ALBUM REVIEW: The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1 – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Lorde and friends provide the soundtrack to the latest Hunger Games installment.
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Lorde is one of the most famous vocalists in music today, since releasing her album Pure Heroine, and being named among Times most influential teenagers in the world in 2013. Consequently, it was a pleasant surprise to all Hunger Games fans when she was chosen to curate the soundtrack for the highly anticipated film. The result is clearly a well thought through album, with an eerie, subversive,dark and enchanting vision clear throughout.

In comparison with the previous film soundtracks there is much more variety in the artists involved, including CHVRCHES, Ariana Grande and Tove Lo, with the standout tracks including ‘Yellow Flicker Beat’ (Lorde), ‘Dead Air’  (CHVRCHES) and ‘All My Love’ (Major Lazer and Ariana Grande).

The soundtrack is very closely connected with the characters from the film, with artists seemingly writing from Katniss’ perspective and getting her strength and independence across. In ‘Yellow Flicker Beat’ (written and performed by Lorde) she gets inside Katniss’ head and writes about the characters situation in the recent film, covering love triangles and near death experiences:I’m a princess cut from marble, smoother than a storm / And the scars that mark my body, they’re silver and gold,”. This line is soon followed by the chilling chorus: “This is the start of how it all ends / They used to shout my name, now they whisper it”. The lyrical content of this lead song from the album is excellent and showcases Lordes poetic, unusual songwriting beautifully.

‘Dead Air’ by CHVRCHES is an electronic pop track, which works brilliantly for such a futuristic and fantasy film franchise. It has a club dance beat to it-with a fun ’80s twist. Keeping in with the modern and futuristic theme. The chorus is extremely catchy and will get stuck in your head whether you like it or not. ‘All My Love’ is another electropop number and was co-written by Lorde, MØ and Ariana Grande. It’s quite upbeat and is much different to the rest of the tracks on the album.

All material from the album works solidly together, although the songs (apart from the standout ones) might not be as commended individually, however if you like electronic/pop music (and the Hunger Games films) you will love this soundtrack from one of the years biggest blockbuster films.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1 – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is out now via Republic Records.

Tara Shiels

Tara Shiels

Tara Shiels

Music addict and hat wearer from Dublin, Ireland. Likes: The Strypes, Hats and tea. Dislikes: Children of the Son, Spiders and Ketchup.