We were going to be featuring U2’s track “Winter” from Jim Sheridan’s “Brothers” today, but we’ll hold off until Monday on that as the love theme from one of the most anticipated films of the year has crossed our path this morning.
Leona Lewis was revealed a few weeks ago as the crooner responsible for “I See You,” the central tune of James Cameron’s “Avatar.” I imagine that, much like Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On” in “Titanic,” the melodies of the track will be evident throughout James Horner’s score. No one has seen the film yet (December 10 is the date for me), so it’s difficult to say exactly how the song is implemented in the film. I do know it’s a closing credits tune, but again, it could have a presence throughout.
Dion’s song, of course, won the Oscar in 1997, so it’s fair to think “I See You” will be a formidable contender here, but in this brave new (arbitrary) world of Academy music branch voting, all bets are off. This is a bit, I don’t know, overly produced, a bit schmaltzy, but I’ll hold off full judgment on it until I saw how it’s used in the film. It has striking parallels to “My Heart Will Go On” here and there, though.
Have a listen to the song below and tell us what you think.
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42 responses to “Listen to Leona Lewis’s ‘I See You’ from ‘Avatar’”
I’m probably not the best judge since I only listen to good music but it sounds like an appropriately big and epic ballad for a big and epic film.
Lewis gives it all she’s got, but where’s the tune? “My Heart Will Go On” had more of a structure than this.
If that song’s anything to go by, Avatar will be the worst movie of 1998.
hahaha – love the smarminess from everyone. I have heard better from Leona Lewis but it is not the worst song I have ever heard. its just kinda meh, which is how I feel about Avatar as a whole.
What’s “smarmy” about not liking the song?
I definitely agree with Guy – Lewis sounds fine, at some points amazing – but the lack of structure bothered me. Also the Imogen Heap-like beginning of the song.
I can’t imagine this being IN the film, it sounds like a typical end credits tie-in pop song that has little to do with the film and won’t show up at the Oscars. To me this is basically nothing more than a marketing tie-in, like action figures in a McDonalds Happy Meal.
That said, for such a song it’s not nearly as awful as many others have been this year. I can certainly live with it as long as it’s relegated to the end credits.
Very very nice!
Isn’t it enough to include say 15 or 30 seconds of the song in a love montage between Jake and Neytiri in the 2nd act, in order to qualify for Best Song? Or does a larger part of the song have to play within the context of the film?
Leona Lewis has a hell of a voice but the song is too uneven. I agree with those who say that it lacks a structure, but honestly, it’s not so bad. Al least, is not so sappy like My Heart Will Go On. Man, I hate that song. I don’t think it will make the cut, as probably Nine and Princess and the Frog songs will take as many spots as possible.
Given the sheer number of halfway decent songs in movies this year, this doesn’t seem likely to break through. However… their weird voting system means people actually get to vote against the songs they don’t like, so the most popular songs could be dragged down if they polarize (namely anything sung by Miley Cyrus). However, I hear the THE CLIMB and the 2012 song have ben deemed ineligible for God knows what reason, so if they go about winnowing away their contenders, amybe this will get in. BTW, I have no issue with end-credit songs. The note you end the movie on is important. ROBIN HOOD, ARMAGEDDON, and TITANIC all benefitted from their gleefully over-the-top ballads as we exited the theatre.
please God! makes the movie not to be like this song!
Not too bad. Leona Lewis has a good voice.
Kill it with fire.
Loyal: A song doesn’t HAVE to play within the context of the film to be considered for an Oscar. End-credit songs are still eligible. The new voting system just puts them at a significant disadvantage — unless the end credits come with visual accompaniment, as was the case in “Slumdog Millionaire” and “WALL-E” last year.
I still don’t get it. If the themes from the movie are clearly used in the song doesn’t it qualify much easier? Even though it’s end-credit stuff?
” visual accompaniment?” Maybe we’ll get a Navi dance number at a Pandora train station.
Loyal: Don’t give them ideas.
this is just bad.
Awful. Not as apocalyptically bad as the Celine Dion hatecrime, but still terrible.
Just got back from seeing “Brothers” a while ago. U2’s track is much better than this.
I kindda like it. “My hearty will go on” is, for me, by far superior but I think this song is fine although if it wasn’t for the ending I would find it dull. I have expressed my “she’s not all that” feelings for Leona but she is never bad and here, she is doing a fine job.
Sounds like the end credits from a really bad 1980’s movie where they freeze frame on all the characters and tell in subtitles “what they are doing now.”
…My Heart Will Go On is superior to nothing. Well, maybe cancer, anthrax, ebola, Dick Cheney, religious fundamentalism, and Paris Hilton, but beyond that….
I know a lot of people hate that song. I hope not all of them post here. No need.
My heart will go on is one of the best songs everrrrrr!
Schmaltzy.
Cloying.
Sappy.
Precious.
Saccharine.
Just a few of the words that come to mind when listening to this song. I can’t imagine it being nominated, let alone winning. It’s an unbelievably pedestrian effort, even for James Horner.
I did not like that.
The song is, as someone had pointed out elsewhere, overwhelmingly ‘meh’ – I can’t actually put my finger on what’s wrong with it, but I can hardly find anything great in there. Maybe if they played up the electronic elements and funky percussions at the beginning of the song?
As for its’ Oscar odds, I guess if the song accompanies an emotional ending to a game-changing film, it could even win; if it comes at an clichéd ending of an ovehyped, overpriced blockbuster, it will most probably miss out on an nomination.
I liked the song. Typical James Horner , so if you don´t like his emotive kind of music, don´t bother listening to this :) The lyrics beautifully reflect the Jake/Naityri relationship and Jake´s journey, so I consider it quite fitting for the end credits
Sounds like something from The Chronicles of Narnia movies. Only worse.
there is nothing smarmy about not liking the song, I was commenting on the funny statements about the song being from the worst film of 1998 and such, I love when people are that clever. this song is not the worst thing in the world but it is definitely very forgettable
Leona is an amazing singer with amazing vocal ability.. the song its self isn’t amazing but she does it justice with her vocals.
She can sing anything and the belts she makes towards the end are unbelievable.
A god given talent.
This song is all over the place, It won’t even make the top 10 on the charts in my opinion…….Celine has nothing to worry about, this wont touch My Heart will go on.
Well… on the bright side this song is better than Invictus’ “Colorblind”. At least I can listen to this song without busting out laughing, mostly because I can’t laugh while I’m falling asleep. This song is a snooze fest!
I was touched greatly by this song and its not going to be released. Its for the film Avatar;
I felt strongly about the song and was honoured when offered to work with one of the best in the industry.
Enjoy the film….
Leona -x-
LOLWUT?!
Having just seen the film, I can say that the song is actually not as dull as it may’ve sounded by itself. The lyrics make more sense in the context of the film’s dialogue and the arrangement is slightly different, with more guitar-like notes during the beginning and less electronic sound altogether. Also, Horner bases much of his soundtrack melodies around the theme song, so it comes much more naturally and it helps that the song is accompanied by striking 3D vistas. All in all, much better in context.
I realize this will come as a shock to many of you, but that wasn’t Leona Lewis.
[…] “I see you.” – multiple occurrences in […]
So how many of you are eating your words now? The movie was a blast and this theme song went perfectly with it. It’s amazing. Can’t really compare it to other themes that are more pop-ish (as in, the catchy feel), this suits the movie. Now you all could shut your mouths. Leona Lewis is amazing, as is this song.
We actually love this song and we have decided on having it for our first dance!!