Ewok Celebration
Encyclopedia
Ewok Celebration is a musical theme recurring in the ending of the Star Wars
film Return of the Jedi. It was composed by John Williams while his son Joseph Williams wrote the lyrics. It is the song sung during the celebration of the Ewoks on Endor with the Rebel Alliance
pilots after the destruction of the Death Star
II.
In 1983, Meco
recorded a version of the song "Ewok Celebration" which reached #60 on the Billboard Hot 100
. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=379&cfgn=Singles&cfn=The+Billboard+Hot+100&ci=3071267&cdi=8909069&cid=08%2F20%2F1983
In the 1997 edition of the movie (see List of changes in Star Wars re-releases), a different song (Victory Celebration) without lyrics replaces the original version. Like several other changes in the original movies made for the new editions, some fans of the films were somewhat upset with the absence of the song. It does not even appear on newer soundtracks, available only in an obscure box set. The song, however, is used in several Star wars video games released after the special editions came out, such as Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy and Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike, although the former reflects the 2004 version of the RotJ ending.
The song appears in an episode of the sitcom Spaced
; the producers could not acquire the rights to use the original recording, so Edgar Wright
and Simon Pegg
performed and recorded their own version.
The song has been covered
by the rock band The Solids
, and by Parry Gripp
.
Star Wars
Star Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...
film Return of the Jedi. It was composed by John Williams while his son Joseph Williams wrote the lyrics. It is the song sung during the celebration of the Ewoks on Endor with the Rebel Alliance
Rebel Alliance
The Alliance to Restore the Republic is an interstellar faction of the fictional universe of Star Wars....
pilots after the destruction of the Death Star
Death Star
The Death Star is a fictional moon-sized space station and superweapon appearing in the Star Wars movies and expanded universe. It is capable of destroying a planet with a single destructive super charged energy beam.-Origin and design:...
II.
In 1983, Meco
Meco
Meco is an American record producer and musician, as well as the name of a band or production team based around him...
recorded a version of the song "Ewok Celebration" which reached #60 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=379&cfgn=Singles&cfn=The+Billboard+Hot+100&ci=3071267&cdi=8909069&cid=08%2F20%2F1983
In the 1997 edition of the movie (see List of changes in Star Wars re-releases), a different song (Victory Celebration) without lyrics replaces the original version. Like several other changes in the original movies made for the new editions, some fans of the films were somewhat upset with the absence of the song. It does not even appear on newer soundtracks, available only in an obscure box set. The song, however, is used in several Star wars video games released after the special editions came out, such as Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy and Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike, although the former reflects the 2004 version of the RotJ ending.
The song appears in an episode of the sitcom Spaced
Spaced
Spaced is a British television sitcom written by and starring Simon Pegg and Jessica Stevenson, and directed by Edgar Wright. It is noted for its rapid-fire editing, frequent pop culture references and jokes, eclectic music, and occasional displays of surrealism and non-sequitur humour...
; the producers could not acquire the rights to use the original recording, so Edgar Wright
Edgar Wright
Edgar Howard Wright is an English film and television director and writer. He is most famous for his work with Simon Pegg and Nick Frost on the films Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, the TV series Spaced, and for directing the film Scott Pilgrim vs...
and Simon Pegg
Simon Pegg
Simon Pegg is an English actor, comedian, writer, film producer, and director. He is best known for having co-written and stared in various Edgar Wright features, mainly Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, and the comedy series Spaced.He also portrayed Montgomery "Scotty" Scott in the 2009 Star Trek film...
performed and recorded their own version.
The song has been covered
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
by the rock band The Solids
The Solids
The Solids are a power pop band from Middletown, Connecticut. The band currently consists of Carter Bays, Craig Thomas, Patrick Butler, and C.C. DePhil. They have been writing, recording, and performing music since 1996. The Solids first became popular for their song "The Future Is Now," which was...
, and by Parry Gripp
Parry Gripp
Parry Gripp is a singer-songwriter as well as lead vocalist and guitarist for the pop punk band Nerf Herder.As a songwriter, Gripp is best known for fake jingles, as in his 2005 solo album For Those About to Shop, We Salute You - a 51-track concept album mimicking various musical styles as product...
.