Baby I'm a Star

Album: Purple Rain (1984)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Composed by Prince in 1981, this upbeat song is about rising pop stardom:

    You might not know it now, baby
    But I are - I'm a star
    I don't wanna stop 'til I reach the top


    The song's lyrical content reflected Prince's own status in 1981; he'd made his first appearance on Saturday Night Live and released his fourth album, Controversy. The following year Prince dropped 1999, which was the record that elevated him to the first division.
  • Prince recorded the song with his band The Revolution during a live performance on August 3, 1983 at the First Avenue club in Minneapolis (the same concert where "I Would Die 4 U" was laid down). The show featured the first appearance of guitarist Wendy Melvoin in The Revolution. Prince later reworked the live recording in the studio, adding overdubs and other edits, and included it on his 1984 album Purple Rain. It wasn't released as a single but became a fan favorite and one of his concert staples.
  • In the Purple Rain movie, Prince's character, The Kid, plays "Baby I'm A Star" during the final concert blowout. The song coincides with the film's star-making narrative.
  • Session Novi Novag played electric viola on the track. She recalled to Uncut how Prince used her first take: "I was just learning the song. I said, 'Oh, let me do that part again.' He said, 'No, no, I like that feel.' He loved first takes."
  • Prince performed at the Grammy Awards just twice, but he played "Baby I'm A Star" both times. The first was in 1985, when he did a six-minute version of the song with Sheila E and his band The Revolution. Few artists could get six minutes of airtime at the ceremony to play an album cut, but Prince was a very big deal (he lost the major awards though; Purple Rain was bested for Album Of The Year by Lionel Richie's Can't Slow Down).

    The second performance came in 2005 when he was joined by Beyoncé to open the show. This time it was tucked into a medley of hits.

Comments: 1

  • AnonymousFavorite song of the movie!!!! Man I wish I were there
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Macabre Mother Goose: The Dark Side of Children's Songs

Macabre Mother Goose: The Dark Side of Children's SongsSong Writing

"London Bridge," "Ring Around the Rosie" and "It's Raining, It's Pouring" are just a few examples of shockingly morbid children's songs.

Experience Nirvana with Sub Pop Founder Bruce Pavitt

Experience Nirvana with Sub Pop Founder Bruce PavittSong Writing

The man who ran Nirvana's first label gets beyond the sensationalism (drugs, Courtney) to discuss their musical and cultural triumphs in the years before Nevermind.

Little Richard

Little RichardFact or Fiction

Was Long Tall Sally a cross-dresser? Did he really set his piano on fire? See if you know the real stories about one of rock's greatest innovators.

Richard Marx

Richard MarxSongwriter Interviews

Richard explains how Joe Walsh kickstarted his career, and why he chose Hazard, Nebraska for a hit.

Janet Jackson

Janet JacksonFact or Fiction

Was Janet secretly married at 18? Did she gain 60 pounds for a movie role that went to Mariah Carey? See what you know about Ms. Jackson.

Song Titles That Inspired Movies

Song Titles That Inspired MoviesSong Writing

Famous songs that lent their titles - and in some cases storylines - to movies.