Starlight (song)
| Muse song | |
|---|---|
| Name | Starlight |
| Album/single |
|
| Length | 3:59 |
| Alternative titles | - |
| First live performance | 13th May 2006 |
| Latest live performance | |
| Recorded | New York Avatar/Electric Lady Studios - 2005 |
| Writer/composer | Matthew Bellamy |
| Producer | Rich Costey |
| Chart position | 5 (AU), 13 (UK)[1] (UK download chart), 7 (UK physical)[2], 1 (NME) |
| Song Nav | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Take a Bow | < | Starlight | > | Supermassive Black Hole |
| Album Nav | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Absolution (2003) | < | Black Holes and Revelations (2006) | > | The Resistance (2009) |
Description
First described as "a souped-up cousin of the Strokes' '12:51'",[3] according to Wolstenholme, "Starlight" is "kind of a love song about missing someone, friends, family, someone you love".[4] It is in the key of B major.
Matt said: “Starlight” is a more personal song about what it’s like to be on the road for a long period of time – you feel like you’re losing touch with who you are, and that kind of vibe.[5] also, Matt said: "It's a pretty simple love song really. You know, well - love song - sort of missing your girlfriend type of song, you know when you've been on the road for a while and you start to feel a bit like "Cor blimey, where am I going?" It's real cheesy really, kind of like... it's from the heart. It's honest, heart-on-sleeve vibe."[6]
Composition
According to Costey, the piano used a sampling of dropping forks on the piano strings, plucking the strings with guitar picks, putting putty on them, among other tricks to give the song its characteristic sound.[7]
A very subtle synth can be heard throughout the entire song, but it's hard to hear it since it's buried in the final mix. You can heard the synth clearly here.
The clapping at the beginning of "Starlight" can be written as "— ·· — ···" in Morse code, which spells out "TITS". However, this is probably a coincidence.
The lyric "of the people who care if I live or die" carries a strong similarity to a lyric in The Smiths song "Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now". Morrissey sings "...why do I give valuable time/to people who don't care if I live or die? As Muse has covered the band previously this lyric appears to be an homage to The Smiths.
Additional information
As with several other the songs on Black Holes and Revelations, Starlight was written before the 2005 tour in the USA:
"Starlight was written in the practice studio at the end of 2004. It was a simple idea, stemming from a piano impro. We wanted to keep it as simple as possible, and that was very difficult to do. Starlight had to be spontaneous, unleashing an energy that was difficult to capture. It’s influenced by The Strokes, on a drumbeat and basic bass lines. Its structure is simple, and its melodies are catchy. There’s a pop element in each of our albums, a simple bit, very melodic, like "Time Is Running Out" on Absolution. Today, Starlight is that one."
Muse mentioning the influence of The Strokes, it is noteworthy that it has a little resemblance with the chorus of 'On The Other Side' from their album 'First Impressions of Earth' released in 2005 and by '12:51'.
Starlight is played for Edmontonians of Alberta, Canada on Sonic 102.9, as well as being the opening music for the Euro 2008 Football Qualifiers coverage on Sky Sports in the UK. In Scandinavia, the song is used in the commercial of the television channel Viasat.
Matt has stated in an interview that Starlight is his son's favourite Muse song.
Live
On the first performances of the song Matt played the piano notes with the guitar, however, not much later the piano part was done by Morgan Nicholls, Matt only playing the guitar on the choruses.
"Starlight" is played in B flat major live, instead of the recorded B. Starting sometime during the latter half of 2006, Bellamy started a routine of asking the people in a certain area, usually the back or top, how they are doing and dedicating "Starlight" to them. During the Resistance tour, Matt usually played a short Spanish guitar riff before the song. From the Unsustainable Tour onwards, Matt didn't play guitar for the song and instead left the duty to touring member Morgan Nicholls. Then during the Psycho UK Tour and Drones Festival Tour Matt returned to playing guitar before once again not from the start of the arena tour.
Alternate versions
An alternative mix of "Starlight", known as the "New Mix, "Radio Mix" or "Radio Version" was distributed on promotional media only.[9] This version was presumably created to give the song a sound more suitable for radio broadcast.
Lyrics
Far away
This ship has taken me far away Far away from the memories Of the people who care if I live or die
Starlight I will be chasing a starlight Until the end of my life I don't know if it's worth it anymore
Hold you in my arms I just wanted to hold You in my arms
My life You electrify my life Lets conspire to ignite All the souls that would die just to feel alive
I'll never let you go If you promise not to fade away Never fade away
Our hopes and expectations Black holes and revelations Our hopes and expectations Black holes and revelations
Hold you in my arms I just wanted to hold You in my arms
Far away The ship has taken me far away Far away from the memories Of the people who care if I live or die
And I'll never let you go If you promise not to fade away Never fade away
Our hopes and expectations Black holes and revelations, yeah Our hopes and expectations Black holes and revelations
Hold you in my arms I just wanted to hold You in my arms I just wanted to hold
Live alternative
During some live performances, Bellamy alters the chorus to:
Our hopes and expectations
Black holes and revelations Our trials and tribulations Black holes and revelations
During the intimate gig at Shepherd's Bush, London 2013, Bellamy changed the line: "I don't know if it's worth it anymore" into: "And now I know it's not worth it anymore"
References
- ↑ Muselive.com - Starlight reaches #13 20060911
- ↑ Starlight #7 on physical copies - Muselive.com 20060912
- ↑ Andy Willsher. (2006-03-15). New songs review. NME. [verify]
- ↑ Corey Moss. (2006-09-08). Muse Get Stuck At Sea — Without Unicorns — In 'Starlight' Clip. [verify]
- ↑ Marcus Kagler. (2006-07-20). Muse. Under the Radar. Retrieved 2006-07-21. [verify]
- ↑ BBC 2006-08-31 – Radio 1's Entertainment News
- ↑ Jeff Touzeau. (2007-03). An Evening with Rich Costey. EQ. [verify]
- ↑ Discussion in London (2006-05). Rock Mag. Retrieved 2007-05-09. [verify]
- ↑ Starlight (New Mix) (2006-09-02). Retrieved 2008-07-15 from muselive.com.
See also
Back to Black Holes and Revelations