Chasing Stars

Album: Matteo (2023)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Written by English pop star Ed Sheeran and his composer brother, Matthew Sheeran, this emotional ballad is about a son's journey to become a musician with a supportive father by his side.

    Matteo Bocelli, the son of Italian opera star Andrea Bocelli, could certainly relate to the sentiment, as he shares both a personal and professional relationship with his own father. Before releasing his self-titled solo debut in 2023, Matteo recorded the duet "Fall On Me" with the elder Bocelli (which appeared on Andrea's chart-topping album in 2018) and went on tour with him. While "Chasing Stars" refers to their close bond, it also represents a new phase in Matteo's life as a solo performer.

    "It felt so authentic, and that was one of the most important points for me," he explained in a 2023 Songfacts interview. "I already underlined the beautiful relationship I have with my father but this is a sort of second step song. That also underlined the transition from the beginning with him to another phase of my life, especially with my career where I have to start walking with my own feet."
  • Music was an important part of Matteo's upbringing, but when his father encouraged him to learn to sing and play the piano, he didn't intend for him to make a career out of it. "Sometimes people think, 'Matteo is in this because he had pressure from his father.' It's not like that. It's actually the opposite," Matteo explained.

    "When I told him, 'Dad, I want to make this passion for music become something more,' he was quite afraid and scared for me, because he knows what the music industry is about. It's very tough in every sense. So, he was pretty afraid, but at the end of the day when you see and feel there's a strong passion, you cannot stop a person from doing what he feels and loves."
  • Matteo was always a big fan of Ed Sheeran's, but he got to know him as a friend when Sheeran came to Italy to record a song with Andrea Bocelli - "Perfect Symphony," a classical take on Sheeran's 2017 hit "Perfect." When Sheeran found out that Matteo was looking for material for his debut album, he sent him a few songs, and this tune was the standout.

    "'Chasing Stars' had everything," Matteo said. "It's a very melodical song. I love the message because it's very positive and beautiful, and the world we live in needs it. It always needs it, but now, in this particular moment, even more. It seemed like they wrote the song for me so that was the point for me."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull

Ian Anderson of Jethro TullSongwriter Interviews

The flautist frontman talks about touring with Led Zeppelin, his contribution to "Hotel California", and how he may have done the first MTV Unplugged.

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: Tarantino Edition

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: Tarantino EditionMusic Quiz

Whether he's splitting ears or burning Nazis, Quentin Tarantino uses memorable music in his films. See if you can match the song to the scene.

Artis the Spoonman

Artis the SpoonmanSong Writing

Even before Soundgarden wrote a song about him, Artis was the most famous spoon player of all time. So why has he always been broke?

Jesus Christ Superstar: Ted Neeley Tells the Inside Story

Jesus Christ Superstar: Ted Neeley Tells the Inside StorySong Writing

The in-depth discussion about the making of Jesus Christ Superstar with Ted Neeley, who played Jesus in the 1973 film.

Dean Friedman - "Ariel"

Dean Friedman - "Ariel"They're Playing My Song

Dean's saga began with "Ariel," a song about falling in love with a Jewish girl from New Jersey.

Roger McGuinn of The Byrds

Roger McGuinn of The ByrdsSongwriter Interviews

Roger reveals the songwriting formula Clive Davis told him, and if "Eight Miles High" is really about drugs.