J Law's voice soars in new Hunger Games track

Director said filming the singing was Lawrence's 'worst' day on set as she was so nervous. Photo / Getty Images

Jennifer Lawrence's soft tones can be heard on the latest recording released as the latest instalment of the multi-million pound grossing film franchise The Hunger Games hits the cinemas.

In the clip, Lawrence sings a cover of the Lumineer's song 'The Hanging Tree' as her character Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Pt 1, which was released in cinemas on Thursday.

The clip. shared by the YouTube account for The Hunger Games in Thailand, has already been listened to more than 500,000 times after appearing online two days ago.

Speaking about recording the song, Mockingjay director Francis Lawrence told The Radio Times that Lawrence did not exactly enjoy the experience.

"She'd probably tell you it was her least favourite day," he said.

"She was horrified to sing, she cried a little bit in the morning before she had to sing. But she did it and she did it all day - and she hated me for making her do it all day - but she did and it's great."

"I was worried, I really thought we were going to have to do a bunch of pitch shifting, but she sounded great. What you hear in the movie is what she did on the day in the quarry," he added.

'The Hanging Tree' is mentioned throughout the Mockingjay books as a song Katniss was taught by her father before his death.

However, her parents banned her from singing it as a child they fear it's dark lyrics (Are you coming to the tree / Where they strung up a man they say murdered three). In the course of the novels Katniss - obviously - comes face to face with some equally dark experiences and slowly understands the darker meaning of the words.

The film franchise, based on a series of novels by author Suzanne Collins, have grossed millions and become a worldwide phenonoman.

- Independent