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.
My Life Is Right
Big Star Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I had no one to share my love
But then you came and showed the way
And now I hope you're here to stay
You give me light
You are my day
You give me life
You give me light
You are my day
You give me life
And that's right
So right
So right, so right
Lonely days of uncertainty
They disappear when you're near me
When you're around my life's worthwhile
And now I long to see you smile
You give me light
You are my day
You give me life
And that's right
You give me light
You are my day
You give me life
And that's right
So right
So right, so right
My life is right
My life is right
My life is right
Once I walked a lonely road
I had no one to share my love
But then you came and showed the way
And now I hope you're here to stay
You give me light
You are my day
You give me life
And that's right
You give me light
You are my day
You give me life
And that's right
So right
So right, so right
My life is right
The Big Star song "My Life is Right" is a love song about how the singer's life had been lonely and uncertain until their love interest came along and brightened their world. The verses describe a past filled with isolation and unrequited love, but the chorus lifts the mood and explains how the presence of their lover now gives their life meaning and happiness.
The opening verse sets the scene for the song's melancholic sentiments, as the singer bemoans a lonely existence without anyone to share their love with. But then, the chorus comes in to declare how their lover is the light that makes their days brighter and more fulfilling. The second verse reinforces this motif by stating that when the lover is near, the singer's life is worthwhile and happier. The second chorus doubles down on the sentiment, with the repetition making it clear that this connection is truly what is "right" for the singer.
The song is beautifully simple and direct, and the catchy chorus and feel-good message make it an uplifting tune despite its sad opening. It's a great example of the almost-pop vibe that made Big Star so popular.
Line by Line Meaning
Once I walked a lonely road
I used to feel very alone and lost on my path in life
I had no one to share my love
I was missing love and connection in my life
But then you came and showed the way
Then you came into my life and showed me the way to love and happiness
And now I hope you're here to stay
Now, I hope you stay in my life and make it even better
You give me light
You brighten up my life and make everything better
You are my day
You are the sun in my life, making each day feel warmer and brighter
You give me life
You give me a reason to live happily and fully
And that's right
And that's exactly how it should be
So right
It feels perfect and exactly as it should be
So right, so right
So perfect and fitting, it couldn't be any better
Lonely days of uncertainty
My past was filled with days of loneliness and uncertainty
They disappear when you're near me
But all those bad feelings vanish when you're next to me
When you're around my life's worthwhile
I feel like my life means something when you're in it
And now I long to see you smile
I care about your happiness and want to see you smile more often
My life is right
My life is finally complete and full of joy with you in it
My life is right
My life is complete and perfect the way it is right now
My life is right
My life is complete and full of happiness
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Christopher Bell, Tom Eubanks
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Brianna Bush
Lyrics
Once I walked a lonely road
Had no one to share my love
But then you came and showed the way
And now I hope you're here to stay
You give me light
You are my day
You give me life
And that's right
You give me light
You are my day
You give me life
And that's right
So right
So right, so right
Lonely age of uncertainty
They disappear when you're near me
When you're around my life's worthwhile
And now I long to see you smile
You give me light
You are my day
You give me life
And that's right
You give me light
You are my day
You give me life
And that's right
So right
So right, so right
My life is right
My life is right
My life is right
Once I walked a lonely road
Had no one to share my love
But then you came and showed the way
And now I hope you're here to stay
You give me light
You are my day
You give me life
And that's right
You give me light
You are my day
You give me life
And that's right
So right
So right, so right
My life is right
D FMN
Goddamn Jody Stephens drumming is impeccable. His playing on this entire album is the highlight for me. Talk about overlooked.
Christopher Sobieniak
We could've had Big Star graffiti on the locker rooms for years!
austin78993
Without a doubt.
Mark Neese
This is such a beautiful song, and Chris Bell's voice expresses such raw vulnerability.
radialaxis
Along with being one of Big Star's very best, I always think of this as maybe the greatest Christian rock song, if that's not an oxymoron. Really shows where Chris was/was going spiritually.
Skyler Maxey
God one of the greatest big star songs!
Ken Vail
Quite an emotional/profound song for me 😢
Brianna Bush
Lyrics
Once I walked a lonely road
Had no one to share my love
But then you came and showed the way
And now I hope you're here to stay
You give me light
You are my day
You give me life
And that's right
You give me light
You are my day
You give me life
And that's right
So right
So right, so right
Lonely age of uncertainty
They disappear when you're near me
When you're around my life's worthwhile
And now I long to see you smile
You give me light
You are my day
You give me life
And that's right
You give me light
You are my day
You give me life
And that's right
So right
So right, so right
My life is right
My life is right
My life is right
Once I walked a lonely road
Had no one to share my love
But then you came and showed the way
And now I hope you're here to stay
You give me light
You are my day
You give me life
And that's right
You give me light
You are my day
You give me life
And that's right
So right
So right, so right
My life is right
jennisunn
Beautiful!!
lyonslaforet
This song is so right!