In 2001, Bruce Springsteen was rejected by JK Rowling’s ‘Harry Potter’
Bruce Springsteen wrote “I’ll Stand By You” for the 2001 film Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, inspired in part by his young son and the appeal of children’s stories. The song was not used, despite director Chris Columbus praising it as one of Springsteen’s most beautiful and moving works.
J.K. Rowling’s agreement with Warner Bros barred commercial music, and the American pop ballad was also considered a poor fit for the film’s British cast and John Williams’s score. The unreleased track leaked in 2017 and later appeared in the 2019 film Blinded by the Light, which features 12 licensed Springsteen songs.
- Springsteen wrote a song for the first Harry Potter film.
- Rowling’s deal barred commercial music from the film.
- “I’ll Stand By You” later featured in Blinded by the Light.
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Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was the first film adaptation of J.K. Rowling’s bestselling children’s book series. Warner Bros made the film, directed by Chris Columbus, with music composed by John Williams.
Bruce Springsteen is an American singer and songwriter whose songs often tell personal stories. Film soundtracks can combine an original score with songs, but the choices depend on the film-makers’ plans and any agreements governing the production.
The story touches on how music is selected for films and how a song can find an audience later. Springsteen’s unreleased track eventually appeared in Blinded by the Light, a separate film featuring several of his songs.