They had their first U.S. hit in 1971 with "You're a Big Girl Now". Signing to Avco Records, The Stylistics began working with producer Thom Bell, who had already produced a catalogue of hits for The Delfonics, and songwriter Linda Creed. Bell imported the sweet soul techniques he had perfected with The Delfonics, and his arrangements worked perfectly with Thompkins' falsetto. The bittersweet lyrics from Creed were a key factor in creating hugely memorable music.
Their hits, distilled from three albums, from this period included "Betcha by Golly, Wow", "I'm Stone in Love with You", "You Make Me Feel Brand New" featuring a double lead with Love, "Stop, Look, Listen To Your Heart" and "You Are Everything". "You Make Me Feel Brand New" was the group's biggest U.S. hit, holding at #2 for two weeks in the spring of 1974, and was one of five U.S. gold singles the Stylistics collected. The Stylistics' smooth sound also found an easier path onto adult contemporary airwaves than other soul artists, and the group made Billboard magazine's Easy Listening singles chart twelve times from 1971 to 1976, with three entries, "Betcha By Golly, Wow," "You Make Me Feel Brand New," and "You'll Never Get To Heaven (If You Break My Heart)" reaching the Top 10.
The group split with Thom Bell in 1974, and the split proved devastating commercially to the group's success in the USA. Just as with The Delfonics, The Stylistics were to some extent a vehicle for Bell's own creativity. They struggled hard to find producers who could come up with the right material, and partnerships with Hugo & Luigi and Van McCoy were notably less successful. They left Avco for H&L Records and the Stylistics' popularity rapidly declined in the U.S., though their British popularity continued for the rest of the 1970s.
In 1980, James Dunn departed due to health problems, and James Smith left shortly thereafter. The group continued, recruiting new member Raymond Johnson, and releasing the album Some Things Never Change, in 1985. Johnson departed shortly afterward, leaving the group a trio. Love, Murrell, and Thompkins continued to tour until 2000, when original lead Thompkins left. Love and Murrell brought in two new members, Harold "Eban" Brown, formerly of the Delfonics, as lead ( who sounds amazingly like a young Russell Thompkins), and tenor Van Fields. The present group is featured live on the DVD's "The Stylistics Live at the Convention Center" (2006), as well as along with other artists of the '70's on the DVD "The Big Show."
In 2004, Russell Thompkins, Jr. started a new group, the New Stylistics, with the returning Raymond Johnson, James Ranton, and Jonathan Buckson. They are featured on the DVD "Old School Soul Party Live!," which was part of the PBS "My Music" series.
The Stylistics' catalog of hits have been mined frequently by other artists in recent years. Notable examples include "Betcha By Golly, Wow" covered by Prince, "You Are Everything" remade by Vanessa Williams, and "You Make Me Feel Brand New" redone by Boyz ll Men Roberta Flack and Simply Red. Mary J. Blige also used the chief line from the chorus of "You Are Everything" ("You are everything, and everything is you") in her 1997 hit "Everything." In 2006, Letoya Luckett used a similar sample to the background track of "You Are Everything" for the music to her hit single "Torn."
Star On A T.V. Show
The Stylistics Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The star on a TV show
Then all the world would know
Why I love you so
You ought to be
A queen on a movie screen
Starring in every scene
If you were a car you would be a big Jaguar
Racing along with the sun
If you were a song then the country would sing along
Baby, you'd be number one
If were the news
You'd be the latest
What I'm trying to say is
Baby, you're the greatest
You ought to be
The star on a TV show
Then all the world would know
Why I love you so
You ought to be
A queen on a movie screen
Starring in every scene
Then they'd know what I mean
If you were a car you would be a big Jaguar
Racing along with the sun
If you were a song then the country would sing along
Baby, you'd be number one
If were the news
You'd be the latest
What I'm trying to say is
Baby, you're the greatest
You ought to be
The star on a TV show
Then all the world would know
The magic of you
And they would love you too
But not half as much as I do
No, not half as much as I do
In the song "Star on a TV Show," The Stylistics express their adoration for the person they love, urging them to become a star on television so that the world can see why they are so special. The song is an ode to a person who is admired and cherished as the ultimate dream, with each verse describing the different ways in which they could excel in life. The singer uses metaphors to describe their loved one. For instance, if they were a car, they would be like a fast Jaguar, and if they were a song, everyone would want to sing along with them. The song is an uplifting and joyful celebration of love and admiration for the beloved.
