Music of Game of Thrones

Ramin Djawadi is the composer of the Game of Thrones score.

The music for the fantasy TV series Game of Thrones by the U.S. cable channel HBO is composed by Ramin Djawadi and published by Varèse Sarabande. The soundtrack is instrumental and features one major theme, the Main Title, which accompanies the series' title sequence.

The music is noted for its popular main theme, which has been covered many times, and for its use of decidedly non-medieval renditions of songs from the series's source novels by noted indie bands. These adaptations, according to Wired, create attention for the series in media that wouldn't normally cover it, but are also notable for their musical merits independent of the series.[1]

Season 1

Game of Thrones
Soundtrack album by Ramin Djawadi
Released June 14, 2011 (2011-06-14)
Genre Soundtrack
Length 66:00
Label Varèse Sarabande
Producer Ramin Djawadi
Audio sample
file info · help

Game of Thrones, the soundtrack album for the series' first season, was published in June 2011.

Production and release

The soundtrack to Game of Thrones was originally to be composed by Stephen Warbeck. On February 2, 2011, only ten weeks prior to the show's premiere, it was reported that Warbeck had left the project and Ramin Djawadi had been commissioned to write the music instead.[2]

To give the series its own distinctive musical identity, according to Djawadi, the producers asked him not to use musical elements such as flutes or solo vocals that had already been successfully used by other major fantasy productions. He mentioned that a challenge in scoring the series was its reliance on dialogue and its sprawling cast: on several occasions already-scored music had to be omitted so as not to get in the way of dialogue.[3]

Djawadi said that he was inspired to write the main title music by an early version of the series's computer-animated title sequence. The title music is reprised as a global theme in the rest of the soundtrack, initially infrequently and as part of the theme of individual characters, then in full towards the end of season 1 during particularly important scenes.[3]

The album was made available for download on iTunes on June 14, 2011, together with a "digital booklet". It was released on CD on June 28, 2011, 41 days after the show's premiere.

Reception

Richard Buxton of Tracksounds wrote an ambivalent review, calling the album a "valiant effort" and Djawadi's "most consistently satisfying work to date", but criticized the main theme as falling short of the expectations raised by the opening credits' animated sequence, and the score as a whole as "never quite reaching what it could have been".[4]

Track listing

Season 2

Game of Thrones: Season 2
Soundtrack album by Ramin Djawadi
Released June 19, 2012 (2012-06-19)
Length 56:46
Label Varèse Sarabande
Producer Ramin Djawadi

The soundtrack album for the second season, titled Game of Thrones: Season 2, was published on June 19, 2012. The instrumental music by Ramin Djawadi was performed by the Czech Film Orchestra and Choir and recorded at the Rudolfinum concert hall in Prague.

The Rains of Castamere

The Rains of Castamere
A sample of The National's rendition of The Rains of Castamere.

Problems playing this file? See media help.

The album contains a rendition of the song "The Rains of Castamere" by the indie rock band The National, sung by their vocalist Matt Berninger.[5] On the published tracklist, the title is spelled "The Rains of Castomere" rather than "Castamere" as in the novels. The spelling is corrected on the printed listing on the liner notes that come with the disc.[6] In the series, the song was played over the end credits of the ninth episode, "Blackwater". An instrumental version can be heard during Tyrion's speech right after King Joffrey abandons the battlefield in the same episode. Tyrion Lannister can be heard whistling the melody in some earlier episodes. In season 3, an instrumental version of "The Rains of Castamere" plays over the end credits in episode 7, "The Bear and the Maiden Fair".[7] In episode 9 of season 3, an instrumental version of "The Rains of Castamere" is played by the musicians at the Tully-Frey wedding. In Episode 2 of Season 4, the band Sigur Rós makes a cameo appearance as musicians playing this song at the wedding of Joffrey and Margaery. Joffrey stops them midway by throwing coins at them. Their version plays over the closing credits of this same episode.

The song's lyrics are taken from the A Song of Ice and Fire novels, in which "The Rains of Castamere" is sung or mentioned several times.[8] It remembers Tywin Lannister's victory over his rebellious vassals Reyne ("the Reynes of Castamere") and Tarbeck, about 40 years before the events of the novels. The stanza of the song that is reproduced in the novels and adapted for the series tells of the vassals' defiance – "And who are you, the proud lord said / That I must bow so low?" – and the subsequent obliteration of their houses: "But now the rains weep o'er his hall / With no one there to hear."

