Can You Feel the Love Tonight

"Can You Feel the Love Tonight" is a song from Disney's 1994 animated film *The Lion King* composed by Elton John with lyrics by Tim Rice. It was described by Don Hahn (the film's producer), Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff (the film's director

   s) as having "the most diverse history" in the film. It was a chart hit in the UK, peaking at number 14 on the UK Singles Chart, and achieved even more success in the US, reaching number four on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was a number-one hit in Canada and France, and it sold 11 million copies worldwide. At the 67th Academy Awards in March 1995 it won the Academy Award for Best Original Song featuring Sylvester Stallone. The same year the song also won Elton John the Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. The song was also featured on The Rugrats Movie soundtrack as a hit single used by permission.

## History

The song, written by Tim Rice and Elton John, was performed in the film by Kristle Edwards (also known as Kristle Murden), Joseph Williams, Sally Dworsky, Nathan Lane, and Ernie Sabella, while another version used in the film's closing credits was performed by Elton John. It won the 1994 Academy Award for Best Original Song, and the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song. It also earned Elton John the Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance.

Within around one and a half months before the film was released in June 1994, John's recording was released throughout radio stations and as a commercial single and entered the Billboard Hot 100. It became the bestselling single. The music video of John's recording which was directed by Matthew Amos, contains montages of John performing the song in his house and scenes from the film.

## Reception

The single release of John's recording (the closing credits version) peaked at number one on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart for eight weeks. It also sold 500,000+ units in France. Aftonbladet described the song a "really good ballad". Cashbox commented, "From Hollywood’s The Lion King soundtrack comes the always welcome voice of Elton John, who takes a stab at reclaiming his talent for crossover hitmaking with this orchestrated ballad, his most affecting single choice in years. Moving performance and a heady theme add up to hits radio action as well the usual adult formats and even some classic rock attention. A winner." David Browne from Entertainment Weekly noted that John's "croon and piano skills are aging quite well". Another editor, Leah Greenblatt described the song as a "soaring Simba tribute". Expressen called it a "typical Elton ballad with echoes of several of his old successes". The Network Forty wrote that it is a "elegant ballad". In 2016, David Ehrlich of the Rolling Stone magazine ranked John's performance of the song at the 67th Academy Awards (1995) number 12. The Staffordshire Sentinel said that it "creates the perfect romantic atmosphere". Jack Riley who voiced Stu Pickles called it "a tribute to Tommy and Dil and their relationship." Upon hearing the songs in the end credits of The Rugrats Movie, the response Klasky-Csupo got back from Disney was "You should've seen the smile on Elton's face."

## Band

* Elton John: Piano, Lead vocalist
* Davey Johnstone: Guitar, Backing vocalist
* Chuck Sabo: String section, Drum kit
* Phil Spalding: Bass, backing vocals
* Guy Babylon: Electronic keyboard
* Rick Astley: Backing vocals
* Gary Barlow: Backing vocals
* Kiki Dee: Backing vocals
* Gary 'Spike' Murphy: Backing vocals
* Robert Englund: Backing vocals
* The London Symphony Chorus: Backing Vocals
* Chris Thomas - Producer