Shadowland (The Lion King)

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"Shadowland"
The Lion King: Original Broadway Cast Recording
ReleasedJanuary 1, 1997
Recorded1996
Genre
Length4:30
LabelWalt Disney
Composer(s)
Lyricist(s)
Producer(s)
  • Mark Mancina
  • Robert Elhai

"Shadowland" is a song written by Lebo M, Hans Zimmer, and Mark Mancina for the musical The Lion King (1997), a stage adaptation of Disney's 1994 animated feature film of the same name. Based on the song "Lea Halalela (Holy Land)", a track featured on Lebo's Lion King-inspired concept album Rhythm of the Pride Lands (1995), Lebo composed the track with Zimmer, while both Lebo and Mancina contributed new lyrics to its melody. Lebo based the song's lyrics on his own experiences having been exiled from South Africa during apartheid, therefore imbuing "Shadowland" with themes about refugeeism and survival.

Originally performed by Trinidadian-American singer and actress

Rafiki, roles both performers originated on stage, "Shadowland" narrates Nala's decision to leave the Pride Lands in search of a more habitable environment upon realizing that her homeland has grown dry and barren in the midst of Scar's reign. Taking place shortly after Nala rejects Scar's romantic advances, director Julie Taymor used the song to develop Nala into a stronger character
for the stage adaptation, and identified "Shadowland" as her favorite among the production's original songs, believing its message and themes to be universal.

Musically, "Shadowland" is a soul power ballad. Sung in both English and African languages, its instrumentation combines African percussion with European orchestration to create a more exotic sound while accompanying pop vocals and African chants; some critics have observed political themes such as feminism, injustice and the ecosystem throughout the song's lyrics. "Shadowland" has been mostly positively received by music and theatre critics; both Headley and actresses who replaced her in subsequent productions of the musical have been praised for their vocals and performances.

Background

Caucasian woman with long, straight black hair dressed in black and white business attire.
Director Julie Taymor used "Shadowland" to develop Nala into a stronger, more complex heroine than how she is depicted in the animated film.[2]

Disney decided that the five pop-oriented songs composer Elton John and lyricist Tim Rice had written for the animated film would be augmented by more exotic-sounding, percussive and African-influenced musical numbers for its stage adaptation.[3][4] "Shadowland" was written by songwriters Lebo M, Hans Zimmer, and Mark Mancina,[5][6][7][8] with Lebo and Zimmer composing its music, while both Lebo and Mancina wrote the song's lyrics.[9] "Shadowland" is based on "Lea Halalela (Holy Land)", a song Zimmer and Lebo had originally written for the film that debuted on the Lion King-inspired concept album Rhythm of the Pride Lands (1995).[10][2] The track itself is inspired by an orchestral theme used in the film.[2] Based on both an excerpt from Zimmer's film score and "Lea Halalela (Holy Land)",[6][11] "Shadowland" was the fifth of the musical's original songs to be directly adapted from a Rhythm of the Pride Lands track.[2] Meanwhile, Lebo and Mancina contributed new lyrics to the song's pre-existing music,[12] with Lebo basing his lyrics on his own experience being exiled from South Africa during apartheid.[4][13] Mancina arranged and produced the track himself.[14][15]

In the animated film,

The Lion King: Original Broadway Cast Recording.[22]

Context and use in The Lion King

"Shadowland" is performed by Nala before she leaves the Pride Lands in search of a better home, once she decides she can no longer tolerate

Lowdown Magazine, the performance "demonstrate[s] all the desperation the lionesses faced in the hunt for food".[31] John Moore of The Denver Post believes that by preceding “Endless Night" and "He Lives in You", "Shadowland" initiates a climax that becomes a "stampede of ongoing powerful moments".[32] Everett Evans, writing for the Houston Chronicle, agreed that the song is one of the show's ballads that supply the musical with "emotional clout".[33]

