Live debut of new Hunger Games song by Taylor Swift

One of the most anticipated movies of the year, The Hunger Games, opens in theatres nationwide this Friday.  Fans of the best-selling trilogy by Suzanne Collins (the movie is based on the first book)  have been scouring the web for every bit of info they can get on the motion picture that stars Jennifer Lawrence as the heroine, Katniss Everdeen. Not only do we anticipate the movie will be a blockbuster, but the soundtrack should be a big-seller as well.

Country superstar Taylor Swift contributes two songs to the collection.  She previously released ‘Safe and Sound,’ a collaboration with her friends The Civil Wars. The other song by Taylor is a tune called ‘Eyes Open,’ a power ballad sung from the perspective of Katniss that fans have been dying to hear.  Well, here’s your first listen.  Last night the superstar debuted the song live at a concert in Auckland, New Zealand.  Check it out below.

 

Swift performed the song as a special treat for the final show of her 13-month Speak Now tour.

The soundtrack to The Hunger Games goes on sale tomorrow. The collection was produced by Grammy-winning producer T Bone Burnett (Oh Brother Where Art Thou, Walk The Line) and in addition to Taylor Swift and The Civil Wars there are contributions from Pistol Annies, Neko Case, The Low Anthem, Maroon 5, The Decemberists, and Arcade Fire.

Swift seemed to enjoy teasing the audience with the debut of the song.  “You don’t think I’d get in trouble if I played it now?, she asked 12,000 screaming fans.

Taylor recently told Rolling Stone magazine, “It was almost like a vacation to get to write from someone else’s perspective.”

“Keep your eyes open,” Swift sings on the chorus, “Everybody’s waiting for you to break down / Everybody’s watching to see the fallout / Even when you’re sleeping, sleeping / Keep your eyes open/ Keep your eyes open.”