The Force Theme: Your Favorite Cues? [Archive Inside]

It started out as "Ben's Theme", and has come to represent the Force - at least the light side. Also, it is the theme that John Williams has come back to in the saga more than any of his original Star Wars themes. The first of the sequel trilogy is upon us, and breaking box office records. With a title like The Force Awakens, it's no wonder we have several more cues using this great theme.

So, it's time for a new Force Theme thread! There are way too many cues for a poll, but what are your favorites? Maybe a list of the top five or ten? To help you choose, here's an updated archive. I've referenced the tracks on the 1997 RCA Special Edition compact disc soundtracks, the TPM Ultimate Edition, and the original soundtracks for the rest. Please let me know of any additions or corrections.

The Force Theme Archive

A New Hope
Leia programs R2 [Imperial Attack, 2:21]
Binary Sunset [Binary Sunset, 2:21]
"He's nowhere in sight." [Binary Sunset, 3:27]
"Come here my little friend." [Attack Of The Sand People, 2:47]
"Now that's a name I've not heard in a long time." [Tales Of A Jedi Knight, 0:09]
"The Force is what gives a Jedi his power." [Learn About The Force, 2:11]
"Learn about the Force, Luke." [Learn About The Force, 3:53]
"Wait, Luke, it's too dangerous!" [Burning Homestead, 0:58]
Luke finds Owen & Beru's bodies [Burning Homestead, 1:30]
"I want to come with you to Alderaan." [Mos Eisley Spaceport, 0:31]
"Move along, move along." [Mos Eisley Spaceport, 1:53]
"Chewie, get us outta here!"[The Millennium Falcon, 1:54]
"Looks like an Imperial cruiser." [Imperial Cruiser Pursuit, 2:16]
"This is ridiculous." [The Death Star/The Stormtroopers, 1:46]
Obi-Wan's death [Ben Kenobi's Death, 0:00]
"I can't believe he's gone." [TIE Fighter Attack, 1:01]
"I'm gonna cut across the axis and try and draw their fire."[The Battle Of Yavin: X-wings Draw Fire, 1:11]
"This is Red Five, I'm going in." [The Battle Of Yavin: X-wings Draw Fire, 1:31]
"Watch your back Luke, watch your back." [The Battle Of Yavin: X-wings Draw Fire, 3:40]
"I can't shake him." [The Battle Of Yavin: X-wings Draw Fire, 4:02]
"Use the Force, Luke." [The Battle Of Yavin: Use The Force, 6:49]
Medal Ceremony [The Throne Room, 0:17]

The Empire Strikes Back
Luke gets his lightsaber [The Wampa's Lair, 1:07]
"You will go to the Dagobah system." [Vision of Obi-Wan, 4:52]
"Begin retreat. Fall Back." [The Battle Of Hoth: Beneath The AT-AT, 10:21]
“There’s something familiar about this place.” [Arrival On Dagobah, 4:35]
"Much anger in him. Like his father." [Jedi Master Revealed, 0:09]
"He is too old. Yes, too old to begin the training." [Jedi Master Revealed, 1:27]
"I'm not afraid." [Jedi Master Revealed, 1:52]
*not used in film [The Training Of A Jedi Knight, 1:06]
"For my ally is the Force." [Yoda And The Force, 0:58]
"Through the Force, things you will see..." [City In The Clouds, 2:23]
"Even Yoda cannot see their fate." [Lando's Palace, 1:42]
"And I'll return. I promise." [Lando's Palace, 3:17]
*not used in film [Departure Of Boba Fett, 10:58]
"Leia, hear me... Leia." [Rescue From Cloud City, 3:21]
"I'll meet you at the rendezvous point on Tatooine." [The Rebel Fleet, 0:03]

Return Of The Jedi
The rancor picks up Luke [The Den Of The Rancor, 5:18]
"Strong am I with the Force, but not that strong." [The Death Of Yoda, 2:52]
"Your father he is." [The Death Of Yoda, 4:33]
"Luke, the Force runs strong in your family." [The Death Of Yoda, 6:15]
“I can't do it R2.” [The Death of Yoda 7:33]
*not used in film [Obi-Wan's Revelation, 8:57]
*not used in film [Obi-Wan's Revelation, 9:45]
"Vader's on that ship." [Shuttle Tydirium Approaches Endor, 2:03]
"I'm endangering the mission." [Shuttle Tydirium Approaches Endor, 2:41]
Luke levitates C3PO [The Levitation, 0:19]
3PO tells of Obi-Wan/Vader duel [Threepio's Bedtime Story, 1:56]
"Leia, do you remember your mother--your real mother?" [tracked from Yoda And The Force, 0:58]
"You're wrong, Leia. You have that power too." [Brother And Sister, 0:29]
“That was why you couldn’t destroy me.” [Father And Son, 4:50]
"Obi-Wan has taught you well." [Battle Of Endor II: The Duel Begins, 1:20]
"There is no conflict." [Battle Of Endor II: The Duel Begins, 2:16]
"I am a Jedi." [Battle Of Endor II: The Dark Side Beckons, 6:31]
Vader lifts the Emperor [Battle Of Endor II: The Emperor's Death, 9:09]
*not used in film [Light Of The Force, 1:19]
Luke lights Vader's funeral pyre [Light Of The Force, 2:13]

