Twilight sequel New Moon soundtrack: Exploring the campaigns, from Kelly Clarkson to Fiction Plane

courtesy of Summit Entertainment

Surfing around the Internet on any day of the week, you will notice two topics that commonly occur on the majority of the music sites. One is this never-dying renewed-fascination coupled with ironic conspiracy surrounding the world of Michael Jackson. And the other is the welling speculation, anticipation and perspiration over what artists will be included on the upcoming New Moon soundtrack, the music to the sequel to 2008’s runaway hit film Twilight.

Not since Titanic and Space Jam has a movie soundtrack gotten so many people excited, and with the increasing reliance upon the Internet, no soundtrack has been the recipient of so much gossip. Everywhere you turn, you’ll find bands mentioning in interviews about how they’d love to be considered, bands petitioning to get on the soundtrack, MTV & E! creating rumors about artists they “think” would be on the soundtrack, and even fan groups uniting to campaign to Chop Shop Records (the company that compiles the Twilight movie music) to get their favorite bands acknowledged.

Why all this hype? Why all this excitement? It’s just a movie, right? Well, that could very well be, however, the Twilight soundtrack has become so much more than just the backdrop to a vampire love story. It’s become an epidemic of culture, not only scoring massive hits for Paramore (“Decode”) and Perry Farrell (“Go All the Way (Into the Twilight)”), but giving a bit of renewed interest in other popular acts like Linkin Park, and Collective Soul. It has remained on the Billboard Top 200 charts since its release back on November 8, 2008 (hitting #1 on Nov. 22), and is among the most downloaded albums in Nielsen-scanning history. It is currently at #30 on the Top 200 and is the highest-selling soundtrack since 2002’s Chicago.

So it is really no wonder why already platinum-selling artists are queuing for a coveted spot on the soundtrack to the sequel. And it would be an amazing opportunity for some smaller, lesser known bands to rub elbows with the big guns and get a little piece of the action – maybe jumpstart a career or two. With that said, let’s run through some of the artists who are “dying” to sink their teeth into New Moon.

To begin, Stephenie Meyer (the author of the book series that served as the roadmap for these films), posted a lengthy playlist on her blog outlining songs that inspired her writing and character development. Here are the tracks from that list:

"Do you realize?" - The Flaming Lips
"Papercut" - Linkin Park
“Hyper Music" - Muse
"Apocalypse Please" - Muse
"Time Stands Still" - The All-American Rejects
"Empty Room" - Marjorie Fair
"Unwell" - Matchbox Twenty
"Pain" - Jimmy Eat World
"Ride" - The Vines
"Fix You" - Coldplay
"Blueside" - Rooney
"Over My Head (Cable Car)" - The Fray
"Going Under" - Evanescence
"Tautou" - Brand New
"Be My Escape" - Relient K
"Never Let You Down" - Verve Pipe
"Sing For Absolution" - Muse
"Ya Mamma" - Fatboy Slim
"D.O.A." - Foo Fighters
"Stare" - Marjorie Fair
"Memory" - Sugarcult
"The Truth About Heaven" - Armor For Sleep
"The Scientist" – Coldplay
"Sound of Pulling Heaven Down" - Blue October
"Drag" - Placebo
"Like A Stone" - Audioslave
"World Has Turned and Left Me Here" - Weezer
"Best I Ever Had" - Vertical Horizon
"My Immortal" - Evanescence
"Not the One" - Collective Soul
"Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of" - U2
"Rest In Pieces" - Saliva
"White Flag" - Dido
"Everybody's Changing" - Keane
"Unintended" - Muse
"I Miss You" - Blink 182
"The Reason" - Hoobastank
"Hate Me" (radio edit) - Blue October

As you can see, the woman is knee-deep in supporting popular fare and would make any MTV2 VJ or regional radio disc jockey proud. However, with Muse, Collective Soul, and Linkin Park were already included on the Twilight soundtrack, chances are logically slim for a repeat performance, especially since Linkin Park was recently the spotlight artist on the Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen soundtrack. Even Paramore, which benefited the most from the Twilight soundtrack (having submitted two songs for it) has expressed that they are not interested in being included on New Moon.

But let’s move on. Next up is the Idolaters, the former American Idol contestants searching for a makeover, be it in fan base or using the soundtrack as form of extended viral marketing.

Kelly Clarkson expressed interest on more than one occasion how she’d love to be included on New Moon. Unlike most of the soundtrack jockeys, though, she is actually a professed fan of the books. Early reports pointed to her song “Did You?” as being considered, but later, word came out that Clarkson actually wrote a song inspired by New Moon, entitled “Empty As I Am”.

