Michael Gore is an Academy Award-winning composer. He, along with lyricist … Read Full Bio ↴Michael Gore is an Academy Award-winning composer. He, along with lyricist Dean Pitchford, won the Oscar in 1980 for best original song for "Fame" from the film of the same title. He also won the award that year for best original score.[1]
Gore wrote the music for the notorious Broadway flop Carrie - The Musical.

Fame
Michael Gore Lyrics

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George Michael
Miscellaneous
Fame
Fame, makes a man take things over
Fame, lets him loose, hard to swallow
Fame, puts you there, where things are hollow
Fame

Fame, it's not your brain, it's just the flame
that burns the change to keep you insane
Fame

Fame, what you like is in the Limo
Fame, what you get is no tomorrow
Fame, what you need you have to borrow
Fame

Fame, "Nien! It's mine!" is just his line
to bind your time, it drives you to, ah, crime
Fame

Could it be the best, could it be?
Really be, really, babe?
Could it be, my babe, could it, babe?
Really be, really, babe?

Is it any wonder
I reject you first?
Fame, fame, fame, fame
Is it any wonder
you're too cool to fool
Fame
Fame, bully for you, chilly for me
Got to get a rain-check on pain
Fame

{vocoder}
ba ba be
ba be ba be
ba be ba be

ba ba ba ba
ba ba
baby, baby
baby

Fame
What's your name?

Overall Meaning

The song Fame, written by Michael Gore and Dean Pitchford, is a reflection of the various emotions and consequences of achieving stardom. The lyrics are a commentary on the music industry and the effects of fame on the human psyche. The opening lines "Fame, makes a man take things over, Fame, lets him loose, hard to swallow" suggest that fame gives someone the power to control their life, but it can be difficult to handle. Someone who has achieved fame has reached the top but at the same time, it's a hollow place where there is no substance.

The chorus emphasizes that fame is not based on intelligence, but on the flame that burns inside someone. That flame motivates someone to change and to remain insane to maintain their level of fame. Fame is what one likes, but sometimes, the price is tomorrow. The song asserts that fame comes with strings attached, what you lend yourself to, you have to borrow. The lyrics suggest that someone who becomes famous can become egotistical, using lines like "Nien! It's mine!" as a way to bind people's time and drive them to crime.

The song also analyzes the narcissism associated with fame. The chorus ends with the line, "Is it any wonder I reject you first?" which highlights that achieving a celebrity status comes with repercussions. People will want to be friends with you, but they may not necessarily want to know the real person. The ending lines of the song mirror the entire essence of the lyrics, “Fame, what's your name?” This final question of the song reflects how meaningless fame could sometimes render its subject, thus drawing home the message that rather than obsessing over fame and its benefits, one should focus on lasting things that contribute to a joyful and purposeful life overall.

Line by Line Meaning

Fame, makes a man take things over
Fame has the power to make a person take control of things.

Fame, lets him loose, hard to swallow
Fame makes one feel liberated, yet it could be overwhelming to handle.

Fame, puts you there, where things are hollow
Fame takes one to a place where things seem empty, and there's nothing to hold on to.

Fame, it's not your brain, it's just the flame that burns the change to keep you insane Fame
Fame does not arise from one's intelligence; instead, it's the fire that consumes change and keeps one insane.

Fame, what you like is in the Limo Fame, what you get is no tomorrow Fame, what you need you have to borrow Fame
Fame is about luxurious cars and short-term pleasures that take away tomorrow's happiness. It demands borrowing for living up to expectations.

Fame, "Nien! It's mine!" is just his line to bind your time, it drives you to, ah, crime Fame
Fame invokes the urge to hold onto the status to the point that people might resort to wrongdoing when threatened.

Could it be the best, could it be? Really be, really, babe? Could it be, my babe, could it, babe? Really be, really, babe?
Is fame worth the hype? Is it all that it's said to be or just overly exaggerated?

Is it any wonder I reject you first? Fame, fame, fame, fame Is it any wonder you're too cool to fool Fame
Isn't it obvious why we reject fame at first? It's because it's tempting, but deep down, we know it's not all it appears. Also, the star persona is hard to deceive.

Fame, bully for you, chilly for me Got to get a rain-check on pain Fame
Fame and all that comes with it might be great for others but uncomfortable for oneself. The price of fame is high, and it's best to prepare ourselves for all the pain that comes with it.

{vocoder} ba ba be ba be ba be ba be ba be ba ba ba ba ba ba baby, baby baby Fame What's your name?
(outro music)

Writer(s): Dean Pitchford, David Bowie, Carlos Alomar, John Winston Lennon, Michael Gore Copyright: Chrysalis Music, Chrysalis Music Holdings Gmbh, Unitunes Music, Emi Affiliated Catalog Inc., Lenono Music, Chrysalis Music Ltd., Air Chrysalis Scandinavia AB

Contributed by Adeline P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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