The_Hunger_Games:_The_Ballad_of_Songbirds_&_Snakes_(score)
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (score)
2023 film score by James Newton Howard
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (Original Motion Picture Score) is the score album to the 2023 film of the same name based on Suzanne Collins' 2020 novel The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. The fifth instalment in the The Hunger Games film series and prequel to the first film, stars Tom Blyth, Rachel Zegler, Peter Dinklage, Hunter Schafer, Josh Andrés Rivera, and Viola Davis. James Newton Howard composed the film's score, whose album consisted of 40 tracks and featured pianist Yuja Wang in three of them. The soundtrack was released by Sony Masterworks on November 17, 2023.
| The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (Original Motion Picture Score) | ||||
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| Released | November 17, 2023 (2023-11-17) | |||
| Recorded | AIR Studios, London | |||
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| Length | 87:06 | |||
| Label | Sony Masterworks | |||
| Producer | James Newton Howard | |||
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| The Hunger Games soundtrack chronology | ||||
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| Singles from The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (Original Motion Picture Score) | ||||
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In July 2022, franchise regular James Newton Howard returned to collaborate for the fifth film, after scoring the previous installments.[1] Although he intended to reuse thematic materials from the predecessors, he instead wrote "fresh" and "original" music as the prequel is a "brand new entry" in the franchise. The score album consists of 40 tracks.[2][3]
The score was recorded at the AIR Studios in London, during May and June 2023.[3] Chinese pianist Yuja Wang is the featuring artist in the album. The soundtrack was preceded with "Mercy" as the lead single, released on November 7, 2023.[4]
At the same month, it was also announced that the soundtrack would be released on double LPs with the 40-track score being pressed on 180-gram red and gold-colored vinyl discs that covered in a gatefold sleeve and included a four-page booklet that contained stills from the film. It is set to be released in February 2024.[5]
| No. | Title | Artist(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The Dark Days" | 1:55 | |
| 2. | "Anthem: Gem of Panem" | 0:43 | |
| 3. | "Coryo in the Capitol" | 0:44 | |
| 4. | "Assigning the Mentors" | James Newton Howard & Yuja Wang | 2:38 |
| 5. | "Meet the Mentor" | 2:01 | |
| 6. | "Gamemaker" | 1:20 | |
| 7. | "Sejanus" | Howard & Wang | 1:58 |
| 8. | "Hunger Is a Weapon" | 2:43 | |
| 9. | "Strategy" | Howard & Wang | 2:06 |
| 10. | "Department of War" | 3:39 | |
| 11. | "The Arena" | 2:06 | |
| 12. | "Saving Snow" | 1:23 | |
| 13. | "Ideas Firing" | Howard & Wang | 4:23 |
| 14. | "Happy Hunger Games" | Howard & Wang | 3:29 |
| 15. | "Mercy" | 2:21 | |
| 16. | "Seize the Opportunity" | 1:18 | |
| 17. | "Cut the Feed" | Howard & Wang | 1:27 |
| 18. | "Open the Gate" | Howard & Wang | 3:46 |
| 19. | "Powerful" | 1:44 | |
| 20. | "Afraid of Water" | 1:18 | |
| 21. | "Drone Attack" | 3:20 | |
| 22. | "Inside the Duct" | 1:03 | |
| 23. | "Under the Flag" | 2:55 | |
| 24. | "Planting the Cloth" | Howard & Wang | 3:37 |
| 25. | "Rainbow of Destruction" | 1:13 | |
| 26. | "Get Her Out" | 3:44 | |
| 27. | "The Sound of Snow" | 1:59 | |
| 28. | "Your Life Has Just Begun" | 1:03 | |
| 29. | "You Are Safe" | 1:46 | |
| 30. | "Trust Is Everything" | 1:20 | |
| 31. | "I Can't Stay Here" | 1:42 | |
| 32. | "Cabin in the Rain" | 1:31 | |
| 33. | "Lucy?" | 2:26 | |
| 34. | "The Woods" | 1:09 | |
| 35. | "Change of Plan" | 2:03 | |
| 36. | "Passed the Tests" | Howard & Wang | 3:36 |
| 37. | "Snow Lands on Top" | 3:29 | |
| 38. | "Three Solos for Yuja: I. Friendship" | Yuja Wang | 2:05 |
| 39. | "Three Solos for Yuja: II. Rue's Farewell" | Yuja Wang | 2:03 |
| 40. | "Three Solos for Yuja: III. Victor" | Yuja Wang | 2:00 |
| Total length: | 87:06 | ||
| Award | Date of Ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hollywood Music in Media Awards | November 15, 2023 | Original Score — Sci-Fi/Fantasy Film | James Newton Howard | Nominated | [6] [7] |
| Region | Date | Format(s) | Label | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Various | November 17, 2023 | Sony Masterworks | [5] | |
| February 2, 2024 | Vinyl |
- "James Newton Howard to Score Francis Lawrence's 'The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes'". Film Music Reporter. July 17, 2022. Archived from the original on July 23, 2022. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
- Danoff, Owen (November 14, 2023). "The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes Featurette Highlights Iconic Composer's Return". ScreenRant. Archived from the original on November 16, 2023. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
- Vevo (November 14, 2023). Scoring 'The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes' with James Newton Howard. Sony Masterworks. Archived from the original on November 16, 2023. Retrieved November 16, 2023 – via YouTube.
- "First Track from James Newton Howard's The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes Score Released". Film Music Reporter. November 7, 2023. Archived from the original on November 9, 2023. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
- "The Hunger Games: The Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes (James Newton Howard)". Music On Vinyl. Archived from the original on November 16, 2023. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
- Grein, Paul (November 2, 2023). "Songs from 'Barbie' Pace 2023 Hollywood Music in Media Awards Nominations (Full List)". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 7, 2023. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
- Brew, Caroline (November 2, 2023). "Billie Eilish, Olivia Rodrigo Nominated for 2023 Hollywood Music in Media Awards". Variety. Archived from the original on November 6, 2023. Retrieved November 3, 2023.