Forever riding Clarkson’s coattails, runner-up from the same season of American Idol Justin Guarini also threw his hat into the ring, recording a song, “I Can’t Live”, posted it to YouTube accompanied by the shameless plug “Here's a new demo that I, along with two of Nashville's finest writers- Shaye Smith and Tammy Hyler- put together expressly for the soundtrack of "New Moon". If you like it, share it, and ask for it to be put in the new Twilight movie.” He also made a point to tell MTV News that he was “a fan of the books.” He further cemented his “loyalty” by adding, “At the time I went in to write this song, the two other writers were talking about the books, and we got into a conversation about it. As we were writing it, we thought, there's a new movie coming out, and so why not give it a shot? And so, we sent it in."
 

Lastly on the Idol front is the Hot Topic-spokesmodel from last season, Adam Lambert, who, when prodded by E! News about the soundtrack (according to MadHollywood.com), simply stated “That’s just another rumor. That would be really cool. I should [do it].” In a June 25 interview with Rolling Stone Magazine, Lambert also had confessed that he was a fan of Stephenie Meyer’s books.

Then we have the Disney kids, who often get so hellbent on breaking out of their dimple-cheeked, innocent public image that they do everything from dying their hair black (a la Hilary Duff) to posting nudie pics of themselves on the Internet (because, otherwise, we may have forgotten Vanessa Hudgens even existed…were it not for the Sisyphus’ stone of franchises, High School Musical).

The first Disney artist who came out and expressed interest in the New Moon soundtrack (much to the Twilighters’ chagrin) was the modern day Monkees, The Jonas Brothers. Thanks to a little topic-leading by MTV, the band was all about New Moon. Here’s an excerpt: "The movie was obviously a huge success, and if they asked us to be a part of [the sequel], that would be great," Nick Jonas said when we caught up with him and his brothers Monday, revealing that the trio are fans of Stephenie Meyer's vampire franchise and would be willing to write a song for the "New Moon" soundtrack. "It would be really cool."

Then we have Sonny with a Chance and Camp Rock star Demi Lovato, who also told MTV, "Someone asked me and I said that would be cool. There's no plans for that, so we can clear that up — but it would be a complete honor." MTV, in true journalistic form, pushed a bit, and the story continued: "And she's already decided who she would like to write a love song for if she is asked to be on the soundtrack. 'Edward Cullen — I would write a love song to him,' the singer/actress said, before giddily adding, 'Or Jacob Black!"

MTV tried the same manipulative tactic with My Chemical Romance, but it actually backfired. Vocalist Gerard Way told MTV flat out, "I don't think so…we're very choosy. There were a few films that we didn't do the song for because it didn't fit. I guess a lot of people would say that a vampire movie would fit, but I would disagree with that these days. Even since Black Parade, I would kind of disagree with that. I don't know if we'd be interested in that."

Why does it sound like MTV is making a heavy-handed attempt at influencing the selections for the New Moon soundtrack? Are they lacking in creative journalism, is it a slow news year, or are they trying to prove to the world that they still control the music industry (as they really did so many years ago)? Who knows, but it is looking very desperate for them. Even as I write this, journalist Amy Wilkinson posted an article to MTV.com about the possible inclusion of indie singer-songwriter Lee Safar on the New Moon soundtrack: “I’m Here” is a serviceable rock ballad with enough ethereal lilting to make it right at home on a “Twilight” saga soundtrack. With lyrics like, “But now I breath again/And now I dream again/I’m here, I’m here” I immediately envisioned this song accompanying [SPOILER ALERT!] Bella and Edward’s climactic reunion in Italy.”

But this is not about MTV’s midlife crises. This is about compiling an album that not only reflects the film, but stands the test of time as a great compilation on its own.

Continuing with the gossip, according to Coldplay’s website, "It's very likely that a Coldplay song will end up on the soundtrack to the Twilight sequel given that Stephenie Meyer has credited Coldplay, amongst others, on the inner sleeve for ‘being instrumental in staving off the writer's block.'"

And according to Entertainment Weekly, “because Madonna's manager, Guy Oseary, is a producer on the project, there is some talk of her providing songs for the sequel.”

FMQB recently reported that, “Death Cab For Cutie will contribute a brand new song to the soundtrack to the upcoming film Twilight: New Moon. The track will arrive in August, while the soundtrack itself will be out later this year.”

