Long live the queen of lions: Beyonce enchants with her new album

The Bey Hive felt the love on Friday with the release by Beyonce of the album "The Lion King: The Gift", which the queen of pop had deposited as a twin piece of her new film, a remake of the clbadic of Disney.

Beyonce nicknamed the 27-title album that she prepared and produced "a love letter for Africa", appealing to several African artists as well as to many other artists. stars, including her husband Jay-Z, Kendrick Lamar, co-star Donald Glover Childish Gambino) and Pharrell Williams – as well as Blue Ivy Carter, Jay and Bey's seven-year-old daughter – as collaborators.

"I wanted to be authentic against the beauty of music in Africa," said Beyonce, who plays Nala in "The Lion King," told ABC's "Good Morning America."

"The Gift" is separate from the film's soundtrack, which includes an iconic rendition of "Can you feel love tonight?" From John Elton by Beyonce and Glover, who plays Simba in the movie.

John himself also honored the soundtrack of the film, published 25 years after the original, of a new song called "Never Too Late".

Both albums include Beyonce's latest single "Spirit".

But it's Beyonce's "Gift" that thrills her legions of fans.

The album contains heavy Afrobeat songs interspersed with dialogues from the highly anticipated film, also released on Friday, starring Seth Rogen in Pumbaa and Chiwetel Ejiofor in Scar.

In addition to royalty pop, Beyonce has invited Nigerian musicians Tekno, Yemi Alade and Mr. Eazi in "The Gift", as well as Ghanaian reggae-dancehall artist Shatta Wale.

The star of the Cameroonian urban music, Salatiel, sang with "Beyonce" and Pharrell on "Water".

"I wanted to make sure that we found the best talent from Africa and that we did not just use certain sounds and that I interpreted them," Beyonce told ABC.

In Beyonce's clbadic fashion, the album turns to the visual – what she calls "sonic cinema."

"It's a new storytelling experience," she said in announcing the album.

"It's a mix of genres and collaboration that's not sound, it's influenced by everything from R & B, pop, hip hop and Afrobeat."

Beyonce also released a sprawling, richly pigmented video to accompany "Spirit," featuring the star and Blue Ivy in matching pink ruffle dresses, their long curls blowing in the desert wind.

"Your destiny is near / Stand up and fight," she sings. "So, go to a far country / And do only one with the great I Am."

By combining her powerful voice with a visual feast, Beyonce makes about a dozen outfit changes in the video, including custom tailoring and sewing, according to Vogue. The clip was partially shot in the remote cascades of Havasu, Arizona, in the Grand Canyon.

It also includes the legendary "Lion King" scene where Simba and Nala staring at an oasis pool, which the new movie recreated from the original animated shot.

"The soundscape is more than just music because every song tells the story of the movie," Beyonce said.