Star Trek Fans Notice First Contact Music Played During A Historic Moment

30.03.2024 - 15:13 / gamerant.com / Catherine Armecin Martin

Star Trek fans were surprised and pleased when they heard the Star Trek: First Contact theme during Sweden's induction into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

On March 7, Sweden officially became a member of NATO, an alliance of countries from Europe and North America committed to defending each other against third-party attacks. Sweden, the newest member, now has equal power in shaping NATO policies and will receive guaranteed support from its allies. In one part of the historic ceremony, Star Trek fans noticed a familiar music — the Star Trek: First Contact theme.

Trek Central shared a clip on X, formerly Twitter, taken before the flag-raising ceremony where the Star Trek: First Contact theme by Jerry Goldsmith was played in the background. The event was held at the NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, during Sweden's accession to the alliance earlier this month. It was raining, but the participants remained undisturbed by the weather. The two officials holding the flag stood straight in the rain while waiting for the ceremony to start officially.

The video received several responses from netizens, with many approving the choice of theme. For them, the Star Trek theme was perfect to mark the historic day. One said it was a nice touch to use a theme that highlights the strength and values shared by an interstellar organization. Several agreed, saying that there was no fitting theme for such an alliance that aimed to promote peace. However, several suggested other songs from the franchise like Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' «I'm Ready»by Jess Bush, Celia Rose Gooding, Melissa Navia, Dan Jeannotte, Tom Polce and Kay Hanley, Spock's Arrival and Star Trek: Beyond's Starbase Yorktown theme.

The Star Trek theme NATO played for Sweden's induction is no doubt a great choice. The Federation involves hundreds of planet alliances with the same goal as NATO for mutual scientific and defense benefits. Hence, there is an association making the song a legitimate choice. It was a great pick because the song was played before the flag ceremony, and it set the tone for the program. However, if it was in another scenario where upbeat music was more appropriate, «I'm Ready» would be a great choice. In the song, Bush sings:

This news really changes everything / A distant dream becoming real /

I convinced myself it wasn't happening / And now I'm surprised how good it feels /

I worked so hard for this / And now the fellowship sees me as one of their own /

The sky is the limit, my future is infinite / My possibilities are endless /

I'm ready

Musical themes in Star Trek are not just iconic tunes, they are a significant component of the franchise's identity, helping to shape its story-telling, emotional depth and