This Thursday, we got our first glimpse at the Valerian And The City Of A Thousand Planets trailer, and, boy, is it an eye-full. The upcoming sci-fi film from acclaimed filmmaker Luc Besson stars Cara Delevingne (Suicide Squad) and Dane DeHaan (The Amazing Spider-Man 2) as a pair of intergalactic peacekeepers operating in the burgeoning city of Alpha, home to a mix of alien species from a thousand different planets. Images of futuristic cityscapes, bizarre extra-terrestrials, and eye-popping action are underscored in the 90-second teaser by the perfect music to set the appropriately trippy tone. But what is the Valerian trailer song?
"Because the sky is blue, it makes me cry," croon several voices in harmony over the trailer's opening shots of Valerian and Laureline arriving in Alpha. The voices may sound familiar — even if the song doesn't — and for good reason: the song is "Because" by The Beatles, a relatively obscure song from the band's iconic 1969 record Abbey Road. (The album also debuted such well-known hits as "Come Together," "Something," and "Here Comes The Sun.") Here's the cast of the 2007 musical Across The Universe — including Westworld's Evan Rachel Wood — covering the song in question:
"Because" is a relatively short song, containing only three short verses, one mini-bridge, and no chorus:
Because the world is round, it turns me onBecause the world is round... aaaaaahhhhhh
Because the wind is high, it blows my mindBecause the wind is high... aaaaaaaahhhh
Love is old, love is newLove is all, love is you
Because the sky is blue, it makes me cryBecause the sky is blue... aaaaaaaahhhh
As odd as this song undoubtedly is, it's an inspired choice for the Valerian trailer for a number of reasons. The ethereal sound of the electric harpsichord sets the ideal tone for the movie's otherworldly vibe. The lyrics about the sky and the shape of the planet are appropriately space-themed. The bridge's emphasis on love speaks to the relationship between Valerian and Laureline. (They clearly want to be more than just work acquaintances, if the trailer is any indication.)
Then, there's the story behind the song itself. John Lennon supposedly had the inspiration for "Because" when he heard Yoko Ono playing Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata" and asked her to play the famous chord progression to him backwards. After he'd written it, Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison recorded three-part harmonies three different times and layered the tracks over each other to come up with the song's nine vocal parts. The backwards chords and the triplicate voices are the perfect accompaniment for the trippy new sci-fi film from the director of The Fifth Element.
Valerian And The City Of A Thousand Planets will warp its way into theaters on July 21, 2017, with a supporting cast that includes John Goodman, Ethan Hawke, Clive Owen, and Rihanna. Hopefully, future trailers contain song choices just as inspired as the movie's first teaser to get us all excited for the movie's premiere next summer.
Images: EuropaCorp
