60 Minutes Overtime Reveals Opening Music to Star Wars: The Force Awakens

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As an accompaniment to the 60 Minutes feature on The Force Awakens that aired tonight, CBS also released some additional interviews with those responsible for the story on their website through the online feature 60 Minutes Overtime.  There is a good amount of additional info and insight in the piece, but chief among them is the reveal of the music that will play directly after the Opening Crawl at the beginning of the film.

 

The piece is on the quiet side.  Something more akin to Empire Strikes Back or Attack of the Clones than the bombastic beginnings of A New Hope or Revenge of the Sith.  And of course knowing how the movie opens invites the mind to speculate as to what images will accompany that music after those yellow letters fade off into space.

 

Watch the video below to hear the piece as well as Abrams’ take on working with Lawrence Kasdan and a bit of new footage from the editing bay of Rey and BB8 on Jakku.

 

Click the link to watch the video: 60 Minutes Overtime

 

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51 thoughts on “60 Minutes Overtime Reveals Opening Music to Star Wars: The Force Awakens

  • December 14, 2015 at 3:38 am
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    Age has not stopped John Williams creativity one IOTA!!!! Goosebumps, man.

  • December 14, 2015 at 3:38 am
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    “the bombastic beginnings of A New Hope or Revenge of the Sith”

    that piece at the beginning of sith was so awesome, it set the scene so well. that being said, i’ll wait to see what he has in store for us this time.

  • December 14, 2015 at 4:02 am
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    Great documentary, even got some scenes and insight into making process, while not being too spoilery. Worth to see.

  • December 14, 2015 at 4:04 am
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    The music sounds a little soft and restrained to begin with, so I would speculate it doesn’t initially begin with the First Order, perhaps the first characters we see are Poe and BB-8 in their X-Wing heading for Jakku. The tempo later hardens and heats up so maybe this is when we first see the First Order, not far behind Poe.

  • December 14, 2015 at 4:08 am
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    @MarkaN:disqus agreed. The choice of stuff included in this is very nice.
    Funny how when JJ was filming with his phone he was using an actual camera move, even with a phone he keeps it cinematic.
    And I love the sign-off, “…it’s important to just TRUST it.” A philosophy applicable to many situations.

    • December 14, 2015 at 1:35 pm
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      The bit just before where he said Kasdan was just like ” you don’t need to say that..just trust the character..it’s there” …that gives me a lot of confidence

  • December 14, 2015 at 4:32 am
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    Oh yeah, the lightsaber is falling from space. Just listen to that subtle “vroom” sound at the beginning, then…music stops when it lands.

    • December 14, 2015 at 5:06 am
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      I thought the same thing. Especially since JJ said he wasn’t starting off the movie with the traditional pan to a ship. Definitely sounds like music that might accompany a falling object.

      • December 14, 2015 at 9:57 am
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        He actually said that? Didn’t know that. I’ve heard a lot of different openings after the scroll lately. Ah well, the waiting is almost over.

  • December 14, 2015 at 5:24 am
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    I’ve always wonder is the saber floating in space over the same planet Rey happens to be on? How did it get there from Bespin 30 some years prior? Would it not burn up or at least be charred entering the atmosphere? ROTS establish objects can burn in the atmosphere in the SW Universe by Grievous ship crashing near the beginning.

    • December 14, 2015 at 6:53 am
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      Is that confirmed as the opening? I’ve always questioned that rumour, it just doesn’t ring true to me. If it’s there, I’m sure it will be explained at some point.

      • December 14, 2015 at 9:54 am
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        No, it’s not confirmed. The last thing I’ve heard, was the following:

        —–
        After the opening crawl:
        Scroll down to a First Order Star Destroyer.
        Troop Landers depart the docking bay and head towards the surface of the desert planet Jakku.

        Stormtroopers of the First Order await in the cramped silence of the troop lander as it descends towards the planet Jakku.
        One trooper is out of sync (obviously Finn) as they prepare their weapons to disembark.
        —–

        This seems more legit – and traditional – to me. But who knows what kind surprises JJ has up his sleeve for us. It’s all speculation and guessing. We’ll find out this wednesday though! 🙂

    • December 14, 2015 at 7:57 am
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      A lightsaber’s not going to fall onto a planet’s surface on its own. Lifeless objects in space just float in the void, because nothing fuels their flight and there’s obviously no gravity or wind to influence their route.

      I know Lucas used fire and sound in space, but seeing a lightsaber entering Jakku’s atmosphere and plummeting to the ground without suffering a scratch is beyond stupid.