Reception

Tracksounds's review was again mixed, describing the score as little more than adequate. Noting a lack of thematic development or dramatic momentum, the reviewer nonetheless appreciated the score's more subdued moments which he considered less forced than the rest of the track.[9]

Track listing

Season 3

Game of Thrones: Season 3
Soundtrack album by Ramin Djawadi
Released June 4, 2013 (2013-06-04)
Genre Soundtrack
Length 53:12
Label WaterTower Music
Producer Ramin Djawadi

The Season 3 soundtrack album was released digitally on June 4, 2013, and on CD on July 2, 2013.

The Bear and the Maiden Fair

The U.S. indie rock band The Hold Steady recorded "The Bear and the Maiden Fair", a folk song from Martin's novels, for season three. The recording is played over the end credits of episode three, and the song is sung in the same episode by Brienne's and Jaime's captors, which include musician Gary Lightbody from Snow Patrol in a cameo appearance.[10] Set to music by series composer Ramin Djawadi and arranged by Tad Kubler, the recording was released on a seven-inch record on April 20, 2013.[11]

In the A Song of Ice and Fire novels, "The Bear and the Maiden Fair" is a traditional song popular among people of all social classes throughout Westeros. It recounts the story of a bear, "All black and brown / And covered with hair", who traveled to a summer fair, and smelled "on the summer air ... The maid with honey / In her hair!" Although she vowed that she'll "never dance / With a hairy bear", he "lifted her high / Into the air", and "licked the honey / From her hair", until she "sighed and squealed / And kicked the air", eventually agreeing to go off with her "bear so fair".

Track listing

Season 4

Game of Thrones: Season 4
Game of Thrones (soundtrack) album cover
Soundtrack album by Ramin Djawadi
Released June 10, 2014 (2014-06-10)
Genre Soundtrack
Length 60:38
Label WaterTower Music
Producer Ramin Djawadi

The Season 4 soundtrack album was released digitally on June 10, 2014, and on CD on July 1, 2014.

The Rains of Castamere

Season 4 of Game of Thrones saw the Icelandic band Sigur Rós perform their rendition of "The Rains of Castamere" in a cameo appearance at King Joffrey's wedding in the second episode, "The Lion and the Rose".[12]

Track listing

Season 5

Game of Thrones: Season 5
Soundtrack album by Ramin Djawadi
Released June 9, 2015 (2015-06-09)
Genre Soundtrack
Label WaterTower Music
Producer Ramin Djawadi

The Season 5 soundtrack album was released digitally on June 9, 2015, and on CD on July 17, 2015.

Track listing

Catch the Throne

Volume I

To help promote the series to a broader audience including multicultural urban youth, HBO commissioned an album of rap songs dedicated to Game of Thrones.[13] Entitled Catch the Throne, it was published for free on SoundCloud on March 7, 2014.[14]

No. TitleMusic Length
1. "Mother of Dragons"  Big Boi 2:09
2. "Iron Throne"  Magazeen 2:26
3. "Win or Die"  Bodega Bamz 2:21
4. "Magical Reality"  Kilo Kish 2:32
5. "Born to Rule"  Daddy Yankee 2:34
6. "Arya's Prayer"  Dominik Omega 3:20
7. "The Parallel"  Dee Goodz 3:12
8. "Fire"  Snow tha Product 1:54
9. "The Ladder"  Common 2:41
10. "King Slayer"  Wale 2:24

Volume II

A second volume of songs was released in March 2015, prior to the beginning of fifth season. This volume again consisted of songs from hip-hop artists, but this time also included contributions from several heavy metal bands.[15] It was released as a free download on iTunes and SoundCloud.[16]

No. TitleMusic Length
1. "The Oath"  Method Man 2:33
2. "Run for Cover"  MNDR 2:56
3. "Never Back Down"  Ty Dolla $ign 3:52
4. "Loyalty"  Killswitch Engage 4:07
5. "Surrender Now"  Kap G 2:52
6. "Fight Through It"  Melanie Fiona 3:07
7. "Lannister's Anthem"  Snoop Dogg 2:31
8. "Marcando Territorio"  Yandel 3:44
9. "Soror Irrumator"  Anthrax 5:30
10. "Let Me Go"  Estelle 2:24
11. "Lord of the Light"  Talib Kweli 2:55
12. "White Walker"  Mastodon 4:30
13. "Legends"  Raquel Sofia 3:23
14. "All Mine"  Stalley 3:58
15. "Among the Crows"  Mushroomhead 4:48

Cover versions and parodies

The main theme of Game of Thrones has inspired many tributes and cover versions.[17] Some of the cover and parody versions mentioned by news media include:

