"Star People '97" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by George Michael | ||||
from the album Older | ||||
B-side | "Everything She Wants" (live) | |||
Released | 4 March 1997 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 5:38 | |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) | George Michael | |||
Producer(s) | George Michael | |||
George Michael singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Music video | ||||
"Star People '97" on YouTube |
"Star People '97" is a song by British singer-songwriter George Michael, released as the fifth single from his third studio album, Older (1996). It was written and performed by George Michael and released by Virgin Records in the United Kingdom and DreamWorks Records in the United States. The lyrics make reference to the materialism and frivolity of certain (unspecified) people in show business, suggesting that those behaviours are derived from some insecurity or a bad childhood. The single version is titled "Star People '97", on most issues, because the track was re-recorded for the single release.
"Star People '97" was first released in the US on three formats over three weeks in March 1997 and was issued in the UK on 28 April 1997. The song peaked at No. 2 in the United Kingdom and No. 1 on the US Billboard Dance Club Play chart, becoming Michael's second No. 1 on this chart. Worldwide, the song reached No. 1 in Denmark and Hungary, and reached the top 10 in Iceland, Ireland, and Spain.
Retrospectively, Matthew Hocter from Albumism noted that the song "spoke to the fakery and greed that consumes many in the entertainment business, making reference to damaging childhoods and insecurity as some of the possible causes." He described it as a song "rooted in a soul, funk sound with splashes of disco". [1] Upon the release, Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, "After teasing his die-hard club following for months with several rhythmic (but not quite dance) singles, George Michael has finally unleashed a slamming house music anthem from his glorious—if underappreciated—opus Older . Jeremy Healy, Amos, Mike Koglin, and Forthright have been tapped to turn the original retro pop/jazz ditty into a dance ditty. Working as a team, Healy, Amos, and Koglin successfully transform the song into an edgy anthem befitting the swagger of Michael's vocal. Meanwhile, Forthright injects a few drops of Europop flavor into the groove, making the single a viable top 40 contender. A sterling 12-inch package that was well worth the wait." [2]
Paul Lester from Melody Maker described the song as "uptempo", noting that it "has a go at celebrity attention-seekers". [3] A reviewer from Music Week gave "Star People '97" four out of five, adding, "The restrained Older track takes on a completely new life in this re-recorded, funked up version which amounts to George's brightest, most uplifting single in a long while." [4] Ed Morales for Vibe opined that "the halfhearted condemnation of glitz in "Star People" has a serious Latin beat working." [5]
|
|
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
|
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom (BPI) [43] | Silver | 200,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
United States | 4 March 1997 | 12-inch vinyl | [44] | |
11 March 1997 | Cassette | [45] | ||
18 March 1997 | CD | [46] | ||
United Kingdom | 28 April 1997 |
|
| [47] |
Japan | 6 June 1997 | CD | [48] |
"Song 2" is a song by English rock band Blur. The song is the second song on their eponymous fifth studio album. Released physically on 7 April 1997, "Song 2" peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart, number four on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart, and number six on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart.
"Together Again" is a song by American singer Janet Jackson from her sixth studio album, The Velvet Rope (1997). It was written and produced by Jackson and Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, with additional writing by Jackson's then-husband René Elizondo Jr. It was released as the second single from the album in December 1997 by Virgin Records. Originally written as a ballad, the track was rearranged as an uptempo dance song. Jackson was inspired to write the song by her own private discovery of losing a friend to AIDS, as well as by a piece of fan mail she received from a young boy in England who had lost his father.
"Because We Want To" is a song performed by British pop singer Billie. The song was written by Dion Rambo, Jacques Richmond, Wendy Page, and Jim Marr and produced by Marr and Page for Billie's debut album, Honey to the B (1998). It was released as her debut single on 29 June 1998 and entered the UK Singles Chart at number one in July 1998, making Billie the youngest artist to debut at number one, at age 15. It also reached the top 10 in Ireland, New Zealand, and Sweden. The song was the official theme of the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup.
"Lucky Man" is a song by English rock band the Verve. It was written by singer Richard Ashcroft. The song was released as the third single from the band's third studio album, Urban Hymns (1997). It was released on 24 November 1997, charting at number seven on the UK Singles Chart. The song was the band's second top-20 hit on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart in the United States, climbing to number 16. In Canada, "Lucky Man" peaked at number 25 on the RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart. It also reached the top 40 in Finland, Iceland, Ireland, and New Zealand.
"Star Guitar" is a song by English electronic music duo the Chemical Brothers, released as the second single from their fourth album, Come with Us (2002). It reached number eight on the UK Singles Chart, number two on the US Billboard Dance Club Play chart, and number one on the UK Dance Chart. The song was greeted with praise from critics.
"Fastlove" is a song by English singer-songwriter George Michael, released on 22 April 1996 by Virgin Records in the United Kingdom and by DreamWorks Records in the United States as the second single from his third album, Older (1996). Written by Michael, Patrice Rushen, Freddie Washington and Terri McFaddin and produced by Michael and Jon Douglas, the song interpolates Rushen's 1982 single "Forget Me Nots".
"Jesus to a Child" is a song by English singer and songwriter George Michael. Written as a melancholic tribute to his late lover Anselmo Feleppa, it was released in January 1996 as the first single from his third studio album, Older (1996). The song peaked at number one in Australia, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Norway, Spain and the United Kingdom; it was Michael's sixth UK number one and his third as a solo performer. It also reached the top three on several other European charts and peaked at number seven on the US Billboard Hot 100. The accompanying music video was directed by Howard Greenhalgh.
