The cantina scene in Star Wars: A New Hope has several key functions within the plot of the movie, as well as in the universe as a whole. One, it serves to highlight the immense number of aliens that existed on the planet at the time, and it introduces the protagonist Luke Skywalker and his mentor, Obi-wan “Ben” Kenobi to the smuggler Han Solo and his partner Chewbacca.
Interestingly enough, the song itself has many cultural and setting implications on its own. While most of the fans know the titular tune as “The Cantina Band,” the song actually has a formal name: Mad About Me. The song was written by John Williams, who was instructed to mimic the musical ‘flavor’ of 1930 swing bands.
“Can you imagine several creatures in a future century finding some 1930s Benny Goodman swing band music in a time capsule or under a rock someplace — and how they might attempt to interpret it?”
- George Lucas
The choice of 1930 swing music should come as no surprise, given that it pays homage to the illegal roaring twenties speakeasies, where jazz music was often played. Ironically, inciting a rebellion against a totalitarian government is technically a form of organized crime, even if it for good.
So it fits.
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