In just six years All Star United has presented an unprepared world with a … Read Full Bio ↴In just six years All Star United has presented an unprepared world with a critically acclaimed, Grammy nominated, self-titled debut, followed with International Anthems For The Human Race, and the presumptuously-titled Smash Hits. They globe-trotted their way into some of the world's coolest venues and festivals while record companies and fans queued up outside the door. Where, then, do they go from here? The long-awaited new studio recording, Revolution, promises to live up to its title and ASU fans, new and old, are invited along for the ride.

The first ASU incarnation came together in 1996 when founding member Ian Eskelin decided to broaden his solo act and take a bunch of mates out on the road. The good old rock 'n' roll and notorious stage antics won them immediate acclaim.

Heady days ensued. The boys were signed to a leading record label, and after five No. 1 singles, watched their American youth group following grow into a legion of loyal fans. Over the past six years ASU has played more than 1000 shows. And only recently, during a rare yearlong break from the road in 2000, Ian took time to properly court and wed his new bride Peggy. The couple lives in Nashville, Tennessee, as do the newest faces in the ASU line-up.

Brothers Matt and Mike Payne, originally from Rockford, Illinois, have joined Ian on drums and guitar respectively, and Jeremy Hunter, a Seattle-native, is bassist and Revolution recording engineer. While the four-piece ASU team worked on the new album they took the time to rethink the ASU platform. Ian wanted to communicate something more personal. "I've written all kinds of songs, but the thing I really love and get most excited about is when I write songs that express my faith in three minutes in new and creative ways. That for me is an outpouring of my faith, my calling."

Certainly Ian's savvy use of metaphor, imagery and twisted cliché could charm a literature student for hours. His song-writing skills are clearly illustrated throughout the new record and particularly in songs like the Lennonesque "We Are The Future" and title track "Revolution". "Sweet Jesus" and the worshipful "Making It Beautiful" are perhaps more obvious in their spiritual message, but the common thread of all the tracks is the one thought-provoking challenge that Ian claims has never been more pertinent. "There are several songs on this new record that talk about change, the idea that we can make our lives better by helping to make the world better. Each of us, individually through Christ can make small differences. More than ever, I feel these songs are relevant — no matter what the circumstances of the day."

Revolution was two-and-a-half years in the writing and is the result of an artist honing his craft while personally living the themes of exploration, change, discovery and challenge. Ian has remained very "hands-on" in the production and long-term friend Mark Freegard (Manic Street Preachers, Del Amitri, and The Breeders) has mixed Revolution and ASU's self-titled debut album. Ian is not shy to express his satisfaction. "It's a ten song record and I really tried hard to trim the fat. I wanted the album to have a strong message and for people to be able to enjoy listening to every song. The guys are extremely talented musicians and really helped me with a fresh perspective on these songs."

Musically, Ian, Matt, Mike and Jeremy promise more emphasis on solid rock 'n' roll fundamentals without loosing the fun elements fans have come to love. "It's been easy to perform the songs on Revolution with the same excitement we had when we first started. The new material is written from the heart, and I feel extremely passionate about it. I want the music to be as important to the listener as it is for me. Whether in a car, living room or concert hall, I want people to leave an ASU experience reflective, energized and uplifted."

From http://www.christianitytoday.com/music/artists/allstarunited.html

Superstar
All Star United Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Wistful for disco
We get a little misty
Remembering Menudo
And all those old pros
The Bay City Rollers
and Pinky Tuscadero

It must be our breeding

Call us like cattle
We come stampeding
To the new romantics
Everybody wants a love titanic
and Tiger Beat keeps us on cue

It's true
We were born to worship someone
It's true , I do

[Chorus]
Yeah, Yeah, You
You are my Superstar
And they know who You are
You're never fading
Yeah, You
You are the only One by far
Because You are never changing

Jacksons, Osmonds
Got digested by the cult that caused them
Abba, Poison
Oh how the mighty, the mighty have fallen

It's true
We were born to worship someone

It's true , I do

[Chorus]
Yeah, Yeah, You
You are my Superstar
And they know who You are
You're never fading
Yeah, You
You are the only One, by far
Because You are never changing

Though You fell out of fashion
And You never made the cover
Of a rag like Hit Parader
I could never love another
When I tasted the bread
And when I tasted of the wine
I went blind to everything but how You shine

Overall Meaning

The first verse of "Superstar" by All Star United reminisces about the pop culture icons of the past, from disco to Menudo, Bay City Rollers, and even Pinky Tuscadero. The lyrics imply that people have a natural tendency to look up to and idolize celebrities, following them like cattle to the latest fads and trends. The chorus reveals that there is only one true superstar, and that is the subject of the song - God. The second verse continues this theme by mentioning Jacksons, Osmonds, Abba, and Poison, pointing out how even the biggest stars of their eras eventually fade and become outdated. But God never fades or changes, and the singer swears undying love and devotion to this unchanging superstar.

Line by Line Meaning

Wistful for disco
Nostalgic for the disco era

We get a little misty
We become sentimental

Remembering Menudo
Recalling the famous Latin boy band

And all those old pros
Referring to other famous bands and artists

The Bay City Rollers
A Scottish pop band of the 70s

And Pinky Tuscadero
A character from the TV show Happy Days

It must be our breeding
It is in our nature

Call us like cattle
We are easily influenced and led

We come stampeding
We follow popular trends without thinking

To the new romantics
Referring to a music movement of the 80s

Everybody wants a love titanic
Everyone desires a grand, intense relationship

And Tiger Beat keeps us on cue
A reference to a teen magazine that influences popular trends

It's true
This is a fact

We were born to worship someone
Humans have a natural tendency to idolize others

It's true , I do
The singer specifically acknowledges this tendency

Yeah, Yeah, You
Addressing the subject of worship

You are my Superstar
The object of worship for the singer

And they know who You are
The subject of worship is widely known

You're never fading
The object of worship is unchanging

You are the only One by far
The object of worship is unique and superior to others

Because You are never changing
This is why the object of worship is superior

Jacksons, Osmonds
Other famous bands of the past

Got digested by the cult that caused them
Were consumed and changed by their own fame and success

Abba, Poison
More famous bands of the past

Oh how the mighty, the mighty have fallen
A reference to the decline in popularity of these bands

Though You fell out of fashion
Although the object of worship is no longer in vogue

And You never made the cover
The object of worship was never popularized in this way

Of a rag like Hit Parader
Referring to a music magazine of the past

I could never love another
The singer's love for the object of worship is unconditional

When I tasted the bread
A Christian reference to the Eucharist

And when I tasted of the wine
A continuation of the Christian reference

I went blind to everything but how You shine
The love and worship for the object of worship is all-consuming

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP
Written by: DAVE CLO, DOUGLAS KAINE MCKELVEY, IAN ASHLEY ESKELIN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS