TV - Movies
The Real Reason
Why This Bruce
Springsteen Song
Couldn't Be Used In
Harry Potter
By LIAM MATHEWS
Between 1998 and 2000, the iconic singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen wrote a song inspired by J.K. Rowling's fantasy book series, but the film studio behind "Harry Potter And The Sorcerer's Stone" had to pass on it. Although the lyrics are not directly related to the series, Springsteen offered the recording to director Chris Columbus for use in the first film in 2001.
According to The Wrap, J.K. Rowling had a clause in her contract with the studio that stipulated "no commercial songs could be used in the films," so Warner Bros. had to turn the song down. It seems like Rowling wanted John Williams' score to be the only music associated with the movie.
The song, “I’ll Stand By You,” then went officially unreleased until 2019, though a bootleg leaked in 2017. Springsteen always thought it would be a good fit for a children's movie, and it found a home as part of the soundtrack for the movie Blinded by the Light.