The Haunting Nirvana Cover in Westworld's New Trailer Is More Significant Than You Think
Westworld season one ended quite some time ago, but that doesn't mean we've stopped listening to its incredible soundtrack. Each episode is full of gorgeous songs, from Johnny Cash standards to orchestral covers of Radiohead hits. Naturally the deeply unsettling season two trailer didn't miss an opportunity to provide yet another haunting musical accompaniment. After gifting us with a stripped-down version of Kanye West's "Runaway" in the Super Bowl ad, the good folks at HBO went with a cover of the 1993 Nirvana song "Heart-Shaped Box" in the latest trailer, which is more fitting than you might realize.
The haunting version of the In Utero classic comes courtesy of Game of Thrones composer Ramin Djawadi, who also took on covers of Soundgarden's "Black Hole Sun," Amy Winehouse's "Back to Black," and more in season one. The lyrics to "Heart-Shaped Box" are surprisingly relevant, especially when you consider all the season two theories that have been floating around the internet lately.
"She eyes me like a Pisces when I am weak
I've been locked inside your heart-shaped box for weeks
I've been drawn into your magnetar pit trap trap
I wish I could eat your cancer when you turn black"
Besides linking the mention of black to the infamous Man in Black (obvious, we know), this chunk of lyrics seems like a clear nod to the prison the hosts are essentially locked within throughout season one, whether they want to be or not. "Heart-Shaped Box" is rumored to be about the passionate but unstable relationship lead singer Kurt Cobain had with Courtney Love, and while we doubt any of the now-sentient robots will start belting out Hole songs anytime soon, we can definitely see a similar association between Dr. Robert Ford (Anthony Hopkins) and his creations.
"Meat-eating orchids forgive no one just yet
Cut myself on angel hair and baby's breath
Broken hymen of your Highness, I'm left back
Throw down your umbilical noose so I can climb right back"
These are a bit less on the nose. Then again, when you take into account how the hosts are essentially dying and being reborn each day, the line "Throw down your umbilical noose so I can climb right back" definitely holds more significance. The only thing we know for sure is that regardless of what the intention behind including the song in the trailer was — maybe they just liked the way it sounded, OK? — we're going to be playing it over and over again all day.