The band evolved out of "Chad Allan and the Expressions" (often shortened to The Expressions), which was a pop rock group with a British Invasion feel fronted by Chad Allan and featuring guitarist Randy Bachman. Both of them had great potential as singer-songwriters. After their cover of "Shakin' All Over" sold well as a single, their record label released the band's album with "Guess Who?" written on the cover, hoping to mislead unsuspecting buyers into thinking it was a British group. The name stuck, however, and from then on they were 'The Guess Who'. The Who musician Pete Townshend later jokingly said that he allowed the Canadian group to take both their style and name, calling himself a fan.
Singer and keyboardist Burton Cummings joined upon Allan's departure in 1966, and the band's classic line-up was born. The guys mixed some jazz-inspired sounds such as flute and electric piano playing into their sound, and they scored hits in Canada with tracks such as "These Eyes", "Undun", and "Laughing". Yet it was when they turned to psychedelic-influenced rock and rock with 'American Woman' (the third album with the Bachman/Cummings line-up) that they broke through in the U.S. The anti-war title cut (a song ironically embraced by some Americans as a patriotic anthem despite the cynical lyrics, though the band didn't complain as the record royalties came in) has received airplay on classic rock radio for years and years now. The Guess Who's success after that album came out proved to be hit and miss, however, and they would have members go in and out.
After the release of 'Share the Land', their second album of 1970, Bachman left to form Bachman-Turner Overdrive, leaving Cummings as the band's leader and main songwriter. Though Bachman and his band-mates had achieved huge commercial success, the singer-songwriter felt like he wanted to go off into a whole other muscial direction. Afterwards, the Guess Who experimented in various styles through the 70s, including blues, down-home bluegrass, jazz fusion, and Cummings's trademark piano-based rock ballads. The novelty pop single "Clap for the Wolfman", a 1974 track made for the popular DJ Wolfman Jack that the band members were fans of, ended up being the Guess Who's last chart appearance.
Various combinations of former members of the band have reunited at various times since their breakup in 1975. The Guess Who's classic songs remain radio staples, even into the new millennium. Various greatest hits and multi-artist collections featuring their music have also been released.
See Guess Who for the Romanian rapper Laurentiu Mocanu.
Star Baby
The Guess Who Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That's why it's all so hard to say
That I'm head over heels in love with your kind of insanity
And if it please your highness on a sunny day sometime
Can I take your picture in the park with silk and satin oh?
Star baby
Flashy little shiny little two timin' mama singin'
Shiny little flashy little lovin' machine
I've never been much good at keepin' a secret
Now it's easy for me to say
That I'm head over heels shook up about the way that you fool with me
And if it please you highness on a sunny day sometime
Can you take me riding babe I'll tell you what I'm thinkin' 'bout you
Star baby
Flashy little shiny little two timin' mama singin'
Star baby
Flashy little shiny little lovin' machine
Well I saw you last night on a Hollywood show
And now it's easy for me to say
That I'm head over heels shook up about the way that you sang to me
And if it please your highness on a sunny day sometime
Can you take me drivin' maybe kissin' in you Cadillac
Star baby
Flashy little shiny little two timin' mama singin'
Star baby
Flashy little shiny little lovin' machine
Star Baby
Star Baby
Flashy little shiny little lovin' machine
Star Baby
The lyrics to The Guess Who's song "Star Baby" reveal the singer's infatuation with a woman who seems to be living life in the fast lane. The singer confesses that he's "head over heels in love" with the woman's "kind of insanity," and he's not very good at keeping this secret. He mentions that he wants to take a picture of her in the park with silk and satin, which could suggest that he sees her as an ethereal being or a star. The chorus repeats the phrase "Star baby" to describe her flashy, shiny, loving nature.
The second verse of the song reinforces the idea that the woman is a bit of a wild one. The singer admits that the way she "fools" with him has left him "shook up" and that he wants to go riding with her. He asks the woman to take him driving, and he even suggests kissing in her Cadillac. The third verse reveals that the woman is a performer, as she was on a Hollywood show the night before. The singer is clearly smitten with her and admits that her singing has left him "shook up."
Overall, "Star Baby" is a song about infatuation with a woman who lives life to the fullest, complete with flashy style and a free-spirited attitude. The lyrics suggest that the singer is willing to do anything to be close to her, even if it means admitting his feelings openly. The chorus phrase "Star baby" emphasizes the woman's unique and ethereal qualities, which draw the singer in despite any reservations he might have.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I never been much for admitting things
I'm not one to easily confess my feelings
That's why it's all so hard to say
Hence, it's difficult for me to express myself
That I'm head over heels in love with your kind of insanity
But I'm completely smitten with your wild and unpredictable nature
And if it please your highness on a sunny day sometime
So, if you don't mind, would you consider granting me a request on a pleasant day?
Can I take your picture in the park with silk and satin oh?
May I capture your likeness in a beautiful setting, dressed in fine clothes?
I've never been much good at keepin' a secret
I'm not very adept at keeping things to myself
Now it's easy for me to say
But now, I can tell you without hesitation
That I'm head over heels shook up about the way that you fool with me
That I'm completely infatuated with how you playfully mess with me
And if it please you highness on a sunny day sometime
So, if you'd be so kind, can we spend some time together on a beautiful day?
Can you take me riding babe I'll tell you what I'm thinkin' 'bout you
Would you take me for a drive and let me share with you what's on my mind regarding you?
Well I saw you last night on a Hollywood show
I caught a glimpse of you last night on television
And now it's easy for me to say
And now, I can easily tell you
That I'm head over heels shook up about the way that you sang to me
That I'm completely mesmerized by the way you sang to me
Can you take me drivin' maybe kissin' in you Cadillac
Would you be willing to take me for a ride, and maybe even kiss me, in your luxurious Cadillac?
Star baby
You, my dear, are a star
Flashy little shiny little two timin' mama singin'
You're a dazzling and seductive singer, who may be a bit unfaithful
Shiny little flashy little lovin' machine
But you're also a passionate and affectionate lover
Star Baby
My dear, you truly are a star
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: BURTON CUMMINGS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind