Wondering what type of music Robert Pattinson chose for his role in the popular Twilight series? Well, the English actor rocked the house with his eclectic mix of tunes that spanned multiple genres. In the first movie alone, he had songs from Frank Zappa, The Beatles, and The Doors, to name just a few. It would be a challenge to find a bad song from the Twilight series. The Hollywood superstar plays a pivotal role in the development of several characters as he provides the soundtrack for their individual stories.
Familiar Tunes For New Audiences
If you’re not familiar with the Twilight series, then you might not recognize many of the songs Robert Pattinson sang for the movies. However, this doesn’t mean that you won’t enjoy them. Several of the tunes are staples in the American cultural landscape, which means they’ll be familiar to the audience. Some of the more popular songs from the Twilight series are:
Get Up (I Feel Like Being Born Again)
The first of the Twilight movies is arguably the most famous. Released in 2008, it was an immediate success both critically and financially. The song “Get Up (I Feel Like Being Born Again)” from the soundtrack certainly helped propel the film; it was released six months prior to the movie’s premiere and became a viral sensation. The original version was performed by Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan, and was released in 1966. The lyrics reference the Konya Prayers, a set of Muslim prayers that are repeated during daily routines such as showering and cooking. The song’s popularity in the United States was largely due to its use in the film, but it has since found a wider audience and continues to appear in various forms of media.
Wonderwall
One of the most recognizable and popular songs from the Twilight series is “Wonderwall”. The Beatles song “Wonderwall” is widely recognized as the unofficial theme song of the movie. The group member John Lennon wrote the song before moving to Los Angeles to pursue his solo career. In 2012, the song was ranked 14th on the Rolling Stone list of the 100 greatest songs of all time. It was also covered by multiple artists, including Paramore for the Twilight movie’s second trailer. The song became an instant classic when released in 1967 and has been covered by numerous bands and artists ever since.
Fire
Another huge hit for the Twilight series was “Fire”. The Doors’ song “Fire” was originally released in 1967 and has appeared in multiple films and TV shows ever since. It was covered by Welsh band Stereophonics in 2010 for the film’s trailer. In 2016, the band’s lead singer, Kelly Jones, attended a premiere and performed the song for an audience of Hollywood stars. The song became a viral sensation and is now considered part of the English language. Its usage in various forms of media continues to this day.
Gangsta Paradise
One of the most interesting cases of a songwriter adapting his work for the big screen is “Gangsta Paradise”. A track from the 2002 album The Greatest of All Time by rapper Jay-Z, “Gangsta Paradise” was originally released in 2001. The song was written, produced, and performed by Jay-Z as a tribute to his friend and collaborator Nas, who had recently passed away a few months prior to the album’s release. The song’s video, directed by Hype Williams, depicts New York Yankees star Mariano Rivera as an underworld figure instructing a crew of criminals in the ways of the streets. In the video, Jay-Z’s character names a number of prominent rappers, including 50 Cent and Nas, as the song’s featured artists.
Konya Prayers
When describing the first Twilight movie in his 2018 autobiography, Pattinson revealed that he had written the script before even beginning his acting career. The entire book is filled with interesting anecdotes about his life as an actor, including his experience with the Twilight series. He wrote that he had chosen the Konya Prayers because he wanted to include an element of religion in the story. The famous Turkish couple that live in a remote Anatolian village are the focus of the book’s main character, Edward Cullen. According to Pattinson, the couple’s unorthodox approach to parenting enabled him to explore various themes including faith, free will, and fate in a meaningful way. The prayers were written in the 15th century by the Ottoman Turks and were originally used by members of the community as a call to prayer. Today, they are used as a part of a daily routine by those living in Konya and the surrounding area.
London Bridge
The final song on our list, “London Bridge”, was released in 1967 and has appeared in various forms of media ever since. It was first performed by English rock band The Beatles during the final scene of their second movie, Let It Be. The song was written by George Harrison and John Lennon and originally served as the theme song for their hugely successful 1968 release, Abbey Road. Since then, it has become an unofficial anthem of the British music scene. In 2018, “London Bridge” was voted the eighth greatest song of all time in a poll conducted by Rolling Stone magazine. The song’s usage in popular culture arguably began in 1968 when the Abbey Road album was released. That same year, the Rolling Stones released their album, Beggars Banquet, which included a cover of the song. Its use in TV shows and films continued as the year progressed, with notable appearances in movies such as Blowup, Darling, and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. In the former, author Ken Kesey performs the song during a fictionalized version of the 1967 Stanford Prison Experiment. The song was also featured in the closing credits of Sofia Coppola’s 2017 movie, The Lost Wife. In the director’s words, the song “perfectly encapsulates [the characters’] journey and despair.”
We were lucky enough to speak with Stephen Bier, co-founder of SB Ideate, a New York City–based music and media agency. Bier had this to say about the songwriters from the Twilight series:
“Fire”, “Gangsta Paradise”, and “London Bridge” are classic examples of songs that have stood the test of time. The three aforementioned songs are among the most recognizable and popular around today, largely thanks to their appearances in the Twilight films. Their timeless appeal is due in part to the fact that the lyrics are clever and often poke fun at pop culture. This is in marked contrast to much of the music that was popularized in the 1960s and 1970s, which was often themed around serious issues. The presence of these issues is further demonstrated by the fact that none of the aforementioned songs appear on any of the Twilight albums. On the contrary, the soundtracks for each of the films are a collection of songs that were either written or produced specifically for the films. This is most likely due to the fact that many of the songs were deemed too controversial for mainstream radio play at the time of their official release, hence why they weren’t included on albums until years later.”
Final Takeaway
We’re guessing that Robert Pattinson’s days as a movie star are now behind him. After eight years in the acting firmament, he’s transitioned to the other side of the camera to direct and produce his own films. In his upcoming directorial debut, he will co-direct and star in a film scripted by his wife, Deborah Pattinson. The couple’s previous work includes the highly acclaimed 2009 film, The Rum Diary. In addition to his filmmaking career, he has continued to be a presence in music, whether he’s performed the music or written it. We can only hope that he will release more film scores and album cuts in the future.