Audio By Carbonatix
Ever since Disney’s acquisition of LucasFilms was announced, the prognosis by fans has been mixed. Three new Star Wars movies is good news, right? Sure, but what about Wednesday’s news that Disney has shut down LucasArts?
Yeah, the future of the saga a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away is up for debate, but here’s what isn’t: Star Wars has had a profound impact on pop culture and pop music. So even if Episode VII goes the way of The Phantom Menace, we can take solace in some nerdtastic music related to Star Wars. In fact, since the Spock/golf shirt/Pantera-loving pop-punk outfit Nerf Herder is making its way to Pub Rock on Friday, April 26, it’s a good time to press play on some Star Wars-inspired songs.
See also:Star Wars and the New Trilogy: What’s True and What’s Bantha Fodder –Pinback’s Rob Crow Has A Lot of Thoughts Concerning Star Wars
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Beastie Boys, “Do It”
In a song full of awesome similes, the souped-up sucker is compared to gravy and potatoes and Luke and Vader.
The Hold Steady, “The Swish”
This song is loaded with pop culture references: a girl who looks like Patti Smith is shaky, but nice; a girl named Rick Danko was nicknamed one-hour photo because she had some hazardous chemicals. Steve Perry, Nina Simone, Elizabeth Shue, and Andre Cymone all make appearances, but the song ends with doing favors “for some guys who looked like Tusken Raiders.” This situation sounds shady, like most great Hold Steady songs.
The Aquabats, “Ska Robot Army”
The ska robot army ain’t nothin’ to mess with, just listen MC Bat Commander shout about Chewbacca and Lake Titicaca while geeks run through the forest.
Shabutie, “Goodnight”
“A wookie Chewbacca, Jabba, and all his friends love Boba Fett’s men representing the clone wars.”
The band is composed of members of Coheed and Cambria, and Claudio Sanchez uses his signature high-pitched voice to emote a childlike appreciation of the saga.
Blink-182, “A New Hope”
“Princess Leia, where are you tonight? And who’s laying there by your side? Every night I fall asleep with you and I wake up alone.”
Teenage boys continue to drool over Leia’s slave girl outfit. Need I say more?
Set Your Goals, “Put Yo Hood Up”
Pop-punk bands covering rap songs are hit-and-miss. Set Your Goals spruced up this Lil Jon song with shout-outs to New Found Glory, Yoda, Obi-Wan, Santa, and more. The “I need all my real African American people” line is awkward, but it’s not nearly as strange as hearing Yoda rap about getting “buck ass wild” around 1:02.
Supernova, “Chewbacca”
Berserker may be the big musical takeaway from Clerks, but who can forget about Chewbacca discounting Dante’s criticism of Return of the Jedi being nothing more than a bunch of Muppets? Plus the song provides a brief education on the Wookiee language (if you would call it that).
“Weird Al” Yankovic, “The Saga Begins”
If you can’t sit through all of Episode I without cringing, Weird Al’s five-and-a-half-minute summary of The Phantom Menace sums it up nicely. Warning: This parody could forever ruin Don McLean’s “American Pie.”
“Weird Al” Yankovic- Yoda
Weird Al plays up the annoyingly repetitive “Lola” by The Kinks by writing a song about Yoda. He’s wise, he’s green, and he’s the ultimate spirit guide.
MC Chris, “Fett’s Vette”
“My backpack’s got jets. Well I’m Boba the Fett. Well I bounty hunt for Jabba Hutt to finance my ‘vette.”
Boba Fett is a badass, so it wouldn’t be surprising if he had the spare cash to buy a sports car or two. Bonus points if you can’t hear this song without thinking of Zach and Miri Make a Porno‘s “Star Whores” parody.
