Because of the talk of alternate music for ROTJ’s ending, I went for a look for some lesser-known Williams music to put to this scene. Here’s a fun combo:
Start this track at 1:38
https://youtu.be/jH7kblZ1e8U?t=98
and play it concurrently with this from 0:55
https://youtu.be/TvXm5HuR72k?t=55
In all seriousness, I think what’s missing from the Yub Nub ending is a bit more of the underlying instrumentality that appears near the end of the scene. If someone recorded and overlaid an orchestra section which gradually faded in throughout the scene, it would have been perfect. It doesn’t even need to be complicated, a simple melody in strings and brass that follows the vocalists would suffice. As it stands, the ghosts just appear to the sound of tribal drums without any fanfare, and what little there is comes in too late.
You probably don’t recognize me because of the red arm.
Episode 9 Rewrite, The Starlight Project (Released!) and ANH Technicolor Project (Released!)
In all seriousness, I think what’s missing from the Yub Nub ending is a bit more of the underlying instrumentality that appears near the end of the scene.
100% agree. I’m not a fan of Victory Celebration, but I think the orchestrations give it that slight edge over Yub Nub, even if it is a ripoff. If some orchestra can be added to Yub Nub a little earlier in the track, I think it would be a happy medium.
The Skywalker Saga:
I · II · III · IV · V · VI · VII · VIII · IX
This is the way.
Crossposting my comment in the Revisited thread here, because Nev wants this to be the place to discuss replacing Yub Nub:
I was just playing with the End Credits track from the ROTJ soundtrack and threw this together. I think it could work as a replacement for Yub Nub. Obviously needs some cleanup and polish though. Definitely feels more StarWars-y than either official version in my opinion. Maybe Ady will consider an alternate audio track for the Yub Nub naysayers 😂
That one starts out pretty amazing (I’m glad you aren’t saving the main theme needledrop for Rise of Crapwalker), but I’m not so sure about the force ghost moment onwards. It feels a bit weird going from a triumphant rendition of the main theme, straight to another triumphant rendition of the theme in the typical credits music.
Since BedeHistory’s version had the opposite problem (starting out sort of iffy but turning out great by the end), maybe we could hybridize the two approaches? Have the Star Wars theme playing over the initial joyous celebration, but then switch to “Luke and Leia” from the trio reunion onwards.
My preferred Skywalker Saga experience:
I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX
I’ve got one idea, that uses the end credits version of “Parade of the Ewoks” (appropriately upbeat/triumphant for the party - and has Yub Nub vibes sans lyrics), that segues into “Luke and Leia” from the end credits once Luke shows up.
I really dislike “Yub Nub” and “500 Nations Ripoff,” so finding something from the 1983 OST that “works” is my goal.
I’ve got one idea, that uses the end credits version of “Parade of the Ewoks” (appropriately upbeat/triumphant for the party - and has Yub Nub vibes sans lyrics), that segues into “Luke and Leia” from the end credits once Luke shows up.
I like the concept, but I’m not so sure about the execution. Since “Parade of the Ewoks” was written for a battle scene, it ends up making the scene feel weirdly intense (which is definitely not the tone we’re going for).
In general, finding a track that both fits the mood of the scene and syncs up to the theatrical editing (so Ady could have Yub Nub on an alternate audio track if he chooses to do this) is proving to be almost impossible. I’m looking for a track that has the same bittersweet vibe as Victory Celebration, while not being anachronistically “90s”, but pretty much all the tracks that fit the bill don’t have the dramatic pickup you need for a proper Star Wars ending.
In fact, listening to all the tracks that completely fail to work as an ending for ROTJ is honestly making me appreciate Yub Nub more. It’s hard to give a scene of teddy bears dancing any gravitas, so might as well go full “kids movie dance party ending” with it.
My preferred Skywalker Saga experience:
I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX
Yeah, “Yub Nub” with the Williams orchestral backing (like Neverar suggested) is looking a lot more appealing. It’s in-keeping with the original intent, albeit with a bit more gravitas.
The music debate almost makes me wish the movie ended with the pyre scene. In a radical reinterpretation of the movie that could work, but the focus should be on better executing the OG ending.
