And may the music be ever in your favor

source: mb.com.ph

‘The Hunger Games-Songs From District 13 and Beyond’ OST

Various Artists

MCA Music
MANILA, Philippines - The summer's first big movie hit is “The Hunger Games” – a science fiction story about the post-apocalyptic remains of North America, in a nation called Panem, its Capitol and its outlying 12 districts. In the story, the 12 Districts give up the annual tributes of its children as a harsh reminder of the districts past rebellion crimes. One boy and one girl from each district are mandatorily picked up in a raffle to battle in a no-holds barred fight to the death, in a disturbing version of reality TV entertainment for the people in the Capitol. The story revolves around the young protagonist tributes of District 12, tragedy hardened family provider Katniss Everdeen and son of a baker Peeta Melark.

To make a long story short, the “Hunger Games” follows Katniss and Peeta’s narrative -- how they cope with the unfair but unavoidable system, and how they’ve surpassed the predicament by trusting where trust seems absent, and loving where love seems non-existent.

As movie soundtracks go, “The Hunger Games – Songs From District 12 and Beyond” is a selection of music from artists that best enhances the story line of the story. Right on cue is Grammy Award winning alternative-rock ensemble Arcade Fire in the dirge-like march hopelessness of “Abraham’s Daughter” that mirrors the main predicament. While American country duo The Secret Sisters’ sparse and forlorn sounding number “Tomorrow Will Be Kinder” resonates, perhaps like a promise from Katniss to her little sister Prim or a lullaby to her fallen friend Rue, and there's Indie rock singer Neko Case contributing with the folk-rock tune “Nothing To Remember.”

Perhaps inspired by Hunger Games author Suzanne Collins, Taylor Swift, easily the biggest star in the selection, turned in a breathy and eerie track called “Safe & Sound” which features country folk act The Civil Wars’ twang-y guitars. For added heft and cred, Swift shot the music video for this track in a real Cemetery -- goth-chic Swift? Why not? Country bluegrass quintet Punch Brothers meanwhile contributes a subdued and down-home-y track in “Dark Days.”

To soundtrack the death games, rap rock artist Kid Cudi sounds menacingly like a killer stalking its prey in “The Ruler and The Killer,” while indie folk rock band The Decemberists and Glen Hansard (Academy award winning songwriter-vocalist and Irish actor who played the guitar player -band member in the movie “The Commitments") adds to the helter-skelter with “One Engine” and “Take The Heartland,” respectively.

But mainly, “The Hunger Games – Songs From District 1 and Beyond” is filled with alternative flavored country music and folk tinged rock: the sparse and acapella-like “Daughter’s Lament” by The Carolina Chocolate Drops, the acoustic guitar driven, old time-country feel of The Civil Wars in “Kingdom Come,” Country music super-group Pistol Annie composed of Miranda Lambert, Angaleena Presley and Ashley Monroe on “Run Daddy Run,” and The Low Anthem on the Alt-country tinged “Lover Is Childlike,” heck, even pop-funk machine Maroon 5 shifts gears with “Come Away To The Water” featuring new female singer Rozzi Crane.

Closing out the set is an apt piano-decked ballad by 15-year old singer Birdy in “Just A Game.” Perhaps it's too early, but we're expecting the following movie soundtracks for the franchise to sound as good as this one.

‘Tuskegee’

Lionel Richie

MCA Music

Growing up in the '80s and listening to the radio, it’s hard not to miss Lionel Richie. While we were still exploring the possibilities of this glorious thing called pop in that decade, the ex-Commodore lead singer was already asking “Hello, is it me you’re looking for?” Whether he’s the one you’re looking for or not, Richie has definitely been a part of the soundscape of '80s pop with all those hit ballads and that perpetual invite “to party, karamu, fiesta forever.”

And then the '90s swept in and somebody just up and deemed the singer uncool. Well, not anymore because Lionel Richie along with his songs are back in a big way via his new album “Tuskegee” in which the singer re-records his biggest hits and puts a distinct country music flavor to it all. Not only that, Richie thought inviting real county music artists along would lend a legitimate feel to this endeavor. So it is that you’ll hear some of the genre’s biggest acts like “The Voice” resident judge Blake Shelton and his familiar drawl trading verses with Richie on the latter’s 1983 song “You Are.” There’s also Shania Twain on “Endless Love” and The Rascal Flatts reworking “Dancing On The Ceiling” with Richie.

But the biggest surprise of the album “Tuskegee” aren’t the big names that Lionel Richie tasked to sing with him, but how Richie’s songs easily lent themselves to a country pop arrangement. Perhaps proximity plays a big part, seeing as Richie was born and raised in Tuskegee, Alabama (hence the album title), and there are giveaways to the style; like the lap-steel colored “Stuck On You” which features ex-Hootie & The Blowfish singer Darius Rucker (a big hit for Richie back in ’84) and “Lady” which Richie wrote and was a hit for Kenny Roger’s back in 1980 in which the duo finally takes on together here. Both of these tunes were originally set to sound country to begin with.

But the true revelations include the easy-going and Gospel tinged song “Deep River Woman” which features some neat ensemble singing from American country vocal group Little Big Town. The 1979 Commodore hit ballad “Sail On” also shines anew here with Swede country-pop singer Jill Johnson, as do the Shania Twain-featured remake of “Endless Love” and the slightly rockier take on “Dancing On The Ceiling” featuring The Rascal Flatts.

Richie also does good by his old Oscar-winning number “Say You, Say Me” (from the movie “White Night”) re-done here with liberal amounts of lapsteel guitars and which also feature Danish singer-producer Rasmus Seebach.

Taking the cake would be Richie’s duet with Country legend Willie Nelson on an understated take on the classic Commodore hit “Easy.” Finally Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer band and Richie comes in with “All Night Long” complete with kettle drums—to which we don’t see the Country connection, (sounds more like island music) but seeing as how good the previous tracks went, we’re guessing Lionel Richie and guests could do all of these and more, as he says, all night long.

source: mb.com.ph