It’s Hunger Games Week, finally! The sountrack was officially released on iTunes this morning, and if it’s telling of anything about the cinematography, I’m expecting plenty of standing hairs and tears. This is very folky/acoustic and as I’ll say several times, a good mix of gentle, energetic, and haunting. Here’s a track by track review.
1. Abraham’s Daughter – The Arcade Fire
This opening track has a typical Arcade Fire sound, and sets the stage for a sountrack mixed with aggressive and airy tunes. The instrumental has a great buildup, and while the words are difficult to make out, the higher pitched voice gives a tone of innocence. In the Bible, Abraham had a daughter whom was a total believer born of Satan. Makes you think about how this could relate to Katniss’ situation with the Capitol.
2. Tomorrow Will Be Kinder – The Secret Sisters
Another slow, gentle, guitar accompanied lullaby sound with a girl’s voice. There is much of this on the soundtrack, which I see fit for Katniss and Prim.This is almost haunting, the words give an almost hopelsss sense of yearning that tomorrow will be kinder (which I would say is the only sense of false hope for those in District 12), despite all of the pain and “somber scenes” that surround those in the movie.
3. Nothing to Remember – Neko Case
Third in a row – folk sounding woman’s voice. This one has more harmonies and a different backbeat, some more energy, and is truly interesting. The sentiment of this is running away from home and things you must face. “I’m ashamed that I’m barely human, and I’m ashamed that I don’t have a heart you can break.” This screams Katniss-Peeta, and again fits very well.
4. Safe and Sound – Taylor Swift and The Civil Wars
This was the first released single, so many of you probably know it, it also has a nice music video. This also stems directly from the idea of a lullaby in the book. I’m hoping with all of my heart that this is for Rue, or maybe even played twice. I was a little nervous with the choice of Taylor, but was proven wrong. This again has a gentle guitar, a girl’s voice, beautiful harmony, and fitting words. This one is definitely haunting at first, especially when thought of in context.
5. The Ruler and the Killer – Kid Cudi
Again, an artist choice that made me a bit nervous. I like Kid Cudi, but usually in the summer with the windows down, not post-apocalyptic Panem. Then I realized that plenty about Panem is demented or strange, so I gave it a shot. This is also the first male-only voiced track. The tone of this is almost grunge/garage/twang/dark sound. Almost a rap, but not quite. This may be for the training room?
6. Dark Days – Punch Brothers
Yay, more folk! I fell in love with this from the fitting title, but my heart swelled at the first line. I love love love the acoustic guitar and gentle male voice, although there is a girl in the harmonies. “Sister, hide it all away, from the evil we both know,” “We don’t have to reap the fear they sow, as long as we hide it all away.” Reaping, fear, sister, mother, hiding. This is just perfect.
7. One Engine – The Decemberists
I really like The Decemberists, so this made me excited to see. The sound is a great buildup of the folk theme, and is just male voices. Upbeat guitar and more of a full band sound kick off this song. I like the beat a lot, it builds some energy, but I wonder where it fits. Not rock at all, just more intense alternative/indie. This mentions martyrs and suffering, so I mean, the words just fit. Give it two listens.
8. Daughter’s Lament – The Carolina Chocolate Drops
This was written directly for the movie! It literally tells Katniss & Prim’s stories. The title is interesting, because I think both of Mrs. Everdeen’s daughters lament. Back to a very acoustic, hardly accompianied women’s folk voice. Almost like Florence and the Machine, this is a genuine woman folk singer. Arrows, miners, mockingjay, the whole bit. This is wonderful and high-pitched and gives the audience a summary of who Katniss is.
9. Kingdome Come – The Civil Wars
I’d never heard The Civil Wars before, and now I’m a fan. More acoustic folk guitar, beautiful higher pitches, an adorable male melody, and a sound of a lullaby. Gentle, yet haunting. I absolutely love this theme and I feel like The Civil Wars did a lot to set it. “Run far as you can, no one has to understand.” This could be about the temptation to escape, or even an allusion to death. It’s sad and reassuring and kind of scary, so I love it. The theme of “waiting for you” hits me that this must play for Gale.
10. Take the Heartland – Glen Hansard
More of a rock ballad, Glen Hansard gives the soundtrack a very George Thoroughgood like sound. Intense, determined, almost shouting but still fantastic. The beat is the kicker here, and his voice is strained and excellently packs a punch. This is a lot about murder, revenge, taking back what’s yours. Again, Katniss and 12. Angry and very cool, wonder if it’s for the arena.
11. Come Away To The Water – Maroon 5 and Rozzi Crane
Adam Levine is the love of my life. His voice has a twang that’s unique and irresistible, but I wasn’t sure how it would sound here. It’s perfect. Adds to the same folk theme with solid drum backbeats, a beautiful use of acoustics. “Come away little lamb, come away to the water” is a main line, and I would definitely attribute this to the scene in the cave where Katniss & Peeta don’t have much more time, or just all of the Tributes really. “Lambs to slaughter” is the other theme, which is a phrase I just love. It’s beyond perfect to describe all of the Tributes. A favorite of mine. Haunting thoughts.
12. Run Daddy Run – Miranda Lambert and Pistol Annies
I figured Miranda Lambert was a similar offshoot of the Taylor Swift choice. This is another acoustic lullaby with a nice beat, and definitely the most country sounding. “Daddy can you hear the devil drawing near?” is the main line, and I love it. It’s completely true of the impending doom of all the characters involved. There is great harmony on this one,very dark and well performed. Excited to see where it lands, it blends well.
13. Rules – Jayme Dee
Happy acoustic guitar to start. A nice, honest girl’s voice again. The words seem to matter most on this soundtrack. More allusions to pain, fear, loss of feelings and trying to figure out a hopeless life. I like this one a lot because it just keeps the theme going perfectly. Also, the line about running around the rules describes the poorer districts a lot, or just Katniss and Peeta.
14. Eyes Open – Taylor Swift
The other repeat artist. Was excited to hear Taylor by herself, and I was hoping for a power ballad / lullaby without the girl-power background. This is a more demure version of what’s on Mine, and it sounds a lot like she does in Long Live. It’s really enjoyable, I’m a total Taylor fan and she really proved that she can adapt to the proper situation. It has the most pop sound, but still works with a good beat. “Everybody’s waiting for you to breakdown, everybody’s watching to see the fallout, even when you’re sleeping, keep your eyes open.” Everyone is watching. The sick sport of The Hunger Games is just that. This is really great.
15. Lover is Childlike – The Low Anthem
Mmm, more thematic acoustics. I could fall asleep to this, in a good way. I feel as if this will contrast well to the raw emotions. Another lullaby-like tune with great words, nice harmony. This has another mention of meeting down by the sea, and is similar sounding to Adam Levine’s voice on the other track. “Don’t ask me no questions, cause I don’t cry no more” is very thematic to those who surive, and also hints at innocence.
16. Just A Game – Birdy
All of my cries! All of the tears! It might just be that this is the last track, or becaus it pulls everything together. The Hunger Games are just a game on the surface, to those higher up, and again is a completely distrubing example of manipulation. This is a matter of life-or-death for the Tributes, as is every day for thier districts. The piano in this one gave me chills, and the main female voice is a great folk acoustic. “I don’t know this place, don’t recognize anybody, just the same old dirty face.” This is haunting, and builds up to a hopeful line of being safe from harm in someone else’s arms. “Is it just a game? I don’t know … We’re all just pieces in their games.” Ugh, waterworks.
This soundtrack is, on the whole, beautiful and chilling. I’m satisfied and impressed.
(Stock image courtesy of Amazon.com.)