The force has awoken amongst these musicians
Cohan Chew

16:37 10th December 2015

With the seventh instalment of the Star Wars franchise, The Force Awakens, only a week away, we are all feeling trepidatious to say the least.

To commemorate the release of the highly anticipated film, we've taken a look back at the times musicians referenced love Star Wars so much that they've tied it into their music.

Paying homage to the franchise, these artists have snuck in references to the films in their lyrics, videos and a few unsuspecting places. They're all inspiringly creative and it's great to see these artists embracing the force.

  • Fall Out Boy - The band compare their fight scene in 'Miss Missing You' to Anakin and Obi-Wan's fight on Mustafar in Revenge of the Sith.

  • Deep Purple - the group's keyboardist, Don Airey, often includes excerpts from John William's score in his live gigs.

  • Kanye West - In 'Gone', the lyrics include "but if they ever flip sides like' Anakin, you'll sell everything including the mannequin" and 'Big Screen' features Kanye rapping "I'm back in your life / Return of the Jedi / L.A. for a night then return on the red eye."

  • Good Charlotte - 'The Click' opens with "just because I walk like Obi-Wan Kenobi."

  • Boyz II Men - 'Vibin (The New Flava)' features the lyrics,"Dope demonstrator, creator of the Force like, hey, Darth Vader / You imitator, I'm greater than your data / MC's run up so then they pack this doggie bag for later / I'm the wisdom-mystical, hyper-scientifical."

  • Blink 182 -'A New Hope' is about Princess Leia. Lyrics include "Princess Leia where are you tonight and who's laying there by your side?" Endor, the deserts of Tatooine and Han solo are also referenced in the song. "You're exactly the kind of Alderaanian that I need, drinking colt 45s with Lando, and the cantina in Mos Eisley" is a great line too.

  • Beastie Boys - 'Do It' features the lyrics, "Like gravy on potatoes, Luke to Darth Vader / I'm a souped-up sucker and I'll see you all later."

  • Ash - Ash did a cover version of 'Cantina Band' as a b-side for 'Girl From Mars'. 'Darkside Lightside' also ends with a choral version of the Star Wars theme music. Their own record label is also called Deathstar, whilst their song 'Clones' was used in the game Star Wars: Republic Commando.

  • Madonna - The music video to 'Die Another Day' features two Madonnas, with one dressed in black and the other in white. The Madonna dressed in white is pushed through a window that resembles a TIE fighter's canopy. The scene pays homage to the iconic duel between Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader in The Empire Strikes Back.

  • Wu-Tang Clan - 'Starter features Streetlife rapping "Take flight like a Skywalker, might wolf it on ya father."

  • On 'Stay Wide Awake', Eminem raps "Jump out on you like I was a Jawa from fucking Star Wars / Jabba the Hutt Betty ba-ba Betty ba-ba" and begins with "come with me to the dark side of the Force." On 'Rhyme Or Reaso', the lyrics include "back with the Yoda of rap in a spasm.... A Jedi in training, colossal brain and thoughts of entertaining... Puke Skywalker, but sound like Chewbacca when I talk."

  • The Bloodhound Gang - their most famous song, 'Fire Water Burn', features the lyrics "Cause I'm kind of like Han Solo, always stroking my own Wookie" 'Jackass' also includes "I'm a pimped-out Jedi Knight / Obie-Wan meets Dolomite / Ben Kenobie went and got himself a Pompador / These aren't the whores you're looking for".

  • Ludacris - 'Party No Mo' has the line "I keep the hood with me like Obi-Wan Kenobi" and 'We Getting Rich' features 'I wear black everyday like I shop with Darth Vader / Keep the Luke Skywalker force is the chopper / Furry mink coat straight looking like Chewbacca."

  • Tenacious D - One of the tracks from their 2012 album, Rize of the Fenix, is called 'Death Starr'.

  • Queen - In /Bicycle Race/, Freddie Mercury sings "You say shark, I say, hey, Man! Jaws was never my scene and I don't like Star Wars."

  • Green Day - The band's bassist, Mike Dirnt has been known to say that he bases "most of his religious beliefs on Star Wars."

  • Gorillaz -'The Sounder'9 features the lyric "it's like that when we write raps, we're not from the Empire but we still strike back!." Also, in Phi Life Cypher's remix of 'Clint Eastwood', the lyrics include "Take the ground from beneath your feet, leave you Skywalk-in' like Anakin."

  • Outkast - 'Happy Valentine's Day's lyrics include "Han Solo til I'm hit by the bullet, so may the force be with you and I'll hit you when better time permits."

  • Queens of the Stone Age - On their album The Split CD, there is an instrumental track called 'These Aren"t the Droids You're Looking For'.

  • Kasabian - the band's lead singer, Tom Meighan has spent 8,000 pounds on exact replicas of R2-D2 and C-3PO and has a painting of Darth Vader flanked by two Storm Troopers in his apartment. The band have also dedicated 'The Doberman' to Jango Fett.

  • Red Hot Chili Peppers - 'Californication's lyrics include "Space may be the final frontier but it's made in a Hollywood basement" and "Alderaan's not far away, it's Californication."

  • System of a Down - During their 2000 Snocore tour, the band would enter the stage to John Williams' 'Imperial March' before beginning their set.

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Photo: Wenn