On June 26, 2017, Broadway Sings for Pride premiered its 7th anniversary benefit concert "Unstoppable" in New York City, at Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan. This milestone event was filled with singing (from pop to Broadway), stories, special celebrity guests, and more. Proceeds of the event were donated to Tyler Clementi Foundation and Orlando's Contigo Fund. Broadway Sings for Pride is a multiple award-winning, non-for-profit organization that brings together Broadway talent, activists, and celebrities, to educate the public, raise awareness of the needs of LGBTQ+ youth, and support these young people.
Various cast members of Disney's "The Lion King" on Broadway (Lawrence Alexander, Jacqueline René, Eden Duncan-Smith, Nia Ashleigh, Khail Toi Bryant) performed the song "He Lives in You" during the event, where Shefik served as Videographer. Led by Phindile Mkhize (Disney's "The Lion King" National Tour and Brazil), the performance was dedicated to the memory Douglas Bennington (1935-2016), the father of Broadway Sings for Pride's Founder Neal Bennington.
"He Lives in You" is a song written and performed by Lebo M. and his South African Choir for "Rhythm of the Pride Lands", an album inspired by the film "The Lion King". It is performed twice in the musical adaptation of the film, and a shorter version of the song was used for the opening of "The Lion King II: Simba's Pride". The song was co-written by Mark Mancina and Jay Rifkin.
The song initially appears in Act I as "They Live in You", which is sung by Mufasa to his young son Simba. Mufasa explains that the Great Kings of the Past are watching over them from the stars above. If Simba ever feels alone, he can trust that the Great Kings are there, as Mufasa will also be one day.
Later, in Act II, Rafiki finds a lonely and forlorn Simba in the jungle and explains to the lion that his father Mufasa lives on through the song "He Lives in You". In the musical, this serves as a reprise of "They Live in You". Simba follows Rafiki to a pool of water, in which Simba sees only his own reflection at first and is skeptical. As the song becomes quieter, however, the face of Mufasa appears above the stage in the starry night sky. He tells Simba to "remember who you are", before fading away. Simba, invigorated and realizing what he now must do, leaps up from the pool as ensemble singers appear on the stage for the second part of the song. The ensemble, Rafiki, and Simba join together in a joyous celebration before Simba returns to the Pride Lands to challenge Scar.
Diana Ross recorded the song for her 1999 album "Every Day Is a New Day", and for the 1999 movie "Double Platinum".
Credits
- Videographer: Shefik
Last Updated: May 8, 2023
