Category Archives: Music
Illuminating
Not too long ago our quirky Miss Jennifer Lawrence hosted the illustrious Saturday Night Live, which I’m sure everyone has seen by now, or at least clips of, downloaded a torrent– I don’t care, just watch it somehow. Anyway, she hosted, and she did a bang up job, which is a good thing! That being said, I think the highlight for me other than seeing Jen pretend to be a dog, and the most evil waitress ever, was seeing The Lumineers performing. I know, I know, they have nothing to do with Jen, and she probably only spoke to them briefly in real life, but I’m a Lumineers fan, and I was over the moon that they passed the live TV test, in other words, for me if a band I like sounds as good as or better on TV than they do on their record– I will consider shelling out money to see them live in concert. Lumineers passed with flying colors! Y’know who didn’t? Fun. Sorry Fun. but you were pitchy, and then you canceled a bunch of dates, including the one in my city, sorta made me glad I didn’t jump on buying tickets to see you, all’s I’m sayin’.
Back to Lumineers! Several weeks ago when the announcement was made that Jen was hosting SNL, I posted this article. And in this article I said that I thought The Lumineers would be a good candidate for Soundtrack 2.0. That belief has only gotten stronger over time, and was ceremoniously solidified in my heart after seeing them as the musical guest on SNL. I’m sorry, guys– but they need to be part of this project, ’cause they’re freakin’ perfect! They’re folky, they’re soulful, they’re like Mumford and Sons and The Civil Wars had a baby, and the baby moved to Colorado, and met a cello player on Craigslist! I can’t even pick a favorite song of theirs, but just know this– all their songs on their debut album are good, and I can only hope that their second will be just as good or better. So, you’ll hear it here for the second time!
Lumineers for soundtrack 2.0! If only we knew who the music supervisor was.
He’s Retiring
Earlier this week some sad news was quietly released. T Bone Burnett is retiring as a music producer, and therefore he is not coming back to produce the soundtrack to The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, otherwise known as Soundtrack 2.0. Well, here it’s known as that anyway. I’m sad, and I hope I’m not alone in feeling that way, because while Mr. Burnett is in no way leaving the music industry, the fact that he will no longer be guiding musicians and performers in the same manner anymore, it’s just sad– okay? Hate to say it, ’cause it’s completely clichéd, but we’re not strangers to using those on this site, but– it’s the end of an era. Burnett, if you don’t know already, is an executive producer on the ABC drama Nashville, and that’s taking up pretty much all of his time, and energy as of late. I can’t fault a man for finding a new passion, and it’s also endearing to know that Nashville is a joint project with his wife, which kind of brings a smile to my face. Sorry, married couples who can stay married, and work together, I think 
they’re pretty special. The questions crashing around my head now, after I stop smiling over how functional Burnett’s relationship with his wife is, is who’s going to take over as the music supervisor/ soundtrack producer on Catching Fire, and is there even going to still be a companion album and/or soundtrack? I’m not a big soundtrack connoisseur, but taking the reigns from someone like T Bone Burnett is probably going to be a head trip for whom ever has the tenacity to take the gig. I can think of only a handful of people who might be able to do the job, and one of them I really hope isn’t being considered.
That person is Alexandra Patsavas, AKA the lady who produced all the soundtracks for The Twilight Saga, The OC, Grey’s Anatomy, as well as the new Nick Hoult film, Warm Bodies. I’m not saying she’s not good at her job, but I seriously fear that if she takes over for T Bone Burnett, the soundtrack will be balls to the walls super feel-y breathy voiced men and 
women, and pop bands who use too many lasers in their live shows. Also, I really truly believe that severing The Hunger Games franchise from anything and all things Twilight related is a good thing. Burnett already set a tone with Songs From District 12 and Beyond, and I don’t think messing with the formula is a grand idea. Not saying that branching out isn’t a good idea, but– yeah, I have trepidations. Here’s an even sadder tid-bit, all the best soundtracks that I can think of that have come out within the last decade or more– they were produced, or compiled by the director of the films, or the people who produced the albums have moved on. Those soundtracks include Garden State (Zach Braff), Juno (Jason Reitman) Reality Bites, Pump Up The Volume, Trainspotting, and even Romeo & Juliet from 1996, which I believe was also produced by Baz Lurhmann the director, and had two soundtracks. My take on this unexpected new direction this hopeful soundtrack is going to have to take is this, perhaps they should find a record producer who produces singular records for bands and artists, not a compiler of existing music– who then gets one or two songs written or sub-let for a film’s soundtrack.
