Music Chart RP style - w/c 27 April 2020

Another themed week this week. This week: Star Wars, as it's May the 4th tomorrow. I have loved Star Wars ever since my aunt took me to see The Phantom Menace in 1999. After that I asked Mum and Dad to buy me the original trilogy and I was hooked from there.

With the release of The Rise of Skywalker last year and the fact the DVD arrived last week, Josie and I embarked another marathon. We'd actually only watched these recently, but when it comes to Star Wars, we can watch them all day, every day.

Two of my friends are massive fans too... and every year for the final 3 movies, we have gone to the cinema to watch it at midnight. First year (2015) we just watched The Force Awakens. Two years later we watched The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi and then last year we watched all 3 in a row: The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker.

All these are by the epic John Williams. 43 years of space travel. 639 minutes of soundtrack, and I had to only pick 10. Not in my favourites order, 1 per movie, plus 1 bonus.

As ever, you can find the playlist here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5uvGPB5HsOhdICfOxGVqDZ?si=diISv8FKRS-ljNnxc-Qn6w

NUMBER 10.

The Throne Room and End Title - Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope

The day Chewie was snubbed. Look at little R2 on the left all shiny and new.

NUMBER 9.

The Imperial March (Darth Vader's Theme) - Star Wars Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back

Of course I had to choose the iconic Star Wars theme that is The Imperial March. This music is evident throughout the 9 movies (if you listen closely) and it is probably one of the best marches ever written.

NUMBER 8.

Parade of the Ewoks - Star Wars Episode VI - Return of the Jedi

The best part of this film is these Ewoks and just how cute they are. Almost as cute as Baby Yoda. The cute little hop in the march is what makes the music so iconic and I love it when composers are able to do that.

NUMBER 7.

Duel of the Fates - Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace

I didn't really know this song had specific words until we had to sing it with choir a couple of years ago, now I can't not hear the words. The choir is key to this song, making the epic parts even more epic.

NUMBER 6.

Across The Stars - Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones

The love affair destined to fail? The harp, strings and oboe are beautiful in this score, delicate and fragile, just like the love between Anakin and Padme. They know it's wrong, but you can't help who you love.

NUMBER 5.

Anakin vs. Obi-Wan - Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith

The battle and fight sequences are what excel in the latter trilogies, because the stunt fighters are better and the effects are better. Here we see an amazing sequence of master vs not-so-padawan, both equally matched until the latter gets too big for his boots. I've noticed that Jedis have no sense of their surroundings when their fighting. Phantom Menace it was thin pathways surrounded by power beams with massive drops, Attack of the Clones was Kamino, fighting feet above a vast ocean with no way to get back up to the surface. Here it's a lava planet, with no sense of the fact you WILL die if you fall in. But it's what makes the fight sequences all the more exciting. And this one is the best fight of the saga in my opinion. Hayden Christensen and Ewan McGregor completely killed it.

NUMBER 4.

The Falcon - Star Wars: The Force Awakens (Episode VII)

I can guarantee you the whole cinema where you watched this took a huge gasp and went OH MY GOD when you saw what ship 'the garbage' was. I certainly did. The familiar tones of the Falcon music from the original trilogy come through as Rey expertly guides the ship, which hasn't flown in years, through the graveyard of Carillion star destroyers. Such an amazing scene.

NUMBER 3.

The Spark - Star Wars: The Last Jedi (Episode VIII)

Kylo vs Luke. It's Last Jedi's version of Anakin vs. Obi-Wan. But the bit I like in this one is from 2m15s to 3m35s, the horns and brass blaring as Luke makes his way out to face Kylo, allowing the others to escape. You have to watch the scene to realise how good of a scene this really is.

NUMBER 2.

The Rise of Skywalker - Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (Episode IX)

A throwback to Luke looking into those sunsets so many years ago, this is how the saga ends. It all ends perfectly, and exactly as most of us wanted. Loads of people didn't like Rise of Skywalker - granted the effects were extremely over the top at one point on Exegol - but I don't see what's wrong with it other than that. It ties up the saga really nicely, and is probably up the top in terms of favourite order for me.

NUMBER 1.

Augie's Great Municipal Band and End Credits - Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace

I love drumming along with my fingers to this track. The parade as the Gungans pipe and drum down the streets of Naboo towards Queen Amidala. The horns and the choir give me goosebumps. And the perfect end to the first introduction to Star Wars for little 8 year-old me. A similar ending to A New Hope, but I think that was done purposefully... a throwback and a nod to the old Star Wars.

I still don't understand why people are hating on the new ones so much, because they are good. The story arc was really cool, and the extended fight sequences and space battles are epic. And I like the slapstick... (apart from the drinking green milk thing... that is just weird) so that's why I enjoy the new ones so much. And I absolutely love that my sister likes them so much. But I don't want to waste my time trying to convince people either. If you don't like it, you don't like it... I'll just love it for them too! :D

I am most definitely a Warsie rather than a Trekkie, and despite what people say, I actually think JJ Abrams did incredibly with 2/3 of the new trilogy. And even though I loved The Last Jedi, I am glad he was back for Rise of Skywalker.

So of all the things to do during lockdown, this has been my favourite. Rewatching all these. And listening to these soundtracks. It's always a pleasure to listen to the genius that is John Williams.