Let me tell you a little story about this blog. It was freakin' brilliant. Woulda brought tears to your eyes, for sure. I had it all typed out, saved, and attached to an e-mail, but when I went to retrieve the attachment on a different computer (after erasing the original file from the other public computer), it simply would not open in any program, with any file extension. Blast!! Sith-spawn! Hutt slime! Poodoo. *kicks pebbles* But enough of that. Let's set the stage, shall we?

Revenge of the Sith. Busy Corucsant skyways, sun gleaming off smooth surfaces, the camera closes in, mushrooms of power...

FREEZE!

Oops, um, I mean...FREEZE! There we go. Anakin looking all sexy. Yeah, that's it. Work it, Jedi. (He knows we know he knows we want it.) Palps, on the other hand, looks like he could use a good chemical peel. They talk and walk, and walk and talk. This scene is more exposition than anything, telling us what we need to know about their current relationship and Anakin's "new hope" for himself in the Jedi Order. He's finally getting the recognition he thinks he deserves. Kinda blah other than that, unless you listen between the lines & seek the difference between "what they say" and what they mean.

P: "I hope you trust me, Anakin." ... I'm gonna sweet talk you now, K?
A: "Of course." ... He likes me! He treats me like a grown-up! Yippee!!
P: "I need your help, son." ... Let's see how far I can take this game. Play the drama card.
A: "What do you mean?" ... *sniff, sniff* I never had a father...
P: "I'm depending on you..." You believe the poodoo that's coming out of my mouth? You're kidding me! This is awesome.
A: "For what? I don't understand." ... Sorry, missed that last part. I was just reminding myself to wax my chest when I get home.
P: "...to be the eyes, ears, and voice of the Republic." ... So you better cut that whining, understand?
P: "Anakin, I'm appointing you to be my personal representative on the Jedi Council." ... Remember what Padme did to "Representative Binks?" This is the equivalent in disguise.
A: "Me? A master? I am overwhelmed, sir." ... Sweet! They got couches and vending machines in there!
A: "The Council elects its own members; they'll never accept this." ... I freakin' hate Mace. I mean, a purple lightsaber? Come on, he won't let me in his special club.
P: "I think they will. They need you. More than you know." ... Heehee! He'll ponder the meaning of that ALL day. There's a mirror over there. Go ahead, I know you want to check yourself out.

John Williams uses lots of dissonance here, which, unless you are Schönberg, represents dark and Sithy-- despair, anger, fear, whateverthekessel that is in the bottom of your hamper. I mean, come on, Anakin. Do you hear this theme and think of flowers & sunshine? Happily ever after with preggers? Nuns & baby ducks? Well, yeah OK. I could see that last one...but the point is, if he only listened, he would catch on. Just think of how different the galaxy could have been, had Anakin only listened to something other than spooky dreams, wrinkly old guys, and his own whiny voice.

The scene concludes as both walk out together, in the same way. The only other place in the Saga where such a thing jumps out at me is the beginning of the ceremony in ANH. Luke and Han in there freakishly sexy boots walk down the steps completely in time with each other. Unfortunately, there is nothing freakishly sexy about Palpatine (nothing any of us would admit, rather). Their synced walk signifies a togetherness that just plain sends chills down my spine, even more so when you consider the Coruscant sky is cloudier than when their little chat began. (Helloooo, Anakin! Symbolism, right there in front of you.) We can all take a lesson from this, can't we? If your surroundings creep you out, you are a SI-ATH!

As great as it's been poking fun at this scene, I must let you in on a little secret: "Save You."* ** *** (The last song on the player.)**** *****

With nearly all pieces I've written, whatever style or instrumentation, I've put down everything I could possibly want in the song (crazy chords, tons of lyrics, 14 key changes, etc.) and end up cutting out more than half. This, however, was always meant to be simple, which is a greater challenge for me than you might imagine. It was all for you, my dearest friends.

So, after you check out the other entries here and on PLB, there are two things I hope you remember about this blog. One: The original version was definitely better than this one. Two: Mushrooms of power.

Forcefully,

JP

*Please don't judge me by my (lack of) piano skills.
**Please don't judge the song by the home recording/editing "system."
***I sure hope you like it.
****If you don't like it, pick one that you do & pretend that's the one I wrote for this blog.
*****Mushrooms. Of power.