See also

References

  1. Watercutter, Angela (April 15, 2013). "Why HBO Turned to Indie Bands for the Medieval Tunes of Game of Thrones". Wired. Retrieved April 17, 2013.
  2. Ryan, Maureen (February 2, 2011). "'Game of Thrones' Changes Its Tune, Hires New Composer". TV Squad. Retrieved July 20, 2011.
  3. 1 2 "Composer Interview: Ramin Djawadi". Filmmusicmedia.com. December 22, 2012. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
  4. Buxton, Richard. "Game of Thrones by Ramin Djawadi". Tracksounds. Retrieved July 20, 2011.
  5. "‘Game of Thrones’ Season 2 Soundtrack Details". Film Music Reporter. May 24, 2012. Retrieved May 24, 2012.
  6. Elio, García (May 23, 2012). "Season 2 Soundtrack Details". Westeros.org. Retrieved May 24, 2012.
  7. Carp, Jesse (May 24, 2012). "Listen to the National Recording of the rains of Castamere for Game of Thrones". cinemablend. Retrieved June 1, 2012.
  8. "Listen to The National’s new Lannister-happy song from The Game of Thrones soundtrack". io9. May 24, 2012. Retrieved May 25, 2012.
  9. Buxton, Richard. "Game of Thrones (Season 2) by Ramin Djawadi". Tracksounds. Retrieved September 24, 2012.
  10. Power, Rob (April 16, 2013). "Game Of Thrones 3.03 "Walk Of Punishment" REVIEW". SFX. Retrieved April 16, 2013.
  11. Hibberd, James (March 5, 2013). "'Game of Thrones' and the Hold Steady team for season 3 song". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved March 5, 2013.
  12. "Listen: Sigur Rós’ cover of "The Rains of Castamere" for Game of Thrones". Consequence of Sound. April 13, 2014. Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  13. Whelan, Robbie (March 4, 2014). "Unlikely Mix: Rappers, Dragons and Fantasy: HBO Hires Hip-Hop, Latin-Music Artists to Promote 'Game of Thrones'". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved March 7, 2014.
  14. "Catch the Throne". SoundCloud. Retrieved March 7, 2014.
  15. Childers, Chad. "'Catch the Throne, Volume Two' Mixtape released on iTunes". Loudwire. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  16. Camp, Zoe. "Stream Catch the Throne Vol. 2, Official "Game of Thrones" Mixtape". Pitchfork. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  17. Abramovitch, Seth (July 14, 2011). "Emmys 2011: The Forgotten Categories". TV.com. Retrieved July 20, 2011.
  18. Dooling, Annemarie (July 6, 2011). ""Game of Thrones" Gets A Violin Cover". Huffington Post. Retrieved July 20, 2011.
  19. Bricken, Rob. "Game of Thrones Opening - Metal Edition". Topless Robot. Retrieved March 9, 2012.
  20. Rao, Malika (May 15, 2012). "The Harp Twins' 'Game Of Thrones' Intro: Camille And Kennerly Kitt Serenade The 7 Kingdoms (VIDEO)". Huffington Post. Retrieved August 22, 2012.
  21. Harrison, Josh (June 18, 2011). "'Game of Thrones' Theme, 8-Bit Style". Ology. Retrieved July 20, 2011.
  22. "Super-geeky 'Game of Thrones' theme played on hard drives".
  23. "'Game Of Thrones' Theme Song Covered By Lindsey Stirling And Peter Hollens". Forbes. September 5, 2012. Retrieved September 6, 2012.
  24. ""Game of Thrones" gets an awesome cello tribute". CBS News. April 8, 2013. Retrieved April 9, 2013.
  25. Lough, Chris (June 20, 2013). "Dance it Up to This Slick Ska Version of the Game of Thrones Theme". Tor.com. Retrieved June 20, 2013.
  26. Cooper, Nathanael (March 31, 2014). "Classic music ensemble Aston post tribute to Game of Thrones". Courier Mail. Retrieved April 6, 2014.
  27. pianowithjonny (2015-04-08), Game of Thrones - Ragtime Piano Rendition by Jonny May, retrieved 2016-02-16
  28. 1 2 "Game of Thrones: Watch the top seven most amazing parodies from The Simpsons to the Romantic Comedy version".
  29. "Emmys 2014: ‘Weird Al’ Yankovic parodies ‘Game of Thrones,’ ‘Scandal’ theme songs".
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Monday, April 25, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.