"Lapti Nek" was a well-known Huttese song. The Max Rebo Band performed this song in Jabba's Palace. "Lapti Nek" was one of Sy Snootles's favorite songs. The phrase "lapti nek" means "Work it Out" in Huttese. The song was speedily composed by Max Rebo as a major attempt to impress Jabba the Hutt in order to gain a larger payment.
Lyrics
Huttese
Ab queck zenick fesi
Zong jup col im in na hiz jal, ooh
Wow!
Wa toc peg qui dos gee pif, aah
Joc jarraz bas deg zorze zot
Jer wih tuster mo vey
Qui neb be og ezen on
Wok lapti nek seb not van
Goc jarraz bas deg zorze zot
Lapti nek, rat a ran wim joct co jappi qaff
Lapti nek, kiv ba ha top wep jex pi va bep
Lapti nek, rat a ran wim joct co jeppi quaff
Wow!
Ab queck zenick fesi
Jem wih tuster mo vey
Qui neb be og ezen on
Wok lapti nek seb not van
Wah toc peg qui doz gee pif ezact
Goc jarraz bas deg zorze zot
Lapti nek, rat a ran wim joct co jappi qoff
Lapti nek, kiv ba ha top wep jex pi va bep
Lapti nek, rat a ran wim joct co jappi qaff
Wow!
Deg zorze zot
Jem with tuster mo vey
Qui neb be og ezen on
Wok lapti nek seb not van
Goc jarraz bas deg zorze zot
Lapti nek, rat a ran wim joct co jappi qoff
Lapti nek, kiv ba ha top wep jex pi va bep
Lapti nek, rat a ran wim joct co jappi qaff
Deg zorze zot
Wow!
Lapti nek, rat a ran wim joct co jappi qoff
Lapti nek, kiv ba ha top wep jex pi va bep
Lapti nek, rat a ran wim joct co jappi qaff
Wow!
Lapti nek, rat a ran wim joct co jappi qoff
Lapti nek, kiv ba ha top wep jex pi va bep
Lapti nek, rat a ran wim joct co jappi qaff
Wow!
Basic translation
The lyrics translate into Galactic Basic Standard as follows:
Feel my body growing
My bones have started glowing, ooh
Wow!
The time has come for showing
That I'll shape you up and work you out
My body feels excitin'
My soul is synthesizin'
My whole frame is jumpin'
I'm workin' out and havin' fun
Work it out, you've got to move your soul
Work it out, you've got to feel the heat
Work it out, you've got to move your soul
Wow!
Feel my body growing
My body feels excitin'
My soul is synthesizin'
My whole frame is jumpin'
The time has come for showing
I'll shape you up and work you out
Work it out, you've got to move your soul
Work it out, you've got to feel the heat
Work it out, you've got to move your soul
Wow!
Work you out
My body feels excitin'
My soul is synthesizin'
My whole frame is jumpin'
I'll shape you up and work you out
Work it out, you've got to move your soul
Work it out, you've got to feel the heat
Work it out, you've got to move your soul
Work you out
Wow!
Work it out, you've got to move your soul
Work it out, you've got to feel the heat
Work it out, you've got to move your soul
Wow!
Work it out, you've got to move your soul
Work it out, you've got to feel the heat
Work it out, you've got to move your soul
Wow!
Behind the scenes
- "We had a song, which will probably be changed because it was a little bit disco and I can't stand disco. I think it's awful and George isn't wild about it either."
- ―Richard Marquand on "Lapti Nek"
"Lapti Nek" was composed by John Williams's son, Joseph.
Star Wars Insider 89 noted the irony of what is essentially a workout song being "performed with gusto for the morbidly obese Jabba." However, this description mischaracterizes Jabba's physique, which is fairly typical of a Hutt.
"Lapti Nek" was replaced with "Jedi Rocks" in the 1997 Special Edition and subsequent releases of Return of the Jedi.
This song can be heard on the "jukebox" in the Star Wars Galaxies game, under the name "Max Rebo 1." It is also heard in Jabba's throne room.
