[trills tongue]
[vocal warm-ups]
Every start of the show gives me a different vibe, a different energy.
-Testing, testing, testing, testing. -All good.
[Magudulela] That first call means a lot,
'cause you find the public members screaming.
[audience cheering, applause]
But the minute you start that call, it's like total silencio. And then, boom.
[applauding continues]
I have their eyes on me.
[singing in Zulu]
[background singers singing in Zulu]
[Magudulela] I still get chills when I'm [chuckling] singing.
Especially the first song.
I just don't get over with that first song, "The Circle of Life."
[continues singing in Zulu]
I look at individuals amongst the public.
And the connection I feel with their eyes, even better when they are crying.
I'm like, "Oof."
[chuckles]
"I feel you."
I'm really proud. It's a very special role.
I feel honored that I was trusted.
I actually [chuckling] grew up in South Africa.
I think I was about five. I actually composed a song.
That's how much I knew that I loved singing.
And then, of course, at nine years, that's when I'm like, "I think I love singing."
'Cause I ended up copying my friend who sang better than me at that point.
She can sing, and I can try and sing too. I'm gonna be competitive.
I just sang and sang until I upstaged her.
[laughs]
My first audition was not good.
At that point I just finished my first musical in South Africa.
There was a long queue, and I asked people, "Okay, what is this queue for?"
"It's, like, auditions, Lion King." I'm like, "What is that?"
["Circle of Life" playing]
I went to the movie store, bought myself that DVD.
I thought, "If I do The Lion King, am I gonna be a cartoon?" [chuckles]
I do have moments where I'm actually meditating.
[chuckles] I close my eyes.
[chuckles]
-Clearing the mind. -You know?
I'm glad and grateful that I've been part of this journey.
¡Soy listo!
Being around this show teaches me every day to be a better person.
[singing in Zulu]
I mean, all the songs for me are special.
They tell a certain story.
And... for me, "The Circle of Life," I just connect with it.
♪ It's the circle of life ♪
It's like, "Wow, we're so connected on this earth."
We need each other.
Ooh... [sighs] It's just too much. It's deep.
[chuckles]
[singing in Spanish]
I just connect with it as when I came on this earth.
How my family was happy.
And what dramas or what problems we've been through.
[continues singing in Spanish]
My parents are no longer there.
I always feel they are still with me when I'm delivering the song.
Because, really, when I talk to that Mufasa,
I'm not talking to Mufasa. I'm talking to my parents.
That's why I'm grateful to be part of this journey
because, really, I've changed so many people's lives.
You know, knowing that there could be people who are coming here sad.
When we perform, then they leave happy.
It's an amazing reaction. I feel like we're giving them a gift.
It just makes me [chuckles] feel blessed.
[singing continues]