"Northern Star" is a song by British singer-songwriter Melanie C. It is the title track from her debut solo album and was released as the album's second single on 22 November 1999. It was written by Melanie C and Rick Nowels. The song was produced by Marius De Vries and received positive reception from music critics. The single charted at number four on the UK Singles Chart, becoming her third top-five single. It additionally reached the top 20 in Finland, Italy, and Sweden. In the United Kingdom, the single sold 216,000 copies as of June 2017.
"I Turn to You" is a song by British singer Melanie C. It was released as the fourth single from her debut solo album, Northern Star (1999), on 7 August 2000 in the United Kingdom and became Melanie's second UK number-one single, selling 120,000 copies in its first week. "I Turn to You" also topped the Austrian Singles Chart, the Danish Singles Chart, the Dutch Top 40, the Swedish Singles Chart and the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. The main single was released as the "Hex Hector Radio Mix", for which Hex Hector won the 2001 Grammy as Remixer of the Year.
"Block Rockin' Beats" is a song by British big beat duo the Chemical Brothers. Released in March 1997 as the second single and opening track from their second studio album, Dig Your Own Hole (1997), it topped the UK Singles Chart and peaked at number 40 on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. It received a Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance.
"My Love Is for Real" is a song by American singer and songwriter Paula Abdul with backing vocals from Israeli singer Ofra Haza. It was released on May 30, 1995 by Virgin and Captive, as the first single from Abdul's third studio album, Head over Heels (1995). Intended as Abdul's comeback single, "My Love Is for Real" reached number one in Hungary and the top 20 in Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, but it stalled outside the top 20 in the United States, peaking at number 28 on the Billboard Hot 100, and failed to make a major impact in Europe. The song's music video was directed by Michael Haussman.
"On Silent Wings" is a song by American singer-songwriter Tina Turner with guest vocals from English musician Sting. Released in May 1996 in support of Turner's ninth album, Wildest Dreams (1996), the single performed well on the US and Canadian adult contemporary charts, peaking at numbers 24 and 13 respectively. The dance version of "On Silent Wings", remixed by Soul Solution, charted at number 47 on the US Billboard Dance Club Play chart. Like much of Turner's later work, "On Silent Wings" enjoyed greater success in the United Kingdom, peaking at number 13 on the UK Singles Chart.
"Fly By II" is a song by English boy band Blue. It was released on 18 March 2002 as the fourth single from their debut studio album, All Rise (2001). The release includes the band's first non-album exclusive, "Love R.I.P". "Fly By II" is a remixed version of the All Rise album track "Fly By", which samples the song "Rise" by Herb Alpert, while the remix samples from the Notorious B.I.G.'s "Hypnotize". The remix reached number six on the UK Singles Chart.
"Elektrobank" is a song by English electronic music duo the Chemical Brothers. It was released as a single from their second album, Dig Your Own Hole (1997), in September 1997. It peaked at number 17 on the UK Singles Chart. Spike Jonze directed the music video, which depicted a mixed artistic gymnastics / rhythmic gymnastics competition with his girlfriend at the time Sofia Coppola as one of the competitors. It has been called "arguably Jonze's greatest music video". The single does not appear on either of the duo's singles compilations, Singles 93–03 and Brotherhood.
"Heaven Help" is a song by American rock musician Lenny Kravitz, released in August 1993 by Virgin America as the third single from his third studio album, Are You Gonna Go My Way (1993). The song was written by Gerry DeVeaux and Terry Britten, and produced by Kravitz. It made a brief appearance on the US Billboard Hot 100, reaching number 92. In the United Kingdom, it became his second top-twenty hit from Are You Gonna Go My Way, peaking at number 20, and in Canada and New Zealand, the song reached the top 30. It was later included on Kravitz' compilation album Greatest Hits. The accompanying music video was directed by Per Gustafsson.
"Older" is a song by English singer-songwriter George Michael, released as the fourth single from his third album, Older (1996). It was also released as an EP under the name The Older EP. The single's other A-side is a cover of Bonnie Raitt's song "I Can't Make You Love Me". The single peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart while becoming a top-ten hit in Denmark, Hungary, Ireland, and Spain.
"She's a River" is the first single released from Scottish rock band Simple Minds' 11th studio album, Good News from the Next World. Written by band members Charlie Burchill and Jim Kerr, the song was inspired by Herman Hesse's novel Siddhartha, a book about self-discovery. Released on 11 January 1995, "She's a River" reached number three in Canada and Italy, number seven in the Flanders region of Belgium, and number nine on the UK Singles Chart. In the United States, it peaked at number six on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart.
"No Tengo Dinero" is the debut single of Danish musical group Los Umbrellos, considered to be their signature song. It was released by FLEX Records on 14 May 1997. Based on the theme of 1960 film Never on Sunday by Greek composer Manos Hadjidakis, the lyrics were written by Jay and Richie Balmorian and group member Al Agami. It was produced by Kenneth Bager, Michael Pfundheller and Jan Elhøj, with additional production handled by Cutfather & Joe.
"Dude" is the first single released from Jamaican musician Beenie Man's 16th studio album, Back to Basics (2004). It features Ms. Thing and was produced and written by Dave Kelly. The song is enhanced by the use of a vocoder and is on the Fiesta riddim.
"Wrong" is a song written and recorded by English musical duo Everything but the Girl. It was released on 17 June 1996 as the second single from their ninth album, Walking Wounded (1996). The song topped the US Billboard Dance Club Play chart, reached number two in Italy, and entered the top 10 in Canada, Hungary and the United Kingdom.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link){{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link){{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link){{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link){{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link){{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link){{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link){{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link){{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link){{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link){{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)