Stalh23's Celebrity Gossip: Taylor Swift Goes Big On 'Hunger Games' Song 'Eyes Open'

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Taylor Swift Goes Big On 'Hunger Games' Song 'Eyes Open'

Track teases soundtrack album, which drops on March 20, ahead of 'Hunger Games' release on March 23.
By Jocelyn Vena

Taylor Swift
Photo: Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic

Taylor Swift's other "Hunger Games" track, "Eyes Open," has hit the 'Net nearly a week before the official soundtrack drops.

Whereas "Safe & Sound" is sparse and gloomy, Swift's second "Hunger Games" soundtrack contribution is more epic and upbeat, at least musically. The lyrics still touch on many of the darker themes of the film, meaning that she sings about the loss of innocence and the need to stay strong in the face of adversity.

"Yesterday we were just children/ Playing soldier just pretending/ Dreaming dreams with happy endings," she sings on the track, which has been posted on Perez Hilton's website. "In backyards, waging battles with the wooden swords/ But now we've stepped into a cruel world/ Where everybody stands and keeps score."

The song is punctuated by big guitar riffs and a rock-inspired beat as Swift continues on the chorus, "Keep your eyes open/ Everybody's waiting for you to break down/ Everybody's watching to see the fallout/ Even when you're sleeping, sleeping/ Keep your eyes, eyes open."

Lyrically, many of the tributes in the Hunger Games can relate to that need to be strong, but it seems to be particularly pointed at the story's female lead, Katniss Everdeen, played by Oscar nominee Jennifer Lawrence, who becomes the face of revolution in the beloved franchise.

The full "Hunger Games" soundtrack drops on March 20, just days before the film opens on March 23. It features a wide array of artists, including Miranda Lambert, the Civil Wars (who also appear with Swift on "Safe & Sound"), Arcade Fire, Kid Cudi and more.

"I immediately read the book in, like, two days and fell in love with it," Swift explained about her love of all things "HG" when she sat down with MTV News during her "First" last month. "I fell in love with the characters, fell in love with the world that Suzanne Collins had created. I was just so immersed in it."

Check out everything we've got on "The Hunger Games."

For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.

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