You may have seen it several times by now, but while everyone is dissecting and debating, The Last Jedi Soundtrack is where the focus should be. So much new music to experience!
It’s all over already. Months and months of build up and the opening weekend is in the bag. Sure, everyone is now making their way through fourth and fifth viewings but while the wait begins for the Blu-Ray next year, The Last Jedi Soundtrack is here right now.
The music of Star Wars has been one of the most important aspects of the saga since its very beginning. It’s hard to imagine the films with anything less than composer John Williams superb score. In fact, the films would not be able to convey powerful emotion in moments of no dialogue and feelings of intense action without it.
At this point you simply cannot have one without the other.
Powerful themes that were first heard 40 years ago have remained and have been incorporated and in some cases reimagined for the sequel trilogy.
A Blending Of Old And New
Building off of the first in the new trilogy, The Force Awakens, the newer themes are present and accounted for.
On the track Ahch-To Island Williams forges a powerfully hopeful new rendition of The Jedi Steps first heard in the previous film. And trained ears will pick up on Binary Sunset (Force Theme) weaved in for just a moment. It’s extremely emotional and a great choice by Williams to meld into no matter how briefly. That is because Binary Sunset is also known as Luke’s Theme since the first time it was heard was when he was gazing at the twin suns in A New Hope. As much as the sequels are about passing the torch, this film is very Luke-centric. The piece is also added into The Last Jedi and Peace and Purpose, the latter of which is especially heartfelt as Luke passes into the Force.
Themes representing the First Order and Kylo Ren are back and weaved into several variations, mixing together with themes of the light side to represent the conflict that takes place throughout the entire film.
The Battle of Crait is the standout track on this album. Matching the fast paced action of the scene, much of the music of the film is combined here to create a sense of all threads coming together. A last stand against the darkness. Both the themes for the First Order and the March of the Resistance are here alongside Rey’s Theme and the new theme for Rose Tico. And as the Millennium Falcon evades TIE Fighters beneath the surface of Crait motifs played from the Superstructure assault in Return of the Jedi kick up and the adventures of the Falcon come full circle.
Musical Ties That Bind
Yoda’s iconic theme returns in The Sacred Jedi Texts. This time as the passed on Jedi Master visits Luke to impart more of his wisdom wrapped up in his typical wittiness.
In The Spark, a moving piece at the end of the film encapsulates what the audience is feeling during a touching reunion between Luke and Leia. The motif starts out ominously as the Rebels are trapped behind the walls of the base on Crait, but shifts to Luke and Leia’s theme from Return of the Jedi. And as they discuss Ben’s fall it briefly hints at Han Solo and the Princess before it crescendos as Luke leaves to face down the enitre First Order.
It’s amazing.
Peace and Purpose is another highlight of The Last Jedi Soundtrack. It’s incorporation of both Binary Sunset and Rey’s Theme ensures no dry eyes in the house.
An interesting one is the track Canto Bight. Although sounding very new all on its own you may pick up on something very familiar. Echoes of the Cantina Band can definitely be heard here. Much like the track in A New Hope, it’s a break in the more traditional score of the film, meant to convey being in a place truly strange and different.
Digging Deep
Even more so than The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi Soundtrack hearkens back to the motifs of the original trilogy and for good reason. As much as this film IS about new characters and the passing of the torch, it is also focuses both literally and metaphorically on the past. As the heroes of the old Rebellion are thinning, the new generation will rise up and many new themes and motifs will take center stage in the films to follow.
This is translating over into the score. Luke’s theme along with the Han, Leia and even the Rebel Fanfare are expertly weaved into the new to showcase this transition. And the score is all the more better for it.
While the wait for the home video release will be exceedingly difficult, taking the time to listen to the score in detail without the visuals opens up a whole new understanding of John Williams’ work and of the Star Wars saga as well.
The Last Jedi Soundtrack is available on Google Play, iTunes and Amazon today!
And for even more Star Wars: The Last Jedi audio goodness, check out the RetroZap The Last Jedi Roundtable Discussion!
Mike Harris hails from the suburbs of Chicago and has been a fan for most of his life. Working as an industrial radiographer and raising a family with his wife take up most of his time, but there’s always room for Star Wars books and podcasts! Just looking to give back to Star Wars and the fan community, it’s been a source of fun and learning for him for so long.