Elsewhere, even cast members of the Twilight series were tossing artists’ names around. According to 4TNZ.com, Tom Cruise clone Peter Facinelli (Dr. Carlisle Cullen) posted on his official Twitter page, "I wonder if I can talk Chris Weitz [into] putting 'Single Ladies' in New Moon. When Edward leaves Bella. Cut to close up of Bella. Cue Music? Lol", in reference to none other than Beyonce.

And ladies’ man Robert Pattinson was quoted in a Czech magazine, curiously titled American Magazine (by way of the Scarlet Blog), as saying, “I like the band Tokio Hotel, have a good sound and lyrics, which are appropriate to the film. One song I like and reminds me of the film, ‘Rescue Me!’”

While we’re on the subject, rumors are abound about those cast members who moonlight as musicians being considered to share their alternate talents on the New Moon soundtrack.

Pattinson, who had already offered his song-smithing on Twilight with the song “Never Think” is on and off again with New Moon. In one interview with OK Magazine, he states quite clearly that he is not contributing to the soundtrack, saying, “I really didn’t want it to look like I was trying to cash in. Music is my back up plan.” And then, in a completely different feature in the same magazine, it reads, “Two of the British-born Pattinson’s creations will even appear in the series second film, New Moon, which is currently filming in Vancouver.” So, do we even trust OK Magazine as a viable news source at all??

Then there is Jackson (Jasper Hale) Rathbone, who has actually been making some waves over the past few months with his band 100 Monkeys. Fan sites are clamoring to have his band included on the soundtrack, but no official word from him or the producers has yet solidified anything.

And finally, we come to the super-creative groups of music fans who have taken it upon themselves to begin grassroots promotions and campaigns in an effort to get Chop Shop Records to take note of some of their favorite, albeit underground bands.

Singer-songwriter Amy Kuney has never openly expressed her interest in being on the soundtrack, but that never stopped one fan from putting this little video together:

In some cases, the bands themselves get involved in the campaigning. If you cruise on over to www.thetwlightsong.com, you will find a full-blown promotional website designed to get people excited about voting for The Wrecking’s “Our Feet Don’t Touch the Ground” into New Moon.

Hana Pestle created a MySpace page to campaign and secure her song, “Need” on the soundtrack. Interestingly, she mentions in a blog that she is managed by Jordan Feldstien, who also manages Collective Soul (who contributed “Tremble for My Beloved” to the Twilight soundtrack last year). She even went so far as to compile Twilight fan site links and major press contacts to urge fans to spread the word. [UPDATE: Check out my interview with Hana Pestle here!]

The Mitch Hansen Band has both a blog page to campaign his songs (complete with explicit promotional instructions), but they also established a MySpace page which plays his contributions in an endless loop.

Bashar Murad not only started a Facebook group to promote his song, “We Never Were”, but he also launched a YouTube campaign shilling the song, and posted on the clip, “’We Never Were’ is a song written from Edwards point of view when he leaves Bella. I think that this would work for New Moon; so please listen to it and if you like it, tell your friends about it...”

But probably the most dedicated of the “unknowns” is a group of fans of the band Fiction Plane (which is most known for its singer/bassist Joe Sumner, who happens to be the eldest son of rock icon Sting). These people are so passionate about the band that they started a Facebook group to campaign for the band, took the campaign over to one of the primary Fiction Plane fan forums, and have even promoted it on the band’s own website! Their mission statement: “We are dedicated to the belief that the harmony and tone of Fiction Plane's music would fit quite well within the emotion-driven world of Stephenie Meyer.”

Now this is by no means the be all end all of artists campaigning for the soundtrack. More artists pop up everyday expressing their desire to be included in the mayhem. There is even a blog page set up specifically for people to sign off on what bands they think would be a good fit for the soundtrack, called SongsForNewMoon.com.

New Moon director Chris Weitz expressed that he “may be open to a more experimental soundtrack than his predecessor. That could mean songs that sparkle even more than the movie's vampires when they get caught in the sun,” according to an E! Online feature.

Personally, I think it would be cool to see new music from 30 Seconds to Mars (who should be dropping a new album at some point this year), We are the Fallen (the Carly Smithson-fronted Evanescence spin-off band), or some artists a little more obscure to mainstream American palates, like Into the Presence, Within Temptation, Cradle of Filth, or Qntal.

However, since this is the music industry – a business flailing like a fish in distress, the executives at Chop Shop Records will most likely load the New Moon soundtrack with as many name artists (and radio friendly songs) as it can possibly afford. Because at the end of the day, their goal is to sell albums - not to celebrate an artform. But there is nothing wrong with giving some of these up-and-comers a leg up in the cutthroat music industry. If you ask me, there's always room for some exciting new "blood".