Soundcloud user Moslem Rasouli has composed a Persian version of the Game of Thrones theme song, and we can’t stop listening to the sounds of Westeros as played on the traditional Iranian tonbak and kamancheh. It turns out the Game of Thrones theme, originally written by Iranian-German composer Ramin Djawadi, has been reinterpreted and performed everywhere from Spain to Turkey to Australia, and we’ve rounded up some of our favorite versions to listen to while we wait for the premiere of the fifth season on Sunday night.
Check out thirteen international versions of the Game of Thrones theme below, and tell us which one you like best (or would like to see next) in the comments!
Britain: The Queen’s Guard got in on the Game of Thrones action with their own rendition at Buckingham Palace, even though Queen Elizabeth declined to claim the Iron Throne for herself on a GoT set visit last year.
Spain: This soothing flamenco version of the song, played on guitar and drums in Seville, makes us think of a pleasant, breezy day in Highgarden, sitting by the sea and sipping some Arbor gold wine while trying not to think about all that unpleasantness up in King’s Landing.
France: Medieval maestro Luc Arbogast’s version of the song is totally epic, and features him playing the Irish bouzouki, a plucked stringed instrument similar to the mandolin.
India: Shot on the streets of Mumbai, this video combines the excitement of the city’s Ganesh Chaturthi festival with the sounds of traditional Indian instruments, including the double-sided dhol drum.
Scotland: We want a full-length remix of Scottish synthpop trio CHVRCHES jamming out to this low-key version of the theme.
The United States: What would happen if John Wayne walked into Westeros? We don’t know, but this Western cover makes us imagine all kinds of cowboy/Kingsguard showdowns.
Turkey: This full orchestral version, played on traditional Turkish instruments like the baglama, the tef, and the tambur, is hauntingly gorgeous.
Ireland: We wish we’d witnessed this performance by buskers in the seaside city of Galway, on violin, guitar, accordion, harp, clarinet, and Peruvian cajon.
Russia: Moscow musician Steve Duzz made an ’80s dance version of the song that sounds like it could come straight out of a discotheque where DJ Hodor might be spinning.
Morocco: YouTube user Med Anass El Issmaeli used the oud, a pear-shaped string instrument used throughout North Africa and the Middle East, and paired it with guitar for a laid-back, stripped-down sound.
Australia: When Isaac Wong sat down at the carillon at Sydney University, he knew just what to do: play a church bells version of the Game of Thrones theme, of course.
Ukraine: The lute-like bandura dates back to 591 AD, and lends an appropriately old-school sound to this Ukranian cover of the tune.
Valyria: And, of course, the list wouldn’t be complete without the theme song in High Valyrian, as performed by the Forte Tenors!
