Mufasa’s Can You Feel The Love Tonight Replacement Song Means It Can Win An Oscar 30 Years After The Lion King

The following contains spoilers for Mufasa: The Lion KingMufasa: The Lion King‘s answer to The Lion King‘s Oscar-winning song “Can You Feel The Love Tonight” could earn it an Oscar thirty years after The Lion King won an Academy Award in the same category. The Disney prequel builds off the legacy of The Lion King in a number of ways, ranging from deliberate shout-outs to clever subversions. One connection between the films is a big musical number that pushes their respective romantic subplots. “Tell Me It’s You” is between Mufasa and Sarabi and follows the pair as they finally acknowledge their growing feelings for one another.

It’s one of Mufasa: The Lion King‘s big triumphant moments, and is one of the better tracks in the musical. The success of the song also means that it’s been short-listed by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for an Academy Award for Best Original Song. If the song could repeat The Lion King‘s Oscar success, it could carry on a thirty-year legacy and earn its writer an EGOT. However, stiff competition may make a nomination, let alone a win in the category all the more difficult.

“Tell Me It’s You” Is Mufasa’s Version Of “Can You Feel The Love Tonight”

“Tell Me It’s You” Is The Best Song In Mufasa: The Lion King

“Tell Me It’s You” is Mufasa: The Lion King‘s answer to the Oscar-winning “Can You Feel The Love Tonight,” which could give the song precedent to win at the 2025 Academy Awards. On paper, “Tell Me It’s You” has a lot going for it. It’s a stirring romantic ballad, and the best song in the film. It’s from a film that appeals to wider audiences than the other short-listed nominees announced by the Oscars, meaning more voters will likely see it. It carries extra importance for the song’s writer Lin-Manuel Miranda, who would become an EGOT winner if the track wins an Oscar.

Set later in the film, “Tell Me It’s You” sees Sarabi reveal to Mufasa that she knows he saved her life earlier in the film. The song follows Sarabi as opens her heart to Mufasa, with the latter struggling to restrain his own feelings out of respect for Taka’s attraction towards Sarabi. “Tell Me It’s You” is the best song in Mufasa: The Lion King, bolstered by a compelling duet between Aaron Pierce and Tiffany Boone. Currently shortlisted for an Oscar, “Tell Me It’s You” is the film’s best chance to repeat The Lion King‘s Oscar success.

The Lion King Won Best Original Song For “Can You Feel The Love Tonight” At The 1995 Oscars

“Can You Feel The Love Tonight” Was One Of The Three Songs That Earned An Academy Award Nomination

The Lion King was a bonafide cultural smash when it debuted in 1994, and this was reflected at the 67th Academy Awards in 1995. Although The Lion King wasn’t nominated for Best Picture and couldn’t win the then nonexistent Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, the film earned four nominations for its music. Hans Zimmer won an Academy Award for Best Score, and the film earned three nominations for Best Original Song. Although “Circle of Life” and “Hakuna Matata” were both nominated for Best Original Song, the Oscar ended up going to “Can You Feel The Love Tonight.”

With music by Elton John and lyrics by Tim Rice, the song was meant as Elton John’s contribution to the Disney tradition of love songs. Of the three songs nominated, “Can You Feel The Love Tonight” makes the most sense as an Oscar winner. While it may not have immediately entered the culture lexicon as quickly as the opening to “Circle of Life” or the comedy of “Hakuna Matata,” it remains one of the best Disney love songs. This gives “Tell Me It’s You” some impressive shoes to fill if it wants to continue The Lion King‘s legacy.

Will “Tell Me It’s You” Actually Win The Best Original Song Oscar In 2025?

While “Tell Me It’s You” is on the shortlist to earn an Academy Award for Best Original Song, strong competition and the somewhat disappointing critical reception for Mufasa: The Lion King make a win less likely. “Tell Me It’s You” has strong competition, with songs from The Six Triple Eight, Emilia Pérez, Moana 2, Sing Sing, and Elton John: Never Too Late also on the shortlist. The critical success of Emilia Pérez and the inclusion of two songs from that musical (“El Mal” and “Mi Camino”) in the short-list makes it a front-runner in contrast to Mufasa‘s more mixed reception.

Fifteen-time nominee Diane Warren has never won an Oscar before, giving the Academy just as much motivation (if not more) to award her the prize for “The Journey” instead of Lin-Manuel Miranda. Elton John’s “Never Too Late” could also be seen as the Academy’s potentially final chance to honor Elton John. With Elton John: Never Too Late also a Walt Disney Productions film, it’s possible that the studio shifts its momentum away Miranda and towards John in the category. While “Tell Me It’s You” may earn Mufasa: The Lion King a nomination, it’ll have to overcome tough odds to win.

Source: Oscars

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Mufasa: The Lion King is a prequel to the live-action remake of the original Disney animated film, The Lion King. The film will follow Mufasa in his early days; further plot details are currently under wraps. The film will likely explore Mufasa and Scar’s relationship and how it became as strained as it did. In the film, Timon and Pumba will return, with Billy Eicher and Seth Rogen reprising their roles.

Release Date

December 20, 2024

Director

Barry Jenkins

Writers

Jeff Nathanson
, Linda Woolverton
, Irene Mecchi
, Jonathan Roberts