Elton John and The Phantom Menace

Scene	Alex’s Playlist	Sarah’s Playlist
Jedi on the Trade Federation Ship for “Negotiations”	Texan Love Song The Trade Federation hates that the Jedi (Longhairs) are coming to mess around with their gal (Naboo). They are trying to kill the Jedi as the Texans want to kill the hippies. The Jedi are meddling in a situation that they don’t belong. The Jedi escalated the event just by showing up. If they had stayed out of it, then things would have gone smoother and the galaxy would still respect the Trade Federation.	The Ballad of Danny Bailey This blockade of Naboo isn’t going the way the Neimoidians thought it would, and they want to call it all off. The Jedi are aboard their ship, taking names, looking to get to the bottom of the issue. “It’s all over Danny Bailey, and the harvest is in…..I guess the cops (Jedi) won again”
Meeting Jar-Jar Binks	Honky Cat Jar-Jar is basically a Star Wars Red Neck, and by many accounts he does not belong in the main story. He is viewed as comic relief, which rednecks are often used as. He is visibly uncomfortable in the cities and in this scene even talks about just being in the woods “munchkin” when he was surprised by the Trade Federation.	Rope Around a Fool The chorus of this song nails it for me. From Qui-Gon’s perspective, “We got Miss Communication kicking out the stool We got mass determination making up the rules But saving us is something that we can’t do And it’s easier sometimes to throw a rope around a fool rope around a fool”. They are at a bit of a loss on Naboo when they crash into Jar-Jar. Qui-Gon realizes that there are things beyond his and Obi-Wan’s control here
Otoh Gunga and Traveling through Planet Core	Mr. Lightening Strikerman This is the best approximation of the ‘There’s Always a Bigger Fish’ mantra that permeates this scene. It also describes beautiful nature that you can see in Otoh Gunga and the water underworld. The reemergence of the bigger fish each time they need it is Mr. Lightning Strikerman.	Take Me Down to the Ocean Perhaps a little on the nose for our group traveling to the underwater city of Otoh Gunga and through the planet core. It’s a song of initiation, of starting movement and action. And the upbeat tempo propels the group forward, or down deeper into the sea.
Fleeing Naboo with Royal Entourage	Chasing the Crown This one is pretty self explanatory in that it is the Neimoidians who are chasing the crown of Padme Amidala. It is also an interesting turn because while Padme technically has the crown, it is she who is rebelling against the Trade Federation and chasing the crown by escaping and looking for help.	Simple Life Queen Amidala is taking a stand against the Trade Federation by fleeing. This is a sad song in that the chips are down, but it has a hopeful tone. The singer is not ready to give up the fight. The crew has to flee, but it’s not good-bye forever.
Anakin Meets Padme	The Girl on Angel Pavement Anakin sees Padme and calls her an angel. It is very on the nose that the song talks about an unrequited love of a girl on angel pavement. It is unrequited for Anakin as well because he is only 9 when she is 14. Padme is also a Queen trying to save her planet while Anakin is a boy she is just meeting. She has much bigger things to worry about than a funny little boy.	The One To me, this song is about the power of love at first sight. “When stars collide like you and I No shadows block the sun You’re all I’ve ever needed Baby, you’re the one.” The lyric “A spirit born of earth and water Fire flyin’ from your hands” is a nod to Padme being an angel.
Podracing!	Let Me Be Your Car Podracing is just space hotrod racing	Let Me Be Your Car This is a deep cut from Elton’s early career that is all car talk, where the singer wants to whisk away a girl for a good time in a hot rod. Or perhaps a hot POD??
