The Hunger Games was a great set of books that had a successful run of movie adaptations and appealed to a wide audience. It celebrated its 10th anniversary in September last year, and I feel the story and message is still important and relevant today. This playlist is a tribute (no pun intended) to Katniss Everdeen, our girl on fire. You’ll also find songs that speak of saving the planet and humanity before it gets too late, along with songs to get you fired up to standing up to what is right. Listen to this if you want to start a revolution (from your reading spot obviously!).
Yellow Flicker Beat – Lorde
YouTube
Immensely talented Lorde was chosen to curate the soundtrack of Mockingjay Part One (and what a great job she did!) She appears on the soundtrack 4 times, and created Yellow Flicker Beat for it.
“They used to shout my name, now they whisper it.”
The Swarm – You Me At Six
YouTube
“Is this the end of the world? / I cannot bare to watch it burn / But we’re crawling in the dirt / Is this the end of it all? / Well we used to stand so tall / I barely recognize us anymore”
Reluctantly Dead – Letlive
YouTube
This song speaks of fear of the authority. It reminds me of how the Capitol turns against it’s own citizens out in the district, sending the corrupt “Peacekeepers” in to squash any spark Katniss’s defiance has made.
“You believe that they came here to protect you, but see I would rather run ’cause now the law results in a death”
Run For Your Life- K.Flay
YouTube
“Don’t count me out / Just cause I’m down / Boy I’ve been down before / Fate has a way of playing games / And I’ve been keeping score”
I also love the line “They tried to tell me I was lost in the forest // Like a cub with no mother when I actually was where I wanted” – Katniss couldn’t have hoped for a better arena for her first games as she was a natural in the forest.
The Fever 333 (Feat. Yelawolf) – (The First Stone) Changes
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The Fever 333 are angry on this song, calling out unfair treatment and discrimination, and how a fire can grow from a spark. But change and a revolution starts with all of us.
“There’s a fire that’s burning in front of me / Yeah, I’m the one who started it, can’t you see? …. It’s time to make changes / But change only comes with the first stone”
Fightstar – Floods
YouTube
“All this will be gone / And you can sink beneath the rapture we’ve spawned / What have we become / You know we don’t have all the time in the world to make the floods seem still”
Castle – Halsey
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This song reminds me of how Katniss was made to be the “poster girl” for the people and the games, but that President Snow wanted to shut her down.
“I’m headed straight for the castle / They wanna make me their queen / And there’s an old man sitting on the throne that’s / Saying that I probably shouldn’t be so mean / I’m headed straight for the castle / They’ve got the kingdom locked up / And there’s an old man sitting on the throne that’s / Saying I should probably keep my pretty mouth shut”
Throne – Bring Me The Horizon
YouTube
“So you can throw me to the wolves / Tomorrow I will come back / Leader of the whole pack / Beat me black and blue / Every wound will shape me / Every scar will build my throne”
(image from http://thehypedgeek.com/check-crimson-clad-katniss-everdeen/)
Viking Death March – Billy Talent
YouTube
“Cracking the whip on the backs of the poor / We asked you to stop but you still wanted more / The blood on your hands left a trail as you crawl / Down on your knees you just don’t look so tall”
Lamb of God – Marilyn Manson
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“If you die when there’s no one watching, and your ratings drop and you’re forgotten / If they kill you on their TV, you’re a martyr and a lamb of God”
Silhouettes – Of Monsters and Men
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This song featured on Catching Fire’s soundtrack and is one of my favourite songs from The Hunger Games series. It’s sad and haunting, it speaks of things that don’t leave you and memories you can’t forget.
“But I’m already there, I’m already there / Wherever there is you, I will be there too”
