RE Music from Star Wars:

 JA> From: jameswking@aol.com (JamesWKing)
 JA> Date: 10 Feb 1997 03:49:57 GMT

 JA>     In my opinion, it does not count as filk since the
 JA> composer himself was monetarily commissioned to compose a
 JA> soundtrack to enhance and complement the Star Wars book.
 JA> Moreover, John Williams wasn't composing instrumental filk
 JA> music when he gave each character their own musical theme
 JA> for the movies. Likewise, McNeely wasn't composing
 JA> instrumental filk purely as a fan tribute or parody to the
 JA> characters in the book. His soundtrack composition was a
 JA> commissioned effort on an altogether different artistic
 JA> level and in a different context altogether. 


While I do not disagree with your assessment, do you honestly think all filk is
just "fan tribute" or "parody?"  What about all those filkers who made albums
and tapes in hopes of becoming rich?  (And yes I met a well known filker who
got people to invest in a filk tape for just such reasons.  He wanted to be
famous.  The fact that this person has huge amounts of talent just made it
easier.