The chorus of the song repeats the same message urging the person, to become a star to let the world see what they see in them. The song is essentially an ego boost and a motivational tool, telling the person that they are incredible, and the world needs to see it. Moreover, the song also highlights the depth of love that the singer has for their beloved, expressing that the world may love them, but not half as much as they do.
Line by Line Meaning
You ought to be
I think it would be appropriate for you to become
The star on a TV show
A famous celebrity on a television program
Then all the world would know
Everyone will finally recognize
Why I love you so
The reasons I adore you so much
You ought to be
I believe it would be fitting for you to become
A queen on a movie screen
A female lead role in a film
Starring in every scene
Appearing in every scene of the story
Then they'd know what I mean
Everyone will finally understand my intentions
If you were a car you would be a big Jaguar
If you were an automobile, you would be a large, luxurious Jaguar
Racing along with the sun
Speeding along with the rising sun
If you were a song then the country would sing along
If you were a melody, the entire nation would hum along with you
Baby, you'd be number one
You would be the top choice, darling
If were the news
If you were a current event
You'd be the latest
You would be the most recent development
What I'm trying to say is
Basically, what I'm attempting to convey is
Baby, you're the greatest
Sweetheart, you are the most admirable
You ought to be
It would be best if you become
The star on a TV show
A famous celebrity on a television program
Then all the world would know
Everyone will finally recognize
Why I love you so
The reasons I adore you so much
You ought to be
I think it would be appropriate for you to become
A queen on a movie screen
A female lead role in a film
Starring in every scene
Appearing in every scene of the story
Then they'd know what I mean
Everyone will finally understand my intentions
If you were a car you would be a big Jaguar
If you were an automobile, you would be a large, luxurious Jaguar
Racing along with the sun
Speeding along with the rising sun
If you were a song then the country would sing along
If you were a melody, the entire nation would hum along with you
Baby, you'd be number one
You would be the top choice, darling
If were the news
If you were a current event
You'd be the latest
You would be the most recent development
What I'm trying to say is
Basically, what I'm attempting to convey is
Baby, you're the greatest
Sweetheart, you are the most admirable
You ought to be
I believe it would be fitting for you to become
The star on a TV show
A famous celebrity on a television program
Then all the world would know
Everyone will finally recognize
The magic of you
The enchantment and allure of your personality
And they would love you too
Furthermore, other individuals would also be fond of your persona
But not half as much as I do
However, they still would not cherish you as much as I do
Lyrics Š CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: GEORGE DAVID WEISS, HUGO PERETTI, LUIGI CREATORE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@yoonchin5828
LOVE THIS !!! Brings back memories of freedom of the heart and exploits and the soul of R&B's. Love the 70's !!!
@GaryLelenek
Mom
@reinaldoperetto4120
Impecavel , sou fa dessa banda sempre impecavel.
@eileengarcia6277
I love this song, very memorable for me.
@franciscaportillo4839
Excelente melodiasđĽ°đđ
@johncunningham1797
First time hearing but LOVE IT!!
@Shawn-dh4mq
I used to sing this song to my flower but things came to an end after 28 beautiful years with her...
@michaelavison5171
LOVE THE STYLISTICS
@poloshirtsamurai
Those pearls looks like spider's face to me.
@veronicacapistrano9529
I love it. Food carinderis beth okay