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seedarklyxeroWelcome to SeeDarkly Sunday DisCOVERies, a weekly blog exploring goth/industrial cover songs!
First time here? Click here for details from first entry.
It's just under two weeks before the release of the latest Star Wars sequel, so let's look back at one of the iconic masterpieces of the original trilogy's soundtrack and a unique cover:
Celldweller - Imperial March
John Williams has been composing and conducting motion picture scores since the 1960's. Star Wars, released in 1977, was the first of the science-fiction/fantasy films for which he composed. By the time he developed The Imperial March (Darth Vader's Theme) for The Empire Strikes Back in late 1979, he had already composed the scores for five other genre films and the first sequel of Jaws. The March, as performed by the London Symphony Orchestra and recorded for the film, was not the first heard by the public. Roughly three weeks before the box office debut of Empire, Williams premiered the March with the Boston Pops Orchestra for the first time as their principle conductor.
In the film, the March is first subtly (for most, perhaps even imperceptibly,) teased in the opening scene during the deployment of probes from a Star Destroyer. Later it thunderously fills the scene that introduces Darth Vader's first appearance in the film, dramatically revealing beyond question he survived the events of the previous film's ending moments.
Some variation or elements of the Imperial March were later used in the following four films of the franchise. Williams has said he would be including themes from the previous films in The Force Awakens and though it has not been confirmed specifically that themes from the Imperial March would be among those used, it is fair to say there's a strong likelihood.
Fandom of the Star Wars films has grown tremendously over the years after the first trilogy. In 2011, the first Star Wars Day was organized in Canada on the clever date of May the fourth, chosen due to the films' popularized saying, "May the Force be with you." (Lisp, "force.") The idea caught hold and spread. The "May the Fourth" phrasing has earlier origins and the idea of it as an internationally recognized date for celebration had been gaining notice over the few years prior to the organized event.
Four years later, on May 4 of this year, Celldweller released his cover of the Imperial March presumably as his contribution to the celebration.
Klayton, (the electro/industrial artist working under the name "Celldweller,") claims Star Wars, and science fiction generally, as highly influential to his style and music. His version of the March includes droid samplings, industrial & dubstep elements, aggressively FX-filtered guitars and potent dance rhythms. In an additional version, (which you'll find on the click through below,) he vocalizes in the voice of Vader, which adds the repetitive quote, "you don't know the power of the dark side," and keeps rhythm with the signature heavy breathing heard though Vader's helmet.
One might say he's constructed a "technological terror" with his "sorcerer's ways." I think it is time we demonstrated the full power of this station... er... cover! ;)
The Cover:
The Original:
Next week:
I usually lay out the schedule with something down-tempo for the second Sunday of the month and a throwback for the third. I may set that aside depending on what I decide about the handful of seasonal-specific covers I am narrowing down for the holidays. Rest ye surely, they'll be festive!
Comments, suggestions, discussions, etc... welcome!
I'm spinning four times this month! Twice in Boston, once in western Mass, and for NYE in Quincy! My complete schedule for the month, along with links to details and for facebook RSVPs, is available on my website. Feel free to request any disCOVERy found here, out there! ^_^
Explore the darkness,
-Xero
Previous DisCOVERies
Nov 29 - Virgins O.R Pigeons - People Are People (Depeche Mode)
Nov 22 - Wäks - Tanz Mit Laibach (Laibach)
Nov 15 - Libitina - Gothic People(Common People) (Pulp)
Nov 08 - Dead When I Found Her - In the Air Tonight (Phil Collins)
Nov 01 - School of Seven Bells - Kiss Them For Me (Siouxsie and the Banshees)
Directory of All DisCOVERies
First time here? Click here for details from first entry.
It's just under two weeks before the release of the latest Star Wars sequel, so let's look back at one of the iconic masterpieces of the original trilogy's soundtrack and a unique cover:
Celldweller - Imperial March
John Williams has been composing and conducting motion picture scores since the 1960's. Star Wars, released in 1977, was the first of the science-fiction/fantasy films for which he composed. By the time he developed The Imperial March (Darth Vader's Theme) for The Empire Strikes Back in late 1979, he had already composed the scores for five other genre films and the first sequel of Jaws. The March, as performed by the London Symphony Orchestra and recorded for the film, was not the first heard by the public. Roughly three weeks before the box office debut of Empire, Williams premiered the March with the Boston Pops Orchestra for the first time as their principle conductor.
In the film, the March is first subtly (for most, perhaps even imperceptibly,) teased in the opening scene during the deployment of probes from a Star Destroyer. Later it thunderously fills the scene that introduces Darth Vader's first appearance in the film, dramatically revealing beyond question he survived the events of the previous film's ending moments.
Some variation or elements of the Imperial March were later used in the following four films of the franchise. Williams has said he would be including themes from the previous films in The Force Awakens and though it has not been confirmed specifically that themes from the Imperial March would be among those used, it is fair to say there's a strong likelihood.
Fandom of the Star Wars films has grown tremendously over the years after the first trilogy. In 2011, the first Star Wars Day was organized in Canada on the clever date of May the fourth, chosen due to the films' popularized saying, "May the Force be with you." (Lisp, "force.") The idea caught hold and spread. The "May the Fourth" phrasing has earlier origins and the idea of it as an internationally recognized date for celebration had been gaining notice over the few years prior to the organized event.
Four years later, on May 4 of this year, Celldweller released his cover of the Imperial March presumably as his contribution to the celebration.
Klayton, (the electro/industrial artist working under the name "Celldweller,") claims Star Wars, and science fiction generally, as highly influential to his style and music. His version of the March includes droid samplings, industrial & dubstep elements, aggressively FX-filtered guitars and potent dance rhythms. In an additional version, (which you'll find on the click through below,) he vocalizes in the voice of Vader, which adds the repetitive quote, "you don't know the power of the dark side," and keeps rhythm with the signature heavy breathing heard though Vader's helmet.
One might say he's constructed a "technological terror" with his "sorcerer's ways." I think it is time we demonstrated the full power of this station... er... cover! ;)
The Cover:
The Original:
Next week:
I usually lay out the schedule with something down-tempo for the second Sunday of the month and a throwback for the third. I may set that aside depending on what I decide about the handful of seasonal-specific covers I am narrowing down for the holidays. Rest ye surely, they'll be festive!
Comments, suggestions, discussions, etc... welcome!
I'm spinning four times this month! Twice in Boston, once in western Mass, and for NYE in Quincy! My complete schedule for the month, along with links to details and for facebook RSVPs, is available on my website. Feel free to request any disCOVERy found here, out there! ^_^
Explore the darkness,
-Xero
Previous DisCOVERies
Nov 29 - Virgins O.R Pigeons - People Are People (Depeche Mode)
Nov 22 - Wäks - Tanz Mit Laibach (Laibach)
Nov 15 - Libitina - Gothic People(Common People) (Pulp)
Nov 08 - Dead When I Found Her - In the Air Tonight (Phil Collins)
Nov 01 - School of Seven Bells - Kiss Them For Me (Siouxsie and the Banshees)
Directory of All DisCOVERies