I have no idea where this project is going, and not knowing is seemingly the default setting here in Hunger Games fan-world.
Them There Eyes
Live From New York!
Last year, or maybe a little more than a year — or less — I can’t recall (time is my enemy), I was on an episode of The Hunger Games Fireside Chat, and every panelist was asked what they hoped would happen in promotion for The Hunger Games? I said I hoped that Jennifer Lawrence would host Saturday Night Live either before or after The Hunger Games premiered, and in promotion for it. Well, that didn’t happen, but tonight it was announced that Jennifer will be hosting SNL January 19th, 2013, unless of course the
world ends. So, yeah… she’s totally hosting in promotion for Silver Linings Playbook, and not only that but the musical guest is none other than The Lumineers, and if you’ve been paying attention you should know that The Lumineers is Josh Hutcherson’s (Peeta), new favorite thing. My guess is not only will Jen be hosting (yes, we’re on a nick-name basis in my head), but Josh will be backstage fan-boying it up whilst also being a supportive friend to his future fake fiancée. Perhaps if we’re lucky the writers on the show will take advantage of having “Katniss Everdeen” there, and write a ridiculous Hunger Games themed sketch. If not that, could they please get Bradley Cooper to just walk on, and stand there– that would make my night. Better yet, have a sketch where magically Josh Hutcherson AND Bradley Cooper are there, and they’re fighting over Jennifer’s on screen love and affection– in a dance-off.
Come to think of it, it’s sort of a god-send that Jennifer’s schedule freed up in January, ’cause only a matter of weeks ago news broke that the next X-Men film filming date was pushed back to April (Jen’s part of the cast of X-Men), when it had been stated numerous times that it was happening in January. Can I just say, kismet!? Without X-Men being pushed back, Jennifer would not have been available for this fantastic opportunity, which frankly is something she was born to take on. I mean, have you seen this girl in interviews, she’s a natural at comedy! Too many exclamation points are happening here, but I think it also has to be said that it feels very cosmic that she’s going to be hosting this program that’s seemingly reserved for highly acclaimed, and hopefuls for the awards season. She’s winning something this coming year, but to us– I think she’s already won. Speaking of cosmic, as I write this article I’m listening to The Lumineers, and I without any qualms think they’re more than perfect for Soundtrack 2.0. So, T-Bone Burnett, if you’re paying attention, and you’re magically on for producing Soundtrack 2.0, The Lumineers is a name you should keep in the forefront of your mind.
Take a listen, you might start to fan-out just like Mr. Hutcherson, I know I’m getting there.
Them There Eyes
He’s Back
I think we may have forgotten to comment on one development in the Catching Fire camp, which makes me feel like a right knob, if I’m allowed to be so blunt? Of course I am! In October news broke that James Newton Howard the composer of The Hunger Games score will be back to pen the score to Catching Fire, and the villagers rejoiced! Okay, obviously we didn’t, and magically I just gave the writers for this site a new nick-name, which I was not intending to do– but there you go, new nick-name, and on top of that the newly revealed inability to pay attention to certain positive developments in one of our reasons for living, i.e. The Hunger Games trilogy, and it being made into a quality film franchise! We’re so going to hell. So, yes– we’ve said good-bye, and good luck to Mr. Gary Ross, but we’re holding fast to Mr. James Newton Howard. But really, did we honestly think that he wasn’t coming back?
Rejoice! We found rejoicing villagers!
After you’re done feasting your eyes on that lovely digitized oil painting of (get this)– villagers rejoicing, let me put this to you? James Newton Howard was probably never not going to pen the score to Catching Fire, especially with Francis Lawrence at the directors helm. Why? Because out of all the films Francis Lawrence has directed, only one of them was not scored by James Newton Howard. That’s right my lovelies, they already have a strong working relationship established, and if I may be so bold (and you know I will be), Mr. Howard will probably be back to score Mockingjay Part I and II, because why ruin a good thing? Or at least, why ruin a potentially good thing.