The Phantom Menace
Qui-Gon melts the blast doors [Fighting The Destroyer Doids, 1:03]
"The Force in unusually strong with him." [Shmi And Qui-Gon Talk, 1:38]
"Feel, don't think." [Qui-Gon's Pep Talk, 0:35]
“The life of a Jedi…” [Anakin Is Free,1:14]
"Don't look back." [Anakin Is Free, 4:48]
“Anakin Skywalker, meet Obi-Wan Kenobi.” [Qui-Gon And Darth Maul Meet, 1:37]
"Fear is the path to the dark side." [Anakin's Test, 1:16]
"May the Force be with you." [Qui-Gon's Mission, 1:35]
"Now this is pod-racing." [The Tide Turns, 0:57]
Obi-Wan senses Qui-Gon's lightsaber [The Death Of Darth Maul, 1:51]
"What will happen to me now?" [Funeral Of Qui-Gon, 0:26]

Attack Of The Clones
Anakin and Padme depart for Naboo [Departing Coruscant, 0:49]
"Dangerous and disturbing this puzzle is." [Yoda And The Younglings, 3:10]
"Anakin." "I won't be long." [Return To Tatooine, 3:10]
Anakin battles Geonosians on the conveyor belt [Confrontation With Count Dooku And Finale, 0:09]
Anakin Force-throws droid parts at Geonosians [not on soundtrack]
"She would do her duty." [Love Pledge And The Arena, 7:40]

Revenge Of The Sith

Boys Into Battle [Star Wars And The Revenge Of The Sith, 1:38]
* not used in film [Grievous And the Droids, 3:13]
Landing the Invisible Hand [tracked from The Tide Turns, 0:57]
“Rejoice for those around you who transform into the Force.” [Anakin's Dream, 3:32]
“Good relations with the Wookiees, I have.” [Palpatine's Teachings, 2:59]
Obi-Wan departs for Utapau [not on soundtrack]
Obi-Wan arrives at Utapau [not on soundtrack]
Obi-Wan riding the Boga [General Grievous, 0:38]
Anakin jumps in a speeder [not on soundtrack]
“He must stand trial.” [not on soundtrack]
Yoda vs. clone troopers [Enter Lord Vader, 3:43]
Obi-Wan/Anakin force push [Anakin Vs. Obi-Wan, 3:21,]
“I have failed you, Anakin.” [Battle Of The Heroes, 1:56]
“Obi-Wan Kenobi has made contact.” [not on soundtrack]
Padmé’s death [The Birth Of The Twins And Padmé's Destiny, 1:54]
“She was alive. I felt it.” [The Birth Of The Twins And Padmé's Destiny, 2:53]
“To Tatooine, to his family send him.” [not on soundtrack]
“Qui-Gon?” [not on soundtrack]
Star Destroyer bridge [not on soundtrack]
Arrival at Alderaan [not on soundtrack]
Obi-Wan gives Luke to Beru [A New Hope And End Credits, 0:51]
* not used in film [A New Hope And End Credits, 7:04]

The Force Awakens
“Yeah, I knew him. I knew Luke.” [not on soundtrack]
“It’s all true.” [not on soundtrack]
“The light. It’s always been there.” [Maz’s Counsel, 2:14]
“Luke is a Jedi… you’re his father.” [Han And Leia, 4:03]
* partial [Torn Apart, 3:13]
* not used in film [The Ways Of The Force, 0:13]
Rey gets the lightsaber [Tracked from Burning Homestead, 1:30]
“The Force…” [The Ways Of The Force, 1:50]
Rey grounds Kylo’s saber [The Ways Of The Force, 2:38]
* partial [Scherzo For X-Wings, 2:08]
* not used in film [Farewell And The Trip, 0:48]
The map is complete ? [Farewell And The Trip, 2:13]
Rey meets Luke [The Jedi Steps And Finale, 1:37]
End credits [The Jedi Steps And Finale, 7:28]

 

My favourite is definitely the one that plays in the opening of ROTS. That track is incredible.

