Ever wonder how the main theme from The Mandalorian would sound if it was part of an arcade game's soundtrack? Well, one fan took it upon themselves to find out in the most creative way possible. In a tribute to the series posted last year, they gave its famous score an 8-bit remix.
Music has always been a key part of Star Wars, from "Duel of the Fates" to "The Imperial March." Love them or hate them, every Star Wars film is full of amazing themes from the galaxy far, far away. Longtime composer John Williams leaving the series, however, has left newcomers with big shoes to fill. Still, of every composer who's tried matching the magic that Williams brought to the franchise, Ludwig Göransson might come closest.
Göransson has flirted with fame before, drawing recognition for his work on films such as Marvel Studios' Black Panther and Tenet. However, The Mandalorian is definitely his highest-profile work yet, so he hasn't taken the task of scoring it lightly. For the titular character's theme, he drew from a few different avenues of inspiration. It mixes the spacey atmosphere found in the very best of Williams' work with a modern, electronic sound. Thus, it lends itself very well to the type of remix that YouTube channel 8 Bit Universe specializes in.
The team behind 8 Bit Universe has covered a crazy amount of songs over their long history on YouTube. For instance, they've done an entire set of Star Wars themes. Their most popular videos include tributes to "Feel Good Inc." and "Take On Me," among others. One features a man configuring his car to play their 8-bit version of Toto's "Africa". While the channel is hardly obscure, it feels like they've earned each of their nearly 200 million video views. Still, their take on The Mandalorian's theme might be the best tribute they've done yet, for a few reasons.
First, the sci-fi world of Star Wars blends well with the aesthetic of 8-bit remixes. The Mandalorian remix makes this clear, even in its video's thumbnail. The pixel art (credited to PXLFLX) gives the desired effect right from the get-go, and the beauty continues with the music itself. Second, the retro influence in the theme for The Mandalorian is impossible for any fan to miss. And since 8-bit music, in general, has a similar sound, the remix doesn't feel too far from the original. Overall, it's a stunning take on one of the best Star Wars themes in recent memory.
With so much more Star Wars on the way, there's also plenty of great music in store. With any luck, 8 Bit Universe will still be around with their signature dash of creativity when the time comes.
Both seasons of The Mandalorian are available to stream on Disney Plus.
Source: 8 Bit Universe