Listen: Lorde's chilling cover of 'Everybody Wants to Rule the World' for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
The familiar tune gets a dystopian makeover for the soundtrack to the Hunger Games sequel
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire doesn't hit theaters until November 22, but anyone who wants to take an early trip to Panem can listen to this chilling cover of Tears For Fears' "Everybody Wants to Rule the World," which was recorded for the upcoming blockbuster's soundtrack by New Zealand pop sensation Lorde.
Though "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" was originally released in 1985 — and has since appeared in everything from Fox's Glee to the movie In a World… to the bestselling video game BioShock Infinite — the song feels tailor-made for the twisted, dystopian world of The Hunger Games. "Welcome to your life, there's no turning back. Even while we sleep, we will find you," sings Lorde in this grim, muted take on the pop hit.
It's hard to imagine a more zeitgeist-y choice for the Hunger Games: Catching Fire soundtrack than Lorde, who exploded onto the charts with her hit song "Royals," making her the first singer from New Zealand to land a number one Billboard hit in the United States. As she prepares to reenter the arena, Katniss Everdeen has a new anthem. We'll see if the rest of the Catching Fire soundtrack — which includes songs from Coldplay, Christina Aguilera, The Lumineers, and more — can live up to this impressive track when it debuts next week.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Scott Meslow is the entertainment editor for TheWeek.com. He has written about film and television at publications including The Atlantic, POLITICO Magazine, and Vulture.
-
Will California's EV mandate survive Trump, SCOTUS challenge?
Today's Big Question The Golden State's climate goal faces big obstacles
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
'Underneath the noise, however, there’s an existential crisis'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
2024: the year of distrust in science
In the Spotlight Science and politics do not seem to mix
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published