Diegetic music is music "that occurs as part of the action (rather than as background), and can be heard by the film's characters". In addition to the orchestral scope that was brought on by John Williams' musical score, the
Star Wars franchise also features many distinguishing diegetic songs that enrich the detail of the audio
mise-en-scène. Some of this diegetic music was written by John Williams; some by his son, Joseph; and some by various other people. From
Star Wars • "Cantina Band" and "Cantina Band #2". Written by John Williams, it is played in the Mos Eisley Cantina on Tatooine. It is written for solo trumpet, three saxophones, clarinet, Fender Rhodes piano, steel drum, synthesizer and various percussion, including boobams and toms. According to the
Star Wars Customizable Card Game, the
diegetic title for the first Cantina band piece is "Mad About Me". The liner notes for the 1997 Special Edition release of the
Star Wars soundtrack describe the concept behind these works as "several creatures in a future century finding some 1930's
Benny Goodman swing band music ... and how they might attempt to interpret it". This piece also appears on an all the outtake
easter eggs on the
Episode I and
Episode II and on the bonus disc of the 2004 original trilogy DVD set. From
Return of the Jedi • "Jabba's Baroque Recital".
Mozart-esque John Williams composition (featuring a synthesized harpsichord) played while 3PO and R2 first arrive and play Jabba the message from Luke Skywalker. • "Lapti Nek". Written by
Joseph Williams (John Williams' son) and translated into Huttese, this is played by the Max Rebo Band in Jabba the Hutt's palace (in the original cut of the movie). • "Jedi Rocks" (composed by
Jerry Hey). This was composed to replace "Lapti Nek" for the 1997 Special Edition of the film. • "Max Rebo Band Jams". Heard twice in the film, once after Jabba sends the Wookiee Chewbacca to jail, and again on Jabba's sail barge
Khetanna (hence its title). A recording of the first can be found on the official
Star Wars Soundboards. • "Ewok Feast" and "Part of the Tribe". By John Williams. Heard when Luke and company were captured by the Ewoks and brought to their treehouses. • "Ewok Celebration". The Victory Song, whose lyrics were written by
Joseph Williams, can be heard at the end of the original release of
Return of the Jedi. • "Victory Celebration". By John Williams. The Victory Song at the end of the
Return of the Jedi 1997 re-edition. From
The Phantom Menace • "Tatooine Street Music".
Joseph Williams wrote four separate pieces of unusual, vaguely Eastern sounding source music for the streets of Mos Espa, featuring a player on Cretan Lyra and Cumbus, and a solo, wailing female vocal. • "Augie's Municipal Band". By John Williams. Music played during the peace parade at the end of the film, it is a sped-up, attenuated trumpet and boy choir composition. It is closely related to the Emperor's Theme, but is not an outright quote of it. From
Attack of the Clones • "Dex's Diner" • "Unknown Episode II Source Cue". A second source cue is credited to
Joseph Williams' name for Episode II, but is not heard in the film. • "Arena Percussion". Originally meant to accompany the Droid Factory sequence,
Ben Burtt's attempt at composition is instead shifted to the arena, replacing the predominantly unused
John Williams cue "Entrance of the Monsters." From
The Force Awakens • "Jabba Flow" and "Dobra Doompa". Written by
Lin-Manuel Miranda and
J. J. Abrams, these songs were played at
Maz Kanata's castle. From
The Last Jedi • "Canto Bight". Written by John Williams, it appears when Finn and Rose first arrive to the casino planet of Canto Bight. It is written in the style of big-band jazz and is stylistically akin to the "Cantina Band" music from
Star Wars. The track features solo alto saxophone, two baritone saxophones, solo clarinet, trombones,
kazoo, muted trumpets, Fender Rhodes piano, bass, synthesizers, steel drums, and various percussion, including washboards and goblet drums. The track briefly quotes "
Aquarela do Brasil" (which also features hi-hat and ride cymbals) by
Ary Barroso as a reference to the 1985
Terry Gilliam film
Brazil, and includes a brief piano statement of Williams' and Johnny Mercer's theme from
The Long Goodbye. • "Caretaker party music": source cue of an unknown composition (possibly by Williams), which features highland bagpipes and a didgeridoo, and accompanies a deleted scene from the film. From
The Rise of Skywalker • "Lido Hey": Written by
Lin-Manuel Miranda and
J. J. Abrams and performed by Shag Kava, a musical moniker for Miranda and Abrams. Plays as the main characters participate and traverse the Festival of Ancestors on the desert planet Pasaana. • "Oma's Place": Performed by Ricky Tinez and J. J. Abrams. Plays as the main characters enter a bar owned by Oma Tres (featuring composer John Williams in a cameo role) on the planet Kijimi. From
Solo: A Star Wars Story • "Chicken in the Pot". Written by John Powell, it is performed on Dryden Vos' yacht when Solo reunites with Qi'ra and first meets Vos. ==Reception==