Actress Kissy Simmons described the musical number as the moment "her character has to do something to help her pride of lionesses".[18] Simmons believes that, at this point in the musical, most of the lionesses have already either been raped or sexually harassed by Scar by the time Nala realizes how dangerous the Pride Lands have become, forcing her to leave in search help.[18][34] Depicting Nala's "fierce drive",[35] the ballad further demonstrates the heroine's loyalty, beauty, and strength.[36] Nala experiences several different emotions during the song, beginning reserved as she observes how barren her homeland has become, a feeling that transitions into sadness and vulnerability, before she ultimately accepts that she must "fight for this land, and get things to where they used to be”, according to actress Noxolo Dlamini.[37] Miyako Singer of The Daily Californian wrote that, in addition to providing Nala with "her big solo moment", the song "showcases ... Nala’s strength and determination".[38]

Several critics and performances have observed feminist motifs in the staging of the musical number. Due to the musical performance depicting lionesses fighting back against "a male-dominated regime", the Houston Chronicle's Wei-Huan Chen likened the song to a women's march, comparing its use of

consent".[39] Citing "Shadowland" as her favorite moment from the show, ensemble singer Lindiwe Dlamini, who had sung the song for over 8,000 performances by 2017, agreed that "There’s something about the strength of a woman in that moment".[29] Ensemble actress Pia Hamilton agreed with Taymor's conscious decision to make certain scenes, such as "Shadowland", particularly "female heavy", believing that the song is used to depict "women in power".[40] Kieran Jonson of WhatsOnStage.com wrote that "Shadowland" offers Nala a moment to "shine".[41]

Music and lyrics

Sung slowly, emotionally, and dramatically,

Lowdown Magazine's Sarah O'Hara described "Shadowland" as a soul song performed "with power ballad emotion".[31] The song also incorporates pop rock influences.[43] Instrumentally, "Shadowland" makes use of synthesizer strings.[54]

ecology-themed message, demonstrated by its lyric "“The river's dry, the ground has broken".[27] Michael Billington, arts critic for The Guardian, believes the song's use of grassland chants "pays homage to Africa".[57]

They Live in You" and "Endless Night".[58] Headley's vocal range on the song spans approximately two octaves, from E3 to A5.[43] Vocally, the ballad is believed to be best-suited for a mezzo-soprano/belter vocalist, according to the book Singer's Musical Theatre Anthology - Volume 4: Mezzo-Soprano/Belter.[23]

Critical reception

To promote the musical, Headley performed "Shadowland" with Le Loka live on the

Bass Concert Hall in 2007, Robert Faires of The Austin Chronicle wrote that she "fills 'Shadowland' with such urgency as to make it a potent dramatic statement as well as a lovely ballad."[71] Describing "Shadowland" as both "inspiring" and "lovely", The San Diego Union-Tribune critic Pam Kragen wrote that actress Marja Harmon sung the song "with great beauty".[72]

Actress Nia Holloway has also garnered strong reviews, whose rendition Shannon McLoud of

K103-FM called the ballad a second act showstopper, writing, "You really feel [Holloway's] presence on the stage" throughout the song.[75]

In a less positive review, Susan Haubenstock of the Richmond Times-Dispatch dismissed "Shadowland" as one of the new songs that resemble "filler", accusing it of slowing down the pace of the production and causing "the action and the energy peter out in the second act."[76] Similarly, Erin Gleeson of the Baltimore City Paper felt "Shadowland" was "unmemorable", writing that it "drag[s] down an otherwise lively and spirited production."[77] Alan Morrison of the Herald Scotland found the song's use of synthesizers dated.[54]

Impact

"Shadowland" is still considered to be one of Headley's signature songs.

lyric video for the song and uploaded it to YouTube.[24][79] Emily Brandon of Oh My Disney remarked that the song "is one of those songs that sticks with us long after we hear it" due to a combination of its moving lyrics, references to the film's score and appreciation for Nala's and her story".[80] Actor Michael Crawford covered the song in a medley of songs from The Lion King.[6] In 2016, Simmons performed the song live on the Disney Wonder cruise ship as part of the Disney Theatrical Group's "Stars Set Sail" live concert series.[81] After Disney announced that singer Beyoncé had been cast as Nala in John Favreau's upcoming CGI remake of The Lion King in November 2017, fans started hoping Beyoncé would be recording a version of "Shadowland" for the film.[16][82] WLCK's Ray Cornelius speculated, "While this tune was not in the original movie, I’m sure the film’s producers will make an exception and allow Beyoncé to perform it or create a new song for her. Let’s keep our fingers crossed."[78]

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