The_Hunger_Games:_The_Ballad_of_Songbirds_&_Snakes_(soundtrack)
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (soundtrack)
2023 soundtrack album by various artists
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (Music From & Inspired By) is the soundtrack album to the 2023 film of the same name, based on Suzanne Collins's 2020 novel The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. The fifth installment in the The Hunger Games film series and prequel to the first film, it stars Tom Blyth, Rachel Zegler, Peter Dinklage, Hunter Schafer, Jason Schwartzman, Josh Andrés Rivera, and Viola Davis.
| The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (Music From & Inspired By) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soundtrack album by various artists | ||||
| Released | November 17, 2023 | |||
| Recorded | 2022–2023 | |||
| Studio | Air Studios, London | |||
| Label | Geffen | |||
| Producer | Dave Cobb | |||
| The Hunger Games soundtrack chronology | ||||
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| Singles from The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes | ||||
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The soundtrack featured several pop and country folk songs performed by the cast members, including Zegler. The album was released by Geffen Records on November 17, 2023 and was led by two singles—"The Hanging Tree (Lucy Gray's Version)" and "Can't Catch Me Now".
At CinemaCon on April 26, 2023, director Francis Lawrence had announced that Dave Cobb would produce the soundtrack album that featured the prequel's version of songs from the previous installments. As music plays a more prominent role in the prequel, the creative team was heavily influenced by appalachian, country, and folk music. Late country music singer Loretta Lynn also informed Lucy Gray's sound throughout the filming process, and was also involved in providing creative inputs to the team. Zegler performed all the songs in the film live throughout filming.[1][2]
On September 16, 2023, Lucy Gray's version of the song "The Hanging Tree" from the 2014 film The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 (originally performed by Jennifer Lawrence) was teased in a promotional video for the film.[3][4] The full song was released on October 20, as the lead single.[5][6] On November 1, Olivia Rodrigo announced that she would perform a song "Can't Catch Me Now" for the soundtrack of the film,[7][8] which would be the first track from the album that was made available for pre-order.[9][10] The song was released as a single two days later.[11][12] A music video for the track would be released on November 13.[13]
David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter said that Cobb's rousing tunes for Lucy Gray's songs "adding fire to the heroine’s rebel spirit".[14] Will Sayre of MovieWeb said that the tunes are "catchy enough and will surely be universally appreciated among fans".[15]
The track list of the album was announced on November 1.[16]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Artist(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Can't Catch Me Now" | Olivia Rodrigo | 3:26 | |
| 2. | "The Hanging Tree" (Lucy Gray's version) | Rachel Zegler | 2:24 | |
| 3. | "Wool" | Cleto Cordero | Flatland Cavalry | 3:49 |
| 4. | "Nothing You Can Take from Me" |
| Zegler | 1:36 |
| 5. | "The Garden" |
| Sierra Ferrell | 3:42 |
| 6. | "The Ballad of Lucy Gray Baird" |
| Zegler | 2:19 |
| 7. | "Bury Me Beneath the Willow" | Molly Tuttle | 3:42 | |
| 8. | "The Old Therebefore / Singing at Snakes" |
|
| 2:49 |
| 9. | "Burn Me Once" | Bella White | Bella White | 3:20 |
| 10. | "District 12 Stomp" |
| The Covey Band | 0:43 |
| 11. | "Nothing You Can Take from Me" (Boot-Stompin' Version) |
|
| 3:14 |
| 12. | "Cabin Song" | William Apostal | Billy Strings | 3:27 |
| 13. | "Lucy Gray" (Part 1) | William Wordsworth | Zegler | 2:41 |
| 14. | "Pure as the Driven Snow" |
|
| 3:53 |
| 15. | "Winter's Come and Gone" | Charles Wesley Godwin | 2:49 | |
| 16. | "Keep on the Sunny Side" |
|
| 2:44 |
| 17. | "Lucy Gray" (Part 2) | Wordsworth | Zegler | 3:19 |
| Total length: | 49:56 | |||
| Chart (2023–2024) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums (ARIA)[17] | 95 |
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[18] | 45 |
| Canadian Albums (Billboard)[19] | 45 |
| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[20] | 68 |
| French Albums (SNEP)[21] | 128 |
| Lithuanian Albums (AGATA)[22] | 31 |
| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[23] | 22 |
| Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[24] | 11 |
| UK Compilation Albums (OCC)[25] | 10 |
| UK Americana Albums (OCC)[26] | 3 |
| UK Soundtrack Albums (OCC)[27] | 1 |
| US Billboard 200[28] | 68 |
| US Top Country Albums (Billboard)[29] | 15 |
| US Soundtrack Albums (Billboard)[30] | 3 |
| Award | Date of Ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hollywood Music in Media Awards | November 15, 2023 | Original Song — Sci-Fi/Fantasy Film | "Can't Catch Me Now"
Written by Dan Nigro and Olivia Rodrigo; performed by Olivia Rodrigo |
Won | [31] [32] [33] |
- Stephan, Katcy (April 27, 2023). "'Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes' Director and Producer Break Down Trailer and Tease Rachel Zegler's Songs". Variety. Archived from the original on May 4, 2023. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
- Wang, Jessica (September 25, 2023). "'Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes' brings young Coriolanus Snow to life". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on November 6, 2023. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
