Kevin Kiner has really done a good job doing the soundtrack for the Star Wars: Rebels show, and this here is a prime example.
This track retains all the dashing bravado of the Original Trilogy's music, but is bouncy and playful at the same time... though the beginning and end serve to show that ultimately, things are serious. This is Star Wars, after all.
This music plays while Zeb takes out stormtroopers on Lothal:
I honestly have no idea where this piece of music comes from. I searched and searched, but couldn't find out who originally made it.
I really like how it starts out softly with just the piano, and then adds new instruments one after another, until we've got a really good [insert technical music term] going on. Plus, the Battle of Umbara automatically makes everything better. Kinda like Bacon. So yeah.
Oh, just a note: the music stops about halfway, and you get to hear Rex, Fives, Tup, and the rest of te 501st legion yell at each other while fighting off an Umbaran militia ambush. Fun stuff! The music starts over a few minutes late, and we get to watch General Krell steam-rolling the 501st and 2012th. Not so fun. :P
No Monday Music Challenge today, I'm afraid. Due to a bunch of stuff going on in my life right now, I won't be posting much. In fact, I won't be on the internet much at all. I'll still try to get at least two posts done per week, though. :)
Today we have the theme Kevin Kiner composed for the character Savage Opress: probably one of the biggest, strongest, and toughest villains from the Clone Wars show. The theme really matches Opress' character, especially his hard and fast fighting style.
It was especially epic to hear while Opress and Maul were dueling Obi-Wan Kenobi and Adi Gallia on Florrum:
"We're pirates... we don't even know what that means!"
Those of you that don't live under a rock know that yesterday was "Star Wars day" (May the fourth be with you)!
In honor of that, and since today is technically "Revenge of the Fifth," and since I am a huge Star Wars fan, this week's challenge is Star Wars-themed!
As usual, there are four categories. You must find a piece of music for each category, and submit your picks in the comments or on your own blog (just remember to link back here!)
Even if you've never seen Star Wars (uncultured potato! JK), you would do well (extremely well) to listen to some of the music. Honestly, you have no idea what you've missing out on. Forget Pirates of the Caribbean; this is the good stuff!
5: Bonus category! Again, you can post whatever piece of music you want, just as long as it's related to this week's theme. My suggestions: Favorite Star Wars music video, favorite Clone Wars soundtrack, overall least favorite Star Wars music, or favorite romantic theme (even though there are only like, 2 or 3 to choose from).
Here are my picks!
1: Favorite battle music: Each large-scale battle scene from Star Wars had a unique soundtrack; from Yavin, to Hoth, to Endor (just to name a few from the Original Trilogy). It was a tough choice, but I'm going to have to pick the Battle of Naboo. I'm really disappointed that the best version on youtube is 18 minutes long and has such a ridiculous thumbnail. I doubt any of my readers are brave enough to play it (please prove me wrong!).
2: Favorite Lightsaber Duel music: Duel of the fates is what most people would pick. But personally, I think the theme for Anakin and Obi-Wan's duel on Mustafar was much more dramatic. I'mma have to go with that. Like, seriously: this is probably some of my favorite music from the entire saga. Gives me chills.
3: Favorite character's/location's/faction's theme:
Every single planet, person, and army had it's own theme. Star Wars was revolutionary that way, and John Williams (may he live forever) was the first composer to do this for a movie, much less a movie series. Now, there was a lot to chose from, with the Imperial march and the Droid Army theme being way up there with Darth Vader and Luke's theme, but... In the end, I had to go with General Grievous' theme. It's just so... epic! Sinister! Combative! I know the video is a long one, but t least listen to the first five minutes worth.
4: Favorite Overall piece of music:
Oh gosh. The main theme, of course! One of the most recognizable soundtracks in history, and one of the only soundtracks that is instantly recognizable from the first note!
5: Bonus Category: The award ceremony music! Why? Because it will play at my wedding, of course! ;D
JK. I can only hope.
This has, for me at least, been the hardest challenge yet! I can't wait to see what you guys come up with!
I am typically annoyed by fan-made Clone Wars music videos, especially because the often-crappy music ruins my favorite battle scenes. But here, I think the music (Sons of War, by TSFH) is great, and goes really well with the Battle of Kamino.
Honestly, I watched this like, four times in a row last night.
John Williams really outdid himself when he composed the soundtrack for the Star Wars Prequels. This particular piece was used in Episode 1 when Queen Amidala escapes Naboo with her Jedi protectors. They manage to break through the Trade Federation blockade, but only because R2-D2 was able to repair their deflector shield generators in time.
This music was used again in Episode 2, when the Clone troopers made their dramatic and action-packed entrance to save the Jedi from the execution arena on Geonosis.
It was used yet a third time in Episode 3, when General Grievous' flagship Invisible Hand plummeted towards Coruscant after being badly damaged by several broadsides from the Venator-class Star Destroyer Guarlara.
I like this music because it gives a sense of speed, urgency, and danger. I really like it, and can imagine so many different scenarios where this music would fit. I usually imagine either a WW2 air-battle, or a two medieval galleons fighting each other while going down a massive waterfall.
When it comes to climactic battle scenes, you need epic music. John Williams provided just that when scoring Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, with Duel of the Fates.
I really love the emotion, lyrics, and pace of this. It fits the epic final scenes of Phantom Menace so well, especially the duel between Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon, and Maul.
A little trivia: The lyrics are partly based on an ancient Welsh poem and are sung in Sanskrit. For Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, Duel of the Fates was adapted into a more tragic piece called Battle of the Heroes, which I will post in the near future.
Couldn't help sharing this... It is a parody, so it's only going to be funny if you're familiar with the source material (Star Wars, Moves Like Jagger). I like this much better than the original song. XD (especially since the original is kind of... inappropriate)
It's way too catchy, and gets stuck in my head so bad...
Republic Commando was a Star Wars FPS game. You got to play as "Delta 40," a Clone Trooper Commando and the leader of Delta squad during the Clone Wars. It was a really cool game, and it's a shame there are no sequels.
This track is called "Vode An," which means "Brothers All" in Mando'a, the Mandalorian language in which this entire song is sung. Vode An was one of many chants that the Mandalorian Warriors used to sing. When Jango Fett was training the Clone Army of the Republic, he taught many Mandalorian chants (including this one) to the clone troopers (though he did alter some of the lyrics, like changing "Mandalore" to "Coruscant," though "Kamino" might've made more sense).
ANYWAY, the song has a lot of the same elements as the Duel of Fates heard in Star Wars episodes 1 and 3. So if you liked Duel of Fates, you might like Vode An. Though, being a chant, it is calmer and more repetitive than Duel of Fates.
