Listen Now: Dakota Fanning Sings ‘Cherry Bomb’ On ‘Runaways’ Soundtrack
By Empress Eve
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Thursday, March 4th, 2010 at 9:46 pm
Last week, the details were released regarding The Runaways soundtrack, which includes some great ’70s tunes, as well as original versions and covers of Runaways songs [see New TV Spot, Pics & Soundtrack Details For “˜The Runaways’].
Now, one of the album’s tracks is streaming online for free at the official Runaways movie site. When you visit the site, you’ll immediately here “Cherry Bomb,” the band’s most popular song; in this case, it’s the movie version sung by Dakota Fanning, who stars in the upcoming film as singer Cherie Currie, with backing vocals by Kristen Stewart, who plays guitarist/singer Joan Jett.
I’ve already read some trashing of Fanning for the song from the Twitter critics, but being the lifelong Runaways fan that I am, I think you should probably take my word above others — Fanning does a good job and this version is definitely enjoyable. I’ve listened to it probably 30 times already. I mean, c’mon, it’s ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-cherry bomb!
What I’m curious about is who the musicians are for all the movie-version Runaways songs? Please don’t tell me they got a bunch of male studio musicians to do it, because I don’t care how great it might sound, for this movie there should be chicks playing the instruments on the album. It’s not like there’s a shortage of female rock musicians. I was playing this song when I was 13, and every all-girl band I ever knew or was a part of can cover this song like nobody’s business.
The soundtrack CD will be released on March 23, 2010, which is a few days after the movie’s limited theatrical release on March 19, 2010, but the digital download will be available on movie’s soundtrack page on March 16. The movie opens wide across North America on April 9, 2010.
Cities with the early release on March 19th:
New York
Los Angeles
Chicago
Philadelphia
Dallas
Phoenix
Seattle
Minneapolis
Austin
San Francisco
Toronto
Vancouver
Montreal
[Updated]
I mentioned all the Twitter critics above, and now I had to update this post because I just saw a writer over at New York magazine’s Vulture blog wrote the following about Fanning’s vocal performance on “Cherry Bomb”:
… although we almost turned it off after the teenager-y, overpronounced “skoow-uhl / fooh-ul” bit at the beginning, the rest was pretty decent. The juvenile “Mo-om” vocals remain painful throughout, but she gets definite points for effort and enthusiasm. And she’s a teenager, so she can’t help it.
Umm… Vulture person, turn it the fuck off next time, your critique is about as far from reality as possible.
1- Fanning is pronouncing “Mo-om” and “skoow-uhl / fooh-ul” just like Cherie Currie does in the live version from The Runaways “Live In Japan.” Even on the studio version these words are exaggerated.
2- They are exaggerated because she’s singing it like a bratty teenager to her parents and to adults in general. It’s meant to sound juvenile. Listen to The Runaways albums, they sing about being juvenile delinquents!
3- Umm… The Runaways were TEENAGERS!!!!!!!!
Seriously, people who blog about stuff they’re not passionate about, just give it up. Also, if you don’t know what the hell you’re talking about, don’t say anything at all!!! There’s no mandate on you your giving your opinion in a story, especially on one you clearing know nothing about. Just tell people where to hear the song and move on.
And Vulture, please stop writing about The Runaways.
Totally agree with this post. You know what, critics tend to act like sheep to their fellow critics. It’s happening with The Hurt Locker, a fairly good film that is going bananas because a few critics called it great and the sheeples followed. That’s what’s happening here, Fanning’s performance is actually admirable. I’d like to see any of these critics stand up and do what she’s done. No, it’s easier to just jump on the slag bandwagon.
If you’re a reviewer, I’m listening. If you’re a critic, then by default you’re saying you have to criticize which in turn makes your point of view completely redundant. This article is a case in point of that very fact.
The Runaways are who started me on my love of female rockers and I’ve been eagerly awaiting this film. Great write up here, and I agree with you that the new version of the song sounds pretty damn good… I wonder if Vulture has issues with Roger Daltrey’s amateur singing of the lyric, “talking ’bout my g-g-g-g-g-generation”
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Last week, the details were released regarding The Runaways soundtrack, which includes some great ’70s tunes, as well as original versions and covers of Runaways songs [see 
I am really looking forward to this film.
It’s my kind of film.
Comment by Jerry — March 4, 2010 @ 9:51 pm
Totally agree with this post. You know what, critics tend to act like sheep to their fellow critics. It’s happening with The Hurt Locker, a fairly good film that is going bananas because a few critics called it great and the sheeples followed. That’s what’s happening here, Fanning’s performance is actually admirable. I’d like to see any of these critics stand up and do what she’s done. No, it’s easier to just jump on the slag bandwagon.
If you’re a reviewer, I’m listening. If you’re a critic, then by default you’re saying you have to criticize which in turn makes your point of view completely redundant. This article is a case in point of that very fact.
Comment by Darren Albert — March 5, 2010 @ 12:01 am
The Runaways are who started me on my love of female rockers and I’ve been eagerly awaiting this film. Great write up here, and I agree with you that the new version of the song sounds pretty damn good… I wonder if Vulture has issues with Roger Daltrey’s amateur singing of the lyric, “talking ’bout my g-g-g-g-g-generation”
Comment by Theo — March 5, 2010 @ 2:03 pm