History Main / HakunaMatata

* ''WesternAnimation/TheLionGuard'' has a call back to the TropeNamer. Bunga and Simba end up trying to navigate tunnels when they’re trapped in a sinkhole. They argue and go off in different directions. Bunga starts singing “Hakuna Matata” and Simba hears him and joins in. They realize they’re kinda like brothers since Timon and Pumbaa raised them both, and are able to start getting along better. Simba, along with the rest of his family,later sings it at the Elephants’ concert.

* "Three Little Birds" from ''Music/{{Exodus|Album}}'' by Music/BobMarley

** ''WesternAnimation/TheLionKing1994'': The TropeNamer is "Hakuna Matata", where Timon and Pumbaa tell Simba, who has just run away from his responsibilities and his life, that he doesn't need to worry about the past, because a carefree existence is much less trouble. However, this mentality ends up [[DeconstructedTrope becoming an obstacle that Simba must throw off]] before he can [[spoiler:start serving the kingdom and rescue it from Scar, who never outgrows this attitude and tries to take the benefits of being king without taking any of the responsibility that goes along with the job. When both Simba and Scar shun this responsibility, the kingdom suffers greatly from Scar's neglectful approach. It's only when Simba grows and learns to take responsibility that prosperity returns]]. In fact, the song shows Simba being ''apathetically cynical'' ("Sometimes, bad things happen and there's nothing you can do about it. So why worry?").

* ''WesternAnimation/TheLionGuard'' has a call back to the TropeNamer. Bunga and Simba end up trying to navigate tunnels when they’re trapped in a sinkhole. They argue and go off in different directions. Bunga starts singing “Hakuna Matata” and Simba hears him and joins in. They realize they’re kinda like brothers since Timon and Pumbaa raised them both, and are able to start getting along better. Simba later sings it at the Elephants’ concert.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheLionGuard'' has a call back to the TropeNamer. Bunga and Simba end up trying to navigate tunnels when they’re trapped in a sinkhole. They argue and go off in different directions. Bunga starts singing “Hakuna Matata” and Simba hears him and joins in. They realize they’re kinda like brothers since Timon and Pumbaa raised them both, and are able to start getting along better

[[folder/Western Animation]]

** It doesn't go back there, either! ''WesternAnimation/{{The Jungle Book|1967}}'' has [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ogQ0uge06o "The Bare Necessities"]]. Baloo tells Mowgli all about life in the jungle, where your only concern should be what's for dinner (and whether or not it's you), and no one needs any lasting anxiety.

** ''WesternAnimation/TheLionKing'': The TropeNamer is "Hakuna Matata", where Timon and Pumbaa tell Simba, who has just run away from his responsibilities and his life, that he doesn't need to worry about the past, because a carefree existence is much less trouble. However, this mentality ends up [[DeconstructedTrope becoming an obstacle that Simba must throw off]] before he can [[spoiler: start serving the kingdom and rescue it from Scar, who never outgrows this attitude and tries to take the benefits of being king without taking any of the responsibility that goes along with the job. When both Simba and Scar shun this responsibility, the kingdom suffers greatly from Scar's neglectful approach. It's only when Simba grows and learns to take responsibility that prosperity returns]]. In fact, the song shows Simba being ''apathetically cynical''. ("Sometimes, bad things happen and there's nothing you can do about it. So why worry?")
** ''WesternAnimation/OliverAndCompany'' has [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jb7kJ-j_dKA "Why Should I Worry,"]] a Disney song created [[OlderThanTheyThink way before Hakuna Matata (the song) existed]]. The Dodger isn't comic relief in the end, but it's very much a "let me astonish you, young stranger, with tales of my carefree lifestyle" song.
** ''WesternAnimation/{{The Jungle Book|1967}}'' has [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ogQ0uge06o "The Bare Necessities"]]. Baloo tells Mowgli all about life in the jungle, where your only concern should be what's for dinner (and whether or not it's you), and no one needs any lasting anxiety.
** ''WesternAnimation/FunAndFancyFree'': Jiminy Cricket's song "I'm a Happy-go-Lucky Fellow," all about his happy and carefree approach to life.
** Before "I'm a Happy-Go-Lucky Fellow," there was [[http://youtu.be/LcxYwwIL5zQ "Zip-a-dee-doo-dah"]], about having a "wonderful feeling" on a "wonderful day," from ''Film/SongOfTheSouth''.
** ''WesternAnimation/BrotherBear'' has a CutSong called, well..."The Fishing Song", which is replaced in the final version of the film by "Welcome". The Fishing Song is basically about how the bears at the Salmon Run live a happy life just being bears, including eating, swimming, fishing, and sleeping. They also live a motto that can be described (as said in the lyrics) as "every day is one long party" and "life don't get no better than this".
** ''WesternAnimation/{{Frozen|2013}}'' has [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnpJBkAMk44 "Let it Go"]] sung by Elsa where she believes that she can finally use her ice powers without harming anyone and live with no worries or responsibilities by going on a self-induced isolation in her IcePalace. [[DeconstructedTrope Unfortunately]], what she doesn't realize is that she accidentally plunged her own kingdom into an EndlessWinter and upon being informed, she goes right back to square one and panics, accidentally striking her sister in the heart. Her CharacterDevelopment involves learning to face her problems instead of simply avoiding them, in the end controlling and using her powers around others instead of repressing them or hiding.
* ''WesternAnimation/RudolphTheRedNosedReindeer1998'' had Slyly the fox sing "It Could Be Worse" to Rudolph after he's run away from home on how there are worse situations in the world and how he should forget his troubles.