- Little, Sarah (September 20, 2023). "Hunger Games' Hanging Tree Song & Why Lucy Gray Sings It". ScreenRant. Archived from the original on October 16, 2023. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
- "Rachel Zegler Sings 'Hanging Tree' in Extended Sneak Peek at Hunger Games Origin Story: Watch (Exclusive)". People. Archived from the original on November 3, 2023. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
- Zemler, Emily (October 20, 2023). "Hear Rachel Zegler Perform 'The Hanging Tree' for 'The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on October 25, 2023. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
- "The Hunger Games: Listen to Rachel Zegler's Single "The Hanging Tree" From The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes". Comicbook.com. October 20, 2023. Archived from the original on October 25, 2023. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
- Aniftos, Rania (November 1, 2023). "Olivia Rodrigo Announces 'Can't Catch Me Now' Song Off Upcoming Hunger Games Soundtrack". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 2, 2023. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
- Madarang, Charisma (November 1, 2023). "Olivia Rodrigo Teases Haunting 'Can't Catch Me Now' for Hunger Games Prequel". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on November 6, 2023. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
- Geraghty, Hollie (November 2, 2023). "Olivia Rodrigo Teases 'Can't Catch Me Now' From The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes". NME. Archived from the original on November 2, 2023. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
- Garcia, Thania (November 1, 2023). "Olivia Rodrigo Joins The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes Soundtrack with 'Can't Catch Me Now'". Variety. Archived from the original on November 3, 2023. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
- Anderson, Carys; Vito, Jo (November 3, 2023). "Olivia Rodrigo Unveils New Song 'Can't Catch Me Now' from Hunger Games Soundtrack". Consequence. Archived from the original on November 7, 2023. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
- Madarang, Charisma (November 3, 2023). "Olivia Rodrigo Unleashes Her Fury with New Hunger Games Single 'Can't Catch Me Now'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on November 4, 2023. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
- Tinoco, Armando (November 13, 2023). "Olivia Rodrigo Drops 'Can't Catch Me Now' Music Video for The Hunger Games: The Ballad Of Songbirds & Snakes Soundtrack". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on November 14, 2023. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
- Rooney, David (November 9, 2023). "'The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes' Review: Jennifer Lawrence Is Sorely Missed in Dour Prequel Short on Excitement". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on November 14, 2023. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
- Sayre, Will (November 9, 2023). "The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes Review: Grim Prequel to an Already-Grim Story". MovieWeb. Archived from the original on November 14, 2023. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
- Lynch, Joe (October 25, 2023). "Inside the Gritty, 'Dangerous' Music of 'Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes'". Billboard. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
- "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 4 December 2023". The ARIA Report. No. 1761. Australian Recording Industry Association. December 4, 2023. p. 6.
- "Ultratop.be – Soundtrack / James Newton Howard / Yuja Wang – The Hunger Games - The Ballad Of Songbirds & Snakes" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved February 11, 2024.
- "Billboard Canadian Albums: Week of December 9, 2023". Billboard. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
- "Dutchcharts.nl – Soundtrack / Olivia Rodrigo / Rachel Zegler / Flatland Cavalry – The Hunger Games: The Ballad Of Songbirds & Snakes (Music From & Inspired By)" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved December 3, 2023.
- "Lescharts.com – Soundtrack / James Newton Howard / Yuja Wang – The Hunger Games - The Ballad Of Songbirds & Snakes". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 11, 2024.
- "2023 48-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. December 1, 2023. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
- "NZ Top 40 Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. December 4, 2023. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
- "Album 2023 uke 48". VG-lista. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
- "Official Compilations Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 26, 2023.
- "Official Americana Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
- "Official Soundtrack Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
- "Billboard 200: Week of December 9, 2023". Billboard. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
- "Top Country Albums: Week of December 2, 2023". Billboard. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
- "Soundtracks: Week of December 2, 2023". Billboard. Retrieved December 5, 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.
- Grein, Paul (November 16, 2023). "Billie Eilish's 'Barbie' Song, Robbie Robertson's Scorsese Score Honored at 2023 Hollywood Music in Media Awards". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 19, 2023. Retrieved November 16, 2023.