A few months back, it was revealed that Gary Ross had hired Danny Elfman and T-Bone Burnett to score his adaptation of the YA-sensation The Hunger Games. It’s a curious combination as Elfman has become most known for his creepy collaborations with Tim Burton, and Burnett recently won an Oscar for his work on the country music soundtrack to Crazyheart. But as a fan of the series, I assumed Elfman would handle non-diegetic music for sequences like the suspenseful and surreal moments within the treacherous arena, where teen tributes are force to battle to the death, while Burnett would craft country-styled folk songs for the people of the oppressed Districts. And it seems I might be onto something, as Contact Music reveals that Burnett is working with The Hunger Games’ leading lady Jennifer Lawrence on ”Rue’s Lullaby,” a song performed in a critical moment of Katniss Everdeen’s gruesome emotional journey.
In the book, Katniss sings this lullaby as a form of rebellion and an expression of deep grief, and I’m excited to see the producers are giving Lawrence the opportunity to perform it herself, rather than outsourcing and having her lipsync to another singer’s rendition. Now, I have no idea if Lawrence has any singing talent to speak of, but that didn’t stop Sarah Michelle Gellar in the musical episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. (Sure she stumbles, but it’s moving and heartfelt!) But Burnett doesn’t think fans will be disappointed. Speaking about Lawrence’s recording session for the song, he said, ” It was beautiful and she did great. She’s singing great. Killer actor too.” So rest easy.
And for those interested, here are the lyrics of ”Rue’s Lullaby”:
Deep in the meadow, under the willow
A bed of grass, a soft green pillow
Lay down your head, and close your eyes
And when they open, the sun will rise
Here it’s safe, and here it’s warm
Here the daisies guard you from every harm
Here your dreams are sweet–
–and tomorrow brings them true
Here is the place where I love you.
Deep in the meadow, hidden far away
A cloak of leaves, a moonbeam ray
Forget your woes and let your troubles lay
And when again it’s morning, they’ll wash away
Here it’s safe, and here it’s warm
Here the daisies guard you from every harm
Here your dreams are sweet–
– and tomorrow brings them true
Here is the place where I love you.
Here is the place where I love you.
The Hunger Games will hit theaters March 23, 2012, and stars Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Elizabeth Banks, Woody Harrelson and Stanley Tucci.
What do you think of this development? Who would you like to hear interpret this lullaby?