May The Funk Be With You - A Guide To the World of Star Wars Disco

Happy Star Wars Day! And May the Fourth be with you! To celebrate this year, lets take a journey back in time, to the music revolutionnshared by Star Wars; the Disco era. The collision of these two pop culture phenomenons occurring near simultaneously resulted in some awesome and dubious mash ups, before the term mash up was even a thing. Start with the above video featuring James Last and his Orchestra, performing a live rendition of Meco's discofied Star Wars theme, then come inside Chalmun's discotheque for some other galactic funk.

As you can see, one does not simply bury the lead when you are talking about a live video from Germany's purveyor of "Happy Music," especially with all those robin's egg blue jackets. However, James last and his Orchestra were playing a cover (of a cover if you want to be exact). The original version of The Star Wars disco theme was created by Meco. This Italian-American record producer (real name Domenico Monardo) made a career of Meco-izing movie soundtracks and themes and is one of the progenitors of the Space Disco subgenre. Now, everyone to the dance floor (gold chains optional) to enjoy the first of a series of Star Wars themes made funky by Meco.



While Disco was pretty well played out by the time The Empire Strikes Back release in 1980, that didn't stop Meco from rubbing a little Hustle on "The Imperial March".



And from the B-side of the same single, check out the rarely heard, "The Force Theme".



Disco as a term had become completely unfashionable by 1983 and the release of The Return of The Jedi, but Meco soldiered on under the newly acceptable nomenclature of "dance music" with danceable version of "Lapti Nek"! The song performed in Jabba's palace by Sy Snootles and The Max Rebo Band.



Nerd note here: For a three-alien band, how unfair is it that Droopy McCool doesn't get his name mentioned when the other two do, instead being relegated to being Max Rebo's "band". Not cool, Max. (Ed Note: written from the 1983, per-special editions POV, so there.)

Rap music was enjoying its Old School era in 1983, and this wasn't lost on Meco Monardo. Trust me and listen all the way through "Ewok Celebration" to enjoy the freestyle and rhymes being dropped by MC C3P0. (Or would that be MC3P0?)


The influence of Meco and Star Wars disco was felt around the world and has not been lost even after more than three and a half decades. For a perfect example, look no further than this group of Chinese ukulele players, as they take the music of John Williams and Meco on a Hawaiian vacation.



From here, things get weird. Two words with no further comment: French ballet.



No list of Star Wras disco influenced things would be complete without this performance from The Donny and Marie Show. Yes, that is Kris Kristofferson playing the role of Han Solo.



(Mangement would like to apologize for the previous video. Please enjoy this much classier one, featuring a tasteful disco version of Princess Leia's Theme by the Peter Hamilton Orchestra.



And last, but certainly not least in our funky tour of a galaxy far, far away, should you ever need it, there is a 10-hour loop of Meco's Star Wars Theme available for your enjoyment. (Viewer discretion is advised.)



May the Fourth will be with you. Always.