The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (Original Motion Picture Score) is the score album to the 2023 film The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes. 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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Film score by | ||||
Released | November 17, 2023 | |||
Recorded | AIR Studios, London | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 87:06 | |||
Label | Sony Masterworks | |||
Producer | James Newton Howard | |||
The Hunger Games soundtrack chronology | ||||
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James Newton Howard chronology | ||||
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Singles from The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (Original Motion Picture Score) | ||||
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Background
editIn 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]
Reception
editZanobard Reviews wrote "James Newton Howard’s Ballad Of Songbirds & Snakes score reprises those classic Hunger Games motifs you know and love and… that’s about it really. Save one or two thunderous moments and a half-decent though sadly underutilised theme for Lucy Gray Baird, there just isn’t much else to remark about."[6] Filmtracks.com wrote "The lack of this score's new themes performed in these tracks is an oddity as well, almost like an admission from the composer that they cannot attract the same appeal of the franchise's prior identities. At the very least, Lucy's theme should have been included here, along with the Mockingjay one prominently heard several times in the score. Casual Howard enthusiasts will likely want The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes to be more than it is, a competent but ultimately unengaging echo of better times."[7]
David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter wrote "The orchestral thunder of James Newton Howard’s score marries well with Lucy Gray’s songs, in which executive music producer Dave Cobb crafts rousing tunes around Collins’ lyrics, adding fire to the heroine’s rebel spirit."[8] Jen A. Hughes and Monique I. Vebocky of The Harvard Crimson wrote "With the same composer as the original films, James Newton Howard, it is no surprise that the film features impressive orchestral movements. One delightfully unexpected aspect of the film’s music, however, was the direct sampling of a few of the past film’s themes [...] As a book adaptation, the film’s score has the power to add additional nuance to the story described in Collin's novel, and Howard’s approach takes full advantage of this affordance. The film’s direct matching of themes from all four previous films with scenes in the newest one is a moving and thoughtful continuation of the franchise’s signature movements."[9]
Track listing
editNo. | Title | Artist(s) | Length |
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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 |
Accolades
editAward | Date of Ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref |
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Hollywood Music in Media Awards | November 15, 2023 | Original Score — Sci-Fi/Fantasy Film | James Newton Howard | Nominated | [10] [11] |
Release history
editRegion | Date | Format(s) | Label | Ref. |
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Various | November 17, 2023 | Sony Masterworks | [5] | |
February 2, 2024 | Vinyl |
References
edit- ^ "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.
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ a b "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.
- ^ Zanobard (November 20, 2023). "The Hunger Games: The Ballad Of Songbirds & Snakes – Soundtrack Review". Zanobard Reviews. Archived from the original on November 20, 2023. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
- ^ "The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (James Newton Howard)". Filmtracks.com. November 25, 2023. Archived from the original on November 27, 2023. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
- ^ 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 August 13, 2024.
- ^ Hughes, Jen A.; Vebocky, Monique I. (November 28, 2023). "Review: 'The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes' Lands on Top". The Harvard Crimson. Archived from the original on January 17, 2024. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
- ^ 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.