Return To Pride Rock: Songs Inspired By Disney's The Lion King II - Simba's Pride

To answer your question: no, there's no "Hakuna Matata" here. (Did you really expect one to accompany this straight-to-video sequel?) But that's alright. Ladysmith Black Mambozo (on two tracks), Angelique Kidjo (who contributes the album's best original song, "We Are One"), and a duet between Kenny Lattimore and Heather Headley account for the starpower here, and all are strong. But the real essence of this collection is the African-flavored pop of tracks like "I Want to See the Moon," on which both your children and yourself might be introduced to some great new sounds. (There's a great, if slower than you'll be accustomed to, version of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight," too.) As both a soundtrack and an introduction to an entire sound, Simba's Favorites is a success. --Randy Silver