Starz In Their Eyes

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I remember it taking Jay a long time to get the track to slow down and speed up to segue in and out this section. When we get bored and flick on the TV on a Saturday night we are often greeted by a poor soul stood on stage in front of thousands, willed on by family and friends; only for us to soon learn that actually they aren’t that talented after all and are swiftly met with laughs from the crowd and snide jokes and remarks from the judges. What you’ve always considered a great dance tune suddenly has an entirely new inflection; a tale of a singer worried that they are moving closer to the label of ‘one hit wonder’, that their star is dying and that they still haven’t found the happiness they always craved. These days you could do it in seconds but back then you had adapt what you had and be inventive with it. At this point I was pretty happy with what I’d got, but never could have foreseen what the song would later become in the studio.

The chorus questions why someone would want to put "starz in their eyes," implying that seeking fame leads to negative consequences. I’m pretty sure the spark that started the lyrics was a story I happened to see about UK Pop Idol winner Michelle McManus. The song itself depicts "flop stars" and the negative side to fame and explores the idea of others benefitting financially from the fame of celebrities. When it came to recording the parts the idea for the big tom drums in the intro came from hearing a snippet of an Adam Ant tune (on my way back from the loo) being played in a neighbouring studio. Jay Reynolds, who produced the whole of Overtones, then worked tirelessly, tweaking, editing, honing, even re-recording the drums, to get the best out of this tune.The main issue is that often the people who do take a stand are the rich and famous and it’s very hard for the general public to empathise.

Sure, we can all recognise that the famed life is far from perfect but how are we to ever fully understand the pressures that these people face? Whilst they probably wish for some anonymity, we all dream of some recognition; whilst they dream of a simple life, we dream of the fast cars and the big houses.He’s played and recorded with a crazy list of legends including Whitney Houston, Richard Ashcroft, Cher, Maxi Priest and Tina Turner.

Harking back to my review of Justin Bieber’s 'Lonely', 'Starz in their Eyes' gives us a look into the life we all think we dream of but that really isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. I think we have all seen in the past when a star emerges set to be the next best thing, only to disappear after a short while into thin air. The thing I love about that song though is that there is a tipping point; the moment when you first notice the lyrics. The song title is taken from British TV talent show Stars in Their Eyes which ran between 1990 and 2006. The bridge emphasizes the contrast between a humble beginning and the superficiality of fame, using the imagery of a small karaoke machine at a local pub versus the extravagant dreams associated with stardom.Yes, they get paid up to a point, but there is little concern for the mental pressure that is put on largely unprepared youngsters who are suddenly thrust into the media meat grinder. What they don’t show on TV however is that these shows usually require video auditions and face-to-face off-camera auditions before people are even allowed onto the stage.

However, upon stopping, the sudden change from three decades of constant work and pressure to an abundance of free time turned the star to alcohol and very nearly caused an untimely demise.The whole song is a masterpiece filled with sentiments of the rise and fall of fame; the quick highs followed by the crushing lows. It encourages listeners to question the allure of celebrity culture and highlights the importance of staying true to oneself. Overall, the song "Starz in their Eyes" critiques the fascination with fame and the detrimental effects it can have on individuals.