There’s this: https://youtu.be/ZE9ZaAvhMhg
Okay, I took the Despecialized ending from here and threw the audio into a MIDI editor and added some orchestra and brass elements to the Force Ghost section. Nothing huge, and it’s pretty rough since I didn’t know anything about MIDI editing before today.
Here’s the result.
You probably don’t recognize me because of the red arm.
Episode 9 Rewrite, The Starlight Project (Released!) and ANH Technicolor Project (Released!)
Crossposting from Ady’s ROTJ Revisited Thread:
I had some time after work, so I decided to do one more pass.
https://streamable.com/n0zy8y
The Skywalker Saga:
I · II · III · IV · V · VI · VII · VIII · IX
This is the way.
I’ve had a surprising idea for a radical restructuring of ROTJ - end it with TLJ’s Broom Kid finale. Give it a subtitle like “30 years later” or something like that, and show Luke’s story to be a myth inspiring people around the galaxy to find The Force. It wouldn’t work in a more faithful fan edit, but in something that tries to reinterpret the OT/saga, it could work.
This kinda rips off the idea of Luke Skywalker and the Shadows of Mindor (legends of Luke vs. reality of Luke), but that’s a good legends novel to emulate.
Of you could end it with this if you’re not a coward.
You probably don’t recognize me because of the red arm.
Episode 9 Rewrite, The Starlight Project (Released!) and ANH Technicolor Project (Released!)
Of you could end it with this if you’re not a coward.
I was thinking this.
I would like a version of Rotj with Yub Nub minus the choir. That silly choir rubs (or yubs) people the wrong way, although the music is excellent. There’s a very good version by a different orchestra/conductor on this cd. https://www.amazon.com/Star-Wars-Return-John-Williams/dp/B000003F46
JFS
I really want Sebastian Shaw to morph into Hayden Christensen - but not the same shot of Christensen that was used for the DVD/Blu-Ray release.
Heck - morph Alec into Ewan…Yoda can stay the same.
Why must Yoda stay the same? Yoda passed away before the Prequels were shot but they had a nice recast followed by a CGI reconstruction. Have him morph from puppet to CGI.
An idea popped in there.
Never liked Yoda’s death scene.
So imagine Luke has just rescued Han. Luke announces to the audience his intention to return to Yoda. We see the swamps of Dagobah Yoda is meditating. We hear engines and see an out of focus ship land behind him. “I sensed you coming old friend. The time has come. One last lesson have I” It’s not Luke. A red Saber ignites, Vader’s breath. “I will teach you to die”. When Luke gets back Yoda is one with the Force. His hut is smoldering ruins. The dialogue with Ben’s ghost continues as before.
I’ve had a surprising idea for a radical restructuring of ROTJ - end it with TLJ’s Broom Kid finale. Give it a subtitle like “30 years later” or something like that, and show Luke’s story to be a myth inspiring people around the galaxy to find The Force. It wouldn’t work in a more faithful fan edit, but in something that tries to reinterpret the OT/saga, it could work.
This kinda rips off the idea of Luke Skywalker and the Shadows of Mindor (legends of Luke vs. reality of Luke), but that’s a good legends novel to emulate.
Honestly, I’ve had the same sort of idea as a hypothetical little experiment. Ending ROTJ as is but then pulling a Harry Potter and creating an epilogue scene using footage from TBOBF and The Force Awakens to show a new unnamed Jedi student approaching Luke Skywalker to wordlessly ask him train her in the ways of the Force.
Speaking of endings, I always liked the idea of ending the movie on the bonfire shot rather than on the whole Ewok/planets celebration. Especially in light of the story the Sequels entail. I know Spence did this very thing for his ROTJ edit.
Okay, I took the Despecialized ending from here and threw the audio into a MIDI editor and added some orchestra and brass elements to the Force Ghost section. Nothing huge, and it’s pretty rough since I didn’t know anything about MIDI editing before today.
Here’s the result.
I did some more work on embiggening the orchestra at the end of ROTJ, and I’m quite pleased with it.
Now Lando is clapping to a drumbeat that we can hear!
Here is the original music for easy comparison. My changes start with Luke seeing the Force Ghosts.
You probably don’t recognize me because of the red arm.
Episode 9 Rewrite, The Starlight Project (Released!) and ANH Technicolor Project (Released!)