Anakin Leaving his Mother	Alone Again (Naturally) Anakin has been with his mom and been happy, even while being a slave. He has the joy of winning the podrace with her watching. He even gets the joy of being freed as a slave, but the rug is pulled out from underneath him when he learns that his mother won’t be coming with. It is like being left at the altar, on what should have been the happiest day of his life, he is crestfallen as he must leave his mother. He is Alone Again (Naturally) and that it how he will stay for most of his life.	Steal Away Child While this song is sung from the POV of an adult leaving a child, I think it lines up well with what Shmi tells Anakin before he leaves to become a Jedi. This song imparts the hope Shmi has for Anakin but the tough love needed to push him away towards a better life. “Once more goodnight one last goodbye Trying hard not to show how I’m making, what it’s taking not to cry….Our love is too precious for distance to kill”
The Call for the Vote of No Confidence	A Dandelion Dies in the Wind This works on multiple levels because Padme is fearful for her planet. She can’t stand by as the Senate debates while her people die. She is misled by Palpatine who says it is Valorum who is corrupt and lies to the Republic. This deception is the main reason she calls for the vote of no confidence. In reality, it is Palpatine manipulating her and lying to her, which will eventually lead to the downfall of Padme’s beloved Republic.	Sartorial Eloquence “Don’t you wanna play this game no more?” This song speaks to the game of politics and the well-dressed facades of the Senate. It’s the game of chess Palpatine is playing with the Senate, Queen Amidala, and the Chancellor to try to gain power. But this is not a game Padme is willing to play. She demands action, calling for the vote of no confidence.
War on Naboo	Cold as Christmas (In the Middle of the Year) This might seem strange, but the song talks about how they are in the warm tropics similar to Naboo, and there is a chill in the air. It is cold because of the death and destruction that the Droid Army is doing, mostly to the Gungans. The Gungans went into the battle knowing they were a distraction and that many of them would be killed. They did it anyway and pushed through the trauma and fear. They told the Naboo (the kids) that things were fine when there was coldness and death in the fields with the droids and the Gungans.	Regimental Sergeant Zippo This song brings up memories of a child playing war, which is the case here. Anakin and Padme are the heroes of the fight. The Trade Federation doesn’t take their threat seriously, or lets our heroes win as part of a larger plot from Palpatine. I’m not sure Anakin fully understands the seriousness of the situation when he’s flying the Naboo starfighter, like young children playing war don’t fully understand the implications. The end of the song sounds like a technical failure, perfect for the droids shutting down.
Jedi vs Darth Maul	Love’s Got a Lot to Answer For Love in this case being the Force. It is a battle of the fates: whose fates? One might say it is the battle of Anakin’s fate, but I would go further and say the song title is plural. While they may be fighting for the fate of Anakin, his fate is tied with the galaxy’s because of what he will become and who he will help along the way. It is the fate of the galaxy that is being fought over and all things are as the Force wills it.	Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding The instrumental part is epic, like the duel between Jedi and Sith. It has crescendos and decrescendos to fit the push and pull of their fight. When we get into the lyrical portion, Love Lies Bleeding, it fits for Qui-Gon Jinn death. It’s an anger fueled song, which fits the final part of the battle between Maul and Obi-Wan. (Full disclosure, this is one of my favorite EJ songs, so I’ve been looking for a special place for it in our Star Wars playlists).
Qui-Gon Jinn’s Death	The Show Must Go On While this is not a song that Elton wrote himself, it is a fitting tribute because it is a song that Queen wrote for the death of Freddy Mercury. Elton was a good friend of Mercury and was honored to sing the song as a tribute to his friend and to raise money for the AIDS benefit. Mercury was a huge personality, and it was hard to imagine going on without him. This fits Qui-Gon perfectly because he had such a huge influence on Obi-Wan, Anakin, and even the Jedi Council. While he wasn’t a member, he helped them maintain their connection to the living Force. With him gone they, must keep going, doing the best they can.	My Father’s Gun This is a melancholy song about someone picking up the mantle after the death of their father, and about moving on from that death. Obi-Wan promises Qui-Gon that he will train Anakin; he picks up “his father’s gun” and joins the fight.
Peace Celebration on Naboo	Believe This is just a happy song to go along with a happy moment. Elton believes in love, just as Naboo believes in peace. The Gungans and the Naboo have found happiness and peace when they felt there could be none. They trusted each other and decided to put their faith in each other. This would make a fine addition to the final parade, although I don’t think there is anything as tailor made as ‘Augie’s Great Municipal Band”.	A Little Peace This is another deep cut that is a classic call for peace. The song says the world is tearing itself apart and there are bad things, but a little peace can go a long way in making the world a better place. “And a little peace goes a long long way It’s peace we want, for peace we pray”