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Star (Erasure song)

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"Star"
Single by Erasure
from the album Wild!
B-side"Dreamlike State"
Released21 May 1990
Recorded1989
GenreSynthpop
Length3:53
LabelMute (UK)
Sire (U.S.)
Songwriter(s)Vince Clarke, Andy Bell
Producer(s)Gareth Jones, Mark Saunders, Erasure
Erasure singles chronology
"Blue Savannah"
(1990) 		"Star"
(1990) 		"Chorus"
(1991)
Music video
"Star" on YouTube

"Star" is a 1990 song by duo Erasure, released as the fourth European (and third American) single from the group's fourth studio album, Wild! (1989). Been described as a straightforward dance music track with disco elements, it was written by group members Vince Clarke and Andy Bell. The lyrical content clearly referencing nuclear war; Erasure's own form of protest song. When released, the track was remixed slightly for radio, bringing acoustic guitar elements and various background vocal parts forward in the mix.

Chart performance

As the last single released from Wild!, it became Erasure's twelfth consecutive Top 20 hit on the UK Singles Chart, where it peaked at number eleven. It also peaked at number thirty-three In West Germany. In the United States, the song did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, although it became a popular club hit, climbing to number four on the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart.

Critical reception

Steven McDonald from AllMusic said the song is "another one of those rip-roaring Clarke/Bell compositions that's as much fun for the ears as it is for the feet". He described it as "stupendous".[1] Bill Coleman from Billboard wrote, "Pop gem that should have kicked off campaign behind sorely overlooked "Wild!" album is finally issued with club-ready remixes. He added, "Well-edited "Trafalmadore Mix" should satisfy house-conscious jocks."[2] Christopher Smith from TalkAboutPopMusic stated that "Star" "returns us to more lively, energetic Erasure as the chorus comes in first then the song gathers pace with each successive verse and chorus."[3] Troy J. Augusto from Variety described it as "hook-filled".[4]

Music video

A music video was produced to promote the single. It was later published on Erasure's official YouTube channel in September 2014. The video has amassed more than 4,4 million views as of September 2021.

Track listings

  • 7" single (MUTE111) / cassette single (CMUTE111)
  1. "Star"
  2. "Dreamlike State"
  • 12" single (12MUTE111)
  1. "Star" (Trafalmadore Mix)
  2. "Star" (Single Mix)
  3. "Dreamlike State" (The 12 Hour Technicolor Mix)
  • Limited 12" single (L12MUTE111)
  1. "Star" (Interstellar Mix)
  2. "Star" (Soul Mix)
  3. "Dreamlike State" (The 24 Hour Technicolor Mix)
  • CD single (CDMUTE111)
  1. "Star" (Single Mix)
  2. "Dreamlike State"
  3. "Star" (Trafalmadore Mix)
  4. "Star" (Soul Mix)
  • US cassette single (Sire 9 19837-4)
  1. "Star"
  2. "Dreamlike State"
  • US CD maxi-single (21558-2)
  1. "Star" (Single Mix)
  2. "Star" (Trafalmadore Mix)
  3. "Star" (Interstellar Mix)
  4. "Dreamlike State" (The 24 Hour Technicolor Mix)
  5. "Star" (Soul Mix)
  • Also released on 12" vinyl (Sire 92-15580) and cassette (Sire 21558-4), minus "Star" (Single Mix).

Charts

Chart (1990) Peak
position 		Total
weeks
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[5] 34
Ireland (IRMA)[6] 11 5
UK Singles (OCC)[7] 11 7
US Hot Dance Club Play (Billboard)[8] 4 10
US Hot Dance Music Sales (Billboard)[9] 4
West Germany (Official German Charts)[10] 33 11

References

  1. ^ McDonald, Steven. "Erasure – Star". AllMusic. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  2. ^ Coleman, Bill (16 June 1990). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. p. 85. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  3. ^ Smith, Christopher (16 October 2019). "REVIEW: 'WILD!' – ERASURE". TalkAboutPopMusic. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  4. ^ Augusto, Troy J. (23 November 1992). "Erasure". Variety. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
  5. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 16 June 1990. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  6. ^ http://www.irishcharts.ie/
  7. ^ "Erasure | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". OfficialCharts.com.
  8. ^ http://www.allmusic.com/
  9. ^ http://www.allmusic.com/
  10. ^ http://www.musicline.de/
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