      • December 14, 2015 at 9:03 am
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        We don’t know if this gonna happen! so…….. let’s not say something stupid here.

      • December 14, 2015 at 11:05 am
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        It’s space fantasy… read that again: fantasy. Star Trek is sci-fi. Star Wars ain’t.

        The “long time ago in a galaxy far, far away” bit is always there at the beginning to help remind you: it’s just fantasy.

        • December 14, 2015 at 4:33 pm
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          Lol, who the hell is talking about sci-fi? This has got nothing to do with genres, but even an amateur fantasy writer will tell you that certain rules apply to the genre.

          Example: the Ring didn’t hurl itself into Mount Doom in TLotR on its own. Someone had to carry it, climb up the volcano and throw the damn thing into the fire. Why? Because even in fantasy there is something known as logic and common sense.

          • December 15, 2015 at 7:24 am
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            Nope, that’s wrong. This was all about people complaining about the “inaccuracies” of Star Wars because they think it’s sci-fi… “there’s no sound in space” and all that. Star Wars isn’t sci-fi so things like there being sound in space or not are ultimately irrelevant.

          • December 15, 2015 at 9:03 am
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            Fire & sound in space may be completely irrelevant, I agree, but seeing a lightsaber landing on a planet’s surface, on its own and completely unscathed is beyond stupid, I repeat.

            This was my point all along. And there’s nothing anyone can do or say to make me change my mind about this, whether SW is fantasy, sci-fi, comedy or drama.

  • December 14, 2015 at 5:35 am
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    Williams looks so damn vital and energetic: I hope I’m still working as hard and vibrantly at that age!!

    • December 14, 2015 at 1:39 pm
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      Man I hope he’s that vital by the time we reach Episode 9

      I also believe that if you are busy and have a project it keeps the mind & body going somehow. I have see many folks his age in care homes vegetating in front of the TV because that’s all that’s expected of them

      • December 14, 2015 at 1:44 pm
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        Absolutely. I often tell people I have zero desire ever to retire. Retirement is for people who don’t love their work and need respite from it. I’m lucky to be doing something I love, so I want to keep doing it until I die and they pry my work away from my cold, dead hands.

        I definitely second your desire to see Williams keep on going, and to remain vibrant. Old age can suddenly strike down even the greatest talents: eventually, the body decides they need to slow things down. But it sounds like Disney is giving Williams the time he needs to do his best work. At 83, as energetic as he is, he’s probably not up for 18 hour work days anymore…

        • December 14, 2015 at 6:20 pm
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          What do you do? I want a job like that.

          • December 14, 2015 at 6:21 pm
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            so do I

          • December 14, 2015 at 6:25 pm
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            Be careful what you wish for: I’m a philosophy professor. Being an academic isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but one thing’s true: it’s a job that you can do well into your old age. I have teachers in their 80s who have more energy and stamina than I do, and I’m only in my 30s…

          • December 14, 2015 at 9:35 pm
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            So true. I worked for 20 years in a job that payed well but was so mundane it was soul destroying. I became very unhappy with myself and life in general. Eventually things got so unbearable that i had to pack the job in, a job that i had for 20 years since i left school so you can imagine how much of a big step in to the unknown it was. 5 years on, it was the best decision i ever made. I now have a job that i absolutley love and for less pay to, but i’ve never been happier and healthier. It’s such a joy to wake up every day to go to work knowing that what your doing is worthwhile and apreciated, and that people benefit from. I’m 42 on wednesday but i feel (and look according to some people, not me tho, dont want people thinking i have a swell head) 10 years younger, and come 8.30 thursday, i’ll be like that 6 year old that sat down in anticipation waiting for empire!!!!

  • December 14, 2015 at 5:46 am
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    Beautiful

  • December 14, 2015 at 6:29 am
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    The small amount of footage I saw was SO GOOD!!

    • December 14, 2015 at 7:00 am
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      Which footage was that?

      • December 14, 2015 at 7:23 am
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        The footage that was playing on that monitor in the clip.

        • December 14, 2015 at 9:38 am
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          Right. 🙂

  • December 14, 2015 at 6:50 am
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    The shot where Rey is speaking some alien language to the scavenger shows the dynamics of her as an actress. Also the charm of BB8 and the scavenger immediately bring be back to the ROTJ feeling. I am so pumped for this week!

    • December 14, 2015 at 1:40 pm
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      That was great I wasn’t expcting that

  • December 14, 2015 at 6:59 am
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    Hard to imagine what films would be like without John Williams doing Jaws and Star Wars back in the 70s.

    • December 14, 2015 at 12:58 pm
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      thank you for this!! I couldn’t get it to load on the CBS site either, I was sad till you posted it for us.

    • December 14, 2015 at 10:51 pm
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      Reminds me of the opening scene in Empire at the beginning.

  • December 14, 2015 at 8:21 am
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    Hi guy,

    I loved the part where JJ talks about Williams work: ” He writes feelings, he knows
    how to make your heart sore like no one else…” My heart was sore when I watched this… but in such a GOOD way! = )

    I also loved the part where Rey interacts with the alien, BB-8 and creature just wonderful !

    • December 14, 2015 at 1:57 pm
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      I would hazard a guess that he means “soar” as in soar high like a bird, be excited etc

      • December 14, 2015 at 3:22 pm
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        beat me to it! lol. yes he means SOAR I am sure

  • December 14, 2015 at 9:19 am
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    https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/…/10403955…

    Here’s
    the quote: JJ.Abram

    “You look around that room and you
    see the whitest (explicative) room in the history of time. It’s just
    unbelievably white. And I just thought, we’re casting this show and
    we have an opportunity to do anything we want, why not cast the show
    with actors of color?”

    Abram’s contempt for Whites is
    obvious from this quote. We all know how well it would’ve gone over
    if someone in the industry complained about how BROWN, or especially,
    how JEWISH a room was. Endless media and ‘Social Justice Warrior’
    Marxist crying and whining. Nope, no hypocrisy there!

    The
    truth is in your face every single day, isn’t it about time that you
    stopped ignoring it and changed your life?

    “To learn who
    rules over you, simply find out who you’re not allowed to criticize.”
    – Voltaire

    Go Visit: http://boycottstarwarsvii.wordpress.com

  • December 14, 2015 at 12:57 pm
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    Yeah not going to listen to this. As much as I’d like to, to me the music itself is a spoiler in many ways. The music makes Star Wars just as much as the story and visuals do, it’s like 49% of why Star Wars is fantastic to me (and is one of the things lacking in all the other stuff I’ve seen that tries to copy William’s style but does it poorly like Clone Wars etc.). I cannot wait to hear this music for the first time the first time I watch the film, in 2.5 days time!!! :D:D:D:D:D:D

    • December 14, 2015 at 1:43 pm
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      You’re missing out on a good documentry Bro..not much music or spoilers, probably less than any of the trailers and both twists on more familiar themes. Some other good stuff in there about the sound design and you get to see them working on the Luggabeast scene

    • December 14, 2015 at 6:19 pm
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      Listened to 4 seconds then had to stop. I agree, it gives too much away for me, im not listening to anymore. 4 more days for me!!

  • December 14, 2015 at 4:34 pm
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    Williams seems not to depend on familiar theme from previous 6 episodes , keeps the movie experience fresh by introducing new stuff.

  • December 14, 2015 at 9:24 pm
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    You hate it when I’m right don’t you? JJ Abrams just put his foot in his mouth with his sentiment of anti white hatred. I guess there be low white turn out with low box office. cha-ching$$$$$

  • December 14, 2015 at 11:01 pm
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    The Luggabeast looks awesome and BB-8 sort of sounds like Wall-E which makes sense since Ben Burtt did the sound for him too.
    As of now, I’d rank the existing scores as…..
    1) The Empire Strikes Back
    2) Return Of The Jedi
    3) A New Hope
    4) Revenge Of The Sith
    5) The Phantom Menace
    6) Attack Of The Clones

    • December 15, 2015 at 12:17 am
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      Just switch Jedi and New Hope and you have my personal list. I’m hoping that Force will be able to come in at Number 2 or 3.

      • December 15, 2015 at 4:48 am
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        I was actually naming my favorite soundtracks of the saga but looking back on it, It’s probably my favorites film wise as well. I think it will be better than Revenge Of The Sith at the very least.

    • December 15, 2015 at 2:55 am
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      Perfect list if you with Episode VI with Episode IV

      • December 15, 2015 at 4:50 am
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        That is a popular opinion. It’s a better standalone film for sure and the only one of the six that can really be enjoyed on it’s own.

  • December 22, 2015 at 1:46 am
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    JJ Abrams made Star Wars look sick from all the spoilers I’ve been reading so far.
    Seem he made a remake of NEW HOPE? Star Wars fanatics are not awake to corporate realities of their dark side of greed. The Force is now a joke, he,he,ha,ha.

    Go Visit: http://boycottstarwarsvii.wordpress.com

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