Five Star are siblings Deniece (later to be called 'Denise') Pearson (lead vocals/song writer), Stedman Pearson (costume designer), Lorraine Pearson (spokesperson & song writer), Doris Pearson (choregrapher) and Delroy Pearson (song writer & producer).
Born in Romford Essex to record owner Buster Pearson, Deniece, at the age of 15, persuaded, her father to allow Deniece and her sisters to record "Problematic". The Pearson parents liked what they heard but also insisted that Deniece's brothers joined the group. Hence, Five Star was born.
In 1983 Five Star appeared on BBC's Pebble Mill at One singing and dancing to 'Problematic'. The BBC switchboard was jamed with record companies wanting to sign the group - Buster said the group were signed to his label Tent Records but they needed a larger company to buy Tent records and hence aquire Five Star. RCA/BMG snapped up the young group and in 1984 their debut single 'Hide and Seek' was released (at the time youngest member Delroy was still at high school and lead singer Deniece had only just left school). Neither 'Hide and Seek' or its follow-up 'Crazy' managed to chart.
In May 1985 the group scored their first top 20 hit with 'All Fall Down'. This was followed with another top 20 hit 'Let Me Be The One'. Their debut album 'Luxury of Life' was released in August 1985, it would spend 70 weeks in the album charts but did not hit the top 20 until a year after its initial release.
Five Star released two more hits in 1985 - top 30 hit 'Love Take Over' and 'RSVP' which stalled at 45 in the charts.
1986 was to be a big year for Five Star. In Jan 86 they released the number 3 smash hit 'System Addict', which also helped their album get to number 12 in the album charts. In April 86 they released the top ten smash 'Can't Wait Another Minute' (the first song from their second album) and this was followed up in July 1986 with 'Find The Time' another top ten hit for the group.
In Aug 1986 Five Star released their 2nd album 'Silk & Steel', the album spent 58 weeks in the album chart, peaking at number 1 in the UK. They broke a record for being the youngest act to top the UK album charts. In Sept 86 they released their biggest hit 'Rain or Shine', which went to number 2 and stayed in the singles chart for 11 weeks. 'If I Say Yes' was released in Nov 1986 and coincided with their first tour.
The hits from 'Silk & Steel' continued in to 1987 with two more top ten hits 'Stay Out Of My Life' (written by Deniece) in February and a Shep Pettibone remix of 'The Slightest Touch' in April 87. 'Silk & Steel' boasted 7 hit singles in total. In Aug 1987 they released the 1st track from their 3rd album - the track was 'Whenever You're Ready', which went to number 11.
Their third album 'Between The Lines' was released in Sept 1987, it went to number 7 in the album charts, but lacked the sales of their previous albums. The Diane Warren penned ballad 'Strong As Steel' (number 16 in the charts) was released in Oct 87, at the same time as the group embarked on their second tour, which ended with a sell out week at Wembley Arena. A third single from the album 'Somewhere Somebody' was released in Dec 87 but failed to make the top 20. The group won the best group award at the 1987 Brit Awards and also at the 1987 Smash Hits awards.
In June 1988 Five Star came back with a new top 20 single, 'Another Weekend' and a harder sexier image. Gone were their sequined suits in favour of 'head to toe' black leather and huge blonde hair extensions for Deniece. 'Rock My World', was the follow up top 30 hit in August 88.
Five Star released their fourth album 'Rock The World' in August 1988, it failed to make the top ten - peaking at number 17 and spent five weeks in the album charts. Two more singles were released from 'Rock The World' at the end of 1988 - 'There's A Brand New World' and ballad 'Let Me Be Yours', both songs were written by Deniece but neither managed to make the top 50.
In 1989 Five Star released a new track 'With Every Heartbeat' and a 'Greatest Hits' album. The single made number 49 but the Hits album stalled at 53 and only stayed in the album charts for 3 weeks.
In 1990 Five Star signed to EPIC records, they released two songs 'Treat Me Like A Lady' and 'Hot Love', both written by Delroy & Doris with Doris on lead vocals. Neither song managed to break the top 50.
In late 1990 Five Star moved from the UK to the USA where they released their fifth studio album 'Five Star'. All tracks on 'Five Star' were written by the group. The album was never released in the UK. This was followed in 1991 with the single and album (both called) 'Shine', which featured Deniece (now called Denise) back as main lead singer.
Five Star released two more albums in the USA 1995's 'Heart & Soul' and 2001's 'Eclipse'. In 2002 Denise, Lorraine & Stedman returned to the UK to tour as part of the 'Here & Now' concerts at Wembley.
In 2012, the first four original Five Star albums were re-mastered and re-released on the Cherry Pop label with bonus tracks.
