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.
In the Street
Big Star Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The same old thing we did last week
Not a thing to do
But talk to you
Steal your car, and bring it down
Pick me up, we'll drive around
Wish we had
Bust the street light
Out past midnight
Hanging out, down the street
The same old thing we did last week
Not a thing to do
But talk to you
The opening of "In the Street" by Big Star paints a vivid picture of the mundane and repetitious nature of small-town living. The lyrics, "Hanging out, down the street / The same old thing we did last week / Not a thing to do / But talk to you" describe a group of friends who have nothing better to do than spend time together, their lives characterised by boredom and listlessness. Despite the lack of excitement and purpose in their lives, the singer seems content to simply "talk to you" - suggesting that companionship and connection are perhaps the only things keeping him going.
However, as the song progresses, the tone shifts. The singer's desire for something more exciting and fulfilling becomes increasingly desperate, culminating in the refrain, "Bust the street light / Out past midnight." The suggestion of destruction and rebellion hints at a deeper sense of frustration and unrest, as if the singer and his friends are searching for a way to break free from the monotony of their lives. The final repetition of the opening verses, "Hanging out, down the street / The same old thing we did last week / Not a thing to do / But talk to you" takes on a new meaning, reflecting a sense of resignation and disappointment at the unchanging nature of their circumstances.
Overall, "In the Street" is a poignant and relatable portrayal of youth, boredom, and the desire for adventure and excitement. While its simple lyrics and catchy melody may seem lighthearted at first glance, they belie a deeper sense of longing and disillusionment that will resonate with anyone who has ever felt stuck in a rut.
Line by Line Meaning
Hanging out, down the street
Spending time on the road with friends
The same old thing we did last week
Repeating our usual activity without deviation
Not a thing to do
Shortage of recreational activities
But talk to you
Engaging in conversation with a friend
Steal your car, and bring it down
Taking possession of your auto to bring it back to you after a ride
Pick me up, we'll drive around
Come get me so we can take a spin
Wish we had
Expressing desire for something lacking
A joint so bad
A strong yearning for marijuana
Bust the street light
Destroying the street lamp purposefully
Out past midnight
Being active late into the night
Hanging out, down the street
Spending time on the road with friends
The same old thing we did last week
Repeating our usual activity without deviation
Not a thing to do
Shortage of recreational activities
But talk to you
Engaging in conversation with a friend
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Alex Chilton, Christopher Bell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
JC
This is so infectious and that riff is incredible. How wasn’t this a big hit I don’t get it!
Harley Jackson
It's probably because this singer can't sing. It's the kind of voice where if your friend starts singing next to you, and he sounds like THIS, you tell him to stop it. The BAND sounds good, the singer is awful.
JC
@Harley Jackson I think he’s fine 🤷🏻♂️
Michael Chambers
@Harley Jackson Alex Chilton a bad singer? Interesting take.
Isaac Cantu
So glad I looked up this song. It caught my eye during the credits of that 70's show! So groovy!
Mikey Smith
In case you ever wondered where the theme song for "That 70s Show" came from
Spuff Vermon
Cheap Trick
Mikey Smith
@Spuff Vermon season 1 was sung by Todd Griffin and in season 2 Cheap Trick took over and did the superior version most people recognize
Coolcrudude
They did end up using a Big Star song for the finale so kind of a full circle moment
Mikey Smith
@Coolcrudude they did use Big Star's song "Thirteen" but Cheap Trick still played the theme song