Throughout the many ups and downs on Game of Thrones, one thing has remained consistently excellent: Ramin Djawadi’s music. And even though HBO’s epic fantasy series will come to a close this Sunday, the music isn’t going anywhere.
Game of Thrones’ soundtrack has taken on a life of its own, turning composer Djawadi into a rock star in the process. A onetime protégé of Hans Zimmer, who scored movies like Interstellar and The Dark Knight, Djawadi is now one of the most coveted names in film music. And while extending your sonic stay in Westeros isn’t quite the same as getting new episodes (though at this point, does anyone actually want more episodes?), it’ll have to do.
Spotify is your friend
The music-streaming service has all of Djawadi’s recordings for Game of Thrones. But to help you get started, here’s an 11-track playlist of some of the show’s greatest hits. It’s a mix of songs directly from GoT, covers of songs from the show, and songs inspired by the show. (Nothing will ever beat “Light of the Seven.”)
Go down the YouTube rabbit hole
As one of the most popular TV themes in history, Djawadi’s Game of Thrones opening-credits track has been covered by countless artists in myriad genres. One highlight is this bluegrass cover by Flatt Lonesome:
Another is this performance by 2CELLOS, accompanied by a full orchestra:
There are literally thousands of these covers. Is metal your thing? Here’s a cover for you. Prefer big brass bands? YouTube’s got you covered.
Go see Djawadi in concert
The composer is embarking on a 20-city tour in September, bringing music from the series to all corners of the United States. Djawadi himself will lead the orchestra in three of the shows: at Jones Beach Theater in New York, Five Point Amphitheater in Irvine, California, and the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.
Djawadi’s show will feature songs from the whole series, including its final season. Here’s a sample of what you’ll be seeing:
Listen to For the Throne
In April, HBO released an album with songs inspired by the series, performed by some of the world’s biggest stars.(Maren Morris, Mumford & Sons, and The Weeknd are among its participants). Here’s Morris’ opening number, “Kingdom of One.”
Watch Westworld
Djawadi also composes the music for HBO’s Westworld, which—unlike Game of Thrones—is not ending anytime soon. The show has become known for its Westernized cover versions of famous songs, like “Heart-Shaped Box” by Nirvana, “Paint It, Black” by the Rolling Stones, and “Runaway” by Kanye West. Djawadi’s Westworld cover of Radiohead’s “Exit Music – For a Film” is a gem: