This week's poll!

In last week's poll, most of you said "abso-freakin-lutely" to the idea of bringing Star Wars: A Musical Journey to the U.S.. Good thing because they are going to bring the show here sometime in the future!

[Poll #1358003]

Songs that remind of you of SW but have nothing to do with SW

SW has its grand, sweeping, and memorable scores by the brilliant John Williams. What's magical about them is whenever you hear the music, you can picture in your head the moments in the films that correspond with that music.

Thanks to the post-MTV age (for not even MTV actually shows videos anymore), we also have a funny way of connecting songs that aren't in the movies with our favorite characters or scenes. I'm convinced Evanescence's 2003 album "Fallen" is the official Anakin/Padmé angstfest soundtrack (never mind those knuckleheads who think it's about Buffy/Spike or Harry/Draco or whatever...we know the truth!) and that old Moody Blues chestnut "The Voice" is an early SW-inspired piece cleverly disguised as a love song. This is why we have fan mixes and the fanvid, which was once long ago the song tape. We've also derived many a filk from pop/country/whatever music.

But there are the songs that aren't part of Williams' repertoire, nor are their lyrics reminiscent of some aspect of the saga. These are songs that were really popular as SW was rocking the box office and the stuff was everywhere, so they became part of the SW experience by default. I reflected upon this the other day as I heard Smash Mouth's "All Star." It was EVERYWHERE the spring/summer of 1999, as ubiquitous as TPM merchandise. If "All Star" was on the radio, chances were I was on my way to or from yet another viewing of TPM, eating at Taco Hell so I could get more TPM premiums, or buying more collectibles at some store. So that song is irrevocably tied to the TPM era for me, even if it was in that movie "Shrek" two years later. Ditto could be said for another ubiquitous song the same time, Len's "Steal My Sunshine." So what if it was originally in the movie "Go," which came out the same year? I've never seen "Go" while I've seen TPM a zillion times.

Whenever I hear Korn's "Here To Stay," Vanessa Carlton's "Thousand Miles," or anything off of Michelle Branch's "Spirit Room" album, I start flashbacking to the AOTC era. Okay, so I guess "Everywhere" or especially "All You Wanted" could remind one of A/P. That was especially true for The Corrs' cover of "When The Stars Go Blue." When Gwen Stefani's "Hollaback Girl" or The Killers' "Mr. Brightside" come on, it's the summer of Sith all over again.

Because I am old, this is not just a PT phenomenon. Nope, I hear The Prodigy's "Firestarter" or Sneaker Pimps' "Six Underground" and I'm having Special Edition flashbacks. "Don't Stop Believing" doesn't remind me of the final "Sopranos" episode, it reminds me of the time ROTJ was out. Same for anything off of Michael Jackson's "Thriller" (and you thought you couldn't get away from Smash Mouth...sheesh) or Duran Duran's "Rio" or Culture Club's first album. Anything from Blondie circa 1980-81, Michael Jackson's "Off The Wall," and whatever else was popular at the local roller rink remind me of the summer of 1980. Even the slow R&B slobberfests popular on the radio in Miami back in the day remind me of that time, stuff like Billy Preston and Serena's "Born Again." But few things really bring back the summer of 1977 like Fleetwood Mac's "Rumours," which was the ANH of the recording world for most of that year. Until the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack came out and disco took over everything.

I'm telling you, it's all like a bad episode of Cold Case! I can't possibly be the only person who experiences this. Please share...