Han Solo, Smuggler – Wait, I mean, Rebellion General: A Playlist

This playlist was originally made to coordinate with my Han Solo inspired “Star Wars Bound” outfit for Star Wars Celebration.

I dressed as Han for the first day of Celebration and was happily surprised to receive several compliments about my outfit, and even my hair! Star Wars fans are the best; insert cry emoji here haha.

When making this playlist, I was initially inspired by the free, rebellious nature of Han Solo and then that turned into a deep-dive into the emotional rollercoaster that is Han Solo’s life. If I think about it too much I might actually cry. Here’s a snippet of my journey into making this playlist and why I chose certain songs.

The playlist starts, very much, with a younger more naive Han in Mutt, I’m Born to Run, Centuries, and Here It Goes Again – he doesn’t want to be tied down or have any sort of responsibility. I imagine in Centuries, he’s just made the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs:

Some legends are told
Some turn to dust or to gold
But you will remember me
Remember me for centuries

Lyrics from Centuries by Fall Out Boy

Then the playlist moves into a more mature Han. He isn’t afraid of his feelings… well maybe a little. But he’s willing to admit his feelings (to Leia, is what I imagined in My Type and Bohemian Like You, specifically). Theres a line in Bohemian Like You that just SCREAMED Han speaking to Leia:

Ride is a segue of mindset. While this song could easily fall earlier in this soundtrack of Han’s life, I feel like it fits here between songs that represent “Original Trilogy Han” and “Sequel Trilogy Han.” Ride represents an emotional change that war has on Han. He has strong loyalties now. With Chewie, as always, he is loyal. Despite his best efforts, his best friend is now Luke Skywalker. And he’s found the love of his life. He would die for any of them and he would also LIVE for them – and as we see through his story, he does both.

Next the playlist moves into an older Han. He has long since realized that he isn’t immortal. No one is. With Everybody Wants To Rule The World, I imagine he’s hardened a bit by war and by the burden responsibility has given him, but he is also hopeful.

And finally, I Walk the Line is Han’s final anthem to his family. For Leia he goes in search of his son and for his son he makes the ultimate sacrifice. He is, in the end, loyal to them both and would do anything for them – even when he knows it will costs him his life; “Because you’re mine, I walk the line.“

The Playlist:

Mutt by blink-182
I’m Born To Run by American Authors
Centuries by Fall Out Boy
Here It Goes Again by OK Go
When I Come Around by Green Day
Blister In The Sun by Violent Femmes
Take Me Out by Franz Ferdinand
My Type by Saint Motel
Bohemian Like You by The Dandy Warhols
Crazy Little Thing Called Love by Queen
Ride by Twenty One Pilots
Everybody Wants To Rule The World by Tears For Fears
I Walk the Line by Johnny Cash
Han and Leia by John Williams

Listen to the Playlist