System Addict
Five Star Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wired to a machine
Never would believe it
This can't be happening
Boxes that go beep
Little lights that leap
Tapping on a keyboard
And when the electricity
Starts to flow
The fuse that's on my sanity
Got to blow
System addict
I never can get enough
System addict
Never can give it up
Beauty or a beast
Don't know which I see
Still I couldn't leave it
Fascination won't cease
You know it's got the best of me
Sight and sound
Untangled in complexity
All around
System addict
I never can get enough
System addict
Never can give it up, no
System addict
You got the heart, we have it
And when it gets to be too much
Can't go on
I really need the human touch
But I'm too far gone
Yes, I'm too far gone
No I can't go on
System addict
I never can get enough
System addict
Never can give it up
System addict
I never can get enough
System addict
Never can give it up
System addict
I never can get enough
System addict
Never can give it up
System addict
I never can get enough
System addict
Never can give it up
The song System Addict by Five Star is a commentary on the effects of technology and its addictive nature. The lyrics describe the feeling of being wired to a machine, with boxes that go beep and little lights that leap, and the tapping of a keyboard becoming a new reality. The singer is almost in disbelief that this is happening to them, but at the same time, they cannot get enough.
The lyrics go on to describe the complexities of this addiction, with the sight and sound becoming untangled in complexity all around. The singer is aware that they are too far gone and need the human touch, but they cannot stop the addiction. This is a reflection of the ways in which technology has become intertwined in our lives and how difficult it can be to disconnect from it.
The chorus repeats the phrase "System addict" in a mantra-like fashion, emphasizing how it is an addiction. It is something that cannot be given up and has a hold on the singer, just like any other kind of addiction. The use of music helps to convey its resilience and power over the individual.
Overall, this song offers a thought-provoking commentary on the effects of technology and how it can become a powerful addiction.
Line by Line Meaning
Take a look at me
I want you to observe my behavior
Wired to a machine
I am physically connected to a device
Never would believe it
I am surprised myself by the extent of my obsession
This can't be happening
I am in disbelief about what is occurring
Boxes that go beep
There are equipment around me that make beeping sounds
Little lights that leap
I am fixated on lights flashing on a screen
Tapping on a keyboard
I am incessantly pressing buttons on a keyboard
What's happening to me?
I am questioning the degree of my obsession
And when the electricity
Once the electrical current
Starts to flow
Is activated
The fuse that's on my sanity
My mental well-being is at risk of being compromised
Got to blow
Will eventually fail
System addict
I am addicted to using technology
I never can get enough
My curiosity for technology is insatiable
Never can give it up
I cannot stop using technology
Beauty or a beast
I cannot decide whether my obsession is good or bad
Don't know which I see
I am uncertain whether the effect of technology is positive or negative
Still I couldn't leave it
I am still drawn to technology
Fascination won't cease
My interest in technology will not diminish
You know it's got the best of me
My obsession with technology is controlling me completely
Sight and sound
The visual and auditory stimulation of technology
Untangled in complexity
The complexity of technology has not deterred me from using it
All around
Everywhere I look, technology is present
You got the heart, we have it
We understand your addiction to technology
And when it gets to be too much
When my obsession with technology becomes overwhelming
Can't go on
I feel like I cannot continue using technology excessively
I really need the human touch
I crave for the companionship of someone else
But I'm too far gone
My addiction to technology has gone too far
Yes, I'm too far gone
I have lost control of my addiction to technology
System addict
I am addicted to using technology
I never can get enough
My curiosity for technology is insatiable
Never can give it up
I cannot stop using technology
System addict
I am addicted to using technology
I never can get enough
My curiosity for technology is insatiable
Never can give it up
I cannot stop using technology
System addict
I am addicted to using technology
I never can get enough
My curiosity for technology is insatiable
Never can give it up
I cannot stop using technology
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Bluewater Music Corp.
Written by: Billy Livsey, Mike Bell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Louisa Radice
35 years on the lyrics seem more fitting than ever...
Take a look at me
Wired to a machine
Never would believe it
This can't be happening
Boxes that go beep
Little lights that leap
Tapping on a keyboard
What's happening to me?
...
And when it gets to be too much
Can't go on
I really need the human touch
AffluLife Style
The most astonishing thing was that Five Star never had a single number 1 record. The melodies they had, had number 1 written all over them. The catchiness & melodies of their songs were way ahead of time.
a cw
Something must have been out of sync then as they were on the Radio all the time and everyone loved them.
Richard EVANS
Never knew that they were brilliant in the 80s
Daithi
Yeah they were great... akin to Janet Jackson...only hit number 3 on the charts...I still have this song on vinyl
GLICKTON
in them days there were number 1's everywhere, the 80s was full of great musicians competing and the reality is that they just weren't the best at the time, there were better bands etc. with better music ((or more popular music) don't get me wrong, i thought at the time five star were the best, but the 80s were the best.
005 AGIMA
This song is waaaaaay ahead of it's time. They saw the future and sang about it. Now here we are.
kieranmatsug
Nah this sounds exactly from its time
zarcon85
Joshua Langley Research yeah, like Newclus did in "Computor Age"...
Lewis
Silver Dream Machine People have speculated about the future, in songs, since there have been songs. Bob Dylan, David Bowie, Kate Bush, Jimi Hendrix, Depeche Mode, Zager & Evans, Joni Mitchell......- the set of bobble-heads known as Five Star didn't invent the idea.
Evert Jan Veerman
2000 man - the rolling stones