The 10 Best Star Wars Songs of All Time, Ranked
The article ranks ten pieces of music heard by characters within the Star Wars universe, arguing that the franchise’s sound extends well beyond John Williams’s orchestral scores. These in-world tracks use styles from jazz and metal to punk and electronic music, helping give different settings their own musical identity.
Examples include “The Mod Parlour”, featuring bassist Thundercat in The Book of Boba Fett, and “Sugaan Essena”, a throat-singing metal track by Mongolian band The Hu in Jedi: Fallen Order. Other entries include “Jabba Flow”, co-written by Lin-Manuel Miranda and J.J. Abrams, “Chicken in the Pot” from Solo, and “Augie’s Great Municipal Band” from The Phantom Menace, which echoes the Emperor’s theme.
In short
- Star Wars music includes songs characters hear in their own world.
- The ranking spans metal, punk, jazz and electronic styles.
- “Jabba Flow” was co-written by Lin-Manuel Miranda and J.J. Abrams.
Explained simply
Star Wars is a science-fiction franchise set across a galaxy of planets, with films, television series and games sharing characters and settings. Its music is best known for John Williams’s orchestral themes, which often accompany the action and are heard by the audience rather than the characters.
The franchise also includes songs that characters hear in places such as bars, celebrations and public events. These tracks draw on styles including jazz, metal and electronic music, and can help distinguish one setting from another.
Some were made with musicians from outside the franchise, including bassist Thundercat and Mongolian band The Hu. Others involve filmmakers Lin-Manuel Miranda and J.J. Abrams, showing how the music connects Star Wars storytelling with a range of real-world artists and traditions.
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