Best Game of Thrones Music
One of the greatest appeals of the wildly popular TV Series Game of Thrones is the music that immerses the viewer into the world of Westeros and beyond. Composed by Ramin Djawadi, the music is primarily instrumental with occasional vocal performances, and is created to evoke emotions about the world, the characters and the plot of the show. The soundtracks feature various themes, the most recognizable of which is the Main Title that accompanies the series' title sequence. Other prominent tunes are those that are associated with the various houses on the show such as the Starks, Lannisters, Baratheons or the Targaryens. Many viewers have their own favorites and the choice likely depends on both the music itself and the context in which they were played first on the show. How would you rank the list? Drag and drop the items to reorder the list and hit submit to update the average ranking.
The Rains of Castamere (Lannister Theme)
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Light of the Seven
#11.6"Light of the Seven" was first played during the Season 6 Finale ("The Winds of Winter") of Game of Thrones and was composed by Ramin Djawadi in 2016. The "Light of the Seven" is the first time piano is used in the music for Game of Thrones. It is over 9 minutes long and plays over scenes with very minimal dialogue. The piano begins slowly and ominously, and builds up the anticipation, without giving any inclination about the possible outcome of the events being played out. The scene is set in King's Landing, where Cersei Lannister is up for trial along with Loras Tyrell for their 'moral transgressions'. The High Sparrow and the Faith militant gather in the Great Sept along with members of the Tyrell family. Although Loras confesses to his 'crimes', Cersei remains in her chambers and fails to even appear for her trial. When Lancel Lannister is sent to retrieve her, he comes upon one of Qyburn's spies beneath the Sept, and discovers that a cache of Wildfire is set to explode. Inside the Sept, Margaery Tyrell, realizing that Cersei might have set a trap, warns the crowd to leave, but the High Sparrow forbids anyone from leaving. Meanwhile, Qyburn summons Grand Maester Pycelle to his laboratory, where his child spies stab Pycelle to death. Lancel is stabbed in the spine before he can disarm the cache and the wildfire ignites, destroying the Great Sept and killing everyone inside. King Tommen Baratheon, realizing that Margaery has died from the explosion, commits suicide by jumping out a window. "Light of the Seven" is the perfect accompaniment to this turn of events that result in the death of many major characters and a huge change in the power dynamic in the world of 'Game of Thrones'. It was nominated for the International Film Music Critics Association for "Film Music Composition Of The Year". The piece received universal praise from critics and fans. A remixed version of "Light of the Seven" was used in a Season 7 trailer and the final motif from this piece is used in the Season 6 track "Hear Me Roar" and subsequently on "The Long Farewell" or "No One Walks Away From Me" which are also played in scenes depicting Cersei and her machinations for power.
Main Title Theme
#22.7The "Main Title Theme" of "Game of Thrones" was composed by Ramin Djawadi in 2011, after series creator David Benioff and D. B. Weiss approached him requesting a theme that is befitting of a journey as there are many locations, characters in the series and the story involves much traveling. The title theme is unusually long for a television series at nearly two minutes long, and the main title theme has also been incorporated into other music segments, particularly at climactic moments. It has been 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 is also be played in large section during particularly important scenes. Djawadi was inspired to write the piece after he saw the animated title sequence, and decided to use the cello as the lead instrument as he thought it has a "darker sound" that suited the series. He said that he started humming what would become the theme tune in the car after seeing the visuals, and conceived of the idea for the theme on the drive back to his studio. Djawadi said that he wanted the main riff to reflect the "backstabbing and conspiracy" and the unpredictability of the show. "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". 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.
