Released earlier today, Rodrigo’s contribution to The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is now available to listen – give it a spin below. While fans await the full soundtrack’s release on November 17 – coinciding with the film’s theatrical debut – Rodrigo’s latest work offers a preview of the film’s emotional landscape.
Accompanying her mystical vocals, a melancholic acoustic guitar weaves through the track. The lyrics, “Through wading grass, the months will pass / You’ll feel it all around / I’m here, I’m there, I’m everywhere / But you can’t catch me now,” convey a sense of concealment, giving a glimpse of a plot centred around vengeance.
The soundtrack will also feature various artists, including Rachel Zegler, Billy Strings, Charles Wesley Godwin, and Molly Tuttle, among others. The prequel deviates from the original film series, focusing on the backstory of Coriolanus Snow, portrayed by Tom Blyth – a character famously known as the authoritarian leader in the original films.
Previous soundtracks for The Hunger Games series have included an eclectic mix of artists, from HAIM to Lorde. The upcoming prequel promises to maintain this tradition of featuring prominent musicians.
Rodrigo’s ‘Can’t Catch Me Now’ follows her second studio album, Guts, released to critical acclaim. In whynow’s five-star review of the album, we said: “Insurmountable feelings are put into words, and big and messy emotions laid bare and dissected. Ultimately, Guts is an album that further establishes Rodrigo as a generational songwriter.”
In August this year, Olivia Rodrigo became the youngest recipient of the BRIT Billion Award, which recognises artists who’ve surpassed one billion career UK streams. The Rolling Stones claimed the same prize just this week, showing how impressive Rodrigo’s rise has been.
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