Synopsis

Elton John performs his pop version of "Circle of Life" in a studio setting, surrounded by musicians and the London Community Gospel Choir. The live-action footage, presented partly in black and white, is intercut with key scenes from Disney's The Lion King, including the animals' gathering and Simba's presentation at Pride Rock. James Earl Jones and other performers associated with the film also appear, while a real lion cub adds a striking visual link between Elton's performance and the animated story.

Factoids & Trivia

• The video promotes Elton John's pop version of the song rather than the version heard during the film's opening sequence. The soundtrack version features Carmen Twillie and Lebo M, while John's recording uses alternative lyrics and the London Community Gospel Choir.

• Its visual design combines newly filmed performance footage with clips from the 1994 animated film. The contrast between monochrome studio images and the film's vivid animation gives the video a promotional, behind-the-scenes character.

• A real lion cub appears in the live-action footage, reinforcing the connection between John as performer and Simba as the song's central image.

• "Circle of Life" was released as a single in 1994 and reached No. 11 in the United Kingdom and No. 18 in the United States.

• The official video was later uploaded to YouTube in November 2017, bringing the original soundtrack promotion to a new audience decades after The Lion King's theatrical release.