Remember last year when Mockingjay, Part 1’s “The Hanging Tree” became a hit on the radio, leading the film’s record label to release a dance remix to capitalize on its success?
The remix didn’t go over well with fans because “The Hanging Tree” was not a song you wanted to bump and grind to at the club. It came off as a gross attempt at commercializing a beautiful, serious piece of work.
Unfortunately, the record label (Universal Republic) has done it again for the final film in the Hunger Games series. Jennifer Lawrence/Katniss’ performance of “Deep in the Meadow,” which appears during the credits of Mockingjay, Part 2, now has a remix by Baauer, the creator of the Harlem Shake.
“Deep is the Meadow” is also the song Katniss sang to Rue as she was dying in the first movie. “I REALLY want to dance to that song that Katniss sang to Dead Rue in The Hunger Games!” said literally no one ever.
Here’s the original version from the film (skip to 1:40):
The fans rebel
After the official Hunger Games Twitter account shared the remix, fans expressed their disappointment:
@TheHungerGames Once again turning a meaningful song into garbage. Well done. Buying the original instead.
— Jennifer Lawrence (@j_lawperfection) November 23, 2015
@TheHungerGames NO ITS ATTROCIOUS THIS IS GARBAGE
— Grant (@granteverdeen) November 23, 2015
@TheHungerGames DELETE THIS
— nicole | dead af (@jhutchobsessed_) November 23, 2015
@TheHungerGames we all have one enemy and that's bad music production! It corrupts everyone and everything!
— arturo cruz (@arturo0698) November 23, 2015
Why?
What’s interesting about “Deep in the Meadow” is that Universal Republic decided to create a remix before the original version of the song has found any commercial success. Clearly they’re expecting it to become a big hit like “The Hanging Tree” did last year, but at the time of this writing, “Deep in the Meadow” is currently not ranking on the Billboard 200.
Funnily enough, someone predicted this would happen nearly a year ago:
What if in Mockingjay Part 2, Katniss sings "Deep in the Meadow" and they dance remix that shit up too? #nightmare
— JJ (@jj_dash) January 22, 2015
“The Hanging Tree” became popular because it was catchy and moving, especially when the chorus of rebels comes in halfway through. By comparison, “Deep in the Meadow” doesn’t aid a scene in Mockingjay, Part 2, nor does it offer an uplifting feeling. Sorry Universal Republic, but this song is not going to be a hit like “The Hanging Tree” was.
Related: We’re more like the Capitol than we care to admit
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