Starz In Their Eyes

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The whole song is a masterpiece filled with sentiments of the rise and fall of fame; the quick highs followed by the crushing lows. I sang an approximation of what I thought the guitar riff should sound like and Adam embellished it and played it beautifully. The thing I love about that song though is that there is a tipping point; the moment when you first notice the lyrics. To me, the producers of these kinds of shows are the users who laugh in their sleeves whilst setting up innocent people for a live and televised downfall. When it came to recording the parts the idea for the big tom drums in the intro came from hearing a snippet of an Adam Ant tune (on my way back from the loo) being played in a neighbouring studio.

What I had now was a song with two separate big choruses to alternate between, which I think explains at least some of it’s success. The bridge emphasizes the contrast between a humble beginning and the superficiality of fame, using the imagery of a small karaoke machine at a local pub versus the extravagant dreams associated with stardom. In the second bridge, the lyrics delve into the artificial and shallow nature of the entertainment industry. I’d been listening to The Clash a lot at the time and decided I wanted a rawer more ‘band’ orientated sound for this song. These days you could do it in seconds but back then you had adapt what you had and be inventive with it.To add salt to the wounds was the constant hounding from paparazzi and the press that thrust what can be a fatal spotlight streaming constant pressure and scrutiny on the shoulders of one person.

I remember it taking Jay a long time to get the track to slow down and speed up to segue in and out this section. Yes, they get paid up to a point, but there is little concern for the mental pressure that is put on largely unprepared youngsters who are suddenly thrust into the media meat grinder.

I know he just wanted it to sound as good as it could on the radio, and he must have cracked it because it became one of the top three radio airplay tunes of 2007. It strips away the glamour and instead of talking about a global superstar it focuses on the overnight stars; the normal people who get used and abused by the industry. What they don’t show on TV however is that these shows usually require video auditions and face-to-face off-camera auditions before people are even allowed onto the stage.

Overall, the song "Starz in their Eyes" critiques the fascination with fame and the detrimental effects it can have on individuals. This line is in the context of the protagonist’s apparent success; while they feel they are at the top of the tree the feint chuckles of producers and industry characters present a damning soundtrack. Whilst they probably wish for some anonymity, we all dream of some recognition; whilst they dream of a simple life, we dream of the fast cars and the big houses. Whilst I could pick out more of the lyrics to dissect they all tend to suggest the same two things; that fame isn’t what it's cracked up to be and that the industry uses and abuses talent. This means that producers of the show knowingly tell these people that they are good enough at least twice before they make it onto the stage, filling them with hope and self-belief which can then be torn down in front of the nation for our entertainment.

When we get bored and flick on the TV on a Saturday night we are often greeted by a poor soul stood on stage in front of thousands, willed on by family and friends; only for us to soon learn that actually they aren’t that talented after all and are swiftly met with laughs from the crowd and snide jokes and remarks from the judges. It encourages listeners to question the allure of celebrity culture and highlights the importance of staying true to oneself. Whilst Justin Bieber’s 'Lonely' did a great job recently of giving us the other side of the story, I think 'Starz in their eyes' is just as important. I’m just happy my most well known song has a real and enduring message, and a bit of timelessness in the production.