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.
O My Soul
Big Star Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I lose control
Go ahead and shake if you wanna
And I'll never know
Well, come on
You know it's alright
We've got all night
You're driving me mad, now
We're going to get on up
And drink till we drop
You're really a nice girl
And I think you're the most
And when we're together
I feel like a boss
Trying to see you
I'd knock off your doors
Dying to see you
I'm down on the floor
I can't get a license
To drive my car
But I don't really need it
If I'm a big star
Trying to see you
I'd knock off your doors
Dying to see you
I'm down on the floor
Never you mind
Go on and have a good time
Never you mind, oh
So go on and have a good time, yes indeed
I can't get a license
To drive my car
But I don't really need it
If I'm a big star
Trying to see you
I'd knock off your doors
Dying to see you
I'm down on the floor
The lyrics to Big Star's "O My Soul" express the singer's excitable and impulsive nature, as well as his desire to live life to the fullest. The repeated refrain of "Oh, my soul mama, I lose control" reflects the singer's unrestrained and passionate spirit, while the lines "You're driving me mad, now / You shouldn't do that" suggest the object of his affection is equally exciting and irresistible. The notion of letting loose and "drink[ing] till we drop" illustrates the band's striving for a hedonistic lifestyle that embodies the 1970s rock culture.
The verses contain a mix of romantic and rebellious imagery. The chorus repeats a mantra of wanting to see the girl he loves, even to the point of destruction, stating twice "Trying to see you / I'd knock off your doors / Dying to see you / I'm down on the floor." The mention of not having a license and not needing it to drive his car if he's a big star speaks to the fame and success that the band dreams of achieving. The closing line, "Never you mind / Go on and have a good time," seems to address the object of his affection, indicating that he wants her to enjoy herself and let him worry about the consequences of his actions.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, my soul mama
Addressing someone affectionately, expressing emotional intensity
I lose control
I become overwhelmed, unable to maintain composure or manage my emotions
Go ahead and shake if you wanna
Encouraging someone to express themselves freely and without shame or inhibition
And I'll never know
I won't judge or interfere with your actions
Well, come on
Invitation to continue or intensify the current activity
You know it's alright
Assurance that everything is acceptable and good
We've got all night
Time is not an issue, we can take as long as we want
You're driving me mad, now
Playfully teasing that someone's behavior is causing me to go crazy with desire or excitement
You shouldn't do that
Half-joking reprimand, continuing the playful teasing
We're going to get on up
Encouragement to stand up and dance or move around energetically
And drink till we drop
To drink heavily and enjoy a wild, carefree night
You're really a nice girl
Complimenting someone's character, expressing appreciation
And I think you're the most
Extending the compliment, emphasizing how much they are admired
And when we're together
The two of us being around each other, bringing out positive feelings
I feel like a boss
Feeling confident and in charge, like a successful leader
Trying to see you
Making an effort to be with the person in question
I'd knock off your doors
Going to great lengths to get to someone, even breaking doors if necessary
Dying to see you
Expressing intense desire or longing to be with the person
I'm down on the floor
Overwhelmed with emotions, perhaps losing one's balance or sitting on the floor
I can't get a license
Unable to obtain legal permission or authority
To drive my car
To operate my vehicle in accordance with laws and regulations
But I don't really need it
Despite lacking official permission, feeling confident and capable
If I'm a big star
Being successful and famous, having an elevated status and influence
Never you mind
Don't worry, don't pay attention, it's not important
Go on and have a good time
Being encouraging and supportive of someone's enjoyment and pleasure
Yes indeed
Affirming, agreeing with the previous statement
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: ALEX CHILTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mariomena8614
Lyrics: | "All Star" - Smash Mouth. |
Somebody once told me
The world is gonna roll me
I ain't the sharpest tool in the shed
She was looking kind of dumb
With her finger and her thumb
In the shape of an L on her forehead
Well, the years start coming
And they don't stop coming
Fed to the rules and I hit the ground running
Didn't make sense not to live for fun
Your brain gets smart
But your head gets dumb
So much to do, so much to see
So what's wrong with taking the back streets?
You'll never know if you don't go
You'll never shine if you don't glow
Hey now, you're an all star
Get your game on, go play
Hey now, you're a rock star
Get the show on, get paid
And all that glitters is gold
Only shooting stars break the mold
It's a cool place and they say it gets colder
You're bundled up now
But wait till you get older
But the meteor men beg to differ
Judging by the hole in the satellite picture
The ice we skate is getting pretty thin
The water is getting warm
So you might as well swim
My world's on fire, how about yours?
That's the way I like it
And I never get bored
Hey now, you're an all star
Get your game on, go play
Hey now, you're a rock star
Get the show on, get paid
And all that glitters is gold
Only shooting stars break the mold
Hey now, you're an all star
Get your game on, go play
Hey now, you're a rock star
Get the show on, get paid
And all that glitters is gold
Only shooting stars
Somebody once asked
Could I spare some change for gas?
I need to get myself away from this place
I said: Yep, what a concept
I could use a little fuel myself
And we could all use a little change
Well the years start coming
And they don't stop coming
Fed to the rules and I hit the ground running
Didn't make sense not to live for fun
Your brain gets smart
But your head gets dumb
So much to do, so much to see
So what's wrong with taking the back streets
You'll never know if you don't go (go!)
You'll never shine if you don't glow
Hey now, you're an all star
Get your game on, go play
Hey now, you're a rock star
Get the show on, get paid
And all that glitters is gold
Only shooting stars break the mold
And all that glitters is gold
Only shooting stars break the mold. END.
@McCallahanIndustries
Rest in Peace, King. Thank you for all the great memories. Your music was the sound track to my childhood.
@ishowclipz661
Yes
@ishowclipz661
He may rip
@user-db9rr8ib9y
Rest in peace
@JethroB.BatayonJonJonFilAm
Stop that beer bro
@boohere2
733 videos only with 1.28 million subscribers. HOW BRO???? HOW?
@PrizMatex
Nothing but nostalgia, innocence of childhood, and Shrek would popup in my head when hearing this song.
R.I.P Steve Harwell
@ptsdmoment
ong.😭
@ZarkieGuy
13 minutes ago. wow
@DeesDNP
Shrek is Love, Shrek is Life