Scale and scope

With the release of the new Avatar sequel, the lead single of its sound track is drawing plaudits for its intense and breath-taking scale and scope.

Nothing Is Lost (You Give Me Strength) by Canadian artist the Weeknd topped Billboard’s new music poll for the past week.

The Weeknd self-wrote the lyrics to Nothing Is Lost (You Give Me Strength) and composed the song’s melody with production trio Swedish House Mafia and Simon Franglen.

In interview at the film premiere, the producer Jon Landau told reporters: “Together, they came up with a song that is true to who The Weeknd is but is organic to our film. And that’s what was important to us. We didn’t want just something to come on at the end of the movie that felt outside of it, but he embraced that collaboration, and his voice, oh my God.”

Since release, the song has been described by music and film critics as an intense synth-pop power ballad, featuring an orchestral pop melody, and pulsing electronic drum machines at the chorus.