Movies are weird. One minute you're watching a massive superhero flick, and the next, you're hearing a hauntingly stripped-back cover of a 1960s folk song in a high-stakes spy thriller. That’s basically the vibe of Heart of Stone, the 2023 Netflix juggernaut starring Gal Gadot. But the real kicker for a lot of fans wasn't just the parachute jumps or the AI-driven "Heart" tech—it was the music. Specifically, the use of the song Songbird.
It’s an interesting choice. Most action movies lean on heavy bass or generic orchestral swells to tell you when to feel excited. This one went a different route.
The Unexpected Soul of Heart of Stone
When Heart of Stone dropped on Netflix, the reviews were... mixed. Critics felt it was a bit too close to Mission: Impossible, but audiences couldn't stop talking about the soundtrack. Why? Because the movie opens and closes with a version of Songbird that feels almost uncomfortably intimate for a film about global espionage.
The original version of the song, written by Christine McVie for Fleetwood Mac's 1977 masterpiece Rumours, is a pure, selfless love letter. In the context of the film, it’s performed by Gal Gadot herself. Let's be real: Gadot isn't a professional singer in the Adele sense, but that’s actually why it works. Her version is breathy, quiet, and feels like a secret.
It grounds the character of Rachel Stone. Stone is a woman living a double life—one as a "clumsy" tech support agent for MI6 and another as a lethal operative for a secret organization called the Charter. The song represents the quiet life she can’t actually have. It's the "songbird" trapped in a world of high-tech violence.
What People Often Get Wrong About the Songbird Cover
There’s this weird misconception that the song was just a random pick. It wasn't. Director Tom Harper has a history of using music to define character—look at what he did with Wild Rose. He knew that if Stone was just another "cool" spy, the audience wouldn't care if she lived or died.
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By having Stone listen to Songbird, the film links her to something human. It’s a callback to her past and her relationship with her team, specifically Parker (played by Jamie Dornan). When you hear those first few chords, it’s not just filler; it’s a narrative device.
The production team actually spent quite a bit of time deciding how the song should sound. It couldn't be too polished. If it sounded like a studio-produced pop hit, the illusion of Stone's vulnerability would be shattered. They kept the imperfections. You can hear the catch in her throat. It’s raw. Honestly, it’s probably the most "human" moment in the entire two-hour runtime.
The Fleetwood Mac Connection
You can't talk about Songbird without talking about Christine McVie. She wrote the song in about half an hour in the middle of the night. She said it felt like a prayer.
In Heart of Stone, the song functions in a similar way. It’s a moment of peace in a movie that is otherwise obsessed with "The Heart," an AI that predicts the future with terrifying accuracy. There’s a sharp contrast there. On one hand, you have the cold, calculated logic of an algorithm. On the other, you have a 1970s ballad about unconditional love.
- The Heart: Predicts outcomes, lacks soul, relies on data.
- The Songbird: Predicts nothing, offers comfort, relies on emotion.
This dichotomy is the secret sauce of the film's thematic structure. It’s the old world vs. the new world. It’s the human spirit vs. the machine.
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Why Music Matters in Modern Action Cinema
We’ve seen a shift lately. Guardians of the Galaxy proved that "oldies" could make a movie feel fresh. Heart of Stone tries to do the same but with a more melancholic edge.
Think about the scene where the song reprises. Without spoiling too much for the three people who haven't seen it yet, the music acts as a bridge between betrayal and resolution. It’s used to highlight the loneliness of being a spy. You’re always on the outside looking in. Like a bird. (See what they did there?)
Steven Price, the composer for the film, had a massive job. He had to weave the melody of Songbird into the larger orchestral score. If you listen closely during the high-action sequences in Lisbon or the Alps, you can hear snippets of the melody buried under the percussion. It’s a leitmotif for Stone’s conscience.
The E-E-A-T Factor: Is the Soundtrack Actually Good?
From a technical standpoint, the soundtrack is solid, but the inclusion of a classic cover is a polarizing move. Some purists hate it when iconic songs are "muddied" by movie stars. Others find it charming.
Musicologist Dr. Nate Sloan (from the Switched on Pop podcast) often talks about how "recontextualization" changes our relationship with a song. When we hear Songbird now, a whole generation of younger viewers won't think of Fleetwood Mac first. They’ll think of Gal Gadot sitting in a van in London. Whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing depends on how much of a vinyl snob you are.
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The reality? It worked. The song spiked on streaming platforms immediately after the movie's release. People were searching for "Gal Gadot Songbird version" before the credits even finished rolling.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Creators
If you’re a filmmaker or a content creator, there’s a massive lesson here: Contrast is king. If your visuals are loud, make your music quiet. If your plot is complex and tech-heavy, make your emotional anchor simple and acoustic. The "Songbird" effect is about giving the audience a place to rest their ears while their eyes are being bombarded with explosions.
How to Appreciate the Soundtrack More:
- Listen to the "Quiet" score: Find the tracks by Steven Price where the acoustic guitar subtly mimics the Fleetwood Mac melody.
- Compare the versions: Listen to McVie’s original, then Eva Cassidy’s famous cover, then Gadot’s. Each tells a different story. McVie is about devotion; Cassidy is about loss; Gadot is about isolation.
- Watch the framing: Notice that whenever the song plays, the camera work changes. It becomes more handheld, more intimate.
The legacy of Heart of Stone might not be its plot—let’s be honest, we’ve seen the "rogue AI" story before. But the way it used Songbird to create a heartbeat in a digital world? That’s something that actually sticks with you. It’s a reminder that even in a world governed by algorithms and "Hearts" made of code, a simple melody can still be the most powerful tool in the box.
Next Steps for Your Watchlist
If the music in Heart of Stone hit the right note for you, check out Atomic Blonde or Baby Driver. Both films use their soundtracks not just as background noise, but as actual characters that drive the plot forward. Also, do yourself a favor and listen to the full Rumours album. It explains more about the emotional weight of "Songbird" than any movie ever could.