The Children of Men soundtrack album by Jarvis Cocker accompanies the end credits of the dystopian sci-fi film directed by Alfonso Cuarón. Cocker’s song, “Running the World,” serves as a cynical and sarcastic commentary on the state of the world and the elites.
Jarvis Cocker, formerly the lead singer of the Britpop band Pulp, wrote and performed the song. In 2006, it was released as a single and featured in the official film soundtrack, alongside tracks from various artists across different genres and eras.
The soundtrack album for Children of Men delivers a diverse and eclectic mix of music, capturing the chaotic and bleak atmosphere of the film set in 2027, where humanity faces extinction due to infertility and civil unrest.
The selection includes tracks from rock, pop, hip-hop, reggae, electronic, and classical music. From Deep Purple’s “Hush” to John Lennon’s “Bring on the Lucie (Freeda Peeple)” to Roots Manuva’s “Witness (1 Hope)” to King Crimson’s “The Court of the Crimson King” to Donovan’s “There Is an Ocean” to Kode9’s “Backward” to Franco Battiato’s “Ruby Tuesday,” the songs serve to create contrast, irony, mood, and emotion in various film scenes.
In addition to the soundtrack, the film features a separate score composed by the British composer John Tavener, known for his spiritual and religious music. Titled “Fragments of a Prayer,” the score comprises a single 15-minute piece strategically played at crucial moments in the film.
For instance, it plays when the protagonist, Theo, reunites with his former wife Julian, who carries the first child in 18 years, and when Theo and Julian’s baby is born in a war-torn refugee camp. The score incorporates a mezzo-soprano singing lyrics based on the visionary poet William Blake’s poetry, which significantly influenced Tavener’s work. Its purpose is to provide a “spiritual comment rather than a narrative support” for the film.