''What a wonderful phrase!''

Usually, this type of song is sung by a carefree individual to educate someone who doesn't know the joy of the good life, but, since the hero's journey is ultimately all about responsibility, this tends to be a SidekickSong, especially if the sidekick's life is a {{Foil}} to the hero's destiny, or a song sung by the hero before TheCall screws around with his life.

* "Three Little Birds" from ''Music/{{Exodus|Album}}'' by Music/BobMarley - the one with the chorus "'cause every little thing's gonna be alright."

** ''WesternAnimation/{{Frozen|2013}}'' has [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnpJBkAMk44 "Let it Go"]] sung by Elsa where she believes that she could finally use her own ice powers without harming anyone and live with no worries or responsibilities before going on a self-induced isolation in her IcePalace. [[DeconstructedTrope Unfortunately]], what she doesn't realize is that she accidentally plunged her own kingdom under an EndlessWinter and upon being informed, she goes right back to square one and panics, plunging Arendelle further into a snowstorm, particularly after she accidentally struck her sister in the heart.

** ''WesternAnimation/TheLionKing'': The TropeNamer is "Hakuna Matata", where Timon and Pumbaa tell Simba, who has just run away from his responsibilities and his life, that he doesn't need to worry about the past, because a carefree existence is much less trouble. However, this mentality ends up [[DeconstructedTrope becoming an obstacle that Simba must throw off]] before he can [[spoiler:kill Scar and claim his inheritance]]. In fact, it shows him being ''apathetically cynical''. ("Sometimes, bad things happen and there's nothing you can do about it. So why worry?")

** ''WesternAnimation/TheLionKing'': The TropeNamer is "Hakuna Matata", where Timon and Pumbaa tell Simba, who has just run away from his responsibilities and his life, that he doesn't need to worry about the past, because a carefree existence is much less trouble. However, this mentality ends up [[SubvertedTrope becoming an obstacle that Simba must throw off]] before he can [[spoiler:kill Scar and claim his inheritance]]. In fact, it shows him being ''apathetically cynical''. ("Sometimes, bad things happen and there's nothing you can do about it. So why worry?")

** ''WesternAnimation/{{Frozen|2013}}'' has [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnpJBkAMk44 "Let it Go"]] sung by Elsa where she believes that she could finally use her own ice powers without harming anyone and live with no worries or responsibilities before going on a self-induced isolation in her IcePalace. [[SubvertedTrope Unfortunately]], what she doesn't realize is that she accidentally plunged her own kingdom under an EndlessWinter and upon being informed, she goes right back to square one and panics, plunging Arendelle further into a snowstorm, particularly after she accidentally struck her sister in the heart.

* ''Film/{{Labyrinth}}'': Cross this over with a VillainSong, hand it to a WackyWaysideTribe that's keeping the heroine from reaching her goal, and you get "Chilly Down" (here are the [[http://www.teenagewildlife.com/music/st/Labyrinth/CD.html lyrics]] from the full-length version of the song on the soundtrack album).

* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FW02c5UNGl0 "Make 'Em Laugh"]] from ''Film/SinginInTheRain'', possibly the most obvious example of this trope. "Moses Supposes His Toeses Are Roses", a duet between the hero and comedy sidekick, also counts.

