Star Star
"Star Star" is a song by The Rolling Stones that appeared on their 1973 album Goats Head Soup. In some European countries, including France and Germany, it was released as a single backed with "Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker)." One of the raunchiest songs in the band's catalogue, the song was originally titled "Starfucker" until Atlantic Records owner Ahmet Ertegün (Atlantic was the distributor of Rolling Stones Records) insisted on the change.
"Star Star" | |
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![]() German cover | |
Single by The Rolling Stones | |
from the album Goats Head Soup | |
B-side | "Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker)" |
Released | December 1973 |
Recorded | November & December, 1972 |
Genre | Rock and roll, proto-punk |
Length | 4:25 |
Label | Rolling Stones/Virgin |
Songwriter(s) | Jagger/Richards |
Producer(s) | Jimmy Miller |
Background
The song gained notoriety not only for explicit lyrics alluding to sex acts involving fruit (among other things) but also for controversial mentions of such celebrities as John Wayne and Steve McQueen. It was released about nine months after Carly Simon's affair with Jagger and the release of the song "You're So Vain", on which Jagger provided background vocals. Simon, who was by now married to fellow singer-songwriter James Taylor, had moved to Hollywood, which is mentioned in the lyrics of "Star Star". The lyric "Yeah, you and me we made a pretty pair" also echoes the verse "well you said that we made such a pretty pair" in "You're So Vain." While discussing the song, the band members have always referred to the song by its original title. A live performance was captured and released on 1977's Love You Live. Atlantic tinkered with the mix in order to suppress the key expletives, but the very first promo copies were pressed unaltered.
The opening lick, stabs in the verses and solo are played by Keith Richards and the rhythm guitar by Mick Taylor. Bill Wyman's bass line enters in at the second verse.
Charts
Chart (1974) | Peak position | |
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Germany (Official German Charts)[1] | 32 | |
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[2] | 16 | |
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[3] | 7 | |
Cover versions
- In 1978, the Swedish artist Magnus Uggla did a punk rock cover of the song with lyrics in Swedish called "Stjärnluder" ("Star Whore") on his album Vittring.
- Joan Jett included a completely uncensored version as an unlisted hidden track on the cassette version of her 1983 album Album [MCA, MCAC-5437], which resulted in a ban of this tape by Walmart and other stores. MCA then issued a second cassette version ["Album Only Version"] in a red plastic box [ MCA, MCAC-5445] that deleted the objectionable song.[4] The song reappeared on her Flashback compilation in 1993.
- The 1978 Cheech & Chong comedy film Up In Smoke features a cover version of the song during the Strawberry scene. However, the record skips and repeats the line "Star Fucker, Star" ad infinitum.
- Croatian band Psihomodo Pop released their own version of "Star Star", on their 1993 album Srebrne Svinje.
- Rikki Rockett, the Poison drummer, covered the song on his 2003 solo album, Glitter 4 Your Soul. "Star Star" was the final track of the album, with Dick Swagger, the lead singer of The Hollywood Stones, assisting Rockett with the vocals.
See also
References
- "Offiziellecharts.de – The Rolling Stones – Star Star". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
- "Dutchcharts.nl – The Rolling Stones – Star Star" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
- "Swisscharts.com – The Rolling Stones – Star Star". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
- "Banned song makes Joan Jett 'Album' cassette a rarity" The Star Ledger newspaper, Wednesday August 23, 1983 edition
External links
- Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics
- "Star Star" at AllMusic. Retrieved May 25, 2017.