There are of course other people in the newly established Catching Fire camp that some of us hope return, but out of all the hold-overs from The Hunger Games– I think it’s pretty safe to say that we’re glad this one’s making the transition, and it might be because some of us listen to this pretty damn often.
Them There Eyes
Hoping For The Best
It’s been awhile since I’ve ventured down this road, but it’s a familiar one– and right now familiar is good as far as I am concerned. Fantasy casting, we can’t be tired of it yet, because for so many of us it’s one of the things that’s kept our minds engaged when absolutely nothing was going on production wise, yep even going back as far as to 2010. Remember 2010?
There are two major roles to be cast for Mockingjay Part I and II, Boggs and President Alma Coin. I’ve written more than one article concerning the casting of Boggs, but both of them were published before The Hunger Games was released in theatres, thus changing its over all status amongst layman– oh, and then a person like Philip Seymour Hoffman took a justifiably minute role in Catching Fire, and basically changed the casting expectations for all time where it comes to this franchise. So, combining the success the franchise has already attained critically and monetarily, along with bagging Oscar and Emmy (not confirmed, I know!) winning writers to pen screenplays, and the whole Hoffman coup– I think roles like Boggs and Coin just might go to much less conspicuous artists than I hypothesised on previously.
Boggs is a great role, can we just agree on that? He has probably some of the most funny, and intense scenes to take on in Mockingjay, and now that the novel is officially being split in two, it’s safe to assume that characters like his will be fleshed out even more than Suzanne Collins wrote them out originally. Well, at least that’s what we hope will happen. I still hope that the ideas I had previously will at least be considered, because none of them are untalented by any means– they’re just not as recognizable as they may be shooting for now. Which brings me to my ideal Boggs, the Boggs I’ve had in my mind for an extended 
period of time, but never thought they’d be able to bag someone as successful or as known as him, but things have changed. His name is Jeremy Renner, and he’s kind of perfect for this role in my head. Renner has two Oscar nominations to his name, and numerous other award nominations and wins as well. He’s somewhat new to fame, but he’s been in the acting business since the mid ’90s. The first time I personally saw him in anything was a singular episode of what was then The WB’s Angel (The Buffy The Vampire Slayer spin-off), and after that he popped up in independent films like Neo Ned, Twelve and Holding, as well as Dahmer, which I still can’t get myself to watch, because after reading about Jeffrey Dahmer in one of my college Sociology courses, I started crying, and had nightmares. In 2009 he shot to fame with Kathryn Bigelow’s The Hurt Locker, and at the 2010 Oscars he was nominated for Best Actor, and Bigelow beat our the ego-maniac, as well as her ex-husband James Cameron for Best Director, and Best Picture. The next year Renner was nominated again at the Oscars for Best Supporting Actor in Ben Affleck’s sophomore picture, The Town, and now everyone seemingly knows who the hell he is! And this my dears is one of the reasons why I think he could maybe, hopefully, pretty please, be considered for the role of Boggs.
He’s known, he’s talented, and I for one have gone to see films he’s in just because he’s in them. Not only is he more than capable of a role like Boggs, as evidenced by the career military as well as law enforcement roles he’s already taken on in film and television, like S.W.A.T, 28 Weeks Later, The Avengers, The Hurt Locker, The Unusuals, The Bourne Legacy, and Mission Impossible. He also fits the description, Renner’s 42 years-old, Boggs is described to be in his 40s by our dear protagonist Katniss Everdeen, he’s also supposed to be in pique physical condition, which is something Renner hasn’t seemingly slouched on in years, because he’s always taking extremely physical roles (See Hurt Locker, Mission Impossible, and Bourne Legacy), oh and there’s the whole blue eyes thing. Boggs is supposed to have close-cropped grey hair, but what the hell– blond is close to grey, and that’s all I need, especially if this isn’t just a pipe dream, which face it– it is. Which brings us to reality, Renner’s really, really, really busy, in fact tonight (Saturday the 17th, 2012), he’s hosting Saturday Night Live for the first time.
So, if you’re not a Renner fan yet, I’m sure he’ll prove himself a worthy comedian tonight, and if that doesn’t tickle your fancy– he can sing.
