Star Star
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (November 2008) |
| "Star Star" | |
|---|---|
| Song | |
| B-side | "Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker)" |
"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.
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". 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. 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 also tinkered with the mix, drowning a few key words with studio trickery, on all pressings except the very first promo copies.)
The song
"Star Star" is a classic, Chuck Berry-style rocker that slowly increases in momentum as the song progresses. 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 is postponed until the second verse.
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.[1] 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.
Charts
| Chart (1974) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Invalid chart entered Germany2 | 32 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100)[2] | 16 |
| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[3] | 7 |
References
- ^ "Banned song makes Joan Jett 'Album' cassette a rarity" The Star Ledger newspaper, Wednesday August 23, 1983 edition
- ^ "The Rolling Stones – Star Star" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
- ^ "The Rolling Stones – Star Star". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 19 June 2016.