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.
Mod Lang
Big Star Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What you want me to do?
And so I moan
Had to leave my home
Love my girl, oh yeah
She got to save my soul
I want a witness, I want to testify
How long can this go on?
How long can this go on?
All night long I was howling
I was a barking dog
A-how, a-how
I can't be satisfied
What you want me to do?
I want a witness, I want to testify
How long can this go on?
How long can this go on?
All night long I was howling
I was a barking dog
I want a witness, I want to testify
The lyrics of Big Star's "Mod Lang" are reflective of the frustration and dissatisfaction of the singer facing a situation where they are unable to please or satisfy someone. The words "I can't be satisfied, what you want me to do?" emphasize the singer's sense of futility in trying to meet someone else's expectations. The next lines "and so I moan, had to leave my home" suggest that these expectations have led to a breaking point, causing the singer to feel trapped and disheartened, eventually leading to their departure.
However, the singer finds hope and salvation in their love for their partner, who they believe will "save [their] soul." In search of reassurance and support, they want a witness, someone to testify and validate their struggles. This drive to be heard is emphasized by the repeated refrain "how long can this go on?" indicating the singer's longing for an end to their conflicts and a resolution to their problems.
The energetic and almost frantic quality of the song is captured by the singer's animalistic howls and the comparison to a "barking dog." This sense of desperation is punctuated by the repetition of the desire for a witness and the unanswered question of how long things will continue in this unsatisfactory state.
Line by Line Meaning
I can't be satisfied
I am not content with the way things are
What you want me to do?
I do not understand or agree with your expectations of me
And so I moan
I express my dissatisfaction through vocalization
Had to leave my home
I felt the need to leave my place of comfort and familiarity
Love my girl, oh yeah
I have affection towards my significant other
She got to save my soul
I rely on her for emotional guidance and support
I want a witness, I want to testify
I desire acknowledgement and validation for my experiences and opinions
How long can this go on?
I question the sustainability of this situation
All night long I was howling
I expressed my distress through constant vocalization for an extended period of time
I was a barking dog
My behavior resembled that of a dog's bark, which is often interpreted as a sign of agitation or distress
A-how, a-how
This is a vocalization of distress or agitation
I want a witness, I want to testify
I desire acknowledgement and validation for my experiences and opinions
How long can this go on?
I question the sustainability of this situation
All night long I was howling
I expressed my distress through constant vocalization for an extended period of time
I was a barking dog
My behavior resembled that of a dog's bark, which is often interpreted as a sign of agitation or distress
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ALEX CHILTON, RICHARD ROSEBROUGH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@JamesKovacic
One of the best songs on Radio City. So fun and raw. Love it
@JCStorm77
It wasn’t meant to be a Big Star song. It was originally a song from Alex Chiltons side project The Dolby Fuc#ers
@ziggyzagzi8017
Diggin the Basso supremo
@rundoetx
Loving me some Big Star. Thanks for posting.
@maxklariczen7320
Good kbron