Them There Eyes
Liam Gone Wild… and Mythical
We had a really classy post planned for today. Not to toot our own horns, but carefully planned and insightful and made of brilliance.
… But then we saw the video for Borgore and Miley Cyrus’ new song.
In case you missed that lovely piece of American entertainment history, it features Hemsy making out with his lady love while dressed as a unicorn. He probably could have gotten away with anonymity since his face is covered, were it not for the fact that Miley wants everyone to know it was Liam behind the unicorn mask.
Oh, Liam! You’re young, you want to have some fun, maybe get a little wild to prove you’re irreverent but still sexy without actually getting yourself into trouble. We get it! But please, PLEASE try not to make an asshat out of yourself in the process.
We wish this was a Photoshop hoax
As with every career decision, a little adventure is cool, but there’s a limit. Being in your fiancee’s music video? Cool! Getting snuggly with her? Whatevs! But when someone asks you to do all this while dressed up in ridiculous costume, what makes an adult in his twenties think “This is a smart move for me, both personally and careerwise!”? *facepalm*
You’ve got really good things going on right now, even outside of our dear Hunger Games. But you were a convenient plot point in Expendables 2 and we don’t think your roles in Love and Honor or Empire State, even if the films do well, will guarantee you a glorious career. Your one big namesake is a franchise, which means the scrutiny will be piled on extra thick. Molasses tar gravy THICK. Don’t give them an excuse to call you “That guy from that young adult franchise who once dressed up like a mythical creature in a Miley Cyrus video”. You deserve better than that.
We’re not saying this for our sake, Liam! Frankly, we could laugh at the silly decisions of actors all day, every day if given the chance. It breaks up the misery of being underemployed from 9 to 5, you know? But you’re Hemsy (until the day that you tell us you hate that nickname)! We like you and we want to see you succeed!
We’ll admit what this is really about: We worry about you a little more than Jen and Josh. She’s wowed the socks off of everyone in sight with a couple excellent roles. He’s earned his share of accolades from a young age and even has producers credits to his name already. You’re kind of the wild card, but everyone loves a wild card! What’s done is done. We won’t keep beating a dead unicorn! *snicker* Your public appearance is yours to navigate. Just try not to steer it straight into the ground.
Good Thing MTV Doesn’t Air Music Videos Anymore,
The Girl With The Pearl
The Hunger A Capella Games Part 3
And now for the Final Four!
District 9 – The Granary Canaries
- Make It With You – Bread
- Teenage Dirtbag – Wheatus
- Falling Away From Me – Korn
- You Make My Dreams – Hall & Oates
District 10 – The Cattle Heard
- Poor Cow – Peter Bjorn & John
- Sheep – Pink Floyd
- Falling in Love at a Coffee Shop – Landon Pigg
- Ragtime Cowboy Joe – Alvin and the Chipmunks
- Pig – Dave Matthews Band
District 11 – Agriculture Clash
- Mr. Farmer – The Seeds
- She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy – Kenny Chesney
- I Heard It Through The Grapevine – Marvin Gaye
- Anyone Else But You – The Moldy Peaches
- Raspberry Beret – Prince
District 12 – The C-Miners
- Mine – Taylor Swift
- Coal Miner’s Daughter – Loretta Lynn
- Gold Mine Gutted – Bright Eyes
- Paint It Black – The Rolling Stones
Tell us which A Capella group you’re rooting for in the Hunger A Capella Games! Who has the strongest set?
Sing it Tributes!
Twiffidy
The Hunger A Capella Games Part 2
We’re back with 4 more District a capella teams and their set lists! We dedicate this to all you a capella teams fighting for your lives in an arena… at Regionals.
District 5 – The Nuclear Powertones
- Electric Feel – MGMT
- Radioactive – Imagine Dragons
- The Power of Love – Huey Lewis & the News
- Generator ^ First Floor – Freelance Whales
District 6 – The Vocal Trainers
- Like a G6 – Far East Movement
- Little Deuce Coupe – The Beach Boys
- Drive – Incubus
- Cab – Train
- Love Train – The O’Jays
District 7 – The Treeble Clefs
- Black Horse and the Cherry Tree – KT Tunstall
- Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) – The Beatles
- Bare Trees – Fleetwood Mac
- In the Forest – Van Morrison
District 8 – The Denim D-notes
- Undone (The Sweater Song) – Weezer
- Christian Dior Denim Flow – Kanye West ft. Kid Cudi
- Short Skirt/Long Jacket – Cake
- Details in the Fabric – Jason Mraz
You go Whiffenpoofs
Now let’s make it all the way to Nationals!
