth=Mar&qweek=15-Mar-1962#n_view_location. dead.
  33. http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/70s_files/1962YESP.html
  34. Book: Kent, David . David Kent (historian) . . Australian Chart Book . St Ives, N.S.W. . 1993 . 0-646-11917-6.
  35. Web site: SA Charts 1965–March 1989. 5 September 2018.
  36. Web site: Cash Box Top 100 3/18/72. Tropicalglen.com. 21 March 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20161023135349/http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/70s_files/19720318.html. 23 October 2016. dead.
  37. Web site: Top 100 Hits of 1972/Top 100 Songs of 1972 . Musicoutfitters.com . 1 December 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170427223218/http://musicoutfitters.com/topsongs/1972.htm . 27 April 2017 . dead .
  38. Web site: Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1972. Tropicalglen.com. 1 May 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20180928150812/http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/70s_files/1972YESP.html. 28 September 2018. dead.
  39. Book: Kent, David. David Kent (historian). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. illustrated. Australian Chart Book. St Ives, N.S.W.. 1993. 0-646-11917-6. 310.
  40. Web site: National Top 100 Singles for 1982 . . . 445 . 3 January 1983 . 22 January 2023 .
  41. Web site: Jaaroverzichten 1982. Ultratop. 9 November 2021.
  42. Web site: Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1982. Dutch Top 40. 9 November 2021.
  43. Web site: Jaaroverzichten – Single 1982. dutchcharts.nl. 9 November 2021.
  44. Web site: Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts. German. GfK Entertainment. offiziellecharts.de. 9 November 2021.
  45. News: Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (2.–8. apríl). Dagblaðið Vísir. is. 29. 1 April 1993. 24 January 2021.
  46. News: Árslistinn 1993. Dagblaðið Vísir. is. 17. 4 January 1994. 24 January 2021.