Beyoncé launches first single of The Lion King soundtrack
Beyoncé is heavily involved with the brand new version of the movie The Lion King. She does not only voice the character Nala, but also curated and produced the soundtrack album The Lion King: The Gift. She also sings first single ‘Spirit’ which according to Disney will also feature in the film during a key scene. ‘Spirit’ is exactly what you would expect a Disney song performed by Beyoncé to sound like. The singer sounds fabulous belting out over the uplifting midtempo tune with a prominent choir. The lyrics are all about finding inner strength and standing up to fight for what you believe in, following the tradition of many Disney soundtracks. The production is warm and rich and the melodies are beautiful and as the announcement promised influenced by the sounds of Africa. That subtle key change in the last chorus elevates the tune even further. There is nothing exactly ground-breaking or surprising about this, but it is perfectly suitable as soundtrack for this new version of The Lion King.

Update: Beyoncé released a gorgeous video with the track that does have a few scenes from the movie, but mostly features her in the most beautiful African settings, bringing a tribute to African culture through dance. We also see her daughter Blue Ivy make an appearance.