Big Star is often cited as a prime example of power pop. Drawing upon pop music traditions — especially The Beatles, The Byrds, The Kinks, The Zombies, Badfinger, The Who, Moby Grape, The Beach Boys and Free — Big Star's music was lyrical, powerful, and at times melancholic pop for the post-1960s generation. Their approach not only recalled the British Invasion groups but the spare, relaxed style of Stax Records, the Memphis soul label, as well as the edgy rockabilly of early Sun Records. In an era of singer-songwriters and heavy-metal groups, they played melodic, concisely written songs. Their reputation, negligible in 1974 beyond a small coterie of admirers, has steadily grown, and they are today considered one of pop's classic groups.
Big Star was formed in 1971 in Memphis, Tennessee, United States by guitarist/vocalist Chris Bell, bassist Andy Hummel, drummer Jody Stephens, and guitarist/vocalist Alex Chilton. All four at times contributed to the songwriting and lead vocals, with Chilton and Bell singing and writing the majority of the early songs as a team modeled after Lennon and McCartney's collaborative style. Chilton, a former teen pop idol, and Bell had a musically fruitful but difficult relationship. The band's first two albums had a string of great reviews but sold almost nothing, not helped by Stax's struggle to know how to sell a bunch of white guys playing retro rock. The failure to break through was a huge blow to Chilton and Bell, and their relationship deteriorated, and by the time their third album Third/Sister Lovers came around, Bell had left to pursue a solo career that was cut short by his untimely death.
Chilton and Stephens have toured since 1993 under the Big Star name with Jon Auer and Ken Stringfellow of The Posies in the band. This lineup released the album In Space in 2005.
After the EP Live Tribute to Alex Chilton was released in June 2011, Stephens wrote on the Ardent blog that the tribute performance in May 2010 was the last performance for Big Star as a band.
On March 17th, 2010, Alex Chilton passed away in a New Orleans hospital at the age of 59. Big Star was scheduled to play at SXSW that week. Andy Hummel died of cancer in Weatherford, Texas, on 19 July 2010 .
Big Star has gained more recent exposure with bands like Superdrag, Weezer, R.E.M., The Replacements, Primal Scream, the Posies, Bill Lloyd and the dB's citing them as an influence. Three of Big Star’s albums, Radio City, #1 Record, and Third/Sister Lovers were included in Rolling Stone magazine’s "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" in 2003.
Big Star's biggest champions have been Teenage Fanclub who have been involved in re-issuing some of their work and even named one of their albums after one Big Star's most affecting songs, "thirteen". It was a song covered live on occasion by Elliott Smith who was clearly influenced by Chilton's vocal style (the similarities in the higher vocal register are notable there and on Give Me Another Chance and I'm in Love with a Girl). The Bangles also scored a hit in the 80s with their cover of "September Gurls". Cheap Trick have recorded several covers of "In The Street" for use as the theme song for the sitcom That '70s Show.
Paul Westerberg wrote and recorded ( with his band, The Replacements) the song "Alex Chilton", which contains the line, "I never travel far, without a little Big Star." Westerberg lists Chilton as one of his greatest influences, and has covered "September Gurls" live, both solo and with his band.
September Gurls
Big Star Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I was your Butch and you were touched
I loved you, well, never mind
I've been crying all the time
December boys got it bad
December boys got it bad
September girls, I don't know why
How can I deny what's inside?
And even though I'll keep away
They will love all our days
December boys got it bad
December boys got it bad
When I get to bed, late at night
That's the time she makes things right
Ooh, when she makes love to me
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
September girls do so much
I was your Butch and you were touched
I loved you, well, never mind
I've been crying all the time
December boys got it bad
December boys got it bad
December boys got it bad, woo
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh
"September Gurls" by Big Star is a song about the inconstancy of love and the pain of heartbreak. The song is addressed to the titular "September Gurls," who are alluring and captivating, but ultimately fickle and unattainable. The singer describes himself as being in love with one of these girls, but the relationship causes him nothing but misery, as he is constantly crying and feeling rejected. He contrasts this with the "December boys," who also seem to have their own romantic struggles.
The lyrics suggest that the September Gurls are so mesmerizing that it is impossible to deny what's inside and that they will always be loved, even if from afar. The chorus repeatedly affirms the idea that December boys (those with winter birthdays) have it bad, which could be interpreted as a commentary on how people born in colder months are often seen as melancholic or unlucky. However, despite the sadness and longing expressed in the lyrics, the song has an upbeat melody that belies its dark themes.
Line by Line Meaning
September girls do so much
Girls born in September accomplish a lot in life
I was your Butch and you were touched
I was your protector while you were vulnerable
I loved you, well, never mind
I used to love you, but it doesn't matter anymore
I've been crying all the time
I've been sad all the time
December boys got it bad
Boys born in December have a tough time in life
September girls, I don't know why
I'm not sure why September girls are special to me
How can I deny what's inside?
I can't deny my true feelings
And even though I'll keep away
I'll try to stay away even though I am drawn to them
They will love all our days
They will love us forever
When I get to bed, late at night
When I go to bed late at night
That's the time she makes things right
That's when she comforts me
Ooh, when she makes love to me
When we are intimate
December boys got it bad, woo
Boys born in December have a tough time in life
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
Vocalizations
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Alex Chilton
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind