| "Starburster" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Fontaines D.C. | ||||
| from the album Romance | ||||
| Released | 17 April 2024 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 3:41 | |||
| Label | XL | |||
| Composer(s) |
| |||
| Producer(s) | James Ford | |||
| Fontaines D.C. singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Starburster" is a song by Irish rock band Fontaines D.C. It was released on the 17 April 2024 as the lead single from the band's fourth studio album Romance .
The song was the band's first entry on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at No. 57.
The song was written about a panic attack that frontman Grian Chatten suffered at London's St Pancras station. [1]
NME described "Starburster" as a "pensive art-rock beast that fuses elements of electronica and hip-hop". [2] Consequence labeled it "trip-hop-infused" with "hip-hop-esque production" that frames Fontaines D.C. "as much more than just a gang of Irish rockers." [3] Rolling Stone believed it to be a "funky, disco-rock track". [4] Clash wrote of its construction: "An elegant string loop precedes tasteful piano before being consumed by a bulky trip-hop beat." [5]
The band debuted the song live on 7 May 2024 during their performance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon . [6]
NME gave "Starburster" a five-star review, praising how it "captures that shock of trying to grasp reality amidst all the chaos." [2] The Irish Times rated it four stars out of five, comparing it to Shygirl, The Prodigy and Björk's song "Army of Me". [7] Consequence bestowed the "Song of the Week" honor to the track for its "remarkably well-constructed composition, one that pushes the band into new, unexpected places." [3]
The official music video was released with the song, directed by Aube Perrie. It features Grian Chatten performing mundane daily activities while wounded and sometimes wearing a mask. Towards the end of the video, he kicks his football into an unattended garage of a grocery shop, which he proceeds to explore, and discovers that a door in the building takes him to various film studios. Chatten uses the garage to appear in various music video shoots. At the end of the video, a bald man closes and locks the door of the garage. [8]
Little Mix member Jade Thirlwall made an uncredited cameo in the video as a red-haired woman in an angel-themed video shoot that Chatten visits. On 19 July 2024, three months after the release of "Starburster", Thirlwall released her debut solo single, "Angel of My Dreams", the video of which was also directed by Perrie at the same time as "Starburster". As such, the video for "Angel of My Dreams" features the same scene, with Chatten making a cameo as one of the angel dancers. [9]
"Starburster" debuted at No. 62 on the UK Singles Chart, the band's first entry. It peaked at No. 57. [10]
| Chart (2024) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada Rock ( Billboard ) [11] | 12 |
| Ireland (IRMA) [12] | 24 |
| UK Singles (OCC) [13] | 57 |
| UK Indie (OCC) [14] | 10 |
| US Rock Airplay ( Billboard ) [15] | 22 |
"Jump Around" is a song by American hip hop group House of Pain, produced by DJ Muggs of Cypress Hill, who has also covered the song, and was released in May 1992 by Tommy Boy and XL as the first single from their debut album, House of Pain (1992). The song became a hit, reaching number three in the United States. A 1993 re-release of the song in the United Kingdom, where the initial release had been a minor hit, peaked at number eight. Its music video was filmed in New York City, featuring footage from the 1992 Saint Patrick's Day parade.
"Helena" is a song by American rock band My Chemical Romance from their second studio album Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge (2004). It was released to radio stations as the third single from the album on March 8, 2005. The song is featured on the soundtrack for the 2005 film remake of House of Wax and plays during the full credits. The song was named after Gerard and Mikey Way’s grandmother, Elena Lee Rush.
"(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right " is a song by American hip hop/rap rock group Beastie Boys, released as the fourth single from their debut album Licensed to Ill (1986). One of their best-known songs, it reached No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the week of March 7, 1987, and was later named one of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll. The song was also included on their compilation albums The Sounds of Science in 1999, Solid Gold Hits in 2005 and Beastie Boys Music in 2020.
"Word Up!" is a funk and R&B song originally recorded by American funk band Cameo in 1986. It was released as the first single from their thirteenth album of the same name. The song was written by band members Larry Blackmon and Tomi Jenkins. Its frequent airing on American dance, R&B, and contemporary hit radio, as well as its MTV music video, helped the single become the band's best known hit.
"Teardrops" is a song by American husband-and-wife duo Womack & Womack, released on 5 August 1988 by Island Records as the first single from their fourth studio album, Conscience (1988). The song was written by Cecil Womack and Linda Womack, while production was helmed by Chris Blackwell. Although the song was not a hit in their native United States, it charted highly in the United Kingdom and several European countries, as well as Australia and New Zealand.
Dogrel is the debut studio album by Dublin post-punk band Fontaines D.C. It was released through Partisan Records on 12 April 2019 on cassette, CD, digital download, and vinyl formats. The album was nominated for Album of The Year at the Choice Music Prize and Mercury Prize in 2019.
Partisan Records is an independent record label with offices in London, Berlin, and Los Angeles, as well as in New York City, where the company was co-founded in 2007 by Tim Putnam and Ian Wheeler. The label, initially run out of Putnam's South Brooklyn apartment, relocated in 2009 to Williamsburg.
Jade Amelia Thirlwall is an English singer. Her music career began at the age of 15, when she auditioned for The X Factor UK on three occasions before rising to prominence as a member of the girl group Little Mix. The group was formed and won the eighth series in 2011, and released six studio albums together, and amassed nineteen UK top-ten singles, five of which reached number one. Before going on hiatus in 2022, they became the first girl band to win the Brit Award for British Group. Inspired by pop and R&B music with elements of electronica and electroclash sounds, she has been described as one of Britain's next biggest pop stars.
Fontaines D.C. are an Irish post-punk band formed in Dublin in 2014. The band consists of Grian Chatten (vocals), Conor Curley (guitar), Conor Deegan III (bass), Tom Coll (drums) and Carlos O'Connell (guitar).
"Break Up Song" is a song by British girl group Little Mix. It was released on 27 March 2020 as the lead single from the group's sixth studio album Confetti (2020). The group co-wrote the song with Frank Nobel and producers Kamille and Goldfingers a year before it was chosen as the album's lead single. "Break Up Song" received positive reviews from critics and it has been described it as a synth-pop track influenced by 1980s pop music. The song addresses themes of heartbreak and independence after overcoming an ex.
A Hero's Death is the second studio album by Irish post-punk band Fontaines D.C. The album was released on 31 July 2020 through Partisan Records, less than 18 months after the release of their debut album Dogrel. The album received critical acclaim upon its release, signifying a partial departure from their bubbling and anxiety-inducing post-punk sound found on their first record to the incorporation of more dream-like and psychedelic aspects having taken inspiration from The Beach Boys, to name but one of many influences, during the writing of the record.
"A Hero's Death" is a song by Irish post-punk band, Fontaines D.C. The song is the lead single, and title track off their sophomore album. The song was released on 5 May 2020 through Partisan Records.
"I Don't Belong" is a song by Irish band Fontaines D.C. from their second studio album, A Hero's Death (2020). The song was written by Carlos O'Connell, Conor Curley, Conor Deegan III, Grian Chatten and Tom Coll, while production was handled by Dan Carey. It was released on 9 June 2020 by Rough Trade and Partisan Records as the second single from the album.
Skinty Fia is the third studio album by Irish rock band Fontaines D.C. It was released on 22 April 2022 via Partisan Records. Like the band's two previous albums – 2019's Dogrel and 2020's A Hero's Death – Skinty Fia was produced by Dan Carey. Its title refers to an old Irish saying that drummer Tom Coll's great-aunt used to say; the phrase "Skinty Fia" translates to "the damnation of the deer". Both the title and the cover art allude to the extinct Irish elk, also known as the "giant deer".
"Jackie Down the Line" is a song by Irish band, Fontaines D.C. The song is the lead single off of their third studio album, Skinty Fia and was released on 12 January 2022.
Grian Chatten is an Irish musician, best known as the lead singer and lyricist of post-punk band Fontaines D.C.
Chaos for the Fly is the debut studio album by Irish musician Grian Chatten, best known as the frontman for the post-punk band Fontaines D.C. The album was recorded in two weeks with said band's regular producer Dan Carey and features orchestral arrangements. The title is a reference to a quote by Morticia Addams.
Viva Hinds is the fourth studio album by Spanish garage rock band Hinds. The album was released on 6 September 2024 under Lucky Number and is the band's first new album in four years since the 2020 release of The Prettiest Curse. The album marks the first release by the band since the departure of bassist Ade Martin and drummer Amber Grimbergen who quit the band in 2022. Viva Hinds was preceded by the singles and music videos for "Coffee", "Boom Boom Back", "En Forma", "Superstar" and "The Bed, the Room, the Rain and You".
"Angel of My Dreams" is the debut solo single by English singer and songwriter Jade. It was released on 19 July 2024, through RCA Records. and marks her first solo endeavour after Little Mix began their hiatus in May 2022. Jade co-wrote the song with Steph Jones, Pablo Bowman and its producer Mike Sabath. Because of the sample of the 1967 Eurovision Song Contest winning song "Puppet on a String" by English singer Sandie Shaw which is played at the beginning and end of the track, Bill Martin and Phil Coulter received writing credits.
Romance is the fourth studio album by Irish rock band Fontaines D.C. Announced on 17 April 2024 along with the lead single, "Starburster", it was released on 23 August 2024. It also features the singles "Favourite", "Here's the Thing", and "In the Modern World". It is their first release on XL Recordings, after the band left Partisan Records, and was produced by James Ford.