Big Star was an American power pop band formed in Memphis, Tennessee, in 19… Read Full Bio ↴Big Star was an American power pop band formed in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1971 by Alex Chilton (1950 – 2010), Chris Bell (1951 – 1978), Jody Stephens and Andy Hummel (1951 - 2010). The group broke up in 1974. By the 1980s, they were recognised as one of rock music's classic groups. After the death of Chris Bell in 1978 and the deaths of both Alex Chilton and Andy Hummel in 2010, Jody Stephens is the last surviving original member of the group.

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.

Baby Strange
Big Star Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I see you walking, I see you talking
With all of my friends
I'm shadowed under, you're like some thunder
Want to be your friend

I want to call ya, I want to ball ya
All night long
In whims of passion, my whip is lashing

I want to get you and then

Oh, you're strange
Don't lame me, baby strange
Don't lame me, baby

The city's shaking, I ain't faking
Baby this is the end

I'm overloaded, my head exploded
I want to get you and then

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Big Star's song "Baby Strange" offer a glimpse into the perspective of an infatuated admirer. The song describes the scene of the singer seeing the person they desire socializing with their friends. The singer is envious of this social bond and wants to befriend them. Yet, the lyrics turn to more sensual and passionate desires as the singer expresses their yearning to be intimate with the person they are obsessed with. The use of the term "whims of passion" suggests that their feelings are not entirely rational, but rather impulsive and driven by intense emotions.

The lyrics phrase “Don't lame me, baby strange” could be interpreted in two different ways. One way is that the singer is saying "Don't blame me" for their actions or feelings, as they are driven by this infatuation. However, the spelling of "lame" instead of "blame" could also suggest the singer is saying "Don't tame me" as they want to act on their intense passion and not be restrained. This ambiguity creates a sense of tension in the lyrics, reflecting the internal conflict the singer is experiencing.

Line by Line Meaning

I see you walking, I see you talking
I notice you strolling and conversing

With all of my friends
In the company of all of my companions

I'm shadowed under, you're like some thunder
I am overshadowed while you are as impactful as thunder

Want to be your friend
Desiring to befriend you

I want to call ya, I want to ball ya
I want to dial your number and have sexual relations with you

All night long
For the entirety of the night

In whims of passion, my whip is lashing
During impulsive actions of desire, my sexual arousal is present

I want to get you and then
I want to obtain you and afterwards do something with you

Oh, you're strange
Oh, you are peculiar

Don't lame me, baby strange
Do not call me a coward for my desire for you

Don't lame me, baby
Do not call me a coward