Note: This post might contain spoilers for those who haven’t read the books or seen the films up to Mockingjay Part 1.
Despite being the main character and the hero of the Hunger Games trilogy, I didn’t have a lot of song parodies for Katniss Everdeen. Perhaps it’s because it’s easier to do parodies for other characters singing about her. Maybe it’s due that Katniss’s story while momentous isn’t really fun by her perspective. I mean she started out as a dirt poor girl from District 12 who volunteered as a tribute for hers sister. Once she won the Hunger Games with Peeta via threatening suicide, she becomes an instant celebrity and an icon that inspires revolts in several districts. And sometime later, she’s made to take part in the Hunger Games again since the 3rd Quarter Quell is an all star edition year. Luckily she escapes to District 13 with some victors. And in the third book, she’s asked to become the Mockingjay symbol of the rebellion (and has little choice whether to accept). Nevertheless, Katniss’s life has changed so much that she’s now unsure who she is anymore.
For a parody on her state of mind at this point, I think “Who Am I?” from Les Miserables might be appropriate. Now the original has Jean Valjean thinking about whether to turn himself in to the court during a trial for a guy who’s identified as him. At this point in the story Jean Valjean is a successful factory owner and mayor of a small French town as well as a changed man. In this song he struggles between abandoning his responsibilities or violating his conscience. However, I think the trial was a scheme by Javert who automatically recognized him when he saved a guy under a cart. Now in the Hunger Games version, I have Katniss singing on whether she should be the Mockingjay and whether she is the same girl she used to be.
“Who Am I?”
Sung by Katniss Everdeen
She wants me as a tool
Should I be the Mockingjay?
Should I accept her offer
Or should I try to get away?
How is my Peeta now?
Should I try to save his life?
Will she agree to my terms
Or will she put him on the knife?
If I consent, I am a tool.
If I turn her down, I am damned!
I can give victors immunity from sentence.
And Peeta’s not free.
How can I abandon them?
How would they live
If I don’t agree?
If I agree, they may be saved
If I turn her down, I am damned!
Who am I?
My name is Katniss Everdeen
I live in District 12 and am 17
I won and was in the Hunger Games
But this year I broke out and escaped
Who am I?
The Capitol despised me for evermore
But can I ever be the girl I was before?
And must I now a symbol be
As a Panem revolutionary?
Must they die?
How can I ever face my fellow men?
How can I ever be myself again?
And how is Peeta, I don’t know
And how he’s doing under Snow?
He gave me hope when hope was gone
He gave me strength to carry on
Who am I? Who am I?
I am the Mockingjay!
And so Coin, you see it’s true
I’ll be your Jay and try to work with you!
Who am I?
Katniss Everdeen!
Very good- certainly fits!