Westworld: The influence of Nirvana’s “Heart Shaped Box” on S2

Ramin Djawadi said of Nirvana’s Heart-Shaped Box: “Even without lyrics and just the melody and how recognizable the piece is, it’s actually quite incredible.” Super-fan John Lee explains why this classic song means so much to him and it’s influence on Westworld season 2.

Westworld composer Ramin Djawadi’s innovative take of modern day songs was essential in season 1. He re-imagined songs by the Rolling Stones, Radiohead, and Soundgarden–to name a few. This added an element of modernity to the show that takes place in the future, but also the past and…kinda also the present. Nevermind. See what I did there?

You don’t have to be a fan, mega-fan or even a fan of Westworld (Not a fan of the show? Gasp. How dare you?! ) to appreciate the chill-inducing season 2 trailer. A big part of what made it so memorable was the use of Ramin Djawadi’s epic take on Nirvana’s “Heart-Shaped Box” which comes from the classic album ‘In Utero’.

The following is an edited essay on why it meant so much to Westworld super-fan John Lee to hear that particular track being used for the season 2 trailer. Just as a reminder, here’s the trailer so you can get the body chills again. And again, if you’re so inclined.

“Take My Heart-Shaped Box” by Johnlee

The right music can make a good film great–but how much of that relies upon one’s life experiences? “Heart-Shaped Box” by Nirvana has been a part of me since its release in 1993. When it was used for the first official trailer for Westworld’s season 2, it catapulted my hopes to the next level. Since songs used in a trailer are often not used in what’s being promoted, I wondered whether or not it would actually be used in the show.

I spent days mulling it over. The cover of the “In Utero” album shows a pregnant see-through angel. Did this indicate that the hosts might become capable of reproducing? Maybe with each other? Maybe with a human? Perhaps, maybe I was just overthinking it.

In “Phase Space”, Akane literally cuts the heart from her adoptive daughter Sakura, takes it to her home and Hanaryo sets it aflame–that set my Spidey-senses off. But later, in “Kiksuya” (which means ‘Remember’ in Lakota), is when it all came together and ended up striking a chord deeper within me than I could have predicted.

In 1994, shortly before Kurt Cobain’s suicide, the album rarely left my now antiquated Sony Discman. I had met Jodi at school and she was one of the first girls I had anything serious with. “Heart Shaped Box” was very much one of our songs. Alas, as with so many teenage moments in time, she went away for a few months and returned looking completely different.

She had cut her long hair to a shaggy bob and washed the dye out and lost a significant amount of weight. And whether it was her new self or something medically related, she now seemed hollowed out. Gone were the witty remarks about how awful people could be and her passion for movies and music. Also gone? Me.

In episode 8, when Akecheta infiltrates the Delos facility and Ramin Djawadi’s rendition of “Heart Shaped Box” begins playing, I felt my heart begin to pound. When he finds Kohana and discovers she is now only a body and weeps, I recalled that moment with Jodi and it revealed a connective thread of emotion into who I used to be and who I became.

As Akecheta recalls his memory of finding Kohana, he reflects, “That was the moment, I saw beyond myself. My pain was selfish. Because it was never only mine.” It was a moment of clarity beyond an emotional crisis. The song had become a touchstone for how our pasts become disconnected–a phase space.

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Westworld returns with Season 3 in 2020 (or sooner – we hope)!