Game of Thrones Theme

"Game of Thrones Theme", also referred to as "Game of Thrones Main Title Theme", is the theme music of HBO's fantasy television series Game of Thrones, and plays during the title sequence. It was composed by Ramin Djawadi in 2011, after series creator David Benioff and D. B. Weiss approached him requesting a theme.

"Game of Thrones Main Title Theme"
Single by Ramin Djawadi
from the album Game of Thrones: Season 1
ReleasedJune 14, 2011
Recorded2011
GenreTelevision soundtrack
Length1:46
LabelVarèse Sarabande
Songwriter(s)Ramin Djawadi
Producer(s)Ramin Djawadi
Audio sample
"Game of Throne's main title theme"
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Asked to avoid flutes and violins, which the producers felt were overused in fantasy themes, Djawadi used the cello as the lead instrument. The piece begins in a minor key, then switches between corresponding major and minor keys repeatedly. Djawadi was shown a preliminary rendering of the title sequence before composing this music to accompany it. Several artists have covered or parodied the music, sometimes adding lyrics to the originally instrumental work.

Composition

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

Ramin Djawadi began composing the music for the show after he had watched the first two episodes of the series that the showrunners David Benioff and D. B. Weiss sent him, and discussed the concepts of the show with them.[1][2] According to Djawadi, the show creators wanted the main title theme to be about a journey as there are many locations and characters in the show and the narrative involves much traveling.[1] After Djawadi was shown a preliminary animated Game of Thrones title sequence that the visual effect artists were still working on, he was inspired to write the piece. He said that he started humming what would become the theme tune in the car after seeing the visuals for the title sequence, and conceived of the idea for the theme on the drive back to his studio.[3] The finished theme music was presented to the producer three days later.[4]

Djawadi said he intended to capture the overall impression of the show with the theme tune.[1] Cello is featured strongly as Benioff and Weiss wanted to avoid the flutes or solo vocals found in many other productions in the fantasy genre so as to give the show a distinctive sound,[5] and Djawadi chose cello as the main instrument for the music as he thought it has a "darker sound" that suited the show.[6]

Djawadi started with a riff and he built the title theme around the riff. The tune begins with the riff played on strings in a minor key, then changed to a major key after 2 bars, and back to minor again. Djawadi said that he wanted to reflect the "backstabbing and conspiracy" and the unpredictability of the show: "... I thought it would be cool to kinda do the same play with the music. So even though the majority of the piece is in minor, there's that little hint of major in there where it kinda switches and then it changes back again." The main melody is then introduced with the cello, joined later by a solo violin that may suggest an interplay between different characters. The melody is then repeated with the entire orchestra. The next section introduces a change in melody, described by Djawadi as giving "a sense of adventure", and continues with a repeat that involves a choir of twenty female voices - recorded in Prague, like the instrumental parts.[1] The title theme ends with a combination of dulcimer and kantele, producing a "shimmery quality" in its sound that Djawadi thought would give a sense of mystery and anticipation for the episode.[6]

The title music is reprised as a global theme in the soundtracks for the series. It may be played occasionally on its own in fragments, sometimes as part of the theme of individual characters or in combination with other pieces of music, and may also be played in large section during particularly important scenes.[5]

Cover versions and parodies

The main theme of Game of Thrones has inspired many tributes and cover versions,[7] including a rendition by the electropop band Chvrches.[8] Lyrics were added for the first time in 2014, when "Weird Al" Yankovic performed a parody version during the 66th Primetime Emmy Awards.[9] In March 2015, FORTE added lyrics based on High Valyrian text for an operatic performance and music video.[10] Some of the cover and parody versions mentioned by news media include:

Credits and personnel

Personnel adapted from the album liner notes.[31]

  • Ramin Djawadi – composer, primary artist, producer
  • David Benioff – liner notes
  • D.B. Weiss – liner notes

Chart positions

Weekly charts

Chart (2014) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratop Back Catalogue Singles Wallonia)[32] 22
Chart (2015) Peak
position
French Singles Sales Chart (Pure Charts)[33] 131
Chart (2019) Peak
position
French Singles Sales Chart (Pure Charts)[33] 65
French Downloads (SNEP)[34] 65

