One of the biggest TLG related mysteries to me was how several scores and tracks that were absolutely amazing... never made it into the soundtrack. This was due to the officially released soundtrack for the series being discontinued before its first season was halfway finished, despite the show already having been renewed for a second and 3rd season around that time. One of them in particular being the biggest object of my curiosity.
In August of 2023, I emailed Christopher Willis, the composer for The Lion Guard's soundtrack asking about the song sung by the show's chorus that plays in Battle for the Pride Lands when the Lion Guard leave the Pride Lands to find the Tree of Life, and is reprised in Return to the Pride Lands when they return after the events of Simba's Pride to re-unite with their families and friends.
To my surprise, he gave me an answer. The official title of that song is called "Nenda Salama" a saying of farewell in Swahilli (i.e. bon voyage, or go safe in rough translation). The lyrics are entirely in Swahilli and I have no frame of reference as to what the lyrics are so I can't translate them (any Swahilli speakers that find this, it'd be helpful for a translator thank you), but still, this was really good. To make things better, he uploaded it on his Soundcloud to stream for free in the public domain.
I myself recorded the music on my computer and combined with with an mp3 of a vocal-remover edit via MVSEP to make an edit of both this song and its reprise as it appears within the canon. I uploaded it to my YouTube -be subject to 3 hours of editing (no really) and enjoy yet another piece of music from this brilliant series.
Because I like to indulge myself, gonna try and share a Score of the Day! That, and it’s swell to be reminded of those I haven’t revisited in a while.
Willis’ score to The Personal History of David Copperfield is simply a WALL of texture and sound, and an equal match for the lush visual imagery of this film. This track feels like all your potential, your ideas, your dreams blossoming to the brim of your consciousness, fighting to be actualized.
Willis also gets honorable mention for his whimsical score to Appletv’s Schmigadoon! A show I’m oh-so hoping returns.
Fatboy Slim starring Christopher Walken in "Weapon of Choice".
Lady Gaga starring Alexander Skarsgård in "Paparazzi".
Gorillaz starring Bruce Willis in "Stylo".
The Shoes starring Jake Gyllenhaal in "Time to dance".
Vampire Weekend starring Jake Gyllenhaal in "Giving up the Gun".
Fiona Apple starring Zach Galifianakis in "Not About Love".
P!nk starring Jeremy Renner "Trouble".
Justin Timberlake starring Scarlett Johansson in "What Goes Around...Comes Around".
Jessica Simpson starring Christina Applegate, Eva Longoria & Christina Milian "A Public Affair".
Beastie Boys starring Rashida Jones, Will Arnett, Will Ferrell, Rainn Wilson, Jason Schwartzman, Mary Steenburgen, Ted Danson, Amy Poehler, Steve Buscemi, Chloë Sevigny, Maya Rudolph, Kirsten Dunst, David Cross, Elijah Wood, Orlando Bloom, John C Reilly, Jack Black & Nataniel Homblower in "Make some Noise".
«Einer muss doch schließlich mal damit anfangen. Was wir sagten und schrieben, denken ja so viele. Nur wagen sie es nicht, es auszusprechen.» – Sophie Scholl, Justizpalastes, München, February 22, 1943
«Die Verurteilte war ruhig und gefasst.»
(Protokoll über die Vollstreckung des Todesurteils des Volksgerichtshofes an Sophie Scholl, München, den 22. Februar 1943)
«freiheit»
(the reverse side (detail) of a document belonging to the Chief Prosecutors, February 21, 1943, with handwriting «freedom» by Sophie Scholl)
Sophie Scholl (May 9, 1921 – February 22, 1943), student
Hans Scholl (September 22, 1918 – February 22, 1943), student
Christoph Probst (November 6, 1919 – February 22, 1943), student
Alexander Schmorell (September 16, 1917 – July 13, 1943), student
Kurt Huber (October 24, 1893 – July 13, 1943), professor
Willi Graf (January 2, 1918 – October 12, 1943), student
and
Hans Konrad Leipelt (July 18, 1921 – January 29, 1945), student
Margaretha Rothe (June 13, 1919 – April 15, 1945), student
Reinhold Meyer (July 18, 1920 – November 12, 1944), student
Friedrich Geussenhainer (April 24, 1912 – April 1945), student
Katharina Leipelt (May 28, 1893 – January 9, 1944), dr. rer. nat.
Elisabeth Lange (July 7, 1900 – January 28, 1944)
Margaretha Mrosek (December 25, 1902 – April 24, 1945)
Kurt Ledien (June 5, 1893 – April 23, 1945), dr. jur.
«Das wird Wellen schlagen»
«Allen!»
(image: Sophie Scholl, ca. early-1940s, in Christine Hikel, Sophies Schwester. Inge Scholl und die Weiße Rose, Oldenbourg Verlag, München, 2013, p. 94)