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This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at U Vic chapter.

On November 17, The Hunger Games: A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, the highly anticipated sequel to Suzanne Collins’ iconic series The Hunger Games, came out in theaters. With the release of the new movie soundtrack, the perfection of the songs produced for this series was brought to mind and was the inspiration for this article. While the list of soundtrack songs worth listening to is extensive, below is a condensed list of some of the most iconic ones—all created by young female artists. 

“Safe & SOund” Taylor Swift

“Safe & Sound” was written and performed by Taylor Swift and features the band, The Civil Wars. The song was created for the first Hunger Games film and was released on February 13, 2012. It was later re-released in 2023 on The More Red EP as “Safe & Sound (Taylor’s Version).

This is a song I’m sure many of us have heard before, and if you haven’t you should definitely check it out. It has beautiful and emotional vocals over an alluring and distinct guitar melody. 

The Hunger Games soundtrack songs are often so impactful because of how they connect to the characters, plotlines, and themes of the film. I associate this song with both Katniss Everdeen’s younger sister, Primrose Everdeen, as well as Katniss’ fellow tribute and ally, Rue Barnett. Prim and Rue are connected characters, being of the same age and with the same gentle nature. During the 74th annual Hunger Games, Katniss chooses 12-year-old Rue as her ally because she sees her sister in her and feels called to protect her. 

A moment connecting the two characters is referenced in Taylor’s song with the lyrics, “As the war outside our door keeps raging on / hold on to this lullaby even when the music’s gone”. On the morning before the Reaping, Katniss soothes her sister’s nightmares with a soft lullaby, and when Rue is shot in the chest and Katniss is unable to save her, she sings Rue that same lullaby as she passes. 

“Yellow Flicker beat” Lorde

While other songs on this list excellently convey the sorrow that fills the world of The Hunger Games, Lorde’s“Yellow Flicker Beat” is anything but sad. Released in 2014, this song of rebellion plays during the credits of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1. The song plays just after the audience sees an injured Katniss watching Peeta tied to a hospital bed and in distress after he has been rescued from the Capitol.

This is a song filled with anger; it seems to reflect an awakening in Katniss as she grasps the extent of the torture Peeta suffered that was inflicted by the Capitol. The lyrics, “Red, orange, yellow flicker beat sparking up my heart,” appear to be a metaphor for fire reminding us that Katniss is now fully devoted to the extinction of President Snow. 

The rebellious nature of the song is also evident in the line, “They used to shout my name, now they whisper it.” The lyrics reflect how Katniss used to be celebrated and praised by the Capitol but is now feared as the symbol of the Districts’ Rebellion. 
Lorde has crafted a spectacular masterpiece that captures the anger and outrage, not only from Katniss but from every single person living in the Districts of Panem. Worth an honorable mention, Lorde also recorded a cover of “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” for The Hunger Games movie franchise which is another song that captures the essence of the rebellion and the anger of Panem at the abuse they’ve suffered at the hands of the Capitol.

“Can’t Catch me now” olivia rodrigo

In line with the other songs on this list, “Can’t Catch Me Now” was written by a talented young female artist.

“Can’t Catch Me Now” is the latest hit amongst The Hunger Games movies’ soundtracks. The Olivia Rodrigo single was released on November 3, 2023, as a feature for the long-awaited prequel, The Hunger Games: A Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes. 

The song is a beautiful guitar ballad with a darker tone, an interesting contrast to Olivia’s usual upbeat and almost juvenile sound. The lyrics of this song are very poignant, directly connecting to some of the characters and the major plotlines from the movie series. 

Most of the song feels like it’s speaking directly to President Coriolanus Snow, Panem’s ruthless president/dictator. It expresses how he feels haunted by a previous tribute he mentored, Lucy Gray Baird, as he sees reminders of her through Katniss Everdeen and the rebellion many years later. An example is in lyrics such as “You’ll see my face in every place / but you can’t catch me now.”

A further reference to the second movie, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire stands out. The lyrics from the outro, “Yeah, sometimes the fire you founded / don’t burn the way you’d expect”, gave me chills! It’s a call to Katniss’ speech from District 8. In an impassioned moment after witnessing the Capitol fire bomb a hospital, she finishes her address with impactful words directed at President Snow, “If we burn, you burn with us!”

Cella Pop

U Vic '26

Cella is a third-year Classics and English student, and this is her second year as a writer for Her Campus UVic. Cella also holds the executive position of Senior Editor this year. She has a passion for anything involving the Ancient Greek world and is always eager to discuss the topic. Cella is working towards completing her undergraduate degree in Victoria before hopefully making the move to England for law school. When she's not studying, Cella loves to read and write creative fiction, listen to music, snuggle her cat, and go thrifting.
Jess Bayda

U Vic '26

Jess is the Vice President of the University of Victoria chapter of Her Campus. She participates in writing and editing, as well as engaging in management and overseeing club members and logistics. Jess has had a role in the U Vic chapter since 2023. Outside of Her Campus, Jess is a third year social work major at the University of Victoria. She has extensive experience in the area of managing and supporting others through her participation in community-based work and volunteer. In her free time, Jess enjoys reading, specifically contemporary fiction, and cold dips in the ocean. This year she hopes to tear herself away from rewatching Criminal Minds and finally partake in one of Victoria’s infamous hikes.