The Burden of Being Wonderful

Album: All You Can Eat (2014)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This power ballad was released as the second single from Steel Panther's All You Can Eat album. The song delves deep into the psyche of the band, pointing out how perfection can be quite the burden.
  • Besides being wonderful, one of Steel Panther's burdens is that their songs are too raunchy for radio, which limits their exposure. Steel Panther guitarist Satchel wrote this song with that in mind, making sure it wasn't too dirty for airplay but keeping it in the spirit of the band.
  • The song's music video stars comedian Matt Braunger (Mad TV / Up All Night) as an average Joe who sees himself embodied as the perfection of Steel Panther. The clip was directed by Kirker Butler, who is best known for his work as a writer and producer on Family Guy and The Cleveland Show. "I grew up on heavy metal videos," Butler shared. "They were the best things on MTV (along with the Duran Duran videos with the naked girls). I wanted to make a heavy metal video the way they used to make them, but with better production values and less Tawny Kitaen."
  • When Satchel from Steel Panther wrote this song, he put himself in character as their lead singer, Michael Starr: a vainglorious rock star with an outsized ego.
  • Vocalist Michael Starr said regarding the album title: "We feel like Steel Panther is like a buffet. You know what I mean?! There's a little bit of everything for everybody. And you can have as much of us as you want."
  • In our interview with Satchel, he explained that the line "I've got the grace of a dancer" was inspired by comically bad dance moves their lead singer performs. "I don't know if you've ever seen Michael Starr dance, but he's not the best dancer in the world," Satchel said. "When we do it live, he dances this amazing dance that only he can dance."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Susanna Hoffs - "Eternal Flame"

Susanna Hoffs - "Eternal Flame"They're Playing My Song

The Prince-penned "Manic Monday" was the first song The Bangles heard coming from a car radio, but "Eternal Flame" is closest to Susanna's heart, perhaps because she sang it in "various states of undress."

Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty

Rob Thomas of Matchbox TwentySongwriter Interviews

Rob Thomas on his Social Distance Sessions, co-starring with a camel, and his friendship with Carlos Santana.

Supertramp founder Roger Hodgson

Supertramp founder Roger HodgsonSongwriter Interviews

Roger tells the stories behind some of his biggest hits, including "Give a Little Bit," "Take the Long Way Home" and "The Logical Song."

Billy Steinberg - "Like A Virgin"

Billy Steinberg - "Like A Virgin"They're Playing My Song

The first of Billy's five #1 hits was the song that propelled Madonna to stardom. You'd think that would get you a backstage pass, wouldn't you?

Stan Ridgway

Stan RidgwaySongwriter Interviews

Go beyond the Wall of Voodoo with this cinematic songwriter.

Dexys (Kevin Rowland and Jim Paterson)

Dexys (Kevin Rowland and Jim Paterson)Songwriter Interviews

"Come On Eileen" was a colossal '80s hit, but the band - far more appreciated in their native UK than stateside - released just three albums before their split. Now, Dexys is back.