Lapti Nek

The Max Rebo Band's "song, "Lapti Nek," came to be spontaneously after their arrival at Jabba's Palace on the planet Tatooine. They were already in the bad graces of the formidable Hutt crime lord Jabba Desilijic Tiure due to their tardiness. To try and win him over, Max Rebo improvised a rhythm on his red ball jett organ, which the band's primary vocalist, Sy Snootles, quickly added lyrics to. Furthermore, Droopy McCool, the lead horn player, contributed a chindinkalu flute riff. Jabba was pleased with the result. Rebo later christened the piece "Fancy Man" (or "Lapti Nek" in Huttese), and it evolved into one of the band's signature tunes. It became a regular feature at his palace, and Jabba considered it a favorite.

Rebo drew inspiration for the song's arrangement from a dream he experienced the night before its creation, which he realized was a recollection of a performance by his father, Jeph Rebo. "Lapti Nek," which leaned more toward galactic funk than the band's usual jatz style, featured a prominent downbeat, synthesized percussion and kloo horns, along with a four-bar bassline. The song was composed in the key of cresh.

"Jedi Rocks" replaced "Lapti Nek" (also known as "Fancy Man") in the 1997 Special Edition of Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi, although it was originally in the theatrical release. Later, it was featured in the Star Wars Galaxy of Adventures episode titled Jabba the Hutt - Galactic Gangster. It's important to note that these shorts shouldn't be interpreted as definitive canon material.

Joseph Williams penned the English lyrics, which were then "translated" into Huttese by Annie Arbogast, an assistant in the sound department. Subsequently, Ben Burtt recorded Arbogast performing the song for the temporary audio track, with the intention of replacing it with a different performer later on. However, George Lucas, the executive producer, along with composer John Williams, made the decision to keep Arbogast's temporary track in the theatrical version. During rehearsals and filming, "Fancy Man" was performed in English.

Williams chose to include a different rendition of the song on the soundtrack album, this time featuring Michele Gruska as the vocalist for Sy's parts. Gruska was originally intended to be Sy's singing voice.

(Spelling errors from the original sheet music are intentionally preserved.)

WEX AB QUECK ZENICK FESI

(My body heat is risin')

JUP COL IM INNAHIZ JAL

(My soul is sympathisin')

WAH TOC PEG QUI DOZ GEE PIF

(A lovin' man is comin')

BOT GOC JARRAZ BAS DEQ XZOR ZE ZOT

(So I'm shapin' up an' workin' out.)

YEQ JEN WIH TUS TER MO VEY

(I feel my heart a pumpin')

QUI NEB BE OG EZEN NON

(My whole brain is thumpin')

RA WOK LAPTI NEK SEB NOT VAN

(Yes, a fancy man is comin')

BOT JOC JARRAS BAS DEQ XZOR SE VAT

(I'm shapin' up an' workin' out.)

NUK PEMENT ELK

(Well, people sing)

KIV BAH TOH WEP

(You gotta work you mind)

JEX PI VA BEP

(You gotta train to beat)

HEG BUDAS XAT

(You gotta be okay)

PAS COJEC ZES

(You gotta walk the street)

RAT RAW WIM JOCT

(You gotta move your bod)

CO JOPPI QUAF

(You gotta work your feet).

BOT GOC JARREZ BAS DU XZOR SE VAT

(We're shapin' up an' workin' out.)