'Great Gatsby' Trailer: Why Jay-Z, Kanye, Jack White Set The Tone

Leonardo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan and Hov? OK, we're in. In fact, this kind of thing is nothing new for Luhrmann, whose penchant for setting period flicks to modern music has become one of his calling cards. In 1996's "Romeo + Juliet," Romeo (also DiCaprio) toted a pistol to the sound of Radiohead, while pop star Christina Aguilera provided some of the sounds for "Moulin Rouge," which was set in the early 1900s. Luhrmann's take on "Gatsby" will be true to the text but that doesn't mean fans can't expect real creativity as far as the soundtrack goes.

At first listen, the songs in the trailer appear to have been chosen because they both sound great and complement the tone. But on further examination, it seems safe to assume that Luhrmann chose each song methodically, each number there to serve a distinct purpose. Read on as we break down key tracks!

"No Church in the Wild," Jay-Z and Kanye West:
Jay and Kanye touch on status symbols, criminality, partying, and money in the Frank Ocean-featuring track, all of which factor into F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel. The 21st century lyrics, about the declining American Dream, closely parallel the excesses of the Roaring '20s.

Notable Lyrics
"Rolling in the Rolls-Royce Corniche": Gatsby's yellow Rolls convertible is a key symbol in the story.

"Socrates asked, 'Whose bias do y'all seek?' ": "The Great Gatsby" paints a picture of a man who did everything to gain respect and notice with the help of status symbols and wealth. Gatsby was constantly seeking approval — in all the wrong places.

"Let me buy you desire": Gatsby, very literally, tried to purchase the desire of the upper class and his long lost love, to no avail.

"I'm hidin' from police": The film is set during the crime-filled Prohibition era and it's inferred in the story that Gatsby amassed his fortune as a bootlegger.

"Love Is Blindness" (U2 Cover), Jack White:
Written by U2 for their 1991 album, Achtung Baby, the song got another life courtesy of White, who delivers it with his signature raw emotion.

Notable Lyrics
"Love is blindness, I don't want to see/ Won't you wrap the night around me?/ Oh, my heart; love is blindness" : The one lesson that Gatsby never managed to learn in the Fitzgerald classic is that "love is blindness."

But the trailer isn't the only place where Luhrmann enlisted the help of contemporary stars like Jay and Kanye.

"On my first day, he had Jay-Z pumped up full and we did the entire scene with, you know, Jay-Z in our ear on full blast while acting and it was just so liberating," "Gatsby" star Isla Fisher said in a recent interview. "[Luhrmann] really understands actors and how self-conscious we feel at times, and how exposed we are and how we never know where anything lands. Just the complexity of being vulnerable every minute when you're acting, and he just makes you feel so safe."

'Great Gatsby' Trailer: Five Roaring Scenes

Anyone who doubted the cinematic treat director Baz Luhrmann will deliver this Christmas in the form of his "Great Gatsby" need only watch the first teaser trailer to have their curiosity decidedly piqued. The visually stunning two-and-a-half-minute trailer features stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire and Carey Mulligan in all their glamorous, early 20th-century-styled glory.

Here are five key elements to look out for:

Leonardo DiCaprio Reclaims Matinee-Idol Status
There's no doubt Leonardo DiCaprio is a gifted, serious actor; just look to his impressive and Oscar-nominated body of work for proof. And while his careful and calculated decisions with regard to his gritty and more art-house-oriented film roles over the years are indeed admirable, there's part of his fanbase dying for him to get back to his matinee-idol roots, ß la Jack Dawson in "Titanic" and Romeo in Luhrmann's 1996 adaptation of "Romeo and Juliet." Judging by what we've just seen in the trailer, his performance as Jay Gatsby will more than do the trick. DiCaprio's acting skills are perfect for the tortured-yet-revered hero, not to mention the fabulous suits he's wearing to fit the time period.

The Roaring '20s
Speaking of the time period, there's just something magical about the 1920s, the decade in which the film and F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel take place. The glitz, the glamour and the nostalgia all make for a very alluring package, particularly when put in Luhrmann's very capable hands. It is clear from the trailer that the Australian director's take on Fitzgerald's classic will involve a faithful telling of the story that capitalizes upon the most visually stunning elements of that time period. And don't forget that the film was shot in 3-D.

Gatsby At The Moulin Rouge
Luhrmann fans should appreciate the highly stylized, fast-paced theatrical style we've come to know and love from the director. There are several shots of party scenes in the trailer that would have worked just as well in or doubled for scenes from Luhrmann's Oscar-nominated love story "Moulin Rouge." And thanks to the colorful madness on display in the scenes of revelry, it makes the more quiet, emotionally charged interactions between Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan (Carey Mulligan) that much more powerful.

Mulligan And Maguire's Moments to Shine
Speaking of Mulligan, it's obvious from Luhrmann's carefully intercut Gatsby and Daisy scenes that the Oscar-nominated actress will be pulling on our heartstrings with her performance. Not to mention Tobey Maguire as narrator/reluctant hero Nick Carraway. His voice-over is reminiscent of Ewan McGregor's in "Moulin Rouge" and reminds us of his underrated performance as "Pleasantville" idealist David. Similar to DiCaprio's return to matinee-idol form, we're excited to see Maguire as a wide-eyed optimist — at least at first.

Right Music, Wrong Time
We've already mentioned the fact that the film is set in the 1920s, so how is it that Luhrmann opens his trailer with the 2011 club bumper "No Church in the Wild," by Kanye West and Jay-Z featuring Frank Ocean? Because Luhrmann's anachronistic musical selections have a successful track record, that's why. Would we have picked the song to open this trailer? No. But the bass-heavy, Auto-Tuned beat is perfect for setting up the scenes to come. For the second half of the teaser, Luhrmann deftly foreshadows the story's elements of heartbreak and loss with Jack White's powerful cover of U2's "Love Is Blindness."