Walken's films have grossed more than $1.8 billion in the United States. He has also played the main role in the Shakespeare plays Hamlet, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, and Coriolanus. He has several times guest-hosted Saturday Night Live, his most notable role being Bruce Dickinson in the "More Cowbell" sketch.
Walken debuted as a film director and script writer with the short (five-minute) film "Popcorn Shrimp" in 2001. He also wrote and acted the main role in a play about Elvis Presley titled Him in 1995.
I WANNA BE LIKE YOU
Christopher Walken Lyrics
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The jungle VIP
I've reached the top and had to stop
And that's what botherin' me
I wanna be a man, mancub
And stroll right into town
And be just like the other men
I'm tired of monkeyin' around!
Oh, oobee doo
I wanna be like you
I wanna walk like you, talk like you, too
You'll see it's true someone like me
Can learn to be like someone like you
Now don't try to kid me, mancub
I'll make a deal with you
What I desire is man's red fire
To make my dream come true
Now, give me the secret, mancub
Come on, clue me what to do
Give me the power of man's red flower
So I can be like you
Oh, oobee doo
I wanna be like you
I wanna walk like you, talk like you, too
You'll see it's true someone like me
Can learn to be like someone like you
Now you might think it's ridiculous
That me, a gigantipithicus
Would ever dream I'd like to team
With the likes of you, mancub
But together, we'd have powers
All the jungle's treasures, ours
I got desire, you got the fire
But the dream I dream takes two
So, ooh, I wanna be like you
I wanna use that flame just the same you can do
Oh, how magnificus it would be
A gigantipithicus like me
Could learn to do like you humans do
Can learn to be like someone like you
Can learn to be like someone like me
The song "I Wan'na Be Like You" from the movie "The Jungle Book" is the conversation between Mowgli and King Louie, who is the king of the apes and wants to be like humans. Louie is impressed by Mowgli's ability to make fire and wants to learn the secret of how to make it. The song is full of jazz melodies, highly rhythmic drums, and sleek harmonic changes. The lyrics depict Louie's aspirations to be a human being and his admiration of Mowgli.
The first line of the song, "Now I'm the king of the swingers, oh," establishes the theme of the song, which is the desire to be human. The use of the word "swingers" is a double entendre, referring both to the swinging and climbing of apes in the jungle and the social lifestyle of jazz musicians. "The jungle VIP" is a humorous reference to privileged people who are important in society. Louie is tired of monkeying around and wants to be like other humans. He envies the ability of humans to make fire and desires to learn how to do it. Louie acknowledges that together they can have powers and all jungle's treasures could be theirs.
Line by Line Meaning
Now I'm the king of the swingers, oh
I have authority over the jungle and its inhabitants
The jungle VIP
I am the most important and respected in the jungle
I've reached the top and had to stop
I have achieved all I could in the jungle
And that's what botherin' me
I am unsatisfied with my current state of being
I wanna be a man, mancub
I desire to be a human like you, mancub
And stroll right into town
I wish to enter into human civilization with ease
And be just like the other men
I desire to fit in with human society
I'm tired of monkeyin' around!
I am tired of living the life of an animal in the jungle
Oh, oobee doo
Expressing excitement and enthusiasm
I wanna be like you
I desire to emulate your human qualities
I wanna walk like you, talk like you, too
I wish to imitate your mannerisms and speech
You'll see it's true someone like me
It is possible for someone like me to become like you
Can learn to be like someone like you
I believe I am capable of learning and adapting to human behavior
Now don't try to kid me, mancub
Do not deceive me or underestimate my abilities, mancub
I'll make a deal with you
I propose a bargain or agreement with you
What I desire is man's red fire
I covet the power and control that comes with human society
To make my dream come true
This is the key to fulfilling my desire to become like a human
Now, give me the secret, mancub
Reveal to me how to obtain man's red fire, mancub
Come on, clue me what to do
Provide me with the necessary knowledge or insight to achieve my goal
Give me the power of man's red flower
Grant me access to human technology and society
So I can be like you
This is the most important stepping stone in my quest to become like you
Now you might think it's ridiculous
You may find it absurd or foolish
That me, a gigantipithicus
A giant ape like me
Would ever dream I'd like to team
Would consider joining forces with a human like you
With the likes of you, mancub
With someone like you, mancub
But together, we'd have powers
Uniting our strengths would result in extraordinary capabilities
All the jungle's treasures, ours
We would have access to all the resources in the jungle
I got desire, you got the fire
I possess the longing, while you possess the means
But the dream I dream takes two
My dream requires both of us to work together
So, ooh, I wanna be like you
I reiterate my desire to emulate you
I wanna use that flame just the same you can do
I crave the power and influence of human society, just like you have
Oh, how magnificus it would be
There's nothing more splendid than the prospect of this dream coming true
A gigantipithicus like me
A giant ape such as myself
Could learn to do like you humans do
I am capable of adopting human behavior and lifestyle, just like you
Can learn to be like someone like you
It is possible for me to become like you
Can learn to be like someone like me
Perhaps you, too, can learn from me and my jungle ways
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Richard M. Sherman, Robert B. Sherman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@dltmdgnskr
You know why this version of King Louie is terrifying and also awesome villain same time? Not just because he is big and powerful and wise, but also he is a most genetically close to the Mowgli.
At the beginning of the movie, Shere Khan warn about how dangerous a human is. And Louie is the most human-representing creature. Genetically, and also in his motive and behavior.
King Louie want a fire because he wants to rule a jungle with it, and also want to be a Man. he is bored about his limitation as a ape. He wanna break through and wanna become a man. He is not just a creature of 'Bare Necessities', He is a creature of 'The Will to Power'. and his will is a become a man, then rule the jungle like a man with fire.
Hell even he acts like a man already. He's living in a abandon temple like human lives in a house, he's got a henchman like a human, and rule them like a king. Just like a humans do.
So he is a basically a dark represent of us, a human, that Shere Khan tries to warn about. Makes Shere Khan more persuasive. Also he is a ancient species already extinct and wanna become a man and join their world, Mowgli is a young human wanna stay at a jungle like a animal. Feel the comparison?
@AceAttorny
Don't you just love how the movie isn't a musical at all, but the writers were like: "Hold the phone. We have Christopher Walken as King Louie. We need to stop everything and have him sing a song, orchestra and all."
@MorKmbt
If it's walken he's gotta sing
@fab.912
+AceAttorny Or rather it wouldn't be a Disney's Jungle Book without the "Bare Necessities" and "I Wan'na Be Like You" :P
But yes, Christopher Walken with this song is glorious
@IraNeff
He's Walken the walk and talkin the talk
@ShyGreenBean
AceAttorny yes
@HarryBillyBobGeorge
I honestly wish it was a musical. And the expanded story was great but I wish it was closer to either the original or the book. I miss the vultures.
@casperphillips3337
I love the fact that they made him a freakin mob boss
@TheCrusaders13
Same
@mattpask5594
same
@robbiewalker2831
+Bryce Phillips Well, if a lot of the animals fear the Red Flower, how can you blame him?