Author's Note: Thanks to all those who replies to my BBS post!
As most of you know, I'm obsessed with Harry Potter. But I'm not just limited to that fandom. I'm also a fan of "The Hunger Games". The first movie is coming out on March 23, 2012. Recently, a song was released, titled "Safe and Sound", by Taylor Swift featuring the Civil Wars, to be used in the movie. But before I get to that, you need to be up to speed on "The Huger Games".
For those of you who don't know, "The Hunger Games" is a trilogy that takes place in the future, in a country called Panem. There are twelve districts (there uses to be a thirteenth, but they were destroyed in a rebellion during the "Dark Days") and the ruling city called the Capitol. Every year, the Capitol has a competition called the Hunger Games, where two "tributes" from each district are put in an arena and fight to the death. Only one of the twenty-four survives. The televised event is supposed to be a reminder that the Dark Days must never be repeated. It's a sort of punishment for the uprisings. The first book begins just before the tributes for the 74th Hunger Games are chosen.
If you have not read the book but plan on seeing the movie, you might not want to read past this point, because there will be some major spoilers.
Now, back to the song, "Safe and Sound". It's a different style than Taylor Swift's usual songs. It's a somber ballad that I think fits the tone of "The Hunger Games" wonderfully.
Nobody knows when the song will be played. I, personally, think it will best fit if they decide to do the flashback to after Katniss' father died, when she's looking through merhants' garbage cans, and when Peeta "accidentally" burns two loafs of bread and gives them to her. Take a look at the lyrics:
I remember tears streaming down your face
When I said, I'll never let you go
When all those shadows almost killed your light
I remember you said, Don't leave me here alone
But all that's dead and gone and passed tonight
Just close your eyes
The sun is going down
You'll be alright
No one can hurt you now
Come morning light
You and I'll be safe and sound
Don't you dare look out your window
Darling, everything's on fire
The war outside our door keeps raging on
Hold onto this lullaby
Even when the music's gone
Gone
Just close your eyes
The sun is going down
You'll be alright
No one can hurt you now
Come morning light
You and I'll be safe and sound
Just close your eyes
You'll be alright
Come morning light,
You and I'll be safe and sound . . .
The first stanza makes me think of Katniss' mother, when she went into that state where she did nothing. Katniss was alone. It's almost like it's Katniss' mother singing it. The second stanza seems like it could almost be Peeta singing it. It's getting late, Katniss has given up, sitting behind a tree, not wanting to go home. The little eleven year old, helpless. But then she gets the bread, and she can feed her family. The next stanzas are like Katniss singing to her little sister, Prim. Everything's on fire could be referring to the coal mines, then she's comforting Prim, since they now have food.
However, that's just my breakdown of it. Curious of others' thoughts, I went on the BBS and asked two questions. The first was, "What do you think of the song? Will it fit the movie?"
The general consensus was that, even though many people weren't Taylor Swift fans, they loved the song. xElitax said, "I love this song so much! I am a total fan of the book series. I think that it fits very well with the movie; it's so much different than Taylor Swift's usual music, and I think that's really cool. It's a very sad and emotional sound but also a little bit romantic . . . which I like a lot." Almost all the replies were similar. Petrichor, however, disagreed. She was the only person who replied who said that she didn't like the song. She wrote that, "It just felt all . . . I don't know. I just didn't." Well, you can't please everyone, and she just felt that it's not good for the movie.
My second question was the big question, "When do you think it will be played?"
The most popular answer was when Rue dies and Katniss spreads flowers over her. EcoGeek, xElitax, RunFor3st, xoxKitKat, and N00RA all say this is a possibility. Some people disagree with this because in the book Katniss sings a song at that point, and most Hunger Games fans will be very angry if that emotional scene is not included. Another theory was that it will be played in a scene between Katniss and Peeta, such as "when Peeta is fighting his infection with Katniss by his side," as EcoGeek said. xElitax, mottie124, and N00RA agreed.
Other ideas included a scene related to Katniss leaving Prim for the games or when she volunteers as tribute, Katniss on her way home from the games or when they are over, a different scene with Katniss and Rue, the credits, when Katniss has a near-death experience, or when Katniss is going into the arena.
So, give the song a listen, and tell me in the forums when you think it will be played.
Well, I'm off to mark off another day on my countdown to March 23. May the odds be ever in your favor!
-Cassidy