You could try and cover The Clone Wars or Rebels, but that would take ages.

 

ANH: Binary Sunset - It just gives me so many chills.
ESB: "For my ally is the force" - A very powerful scene where Yoda helps Luke understand that the force is beyond the physical.
ROTJ: Vader lifts the Emperor - It might be the best moment into the entire saga. I don't think they could've used a better cue for such a pivotal moment.
TPM: Obi-Wan senses Qui-Gon's lightsaber - Quiet and subdued but it really fits Obi-Wan feeling the force.
AOTC: "I won't be long" - I really like this short scene in general.
ROTS: Obi-Wan/Anakin Force Push - A really tense moment. It shows that at this moment in the fight, the two former friends are equals.
TFA: Rey gets the Lightsaber - Using the near exact version of this cue that was used for the burning homestead is very tense, but I really like it.

 

It's not a "near exact version", it's actually the same version, tracked over the original music (that appears on the CD).

 

Yes, for someone who has heard that cue hundreds of times, it is very powerful. The moment mirrors Luke's journey in ANH. He refuses to join Obi-Wan until he sees the charred bodies of Owen and Beru. Rey refuses the saber from Maz, until Finn is defeated.

 

Such a powerful cover

 

I know that it's more iconic in Binary Sunset and Light of the Force, but the Throne Room is my favourite.

 

I loved it's usage in Force Awakens at the climax, literally had the crowd cheering. It comes back pretty quickly too at the "You need a teacher!" moment but, dammit, this is important!

 

The triumphant rendition in "Farewell and the Trip" highlighted by heraldic trumpets.

 

"She would do her duty." [Love Pledge And The Arena, 7:40]

 

"She would do her duty," starting @ 4:58:

 

"I won't be long" without a doubt. It's also probably my favorite scene of the prequel trilogy.

 

That one along with when Anakin and Obi-Wan try to Force push each other, are my favorites. Oh, and the one that plays when Obi-Wan leaves for Utapau is quite the eargasm.

 

The statement of the Force theme at 3:14 of "Torn Apart" is consistently chill-inducing. A lot of this is due to the superior balls-to-the-wall performance from the Hollywood orchestra (I still find it mystifying that people are labeling their performance as "subpar". It's one of the best performances I've heard in many years, even besting the Prequel recordings in many ways. Perhaps it's a subconscious bias against non-LSO orchestras)
It's a shame it didn't make it into the final film.

 

'The Final Battle' and 'Binary Sunset' are my favourites. Brilliant use of dynamics in both with the sudden swelling crescendo lifting the motif right into the centre of attention.
It's a very powerful motif, and I've noticed that even though it is used in different keys and arrangements it is nearly impossible to conceal. You hear the final lifting interval and it shows every time. The use in SW '77 is spine chilling (I literally get a tickle in my back when I hear it!).

 

Leia's News/Light of the Force. A whole cue of Force theme goodness.

 

That's one of my favorites as well. But the poor sound quality of ROTJ's recording just hurts me. I almost never listen to it.

 

My favorite is the one featured in ROTJ when Darth Vader is on the funeral pyre. From the ROTJ soundtrack that entire piece includes more. I believe it's called the Skywalker Legacy or something similar on the actual soundtrack.

I also kind of like the cue in the opening of ROTS too.

 

It's called Leia's News/Light of the Force.

 

Rogue One
Bail Organa appears [not on soundtrack]
Jyn, Cassian, and K2 depart for Jedha [Trust Goes Both Ways, 0:40]
"May the Force be with us." [Rogue One, 0:21]
"He served me well during the Clone Wars." [Rogue One, 1:40]
The Rebel Fleet arrives at Scarif [Scrambling the Rebel Fleet, 1:02]
"Your Highness, the transmission we received." [Hope, 1:17]

 

Obi-Wan and Anakin force push, Owen and Beru's remains, Vader's funeral pyre, and the end of TFA.

 

The cue playing over the shot of Rey and Ren's sabers at the ten past eight positions, right before she disarms him - here.

 

As soon as I saw the title of this thread, I thought of this gem:

 

Binary Sunset; it's perfect. If I were to pick another as my favorite, it would be the "Use the Force, Luke" cue in The Battle of Yavin. I love how it goes from tense action to ethereal Force theme; it's such a magical moment. Next would be The Rebel Fleet (love those strings) and the funeral pyre.

 

When Luke reaches for his lightsaber in the Wampa cave. That's definitely my favorite execution of the theme.

Though, I am partial to its usage when Anakin starts tossing stuff around with the Force in the Droid Factory on Geonosis.