Star People (song) explained

Star People (song) should not be confused with Star people (New Age).

Star People '97
Cover:Star People '97 (George Michael single - cover art).jpg
Type:single
Artist:George Michael
Album:Older
B-Side:"Everything She Wants" (live)
Released:
  • (US)
  • (UK)
Genre:
Length:5:38
Label:
Producer:George Michael
Prev Title:Older
Prev Title2:I Can't Make You Love Me
Prev Year:1997
Next Title:Waltz Away Dreaming
Next Year:1997

"Star People '97" is a song by British singer-songwriter George Michael, released as the fifth single from his third studio album, Older (1996). It was written and performed by George Michael and released by Virgin Records in the United Kingdom and DreamWorks Records in the United States. The lyrics make reference to the materialism and frivolity of certain (unspecified) people in show business, suggesting that those behaviours are derived from some insecurity or a bad childhood. The single version is titled "Star People '97", on most issues, because the track was re-recorded for the single release.

"Star People '97" was first released in the US on three formats over three weeks in March 1997 and was issued in the UK on 28 April 1997. The song peaked at 2 in the United Kingdom and No. 1 on the US Billboard Dance Club Play chart, becoming Michael's second No. 1 on this chart. Worldwide, the song reached No. 1 in Denmark and Hungary, and reached the top 10 in Iceland, Ireland, and Spain.

Critical reception

Retrospectively, Matthew Hocter from Albumism noted that the song "spoke to the fakery and greed that consumes many in the entertainment business, making reference to damaging childhoods and insecurity as some of the possible causes." He described it as a song "rooted in a soul, funk sound with splashes of disco".[1] Upon the release, Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, "After teasing his die-hard club following for months with several rhythmic (but not quite dance) singles, George Michael has finally unleashed a slamming house music anthem from his glorious—if underappreciated—opus Older. Jeremy Healy, Amos, Mike Koglin, and Forthright have been tapped to turn the original retro pop/jazz ditty into a dance ditty. Working as a team, Healy, Amos, and Koglin successfully transform the song into an edgy anthem befitting the swagger of Michael's vocal. Meanwhile, Forthright injects a few drops of Europop flavor into the groove, making the single a viable top 40 contender. A sterling 12-inch package that was well worth the wait."[2]

Paul Lester from Melody Maker described the song as "uptempo", noting that it "has a go at celebrity attention-seekers".[3] A reviewer from Music Week gave "Star People '97" four out of five, adding, "The restrained Older track takes on a completely new life in this re-recorded, funked up version which amounts to George's brightest, most uplifting single in a long while."[4] Ed Morales for Vibe opined that "the halfhearted condemnation of glitz in "Star People" has a serious Latin beat working."[5]

Track listings

  1. "Star People '97" – 5:42
  2. "Everything She Wants" (live from MTV Unplugged) – 4:37
  3. "Star People" (live from MTV Unplugged) – 6:01
  1. "Star People '97" (Galaxy mix) – 8:05
  2. "Star People '97" (Forthright club mix) – 9:17
  3. "Star People '97" (Galaxy dub mix) – 7:14
  4. "Star People '97" (Forthright edit) – 4:28
  1. "Star People '97" (radio edit) – 4:39
  2. "Everything She Wants" (live from MTV Unplugged) – 4:37
  3. "Star People" (live from MTV Unplugged) – 6:01
  4. "Star People '97" (Forthright edit) – 4:28
  1. "Star People '97" – 5:42
  2. "Everything She Wants" (live from MTV Unplugged) – 4:37
  1. "Star People" (LP edit) – 4:11
  2. "Star People" (live from MTV Unplugged edit) – 4:31
  3. "Star People" (Forthright radio edit) – 4:28
  4. "The Strangest Thing" (live at the BBC Radio Theatre) – 6:01
  1. "Star People" (Forthright club mix) – 9:16
  2. "Star People" (Forthright dub mix) – 7:27
  3. "Star People" (Galaxy mix) – 8:08
  4. "Star People" (club dub mix) – 7:15
  5. "Star People" (live from MTV Unplugged edit) – 4:31
  6. "The Strangest Thing" (live at the BBC Radio Theatre) – 6:01

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1997)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[17] 51
Denmark (IFPI)[18] 1
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[19] 5
France Airplay (SNEP)[20] 7
Hungary (Mahasz)[21] 1
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[22] 10
Poland Airplay (Music & Media)[23] 9
Spain (AFYVE)[24] 4