In Russian, "lapti" means "bast shoes," usually made from bast of the birch tree and worn by peasants.
In the original release of Return of the Jedi, Sy Snootles' voice was dubbed by Annie Arbogast, a member of the sound department.[1]
Commercial Releases
While the film version of the song has never been commercially released due the original masters being lost,[source?] a number of remixes were officially sanctioned by Lucasfilm Ltd. to promote the release of Return of the Jedi.
Lapti Nek (Special Extended Dance Remix) 12" Single
This special collector's edition single, released in 1983 by Polygram, contains two dance remixes of "Lapti Nek" by Steve Thompson.
Track Listing
- A. Lapti Nek (Jabba's Palace Band) Club Mix (5:30)
- B. Lapti Nek (Jabba's Palace Band) Dub Mix (7:00)
The Club Mix features lyrics in Huttese performed by Michelle Gruska while the Dub Mix is an instrumental track.
Lapti Nek Overture (From Return of the Jedi) 12" Single by Urth
This single was released by Warner Bros. Records, Inc. in 1983 under the Bantha Music label. The band Urth was formed specifically for this recording.
The "Lapti Nek Overture" combined Huttese lyrics, by Annie M. Arbogast, Ewokese lyrics, by Ben Burtt, and English lyrics by Joseph Williams. Joseph Williams, John Williams's son, performed as part of Urth, on vocals.
Both tracks were produced and arranged by Jay Gruska.
Track Listing
- A. Urth - Lapti Nek Overture (From Return of the Jedi) (Vocal) (3:51)
- B. Urth - Lapti Nek Overture (From Return of the Jedi) (Instrumental) (5:24)
Meco
Meco has released a few versions of "Lapti Nek" on various records.
Ewok Celebration (1983 12" LP Complete Album), released by Arista (catalog number AL 8-8098) and produced by Harold Wheeler, Lance Quinn, Meco Monardo and Tony Bongiovi, included:
- Track 2. Lapti Nek (5:10)
Ewok Celebration/Lapti Nek (1983 7" Single), released by Arista (catalog number AS 1-9045) and produced by Lance Quinn, Meco Monardo and Tony Bongiovi, included:
- Track 2. Lapti Nek (7" Edit) feat. Huttese lyrics by Annie M. Arbogast (3:00)
Fancy Man
An English version of the song entitled "Fancy Man" can be heard on the From Star Wars to Jedi: The Making of a Saga documentary. This version also has never been commercially released.
Appearances
- Star Wars: Tiny Death Star (Non-canonical appearance)
- Star Wars: Battlefront II (Only in Hero Assault mode)
- And the Band Played On: The Band's Tale
- Star Wars: Empire at War
- Star Wars: The Force Unleashed game
- Template:SWG
- Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi (First appearance) (Pre-1997 releases, and Limited Edition release only)
- Shield of Lies (audio version only)
Sources
- "Lapti Nek" The Music Video from Jabba's Palace
- From Star Wars to Jedi: The Making of a Saga
- "Star Wars 101" — Star Wars Galaxy Magazine 5
- "Caravan of Courage: Star Wars on Television" — Star Wars Insider 32
- "The Farce is Back" — Star Wars Insider 35
- "The Ultimate Return of the Jedi Insider's Guide" — Star Wars Insider 67
- "Who's Who in the Max Rebo Band" — Star Wars Insider 67
- Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game — Threat of the Conqueror (Card: Intense Performer) (backup link)
- Max Rebo Band in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link)
- Sy Snootles in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link)
- "An Overview of Popular Music and Musicians in a Galaxy Far, Far Away, Part 2 {{{3}}}" — {{{4}}} — [[{{{5}}}|{{{5}}}'s]] StarWars.com Blog (An Overview of Popular Music and Musicians in a Galaxy Far, Far Away, Part 2 backup link (2014/01/21/slugthrowers-part-2//Slugthrowers: An Overview of Popular Music and Musicians in a Galaxy Far, Far Away, Part 2) not verified!)