Terminal Jedi
EXPERIMENT #88
"Terminal Jedi"
FILM
Star Wars (1995 "Faces" VHS).
ALBUM
Plastic Surgery Disasters by Dead Kennedys. Eschews much of the quirkiness of Fresh Fruit in favor of a darker, creepier approach. Musically, this has to be the DK's apex. An intense storm of bitter psychodelic punk noise. Jello's lyrics were never more pointed or full of disgust (and he sings 'em well, too). There are moments of comic relief, the best of which comes early in the form of intense clarinetting on the break-neck "Terminal Preppie."
SYNCHS
- One of the cymbal flushes in the middle of "Trust Your Mechanic" coincides with the explosion near the escape pod that convinces C-3PO to abandon the Tantive IV.
- The hippie shrieks of joy (pain?) in "Forest Fire" coincide with R2-D2's reaction to being shot by the Jawa.
- The line "is that a house or a fortress against the rest of the world?" in "Forest Fire" coincides with the first exterior shot of the sandcrawler.
- The line "how ya gonna get out?" in "Forest Fire" is heard as R2 wakes up aboard the sandcrawler and looks around.
- The phrase "why don't you take your social regulations and shove 'em up your ass" is heard in "Halloween" as Luke looks angrily at his Uncle after he it told he cannot go to the Toschi Station (I imagine Luke was thinking something along those lines at that moment).
- The "shit!" in the middle of "Riot" coincides with a shot of Luke appearing dejected over his Uncle's insistence that he stay on the farm another season.
- The line "the barricades spring up from nowhere" is heard in "Riot" and Uncle Owen explains to Luke why he can't go to the Academy yet.
- "I Am the Owl" starts at about the time Obi-Wan pulls off his hood, revealing himself to R2-D2.
- During "Dead End," the phrase "die in the end" is heard repeatedly; in one instance, the camera is on Obi-Wan, who does die in the end of the film. In another instance, the camera is on the Death Star, and then quickly cuts to the conference room inside. Everyone aboard the Death Star at that point (except Vader) dies in the end of the film.
NOTES
First of all, a big thanks to all the people who have been commenting lately (especially those of you leaving positive comments). It's cool to know people are checking this blog out and having a reaction, one way or another.
Something I didn't include with the rest of the synchs but I thought was cool anyway was what happened during "Moon Over Marin." During the middle of that song, when it goes back to that dissonant opening part, Luke discovers his Aunt and Uncle are dead. As the notes are ringing out, you can see the pain on his face. As soon as he looks away, that arpeggio that leads into the solo begins. The song ends as Obi-Wan walks out of frame with Luke after Luke tells him he wants to go to Alderaan.
I thought that was neat, because the melody/harmony of that song is pretty emotional. However, it's called "Moon Over Marin," not "Suns Over Tatooine" or "The Empire Killed My Family, So Now I'm Gettin' the Hell Outta Here." The theme of the song doesn't really connect in any way to these particular scenes, so it's not a true synch (not by my standards, anyway).
There were a few other instances like that. "Well Paid Scientist" started the moment the film cut to Princess Leia being lead to Darth Vader by the stormtroopers. The bass that opens that song seemed to convey the weight of what was about to happen, but then Jello had to break in with, "You're a well-paid scientist, you only talk in facts," which had absolutely nothing to do with the Rebellion against the Empire, the Imperial Senate, stolen data tapes, Darth Vader, or Princess Leia. The singing started the same time Leia starting talking, though, and that was kind of cool.
Another one was the fast part of "Forest Fire," which started as all the Jawas came out of their hiding places to descend upon R2-D2. I think. I can't remember exactly. Not that it means anything, anyway. They weren't in a forest, and there sure as hell wasn't any fire. It just looked funny, you know? All those Jawas scrambling around to really fast music...
Well, as I'm sure you can see, these untrue synchs (yes, I totally just made that term up) just get less and less remarkable as I go on, so why don't I stop here, for both our benefit?
