Imperial March = Imperial Anthem?

Emperor Palpatine · Post by **Emperor Palpatine** » 2003-07-20 08:15am

I was just wondering... is it possible the Imperial March is actually the anthem of the Empire? It just have this feel to it.

Anyone good at writing lyrics? Would be great if someone would put in words into the Imperial March and make it sound like an anthem.

EDCP

Darth Garden Gnome · Post by **Darth Garden Gnome** » 2003-07-20 08:23am

No. Most other songs in Star Wars--barring those that we know are being sung like Jabba's dancers and the Ewoks at the end of ROTJ--happen out of universe, they are not actually supposed to be happening right there. The Imperial March is no exception.

And frankly, adding lyrics to something as excellent as the Imperial March would probably detract from the piece.

Hethrir · Post by **Hethrir** » 2003-07-20 08:31am

It would be the height of SW blaspheme to add words to that masterpiece!

Peregrin Toker · Post by **Peregrin Toker** » 2003-07-20 08:40am

Hethrir wrote:It would be the height of SW blaspheme to add words to that masterpiece!

BTW, do anyone remember the Life Day song to the tune of the title track (but with really sappy lyrics) in the Star Wars Holiday Special?

THE HORROR, THE HORROR!

PainRack · Post by **PainRack** » 2003-07-20 11:16am

Emperor Palpatine wrote:I was just wondering... is it possible the Imperial March is actually the anthem of the Empire? It just have this feel to it.

Anyone good at writing lyrics? Would be great if someone would put in words into the Imperial March and make it sound like an anthem.

EDCP

"March, March, March, for Glory!For the King!
March, March, March for Dark Lord of the Sith!
Gone, Are, The ,Jedi brats who slave, and kill,and we live in the,good days, of Glory.Of Glory.

Frank Hipper · Post by **Frank Hipper** » 2003-07-20 01:52pm

Darth Garden Gnome wrote:And frankly, adding lyrics to something as excellent as the Imperial March would probably detract from the piece.

Reminds me of the criminal lyrics that were added to The Stars and Stripes Forever. Sousa's best, shat upon with extreme prejudice.

Robert Treder · Post by **Robert Treder** » 2003-07-20 04:41pm

There's nothing to say that the Imperial march is actually the Imperial anthem, but we do know a few things about Star Wars music and the Star Wars universe:

- The Empire, or at least the Imperial Military does have an anthem. Han Solo refers to this in one of those books where he's an Imperial Officer in training.

- In Star Wars Racer, the totally kickass podracing game, Anakin Skywalker hums the Imperial March (the John Williams one) during his races sometimes. If you don't believe me, look through your sound files from the game.
Unfortunately, much of this game is hard to reconcile with the continuity, especially the parts concerning Anakin.

- In the A New Hope NPR Radio Dramatization, Luke watches a recruitment tape for the "Academy". The Academy's theme song is the main Star Wars theme, which in Williams' leitmotif is Luke's theme.

Emperor Palpatine · Post by **Emperor Palpatine** » 2003-07-21 07:37am

Unfortunately, much of this game is hard to reconcile with the continuity, especially the parts concerning Anakin.

And since Anakin podracing is way before the Empire even show a hint of its existence... well...

Post by **Gandalf** » 2003-07-21 07:54am

Darth Garden Gnome wrote:No. Most other songs in Star Wars--barring those that we know are being sung like Jabba's dancers and the Ewoks at the end of ROTJ--happen out of universe, they are not actually supposed to be happening right there. The Imperial March is no exception.

Just for reference purposes, sounds that happen in the movie, that characters can hear and such, is digetic sound. What they can't hear is non-digetic.

Sidious · Post by **Sidious** » 2003-07-21 08:39pm

I swear I've seen references to the Imperial March in the EU somewhere. I dont have a way of researching it at the moment though.

Robert Treder · Post by **Robert Treder** » 2003-07-22 05:41am

Sidious wrote:I swear I've seen references to the Imperial March in the EU somewhere. I dont have a way of researching it at the moment though.

Like I said, in one of those Han Solo books where he's in the Imperial Academy, they play an "Imperial March". But, seeing as how it's a book, there's no possible way to figure out how it sounded.

Eleas · Post by **Eleas** » 2003-07-23 05:33am

Emperor Palpatine wrote: Anyone good at writing lyrics? Would be great if someone would put in words into the Imperial March and make it sound like an anthem.

EDCP

I think the lyrics should be obvious...

Palpatine: It's not the east side or the west side...
Vader: No it's not.
Palpatine: It's not the north side or the south side...
Vader: No it's not.
Palpatine: It's the dark side.
Vader: You are correct.
Both: We've got Death Stars, Death Stars, Death Stars, Death Stars...

Robert Treder · Post by **Robert Treder** » 2003-07-23 07:08pm

Agreed, Eleas.

God Emperor · Post by **God Emperor** » 2003-07-23 07:17pm

Eleas wrote: I think the lyrics should be obvious...

Palpatine: It's not the east side or the west side...
Vader: No it's not.
Palpatine: It's not the north side or the south side...
Vader: No it's not.
Palpatine: It's the dark side.
Vader: You are correct.
Both: We've got Death Stars, Death Stars, Death Stars, Death Stars...

You forgot the:
Infront of the Empire, so all you vader haters will blow your planet up.. that comes before the death star part.

Supreme_Warlord · Post by **Supreme_Warlord** » 2003-07-24 12:08pm

Hethrir wrote:It would be the height of SW blaspheme to add words to that masterpiece!

Slightly off-topic:

I heard a song on the radio recently (Bad Boys or some such IIRC), in which the Imperial March is used as a versed chorus. Its incredibly hilarious

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Imperial March = Imperial Anthem?

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