The Rains of Castamere (Lannister Theme)
#33.1The Rains of Castamere is a famous song in Westeros. It is dedicated to Tywin Lannister in particular and House Lannister in general. The Rains of Castamere immortalized the destruction of House Reyne by Tywin Lannister. House Reyne was obliterated after they rebelled against their liege lord, Tytos Lannister, who was perceived as weak by his own vassals. To restore Lannister dominance, Tytos's son, Tywin, marched against the upstart Lord Reyne. By the end of the rebellion, Castamere had been put to the torch and all members of House Reyne executed. The title is thus a play on words, as the "rains" fall over the empty halls of the "Reynes" who have been killed to the last man.[1] The lyrics heavily reference the fact that the sigil of House Reyne was also a lion, but a red one instead of the golden lion used as the sigil of House Lannister. The rebellion of the Reynes against the Lannisters was thus seen as a clash of lions. In the decades since young Tywin reasserted House Lannister's dominance by crushing the Reynes, The Rains of Castemere went on to become very popular with soldiers of the Westerlands, becoming an "anthem" of sorts for House Lannister. This extends to the point that even Western soldiers sometimes refer to it simply as, "the Lannister song". And who are you, the proud lord said, that I must bow so low? Only a cat of a different coat, that's all the truth I know. In a coat of gold or a coat of red, a lion still has claws, And mine are long and sharp, my lord, as long and sharp as yours. And so he spoke, and so he spoke, that Lord of Castamere, But now the rains weep o'er his hall, with no one there to hear. Yes now the rains weep o'er his hall, and not a soul to hear. The song's lyrics first appear in the novel A Storm of Swords, in which "The Rains of Castamere" is sung or mentioned several times. It remembers Tywin Lannister's victory over House Lannister's rebellious vassals of 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 television 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." Late in the novel, the song is performed at the Red Wedding, another massacre of Tywin Lannister's enemies.[1] In the TV series, the song was first heard when Tyrion Lannister whistled a small part in the first episode of the second season.[2] An instrumental version can be heard during Tyrion's speech right after King Joffrey abandons the battlefield in the same episode. The season 2 soundtrack contains a rendition of the song "The Rains of Castamere" by the indie rock band The National, sung by their vocalist Matt Berninger.[3] On the published track list, 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.[4] It was played over the end credits of the ninth episode, "Blackwater". 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".[5] In episode 9 of season 3, also titled "The Rains of Castamere", an instrumental version of the song is played by the musicians at the Red Wedding. In episode 2 of season 4 of Game of Thrones ("The Lion and the Rose"), Icelandic band Sigur Rós makes a cameo appearance as musicians performing their rendition of "The Rains of Castamere" at the wedding of Joffrey and Margaery. Joffrey stops them midway by throwing coins at them. Their version also plays over the closing credits of this episode.[6] An orchestral rendition of the song appears as House Lannister's theme throughout seasons 3 and 4, available in the soundtrack as "A Lannister Always Pays His Debts." This song refers to the destruction of House Reyne by Tywin Lannister. House Reyne was obliterated after they rebelled against their liege lord, Tytos Lannister, who was perceived as weak by his own vassals. To restore Lannister dominance, Tytos's son, Tywin, marched against the upstart Lord Reyne and by the end of the rebellion, Castamere had been put to the torch and all members of House Reyne executed. The title is thus a play on words, as the "rains" fall over the empty halls of the "Reynes" who have been killed to the last man. The sigil of House Reyne was a lion, but a red one instead of the golden lion used as the sigil of House Lannister.
Winds of Winter (Daenerys Theme)
#44.6
The King's Arrival (Baratheon Theme)
#55.6House Baratheon's theme. "Winter Is Coming": Robert Baratheon and the royal court arrive to Winterfell. A shorter version is used on the main menu of Season 1's DVD/Blu-ray release.
The Throne is Mine (Stannis Theme)
#66.1
Goodbye Brother (Stark Theme)
#77.1
Mhysa (Daenerys Theme)
#87.6Outside the walls of Yunkai, Daenerys Targaryen and her advisors wait for the city's slaves to appear. Daenerys frets that the Yunkish slaves, who are better treated than Astapor's might have grown to like their chains and will not welcome freedom. Finally, the gates open and the freedmen pour out. Missandei begins to tell them of how Daenerys the Unburnt freed them, but Daenerys interrupts and says that it is the slaves' own choice to reach for their freedom. After a moment, one of the freedmen stretches his hand towards Daenerys and calls out "mhysa". After a moment, another follows suit, then another and another until the entire crowd is chanting "mhysa". Bewildered, Daenerys turns to Missandei, who reveals that the word means "mother" in the Old Ghiscari language. When the slaves advance on Daenerys, the Unsullied step into formation, but the queen tells them to stand down. Telling her dragons to fly, Daenerys steps out of the protection of the Unsullied and into the crowd, who carry on their chanting. Daenerys is embraced by the former slaves, offering a glimmer of hope in an increasingly darker and hopeless world.
Chaos is a Ladder (Littlefinger Theme)
#98.7
Warrior of Light (Stannis Theme)
#1010.1
The North Remembers (Stark Theme)
#1111.4
Reign (Battle of Meereen)
#1211.6
What Is Dead May Never Die (Greyjoy Theme)
#1312.4
Trust Each Other (Knights of the Vale)
#1414.3
Two Swords
#1515.3
Valar Morghulis (Arya Theme)
#1616.0
The Children
#1717.2
Dracarys (Daenerys Theme)
#1818.2
Hear Me Roar (Cersei Theme)
#1919.3
First of His Name
#2020.2
Forgive Me
#2120.2
I am Hers, She is Mine
#2221.5
Needle (Arya Theme)
#2322.3
House of the Undying
#2423.3
Three Blasts (Whitewalker Theme)
#2525.1
Don't Die with a Clean Sword (Battle of the Blackwater)
#2626.1
The Red Woman (Melisandre Theme)
#2726.8
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