"Terminal Jedi"
FILM
Star Wars (1995 "Faces" VHS).
ALBUM
Plastic Surgery Disasters by Dead Kennedys. Eschews much of the quirkiness of Fresh Fruit in favor of a darker, creepier approach. Musically, this has to be the DK's apex. An intense storm of bitter psychodelic punk noise. Jello's lyrics were never more pointed or full of disgust (and he sings 'em well, too). There are moments of comic relief, the best of which comes early in the form of intense clarinetting on the break-neck "Terminal Preppie."
SYNCHS
- One of the cymbal flushes in the middle of "Trust Your Mechanic" coincides with the explosion near the escape pod that convinces C-3PO to abandon the Tantive IV.
- The hippie shrieks of joy (pain?) in "Forest Fire" coincide with R2-D2's reaction to being shot by the Jawa.
- The line "is that a house or a fortress against the rest of the world?" in "Forest Fire" coincides with the first exterior shot of the sandcrawler.
- The line "how ya gonna get out?" in "Forest Fire" is heard as R2 wakes up aboard the sandcrawler and looks around.
- The phrase "why don't you take your social regulations and shove 'em up your ass" is heard in "Halloween" as Luke looks angrily at his Uncle after he it told he cannot go to the Toschi Station (I imagine Luke was thinking something along those lines at that moment).
- The "shit!" in the middle of "Riot" coincides with a shot of Luke appearing dejected over his Uncle's insistence that he stay on the farm another season.
- The line "the barricades spring up from nowhere" is heard in "Riot" and Uncle Owen explains to Luke why he can't go to the Academy yet.
- "I Am the Owl" starts at about the time Obi-Wan pulls off his hood, revealing himself to R2-D2.
- During "Dead End," the phrase "die in the end" is heard repeatedly; in one instance, the camera is on Obi-Wan, who does die in the end of the film. In another instance, the camera is on the Death Star, and then quickly cuts to the conference room inside. Everyone aboard the Death Star at that point (except Vader) dies in the end of the film.
NOTES
First of all, a big thanks to all the people who have been commenting lately (especially those of you leaving positive comments). It's cool to know people are checking this blog out and having a reaction, one way or another.
Something I didn't include with the rest of the synchs but I thought was cool anyway was what happened during "Moon Over Marin." During the middle of that song, when it goes back to that dissonant opening part, Luke discovers his Aunt and Uncle are dead. As the notes are ringing out, you can see the pain on his face. As soon as he looks away, that arpeggio that leads into the solo begins. The song ends as Obi-Wan walks out of frame with Luke after Luke tells him he wants to go to Alderaan.
I thought that was neat, because the melody/harmony of that song is pretty emotional. However, it's called "Moon Over Marin," not "Suns Over Tatooine" or "The Empire Killed My Family, So Now I'm Gettin' the Hell Outta Here." The theme of the song doesn't really connect in any way to these particular scenes, so it's not a true synch (not by my standards, anyway).
There were a few other instances like that. "Well Paid Scientist" started the moment the film cut to Princess Leia being lead to Darth Vader by the stormtroopers. The bass that opens that song seemed to convey the weight of what was about to happen, but then Jello had to break in with, "You're a well-paid scientist, you only talk in facts," which had absolutely nothing to do with the Rebellion against the Empire, the Imperial Senate, stolen data tapes, Darth Vader, or Princess Leia. The singing started the same time Leia starting talking, though, and that was kind of cool.
Another one was the fast part of "Forest Fire," which started as all the Jawas came out of their hiding places to descend upon R2-D2. I think. I can't remember exactly. Not that it means anything, anyway. They weren't in a forest, and there sure as hell wasn't any fire. It just looked funny, you know? All those Jawas scrambling around to really fast music...
Well, as I'm sure you can see, these untrue synchs (yes, I totally just made that term up) just get less and less remarkable as I go on, so why don't I stop here, for both our benefit?
posted by james at 8:11 AM
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