See also

References

  1. Hirway, Hrishikesh. "Song Exploder 40: RAMIN DJAWADI ("Game of Thrones")". Soundcloud.
  2. Renfro, Kim (July 7, 2016). "Meet the musical genius behind the Game of Thrones soundtrack who watches each season before anyone else". Tech Insider. Archived from the original on July 8, 2016.
  3. "'Game Of Thrones' Composer Ramin Djawadi On Melodies That Stick". NPR. February 14, 2017.
  4. C.A. Taylor (November 6, 2014). "Creating the Title Sequence". Inside HBO's Game of Thrones II: Seasons 3 & 4. Gollancz. ISBN 978-1473206182.
  5. "Composer Interview: Ramin Djawadi". Filmmusicmedia.com. December 22, 2012. Archived from the original on August 17, 2016. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
  6. Hirway, Hrishikesh; Djawadi, Ramin (June 11, 2015). "Here's Why Game of Thrones Theme Song Is as Treacherous as Westeros". The Creators Project / Song Exploder.
  7. Abramovitch, Seth (July 14, 2011). "Emmys 2011: The Forgotten Categories". TV.com. Archived from the original on July 18, 2011. Retrieved July 20, 2011.
  8. Watercutter, Angela (April 15, 2013). "Why HBO Turned to Indie Bands for the Medieval Tunes of Game of Thrones". Wired. Retrieved April 17, 2013.
  9. Grow, Kory (August 25, 2014). ""Weird Al" Parodies Game of Thrones, Mad Men Themes at the Emmys". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
  10. "Giving a classical edge to Game of Thrones soundtrack". The Sunday Times. Sri Lanka. March 22, 2015. Retrieved April 5, 2015.
  11. Dooling, Annemarie (July 6, 2011). ""Game of Thrones" Gets A Violin Cover". Huffington Post. Retrieved July 20, 2011.
  12. Bricken, Rob. "Game of Thrones Opening - Metal Edition". Topless Robot. Retrieved March 9, 2012.
  13. 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.
  14. Harrison, Josh (June 18, 2011). "'Game of Thrones' Theme, 8-Bit Style". Ology. Archived from the original on January 30, 2013. Retrieved July 20, 2011.
  15. "Super-geeky 'Game of Thrones' theme played on hard drives".
  16. "'Game Of Thrones' Theme Song Covered By Lindsey Stirling And Peter Hollens". Forbes. September 5, 2012. Retrieved September 6, 2012.
  17. ""Game of Thrones" gets an awesome cello tribute". CBS News. April 8, 2013. Retrieved April 9, 2013.
  18. "2CELLOS Rock Out in King's Landing for GAME OF THRONES Medley | Nerdist". Nerdist. 2017-01-16. Retrieved 2018-07-10.
  19. "INCREDIBLE: Ben Shapiro covers the Game of Thrones theme". The Rebel Media. July 17, 2017. Retrieved December 28, 2018.
  20. 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.
  21. Cooper, Nathanael (March 31, 2014). "Classic music ensemble Aston post tribute to Game of Thrones". Courier Mail. Retrieved April 6, 2014.
  22. pianowithjonny (2015-04-08), Game of Thrones - Ragtime Piano Rendition by Jonny May, retrieved 2016-02-16
  23. "Game of Thrones: Watch the top seven most amazing parodies from The Simpsons to the Romantic Comedy version".
  24. "Clip de "Game of Thrones" : Luc Arbogast sur les traces de la série phénomène". chartsinfrance.net (in French). Retrieved 2019-04-23.
  25. "lescharts.com - Luc Arbogast - Game Of Thrones (Main Title Theme)". lescharts.com (in French). Retrieved 2019-04-23.
  26. "Emmys 2014: 'Weird Al' Yankovic parodies 'Game of Thrones,' 'Scandal' theme songs".
  27. Mariupol orchestra performs "Game of thrones theme" at metallurgical plant - video
  28. Game Of Thrones (KSHMR & The Golden Army Remix)
  29. "Hear Flatt Lonesome's Bluegrass Spin on the 'Game of Thrones' Theme". Rolling Stone. April 13, 2016. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
  30. "The Game Of Thrones Theme Song | Custom Shop | Fender".
  31. "Game of Thrones by Ramin Djawadi". Retrieved July 20, 2011.
  32. "Ramin Djawadi - Game Of Thrones". ultratop.be. Retrieved 2019-04-23.
  33. "Ramin Djawadi - Main Title (single)". www.chartsinfrance.net (in French). Retrieved 2019-04-23.
  34. "Le Top de la semaine du 19 avril 2019: Top Singles Téléchargés". SNEP - Syndicat Nation de l'Edition Phonographique (in French). 2019-04-19. Archived from the original on 2015-09-05. Retrieved 2019-04-23.
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