Superstars
by Styx

Album: The Grand Illusion (1977)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • In this song, Styx offer a taste of what it feels like to be on stage: like they're superstars. By this time, they weren't exactly superstars but they were playing arenas and getting lots of radio play. The song is from their seventh album, The Grand Illusion, which includes the hits "Come Sail Away" and "Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man)."
  • Styx guitarist Tommy Shaw does the lead vocal on the track, but at the end of the song, their keyboard player Dennis DeYoung plays the part of a narrator throwing cold water on the concept of fame:

    We want your dreams
    The offer's simple, momentary immortality


    This kind of theatrical flourish was typical of Styx' music at the time and followed a loose theme on the album of illusion.
  • Styx guitarist James Young (JY) wrote this song with Tommy Shaw and Dennis DeYoung. The three combined vocally on the rich harmonies in the song, something Styx is known for. Young told Songfacts: "It's another one where you get the big three-part harmonies and it's a little different rhythm. I think Tommy wrote the verses on that. But it's the big harmony choruses. We used to have fun playing that song and the harmonies work hugely on that song."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Amy Grant

Amy GrantSongwriter Interviews

The top Contemporary Christian artist of all time on song inspirations and what she learned from Johnny Carson.

70s Music Quiz 1

70s Music Quiz 1Music Quiz

The '70s gave us Muppets, disco and Van Halen, all which show up in this groovy quiz.

Sub Pop Founder Bruce Pavitt On How To Create A Music Scene

Sub Pop Founder Bruce Pavitt On How To Create A Music SceneSong Writing

With $50 and a glue stick, Bruce Pavitt created Sub Pop, a fanzine-turned-label that gave the world Nirvana and grunge. He explains how motivated individuals can shift culture.

Jello Biafra

Jello BiafraSongwriter Interviews

The former Dead Kennedys frontman on the past, present and future of the band, what music makes us "pliant and stupid," and what he learned from Alice Cooper.

Bible Lyrics

Bible LyricsMusic Quiz

Rockers, rappers and pop stars have been known to quote the Bible in their songs. See if you match the artist to the biblical lyric.

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.