Honestly, most Disney sequels are kind of a disaster. We all remember the era of "Cheap-quels" where the animation looked like a Sunday morning cartoon and the stories felt like recycled fan fiction. But The Lion King II: Simba's Pride was different. It didn't just have a bigger budget than its direct-to-video siblings; it had a soul. And a massive part of that came down to the music. If you grew up in the late nineties, you probably had the The Lion King 2 soundtrack on a loop, maybe without even realizing how much heavy lifting those songs were doing for a story about star-crossed lions and generational trauma.
It's weirdly sophisticated. While the first film leaned on the massive star power of Elton John and the cinematic sweeping scores of Hans Zimmer, the sequel took a sharp turn into something more rhythmic, choral, and arguably more grounded in its African influences.
The Shadow of Lebo M and the South African Influence
You can't talk about this music without talking about Lebo M. He’s the voice you hear at the very beginning of the first movie—that iconic chant that everyone tries to mimic but nobody gets quite right. For the sequel, Lebo M wasn't just a guest; he was a pillar. He brought a specific South African choral energy that makes "He Lives in You" feel less like a movie song and more like a spiritual experience.
Interestingly, "He Lives in You" wasn't actually written for the second movie. It first appeared on Rhythm of the Pride Lands, a 1995 concept album that expanded on the music of the original film. It’s a rare case of a song being so good that Disney decided it needed to be the centerpiece of a whole new story. It sets the tone perfectly. It’s moody. It’s rhythmic. It’s about legacy.
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When you compare it to the original "Circle of Life," it's less about the grand spectacle of nature and more about the internal weight of being a leader. It's darker. It feels more personal. That’s the vibe of the whole The Lion King 2 soundtrack. It’s not trying to be a sunny day at the zoo; it’s exploring what happens when the "Happily Ever After" starts to crumble under the weight of a blood feud.
Why "We Are One" Hits Different as an Adult
Then there's "We Are One." On the surface, it’s Simba’s "I’m a dad now" song. But listen to the lyrics. It’s basically Simba trying to explain systemic unity to a kid who just wants to chase butterflies.
The track was written by Jack Feldman, Marty Panzer, and Tom Snow. These aren't just random names; they are the people who understood how to write a Disney "message song" without making it feel like a lecture. Most people assume the music was just a knock-off of the first film, but the production value on this specific track is surprisingly high. The percussion is layered. The harmonies are tight. It manages to be catchy while carrying the emotional baggage of a father who is terrified of losing his daughter to the "Outlands."
The Villain Song That Actually Slaps
We have to talk about "Not One of Us."
Seriously.
In terms of Disney villain songs, "Be Prepared" gets all the glory because of Jeremy Irons and the hyenas. But "Not One of Us" is a psychological masterpiece. It’s not sung by the villain; it’s sung by a mob. That’s terrifying. The song uses a call-and-response structure that feels ancient and communal, which makes the exclusion of Kovu feel that much more brutal.
- It’s the highest stakes song in the film.
- The use of the choir creates a wall of sound.
- It mimics the "Circle of Life" style but twists it into something ugly.
When the animals are singing "Deception / Disgrace," the rhythm is relentless. It’s a 10/10 piece of musical storytelling that handles the theme of prejudice more effectively than most live-action dramas. It’s also one of the few times a Disney sequel song feels genuinely threatening. You’re not just watching a cartoon; you’re watching a public shaming.
Love Will Find a Way: The Ballad That Stuck
Of course, it wouldn’t be a 90s Disney flick without a massive pop ballad. "Love Will Find a Way" is the "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" of this movie. It was performed by Liz Callaway and Gene Miller (for the film version) and then given the classic R&B treatment by Heather Headley and Kenny Lattimore for the credits.
People forget that Heather Headley went on to be a massive Broadway and R&B star. Having her on the The Lion King 2 soundtrack was a huge get. The song itself is a bit cheesy, sure, but in the context of the Romeo and Juliet plot, it works. It’s the emotional release the audience needs after all the tension of the war between Simba’s pride and Zira’s exiles.
The Weird, Wonderful Chaos of "My Lullaby"
If "Not One of Us" is the scary mob song, "My Lullaby" is the unhinged villain anthem. Suzanne Pleshette, who voiced Zira, gives a vocal performance that is basically "Eartha Kitt meets a Greek tragedy."
The song is bizarre. It’s a lullaby about murder.
The orchestration is frantic and dissonant in places, which perfectly mirrors Zira’s declining mental state. It doesn’t have the smooth jazz influence of "Be Prepared." Instead, it feels like a fever dream. It’s one of those tracks that you appreciate more as you get older because you realize how much the voice actors were actually leaning into the darkness of the material. There’s a line about "the sound of Simba’s dying gasp" that is remarkably dark for a G-rated movie.
The Production Quality Gap
Why does this soundtrack sound so much better than The Return of Jafar or Cinderella II?
Basically, Disney knew The Lion King was their crown jewel. They couldn't just slap something together. They brought back Joss Whedon (yes, that Joss Whedon) to co-write "My Lullaby." They kept the South African vocal arrangements that made the first film feel authentic. They invested in a real choir.
Most direct-to-video sequels used MIDI (basically computerized) instruments that sounded thin and tinny. If you listen to the The Lion King 2 soundtrack today, the percussion sounds "wet" and "heavy." It sounds like it was recorded in a room with actual people hitting actual drums. That organic feel is what keeps it from sounding dated.
Common Misconceptions About the Credits
A lot of fans think the music was just a "leftover" from the first movie. That’s mostly false. While "He Lives in You" existed in a different form, the majority of the songs were written specifically to mirror the character arcs of Kiara and Kovu.
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Another big mistake people make is thinking Elton John was involved. He wasn't. But the writers they did bring in—like Kevin Quinn and Randy Petersen—were experts at mimicking that "Big Disney" sound while adding the tribal elements that Lebo M championed.
How to Experience the Music Today
If you’re looking to revisit the The Lion King 2 soundtrack, don't just watch the clips on YouTube. The audio compression on those old uploads is terrible and kills the low-end of the drums.
- Find the 1998 Original CD Pressing: If you’re a nerd for dynamic range, the original CD sounds punchier than the digital remasters.
- Listen to "Return to Pride Rock": This was the companion album that included extra tracks and longer versions of the chants.
- Compare the Broadway Versions: A few of these songs actually made it into the Broadway musical of The Lion King. Seeing how they transitioned from a sequel movie to a world-class stage production shows just how much DNA they shared with the original masterpiece.
The real magic of this soundtrack is how it bridges the gap. It’s the link between the 1994 classic and the broader world of The Lion King as a cultural phenomenon. It proved that you could make a sequel that didn't just feel like a cash grab, but felt like a legitimate musical expansion.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
- Deep Dive into Lebo M's Discography: If the choral elements of the sequel are your favorite part, listen to the album Rhythm of the Pride Lands. It’s effectively the "bridge" between the two films and contains the definitive version of "He Lives in You."
- Check the Songwriting Credits: Look up Tom Snow and Jack Feldman. You’ll find they wrote some of the most underrated Disney songs of the 90s, and spotting their style in other films (like A Goofy Movie or Newsies) is a fun exercise for music buffs.
- Evaluate the "Not One of Us" Arrangement: Pay close attention to the percussion during the bridge of this song. It uses a specific polyrhythmic style that is much more complex than your standard pop-ballad beat, which explains why it feels so "urgent" and "unsettling" compared to other Disney tracks.