VARIOUS ARTISTS/ THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE
In the same vein as The Twilight Saga, the soundtrack for The Hunger Games has become quite a musical event because of its exciting, eclectic mix of artists from polarised genres. The album inspired by the first Hunger Games movie last year features anyone from pop (Taylor Swift, Maroon 5) and folk (The Civil Wars, The Lumineers) to indie rock (Arcade Fire, Neko Case), hip hop (Kid Cudi) and even country (Miranda Lambert). With the global success of the first film, it's undeniable that the sequel (and, by extension, its soundtrack) has some big shoes to fill. And we can be assured the proverbial shoes are rightfully filled when the lead single turns out to be the epic piano-driven anthem Atlas by Coldplay (Atlas), followed by the second single, Elastic Heart, a brooding slow-burn jam penned and sung by Sia, and featuring R&B crooner The Weeknd (who also contributes on Devil May Cry) and mega-producer Diplo.
Then we have We Remain, a powerful ballad by pop heavyweight Christina Aguilera who masterfully delivers on the vocal front. "Burn me with fire, drown me with rain/I'm gonna wake up screaming your name," she sings during the arena-sized chorus custom-made for the series' protagonist Katniss Everdeen. The spirit of girl power is further fuelled by legendary singer-songwriter Patti Smith who on the folk-country number Capital Letter croons references from the movie: "Bird in the hand/Another role to play/Mocking as the jay/She's the silent one/In her soft boots/Racing through the flames."
The rest of the album leans heavily towards indie artists such as Icelandic folk-pop band Of Monsters and Men (Silhouettes), American melancholic rockers The National (Lean), Imagine Dragons (Who We Are) as well as up-and-coming Mikky Echo and New Zealand pop starlet Lorde who puts a stomping, menacing spin on Tears for Fears' classic Everybody Wants to Rule the World. Elsewhere, UK songstress Ellie Goulding (Mirror), indie-folk trio The Lumineers (Gale Song) and Santigold (Shooting Arrows at the Sky) all turn up to lend their distinctive voices to the soundtrack.
All in all, the Catching Fire soundtrack manages to capture the mood of the movie by offering a mix of both mainstream and indie sounds, represented by some of the biggest names in the music industry as well as established and rising alternative artists. The music overall may be a lot less ostentatious than the first time around, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. There's still something for everyone here _ be it the lighters-in-the-air moment, empowering emotion or that brewing, macabre vibe which brilliantly sets things up and builds tangible suspense for the series' two-part finale.
THE PLAYLIST
Moderndog/ O-Noi-Oog
The pioneers of Thailand's '90s ''alter'' craze are back with their first new material in five years since 2008's Ting Nong Noy. O-Noi-Oog (Odd Man Out) is a solid up-tempo rock number, boasting a more polished production overseen by Scottish producer Tony Doogan, who's worked with Mogwai, Air, and Belle and Sebastian. ''Please, tell me the ugly truth about me/All of it/If it's so obvious to you,'' frontman Thanachai ''Pod'' Ujjin sings in the opening verse. He then goes on to curiously compare honesty to the game of o-noi-oog, or ones-and-twos. The track will appear on the group's upcoming yet-to-be-named sixth album which was recorded in Buffalo, New York.
Robbie Williams/ Go Gentle
The British mega-star puts on the role of a loving, protective daddy on Go Gentle, the lead single from his 10th studio album, Swings Both Ways (his second swing album after 2001's Swing When You're Winning). ''Now when you go dancing with young men down at the disco/Just keep it simple/You don't have to kiss though,'' he gently reminds his new baby daughter with the help of swaying brass, a smooth melody and some whistling thrown in for good measure.
Pharrell Williams/ Happy
Although the movie Despicable Me 2 has long left cinemas, Pharrell Williams has just revealed the world's first 24 hour-long music video for Happy, one of the three songs he wrote as part of the movie's original soundtrack. Over the funky, buoyant beat he blissfully croons ''Because I'm happy/Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof/Because I'm happy/Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth.'' It's a happy-go-lucky song designed to do nothing else but lift your spirits. Also, while you're at it (and have time to spare), check out the interactive video on 24hoursofhappy.com.
U2/ Ordinary Love
Speaking of soundtracks, legendary rock outfit U2 are providing one for the upcoming Nelson Mandela biopic, Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom. Marking their first new song in four years, Ordinary Love pays tribute to the inspirational figure with emotive keyboards and lyrics about love, respect and compassion (''We can't reach any higher if we can't deal with ordinary love''). While the song may not have that typical stadium-rock sound U2 have been cranking out for the past few decades, it serves its purpose here perfectly.
Boyzone/ Love Will Save the Day
While the UK and Ireland are (still) pumping out young boy bands to compete with One Direction, one of the greatest boy bands of the '90s is celebrating their 20th anniversary with their fifth studio album, BZ20. The lead single, Love Will Save the Day, is a grown up drinking anthem in which Ronan Keating encourages us to: ''Pass around the bottle and tell me your troubles/And la la la la la la love will save the day.'' It's not schmaltzy fare a la Love Me For a Reason or Baby Can I Hold You, which can only be a good thing.
