John Williams: My Favorite Themes

 I had wanted to do a birthday tribute to the greatest living musician of our time, John Williams, but it would have been rushed. So I felt waiting would be a good approach. While there are talented musicians living today, none have the impact of John Williams. His music is legendary and an added treat to your movie popcorn and beverage. He has given music to so many movies and TV shows, such as Lost In Space, Jaws, ET, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Indiana Jones, Harry Potter, Jurassic Park, and so many more. But his work on Star Wars is what I and many people admire the most. The themes are all legendary, across the 6 Lucas Films and yes, his music was one of the bright spots of the Disney Trilogy.

Picking themes he has done for Star Wars is hard to do, but I'll do it anyway. For the 9 Star Wars films he has done I'll pick 9 themes, but there are rules. The main theme, for instance is not included. It is epic, awesome, chills go up my spine, but it's too obvious to list here. Also I won't do the best theme from each movie, it just wouldn't work. Neither would taking 3 themes from each trilogy. This is in order, so counting down from 9 all the way down to 1.

9. Rey's Theme (Episode 7). This one I really enjoy, even though Rey had bad writing (I promise not too much sequel bashing) she had a great theme that sharp hearing people could detect traces of Palpatine's theme played, albeit in a softer tone. I listen to this a lot, and it is part of another theme later on this countdown.

8. Across The Stars. I'm not a romance guy. At all. My dating game is weak. But this theme from Attack of the Clones is the love theme and played while Anakin and Padme are together in the Arena before their rescue and at their wedding in the end. It's a beautiful theme, and after hearing it you will hum it. Heck you probably will hum all of the themes in this countdown at some point.

7. Battle of the Heroes. This is the theme from Revenge of the Sith when Obi-Wan and Anakin/Darth Vader fight on Mustafar. It's an adventurous melody that foreshadows the tragic transformation of Anakin into Darth Vader's suit.  The music is enhanced by the lava flowing all around reflecting Anakin's anger as a contrast to Obi-Wan's calm.

6. Jedi Steps & Finale. From the end of Episode 7, Rey takes the Millennium Falcon along with Chewbacca and R2-D2 to where Luke Skywalker resides. She walks up the steps and suddenly sees a robed figure, he turns around and we hear the binary sunset theme and then she shows Luke his old lightsaber and we see the pain and sorrow in his eyes, but he knows now is the time. The music flows to the standard fan fare ending theme, into Rey's theme, Kylo Ren and The First Order theme then into the Resistance theme. It's one of my favorite scenes in all the movies but of course Darth Ruin happened in Episode 8 which crapped on it. Moving on.

5. Princess Leia's Theme. You hear this when Leia blasts away at the Stormtroopers in A New Hope and in the end credits but this is one theme that just makes me think of Leia. It's strong, like Leia. It flows beautifully to the film and has a romantic feel to it. You also hear parts of it when Luke meets Leia in the detention cell. Although Lucas hadn't decided to make them related when they filmed A New Hope.

4. The Asteroid Field. From The Empire Strikes Back, this is when Han goes into in asteroid field to evade their Imperial pursuers. This theme was also in the Shadows of the Empire game when Dash is trying to get away from Hoth. This theme is fun, adventurous and wraps up as Han flies into what he and the audience think is a cave. But it's no cave!

3. Luke and Leia. The moment Luke found out that Leia was his sister truly broke him. How would you feel if your crush was related to you?! But we knew Leia would have to find out the truth. Before Luke confronts Vader he tells Leia, and the music is just a wonderful blend as Leia goes through shock, anger and finally acceptance. This moment is powerful, just like the music playing as you watch them talk.

2. The Imperial March. First heard in The Empire Strikes Back when Darth Vader and the Imperial Fleet are seen, it would get used again in Episode 9 as the Final Order began their attack on the galaxy. It fit perfectly in 1980 and it fit in perfectly in 2019. It's timeless. You hear it and immediately you see Darth Vader in your head. Or Sith Troopers and planet killing Star Destroyers in action. Nah, you are more than likely thinking about Vader. The notes would be rearranged for Anakin's Theme for The Phantom Menace. Listen closely and you can hear the similarities.

1. Duel of the Fates. If it weren't for this the Imperial March would be in the top spot, and the binary sunset theme would have made the list. But this theme is epic! From the orchestra, to the chorus, it just is Star Wars music! While The Phantom Menace is not everyone's favorite movie, it has the best theme. The music video certainly helped its popularity, and was the 1st Star Wars track to get an officially made video. Plus it featured in Revenge of the Sith as part of the epic brawls between Obi-Wan and Anakin plus Yoda fighting Darth Sidious.

Finding 9 tracks is hard, but it shows how hard it is to list favorites. I didn't put Yoda's Theme, Binary Sunset, Cantina Band, Lapti Nek, Jedi Rocks, Yub Nub, and the Victory Celebration for the Special Edition all deserved to be on this list. It just goes to show how amazing John Williams is as a composer, and when you hear the music on screen he's also the conductor of some very talented musicians. He's the best of our time, and there will never be anyone like him. But with Kevin Kiner (Clone Wars, Rebels, Bad Batch), Ludwig Goransson (Mandalorian, Book of Boba Fett), John Powell (Solo), Michael Giacchino (Rogue One) and even going back to Joel McNeely who made the Shadows of the Empire soundtrack all paid homage to the Grand Maestro of the Star Wars universe. The music of John Williams will forever be with us, and for that I'm grateful.