Year-end charts

Chart (1997)Position
UK Singles (OCC)[25] 82
US Dance Club Play (Billboard)[26] 37

Release history

RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)
United States4 March 199712-inch vinyl[27]
11 March 1997Cassette[28]
18 March 1997CD[29]
United Kingdom28 April 1997[30]
Japan6 June 1997CD[31]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: George Michael’s ‘Older’ Turns 25 — Anniversary Retrospective. Albumism. 12 May 2021. Matthew. Hocter. 3 October 2021.
  2. Web site: Larry . Flick . Reviews & Previews: Singles . . 18 January 1997 . 73 . 4 December 2020 . Larry Flick.
  3. Paul. Lester. Albums. Melody Maker. 25 May 1996. 50. 14 May 2024. Paul Lester.
  4. Reviews: Singles. Music Week. 19 April 1997. 29. 16 May 2022.
  5. Ed. Morales. George Michael - Older. Vibe. 1 August 1996. 5 May 2021.
  6. Star People '97. George Michael. 1997. UK CD1 disc notes. Virgin Records, Aegean Records. VSCDG 1641, 7243 8 94243 2 4.
  7. Star People '97. George Michael. 1997. Australian CD1 disc notes. Virgin Records, Aegean Records. 8942432.
  8. Star People '97. George Michael. 1997. Japanese CD single liner notes. Virgin Records, Aegean Records. VJCP 12057.
  9. Star People '97. George Michael. 1997. UK CD2 disc notes. Virgin Records, Aegean Records. VSCDX 1641, 7243 8 94244 2 3.
  10. Star People '97. George Michael. 1997. Australian CD2 disc notes. Virgin Records, Aegean Records. 8942462.
  11. Star People '97. George Michael. 1997. UK cassette single sleeve. Virgin Records, Aegean Records. VSC 1641, 7243 8 942444 7.
  12. Star People '97. George Michael. 1997. European CD single disc notes. Virgin Records, Aegean Records. VSCDE 1641, 7243 8 94278 2 0.
  13. Star People. George Michael. 1997. US CD single liner notes. DreamWorks Records, Aegean Records. DRMDS-59005.
  14. Star People. George Michael. 1997. US cassette single sleeve. DreamWorks Records, Aegean Records. DRMCS-59005.
  15. Star People. George Michael. 1997. US maxi-CD single liner notes. DreamWorks Records, Aegean Records. DRMDM-58003.
  16. Star People. George Michael. 1997. US 12-inch single sleeve. DreamWorks Records, Aegean Records. DRM12-58003.
  17. 187.
  18. Top National Sellers: Denmark. Music & Media. 14. 23. 7 June 1997. 19. 14 May 2019.
  19. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 14. 20. 17 May 1997. 11. 14 May 2019.
  20. Major Market Airplay: France. Music & Media. 14. 24. 14 June 1997. 27. 14 May 2019.
  21. Top National Sellers: Hungary. Music & Media. 14. 26. 28 June 1997. 20. 21 June 2018.
  22. News: Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (NR. 216 Vikuna 10.4. '97 – 16.4. '97). Dagblaðið Vísir. is. 16. 11 April 1997. 12 July 2018.
  23. Major Market Airplay: Poland. Music & Media. 15. 21. 24 May 1997. 23. 14 May 2019.
  24. Top National Sellers: Spain. Music & Media. 15. 22. 31 May 1997. 21. 14 May 2019.
  25. Web site: Najlepsze single na UK Top 40–1997 wg sprzedaży. pl. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150604144848/http://hosting1642755.az.pl/sp%20uk%20best%201997.html. 4 June 2015. 14 May 2019.
  26. Web site: The Year in Music. Billboard. 109. 52. 44. 27 December 1997. 14 May 2019.
  27. Web site: Star People [Vinyl]]. Amazon. 2 July 2021.
  28. Web site: Star People. Amazon. 2 July 2021.
  29. Web site: Star People / Strangest Thing. Amazon. 2 July 2021.
  30. New Releases: Singles. Music Week. 33. 26 April 1997. 2 July 2021.
  31. Web site: スター・ピープル'97 ジョージ・マイケル. Star People '97 George Michael. Oricon. ja. 29 August 2023.

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