** Before "I'm a Happy-Go-Lucky Fellow," there was [[http://youtu.be/LcxYwwIL5zQ "Zip-a-dee-doo-dah"]] from ''Film/SongOfTheSouth''.

** "Wilkommen, Bienvenue, Welcome" from is of the darker life-sucks-but-let's-pretend-for-a-moment-it-doesn't variety.

* Subverted and directly referenced in ''Theatre/TheBookOfMormon'' with Hasa Diga Eebowai, in which the Ugandan villagers sing a happy-sounding song about how much their lives suck and how they try to make the best of it by [[spoiler:cursing God in the most profane manner possible]], and again in Turn It Off, in which the Mormon missionaries sing a toe-tapping tune about forgetting their problems by suppressing their emotions.

* ''Theatre/{{Rent}}'' has "Today 4 You", an upbeat and bouncy song...about killing a dog, "Out Tonight", about Mimi enjoying what time she has left, and "Santa Fe", about Collins' dream of opening a restaurant out west.

* As one can tell from the title, "Don't Worry, Be Happy" by Bobby [=McFerrin=] is this sort of song. [[PlayingWithATrope Maybe.]]

* "Livin' in the Sunlight, Lovin' in the Moonlight", best known for its cover version by Music/TinyTim, could be considered this.

* ''Series/CrazyExGirlfriend'' finally [[spoiler:hooks up Josh and Rebecca]] after a season and a half of trying, and they celebrate with a '70s soul pastiche called "We'll Never Have Problems Again," and forcibly reject any thoughts about how delusional with infatuation they are. Heather calls them out on it.
-->'''Rebecca:''' ''But now our love / has magically solved them / And there won't be any / more in our future at all!''\\

** ''WesternAnimation/FunAndFancyFree'': Jiminy Cricket's song [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCc3GeYPQFU "I'm a Happy-go-Lucky Fellow."]]

*** [[WesternAnimation/TheLionKing2019 The 2019 remake]] takes a rather nihilistic spin on "Hakuna Matata." There is no "circle of life" or anything beyond the here and now, only a "line of meaningless indifference". Nothing really matters beyond living comfortably and choosing your own happiness over a meaningful purpose.

** ''WesternAnimation/TheLionKing'': The TropeNamer is "Hakuna Matata", where Timon and Pumbaa tell Simba, who has just run away from his responsibilities and his life, that he doesn't need to worry about the past, because a carefree existence is much less trouble. However, this mentality ends up [[SubvertedTrope becoming an obstacle that Simba must throw off]] before he can [[spoiler:kill Scar and claim his inheritance]].]] In fact, it shows him being ''apathetically cynical''. ("Sometimes, bad things happen and there's nothing you can do about it. So why worry?")

** ''WesternAnimation/TheLionKing'': The TropeNamer is "Hakuna Matata", where Timon and Pumbaa tell Simba, who has just run away from his responsibilities and his life, that he doesn't need to worry about the past, because a carefree existence is much less trouble. [[SubvertedTrope However, this mentality ends up becoming an obstacle that Simba must throw off before he can [[spoiler:kill Scar and claim his inheritance]].]] In fact, it shows him being ''apathetically cynical''. ("Sometimes, bad things happen and there's nothing you can do about it. So why worry?")

** ''WesternAnimation/TheLionKing'': The TropeNamer is "Hakuna Matata", where Timon and Pumbaa tell Simba, who has just run away from his responsibilities and his life, that he doesn't need to worry about the past, because a carefree existence is much less trouble. [[SubvertedTrope However, this mentality ends up becoming an obstacle that Simba must throw off before he can [[spoiler:kill Scar and claim his inheritance.]]]] In fact, it shows him being ''apathetically cynical''. ("Sometimes, bad things happen and there's nothing you can do about it. So why worry?")

** ''WesternAnimation/TheLionKing'': The TropeNamer is "Hakuna Matata", where Timon and Pumbaa tell Simba, who has just run away from his responsibilities and his life, that he doesn't need to worry about the past, because a carefree existence is much less trouble. [[SubvertedTrope However, this mentality ends up becoming an obstacle that Simba must throw off before he can [[spoiler:kill Scar and claim his inheritance.]] In fact, it shows him being]] ''[[apathetically cynical]]''. ("Sometimes, bad things happen and there's nothing you can do about it. So why worry?")