Hakuna Matata (song) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids "Hakuna Matata"
Dutch single
Single by Jimmy Cliff & Lebo M.
from the album Rhythm of the Pride Lands
Released	1995
Recorded	April 1994; BOP Studios, Mmabatho, ZA
Genre	Reggae
Length	4:24
Label	Walt Disney Records
Songwriter(s)	Elton John (music) Tim Rice (lyrics)
Producer(s)	Jay Rifkin Fabian Cooke Mark Mancina

Hakuna Matata is a super famous song from Disney's movie The Lion King. The amazing music was created by Elton John, and the clever words were written by Tim Rice.

The song is based on a fun phrase that Timon and Pumbaa say in the movie. Hakuna matata is a Swahili phrase, which is a language spoken in East Africa. It means "No worries" or "No problems"! The song is known for its easy-to-follow rhythm, happy message, and catchy words.

The Music and Story Behind It

The catchy tune and melody for "Hakuna Matata" were made by Elton John. The lyrics, or words, were written by Tim Rice.

In The Lion King movie, the song is sung by three main characters:

• Timon, a funny meerkat voiced by Nathan Lane.
• Pumbaa, a kind warthog voiced by Ernie Sabella.
• Simba, a young lion. His cub singing voice was Jason Weaver, and his adult singing voice was Joseph Williams.

The song happens after a sad part in the movie, when Mufasa passes away. Timon and Pumbaa, who are the main funny characters, sing to Simba. They tell him to forget his past troubles and not worry about things. As the song goes on, you see Simba grow from a small cub into a grown-up lion.

The song also shares a little bit about Pumbaa's past. It explains that he used to be left out by other animals because of his gas problems. The music uses a lot of different instruments, including a big drum set, to make its unique sound.

Did you know? Tim Rice got the idea for the song's words from watching a comedy TV show called Bottom. He even wanted the stars of that show, Rik Mayall and Adrian Edmondson, to be the voices of Timon and Pumbaa!

Other Versions of the Song

There's another version of "Hakuna Matata" that was made for a special album called Rhythm of the Pride Lands. This version was sung by Jimmy Cliff and Lebo M.

This second version has a slightly different verse that wasn't in the movie. It talks about Timon's past. The music was changed a little, but it still sounds very much like the original. This version was released as a single, which is like a small music release. It was also used in the Broadway musical version of The Lion King.

How the Song Was Made

Before "Hakuna Matata" was created, there was another song planned for the movie called "Warthog Rhapsody." This song was recorded and put on the Rhythm of the Pride Lands album, along with other songs that didn't make it into the final movie.

Interestingly, the tune from "Warthog Rhapsody" was later used for another song. This song was called "That's All I Need" and appeared in the spin-off movie The Lion King 1½.

Track Listings

Here are some of the ways "Hakuna Matata" was released on singles:

• "Hakuna Matata" — 4:24
• "He Lives in You" — 4:51

Another single release included:

• "Hakuna Matata" (radio version) — 3:50
• "Warthog Rhapsody" by Nathan Lane & Ernie Sabella — 3:06
• "Hakuna Matata" (album version) — 4:24

Charts

"Hakuna Matata" was popular around the world. Here's how it did on some music charts in 1995:

Peak Positions

End of Year Charts

The song also did well on the charts for the whole year of 1995:

Certifications

In France, the song sold enough copies to earn a "Silver" certification: