There are several artists which use this name:
1. A popular indie pop ba… Read Full Bio ↴There are several artists which use this name:
1. A popular indie pop band from Canada
2. A rock band from the United Kingdom featuring Syd Barrett
3. A rock band from Australia
4. A country rock band from Australia
For the Japanese psychedelic group, please see The Stars

1. Stars is a Canadian indie pop band signed to the Arts & Crafts label. Originally formed in Toronto in 1998 by vocalist Torquil Campbell and keyboardist Chris Seligman, the band relocated to New York City and then subsequently to Montreal. The band also includes singer-guitarist Amy Millan and bassist Evan Cranley. Drummer Pat McGee has toured with the band for years, despite not appearing on their albums until the release of Set Yourself On Fire.

The band’s breakthrough single was Ageless Beauty, from their 2004 album Set Yourself on Fire. While released to minimal fanfare in Canada in October of 2004, Set Yourself on Fire slowly gained a strong following and critical praise soon after its 8 March 2005 U.S. release.

Millan, Campbell and Cranley are also members of the indie band Broken Social Scene; Seligman, although uncredited, has contributed to past Broken Social Scene albums. Millan has since embarked on a solo career, releasing a record entitled Honey From the Tombs in July 2006. Campbell has a side-project with friend Chris Dumont entitled Memphis; their latest album, A Little Place In the Wilderness, was released in August 2006.

On their website, they have noted that their name was chosen, by coincidence, without prior knowledge of the short-lived project by Syd Barrett. They have cited a wide variety of musical likes and influences ranging from Berlioz to Outkast, citing among others Barrett, Paddy McAloon, New Order, The Smiths, Brian Wilson and Momus. They covered The Smiths’ This Charming Man on 2001’s Nightsongs and The Pogues’ Fairytale of New York in 2005. Other indie artists have been guest collaborators on many of their tracks, especially for an early period including the release of their first LP.

2. The Stars is a Japanese psychedelic rock band. It consists of ex-members of the legendary band White Heaven including Michio Kurihara (Ghost, Boris, Ai Aso) on guitar and You Ishihara on vocals. For more information see The Stars.

3. Stars, a short-lived British band in 1972. Its members were Syd Barrett on guitar, Twink on drums, and Jack Monck (of Delivery) on bass. They played three live concerts in Cambridge before Barrett left the group, thus (essentially) ending it. Shortly thereafter Syd Barrett left music altogether and began a life in seclusion, and this project is sometimes seen as the so called 'straw that broke the camel's back'. Recordings of their performances remain lost, though it has been attested that all three performances contained early Pink Floyd songs and different versions of tracks from Barrett's 1970 solo album The Madcap Laughs. It has also been stated in multiple accounts that in each show Barrett entered one of his somewhat trademark catatonic trances, the worst coming in their second concert, where Barrett became almost completely frozen and had to be carried off stage. This was not unusual, having happened many times while Syd was still a member of Pink Floyd.

According to Twink, the band ended when Barrett approached him in the street, carrying a scathing review of their third concert. He waved the paper in Twink's face and said, essentially, "That's it."

4. Stars, an Australian country rock band from the late 1970s, most noted for the songs 'Mighty Rock' and 'Look After Yourself'. The band's main songwriter, Andy Durant, died tragically from cancer at age 25, marking the demise of the band. Fellow band members and many other luminaries in the Australian music scene at the time including Jimmy Barnes and Renee Geyer played a memorial concert, the Andy Durant Memorial Concert, to raise money for cancer research in mid-1980.

Ageless Beauty
Stars Lyrics

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Ageless beauty
Cruelty makes its holes
But on the shoreline
Time will hold its promise

We will always be a light
You can see it from the surface, see it
We will always be a light

You can see it from the surface, see it
We will always be a light

Tattered fingers
Lingering on the warm and foolish
Hardened faces
Graceless, we'll lose the battle

We will always be a light
You can see it from the surface, see it
We will always be a light
You can see it from the surface, see it
We will always be a light

Oceans won't freeze
So loosen your heart
Underestimated
Undefeated in this love

We will always be a light
You can see it from the surface, see it
We will always be a light
You can see it from the surface, see it
We will always be a light
You can see it from the surface, see it
We will always be a light
You can see it from the surface, see it
We will always be a light

You can see it from the surface, see it
We will always be a light

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Stars’ song Ageless Beauty touch upon the themes of resilience and hope in the face of cruelty, loss, and despair. The opening lines, “Ageless beauty, cruelty makes its holes / But on the shoreline, time will hold its promise,” suggest that even though we may experience hardships that leave their marks, time — symbolized by the shoreline — will heal and renew us. The song goes on to assert that “We will always be a light” that shines brightly and persistently, even in the midst of darkness and struggle. This metaphorical light can be seen from the surface, indicating that it is not hidden or inaccessible, but rather a visible source of strength and inspiration.

The second verse, with its image of “Tattered fingers / Lingering on the warm and foolish / Hardened faces / Graceless, we’ll lose the battle,” presents a more somber view of humanity. Here we see the fragility and imperfection of people, and the inevitability of losing battles along the way. But despite this, the chorus repeats the message that we will always be a light, suggesting a sense of steadfastness and hopefulness in the face of adversity.

The final verse, with its lines “Oceans won’t freeze / So loosen your heart / Underestimated / Undefeated in this love,” brings together the themes of time, resilience, and hope. The image of the ocean, which will not freeze and will continue to flow and renew, serves as a powerful representation of the potential for growth and renewal that exists within us all. The song suggests that we must loosen our hearts, be open to change and healing, and have faith in the power of love to sustain us through life’s challenges.

Line by Line Meaning

Ageless beauty
The beauty that is timeless and beyond the reach of the destructive forces of time and cruelty.

Cruelty makes its holes
The negative, cruel aspects of life create gaps in our lives and experiences.

But on the shoreline
Even as we struggle on the edge between land and sea, there is a sense of hope and possibility.

Time will hold its promise
The future will bring what it may, but we can trust that time will reveal its true potential and keep its promises.

We will always be a light
No matter how the world may change, there is a core of goodness and light that shines within us and will continue to do so always.

You can see it from the surface, see it
The strength and hope within us are visible to all, even those who only glance at our surfaces.

Tattered fingers
Despite our struggles and challenges, we keep moving forward, relying on our inner strength to help us persevere.

Lingering on the warm and foolish
Sometimes we cling to the things that comfort us, even if they may not be the wisest choices for us in the long run.

Hardened faces
Our experiences can harden us and make us more guarded or ready to fight, but there is still beauty and goodness within us.

Graceless, we'll lose the battle
If we lose sight of our true selves and our inner light, we risk losing the battles we face in life.

Oceans won't freeze
Even in the face of great challenges or coldness from others, our inner warmth and strength cannot be suppressed forever.

So loosen your heart
To truly connect with others and show our true selves, we must let go of some of our guards and loosen the tight grip we have on our emotions.

Underestimated
Others may not see the depth or strength of our true selves and inner light.

Undefeated in this love
Despite everything, the love and goodness within us will never be truly defeated because it is eternal and ever-brightening.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Amy E Millan, Christopher Allen Seligman, Evan Whitney Cranley, Patrick McGee, Torquil John Campbell

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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