Twiffidy
The Hunger A Capella Games Part 1
Tonight, I went to see the movie Pitch Perfect, which our Effie Elizabeth Banks both produced and played a small role in. She played a Caesar Flickerman-esque character… except raunchier. And her name was Gail Abernathy. Suspicious? I think so.
Aside from really cracking me up, the movie got me thinking. What if, instead of a battle to the death, The Hunger Games was like one intense a capella competition? What would the Districts’ teams be named? What songs would they sing? Well, I’ve got some suggestions!
District 1 – The Glamazons
- Material Girl – Madonna
- Price Tag – Jessie J
- Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend – Marilyn Monroe
- Rich Girl – Gwen Stefani
District 2 – The MaSONICs
- Brick – Ben Folds Five
- Like a Stone – Audioslave
- Street Fighting Man – The Rolling Stones
- This Is War – 30 Seconds to Mrs
District 3 – The Technotes
- Technologic – Daft Punk
- Telephone – Lady Gaga
- Video Killed the Radio Star – The Buggles
- The Humans Are Dead – Flight of the Conchords
District 4 – Vocal Expl-ocean
- Itsy Bitsy Yellow Polka Dot Bikini – Brian Hyland
- Cry Me a River – Justin Timberlake
- Drowning – Backstreet Boys (Sorry, I’m awful)
- Dead Sea – The Lumineers
- Swallowed in the Sea – Coldplay
Stayed tuned for the rest!
Twiffidy
Take Two: Soundtrack 2.0
Sometimes the ideas I have for this franchise come up unwitting, just like how I have my itunes almost perpetually on shuffle, so I never know what I’m going to get next. It could go from a 1920s jaunt, to a song that came out last year, to something written probably before the radio was even an inkling in some poor sods head– yes, that’s how odd my music collection is. So, when a song shuffles on, and it somehow reminds me of The Hunger Games in one way or another, and the song is from an artist or band who for one thing aren’t dead or retired, but are still alive, kicking, and making music– frankly I’m amazed.
Does the name Ryan Adams mean anything to any of you? And please, if you say “isn’t he the guy who sings ‘(Everything I Do) I Do It For You?’” The answer is a resounding no, that’s Bryan Adams. Ryan Adams is a rock/country artist who’s been in the music business for over a decade, he’s 37 years old (doesn’t look it at all by the way), and he’s what I’m going to call a volatile genius. Meaning, he’s left several successful bands (Whiskeytown, and The Cardinals), taken breaks from music for extended periods of time, but (there’s always a but), he always, and I mean always comes back with something more than noteworthy. Anyway, I’m just going to say it– Ryan Adams is the perfect kind of artist to take part in Soundtrack 2.0. The other day I was wasting time, music on shuffle, headphones on, and one of his songs came up, it was this song, the song linked to below.
The 2004 cover of Oasis’ “Wonderwall”, and probably one of the most dissonant, Jeff Buckley-esque renditions of a ’90s anthem I have ever heard. It’s perfection in 4 point 9 seconds of a song to me, honestly. Normally a song like “Wonderwall” is kind of dreamy, comforting really, and not really all that emotionally invoking, sure it kind of makes you hanker for days gone, the cello may be to blame for that– but Ryan Adams’ rendition is heart-wrenching, bare bones, and like I said above– dissonant. I listen to this song and others of his, and Catching Fire scenes start playing in my head. His style fits the status quo established with T-Bone Burnett’s Songs from District 12 and Beyond as well, folk-y, independently minded, and simply someone with great song writing skills.
Sadly, Adams has a reputation of shirking others expectations, therefore there’s the heady likelihood of him not being asked to take part in a commercial venture like Catching Fire’s soundtrack. Also, as if the music supervisor (we don’t even know if it’s T-Bone anymore), is going to listen to me! Um, please listen to me?
Girl can dream, and she continues to dream big– ’cause she’s not near done!
Them There Eyes
