Songs from the new version of The Lion King, as well as the film’s soundtrack, come roaring in on Billboard’s charts.
Beyoncé’s original song “Spirit,” released July 10, launches at No. 1 on the Kid Digital Song Sales tally (dated July 20), with 7,000 downloads sold in the week ending July 11, according to Nielsen Music. The ballad marks the superstar’s first entry on the survey, which ranks the most downloaded kid-centric songs and/or those from movies and TV shows geared toward children.
Meanwhile, Beyoncé, Donald Glover, Billy Eichner and Seth Rogen’s cover of “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” starts at No. 5 on the chart with 1,000 sold. Elton John’s original version hit No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1994.
Beyoncé, Glover, Eichner and Rogen are among the voices in Disney’s computer-animated The Lion King, directed by Jon Favreau and due in theaters Friday (July 19). The film remakes the traditionally-animated 1994 original, which has grossed nearly $1 billion worldwide.
Concurrently, the new movie’s soundtrack, which includes “Spirit” and the new version of “Can You Feel the Love Tonight,” debuts at No. 2 on Kid Albums with 2,000 sold after its first day of release (July 11). The 19-song set, featuring nine score pieces by composer Hans Zimmer, also enters the Soundtracks chart at No. 16, with 4,000 equivalent album units earned.
“Spirit” will additionally appear on the Beyoncé-curated collection The Lion King: The Gift. Due Friday (July 19), the set features songs by global artists “steeped in the sounds of Africa,” according to the official Instagram announcement.
All charts will update tomorrow (July 16) on Billboard.com and Billboard.com/biz.
