Entertainment

Coldplay's 'Catching Fire' Song Is a Perfect Fit

by Rachel Simon

As if we weren't already excited enough for Catching Fire, the upcoming second installment in The Hunger Games trilogy, "Atlas," a new song just released by Coldplay for the movie's soundtrack, got us counting down the days until the film's November release. The track, released on Sept. 6, was specifically recorded for Catching Fire by Chris Martin. and Co., and it's haunting, eerie, and beautiful — in other words, exactly what you'd want for the soundtrack to a Hunger Games adaptation.

"Atlas," dark and piano-based, is reminiscent of early Coldplay songs like "Green Eyes" or "Amsterdam." With lyrics like "some bent the bow, sometimes the wire must tense for the note" and "caught in the fire, say oh, we're about to explode," the song is perfect for Catching Fire. It's easy to imagine it playing over some of scenes in the arena, when Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) is faced with difficult, possibly deadly decisions.

The music video for the song is simple, but effective; the lyrics appear over a background of abstract, psychedelic shapes and figures, culminating with an image of the series' famous mockingjay pin.

Last month, Catching Fire director Francis Lawrence revealed that Coldplay was releasing a song for the soundtrack, saying that he was "thrilled with how well they have connected to the themes and ideas within the film."

He continued, "Their unwavering passion and excitement for the project elevated the collaboration even further, and we can't wait to share this music with audiences around the world."

"Atlas" doesn't disappoint. Its main message of protection, shown in lyrics like "I'll carry your world and all your hurt," is right in line with Catching Fire's themes. If the song feels this moving now, we can only imagine how poignant it's going to be when it plays during some of the film's most powerful scenes.

Check out the song below:

Catching Fire, directed by Francis Lawrence and starring Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth, and Josh Hutcherson, will be released on November 22.

Image: Lionsgate