- «No, lover, lover. It wasn't me.»
- ―"Jabba Flow" lyrics, translated from Huttese[src]
"Jabba Flow" was a Huttese song performed by Shag Kava, a traveling band comprised of musicians Taybin Ralorsa, Infrablue Zedbeddy Coggins, Ubert "Sticks" Quaril, and Sudswater Dillifay Glon. Named after Jabba the Hutt, "Jabba Flow" had repetitive lyrics and instrumentals consisting of a hypolliope horn cluster, a seven-string hallikset, and a xyloxan. In the year 34 ABY, Shag Kava performed "Jabba Flow" at Maz Kanata's castle on the planet Takodana, following-up with "Dobra Doompa."
Description
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- "(Oh, Jabba.) No bata tu tu, muni, muni."
- ―Opening lyrics of "Jabba Flow"
A lyrical song performed in Huttese, "Jabba Flow" was named after Jabba Desilijic Tiure,[4] a Hutt crime lord.[5] It's opening verse began by repeating "Oh, Jabba," followed by a repeated "No bata tu tu, muni, muni," which roughly translated as "No, lover, lover. It wasn't me,"[4] in Galactic Basic. The song featured mellow instrumentals, which included a hypolliope horn cluster, a seven-string hallikset, and a xyloxan.[2]
History
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"Jabba Flow" was performed by traveling musicians in the castle of Maz Kanata.
In the year 34 ABY,[3] "Jabba Flow" was performed in the castle of pirate queen Maz Kanata on the planet Takodana by the traveling musicians of the band Shag Kava: Taybin Ralorsa, Infrablue Zedbeddy Coggins, Ubert "Sticks" Quaril, and Sudswater Dillifay Glon. During the performance, Ralorsa provided vocals, Coggins played the hypolliope horn cluster, Quaril played the xyloxan, and Glon played the seven-string hallikset.[2] After playing for a short time, they were briefly interrupted when the notorious smuggler Han Solo entered, gaining the attention of patrons. Following their performance of "Jabba Flow," the quartet played the song "Dobra Doompa."[1]
Behind the scenes
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- "I went to a website that had all the Huttese glossary of terms and it translates as, 'No, lover, lover. It wasn't me.' It's literally a Shaggy intergalactic remix."
- ―Lin-Manuel Miranda
"Jabba Flow" was created by Lin-Manuel Miranda and J.J. Abrams for Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens,[1] which was released on December 18, 2015.[6] Abrams, who directed the film, planned on creating a sequence to tribute the cantina scene from Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope, and John Williams, the composer for The Force Awakens, asked Abrams to find someone to write the piece. Shortly after, while at a performance of the musical Hamilton, Abrams was approached by Miranda, Hamilton star and creator, who coincidentally offered to write cantina music if it was needed. Abrams later contacted Miranda, and the two collaborated to write the piece.[7]

Digital release cover of "Jabba Flow"
While writing "Jabba Flow," Miranda referred to a glossary of Huttese terms, the language spoken by Jabba the Hutt, and he compared the translation to "It Wasn't Me," a song by reggae fusion artist Shaggy.[4] From Star Wars Legends material, the lyrics "No bata tu tu, muni, muni" directly translate to "Whatever it is, I didn't do it,[8] lover, lover."[9] When the piece was completed, Miranda and Abrams produced and performed it under the stage name Shag Kava, also creating the song "Dobra Doompa." In The Force Awakens, "Jabba Flow" is played as Han Solo, Finn, Rey, and BB-8 enter Maz Kanata's castle. Although unidentified in this scene, the track is identified in the film's credits.[1] On February 19, 2016, a remixed version of "Jabba Flow" by producers Rick Rubin and A-Trak was included on Star Wars Headspace, a compilation album of Star Wars–themed electronic dance music.[10] Miranda and Abrams performed "Jabba Flow" following a performance of Hamilton on May 4, 2016, tying in with the song's digital single release.[4]
Appearances
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- Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens (First appearance)
Non-canon appearances
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Sources
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"50 Things to Notice in Star Wars: The Force Awakens"—Star Wars Insider 165
"Launch Pad"—Star Wars Insider 167
- Star Wars: The Visual Encyclopedia
Notes and references
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- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Star Wars: The Force Awakens: The Visual Dictionary
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Star Wars: Galactic Atlas
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Live #Ham4Ham 5/4/16 -- May The Fourth Be With You (Video). Hamilton: An American Musical. YouTube (2016-05-04). Retrieved on February 7, 2017.
- ↑ Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi
- ↑
Star Wars: Episode VII to Open December 18, 2015 on StarWars.com (backup link)
- ↑ J.J. Abrams Wrote Star Wars Cantina Band Music with Lin-Manuel Miranda (Video). The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. YouTube (2015-12-01). Retrieved on February 7, 2017.
- ↑ Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones novelization
- ↑ Star Wars: Legacy Volume 7: Storms
- ↑
Star Wars Day Surprise: Hear the Full Version of 'Jabba Flow' from The Force Awakens on StarWars.com
External links
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The Force Goes Electronic: Announcing Star Wars Headspace Compilation Album – Exclusive Cover Reveal on StarWars.com (backup link)
Star Wars Day Surprise: Hear the Full Version of 'Jabba Flow' from The Force Awakens on StarWars.com
5 Reasons Why Maz Kanata Is Awesome on StarWars.com
From a Certain Point of View: What Is the Best Scene in Star Wars: The Force Awakens? on StarWars.com
How to Throw a Star Wars Birthday Party That Will Be Long-Remembered on StarWars.com
How 'Source Music' Deepens the Worlds of Star Wars on StarWars.com