Starz In Their Eyes

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Released on 15 January 2007, it was the lead single from his second studio album, Overtones (2007), which was released two weeks later. I’d been listening to The Clash a lot at the time and decided I wanted a rawer more ‘band’ orientated sound for this song. It’s often been publicised by artists in songs or autobiographies that the glitz and the glamour is not as exciting as we have been led to believe, and you just need to glance at the tragic list of celebrities who have turned to drugs and alcohol and the infamous 27 club that is often a result of such abuse and turmoil to see this. The lyrics depict the negative effects of celebrity status and the disillusionment that comes with it. The main issue is that often the people who do take a stand are the rich and famous and it’s very hard for the general public to empathise.

Although probably not the original intention of the lyrics, I am also reminded of television talent shows at this part of the song. It’s highly publicised that the rich and famous do have their struggles; we often put them up on a pedestal and stare at them with wide and envious eyes wishing for their fortune and fame, but really it’s not the dream we make it out to be. The song "Starz in their Eyes" by Just Jack criticizes the culture of celebrity and the desire for fame. I’m pretty sure the spark that started the lyrics was a story I happened to see about UK Pop Idol winner Michelle McManus.When it came to recording the parts the idea for the big tom drums in the intro came from hearing a snippet of an Adam Ant tune (on my way back from the loo) being played in a neighbouring studio. To add salt to the wounds was the constant hounding from paparazzi and the press that thrust what can be a fatal spotlight streaming constant pressure and scrutiny on the shoulders of one person. With lines such as ‘It’s a long way to come from the Dog and Duck karaoke machine’ and ’It’s a long way to come from your private bedroom dance routines’ being sung in a cheeky cockney accent, the song relates back to us; I think this does much more to help us understand. The thing I love about that song though is that there is a tipping point; the moment when you first notice the lyrics. The tabloids exploit personal hardships and document their fall from grace, suggesting that fame is fleeting.

I remember it taking Jay a long time to get the track to slow down and speed up to segue in and out this section. The song title is taken from British TV talent show Stars in Their Eyes which ran between 1990 and 2006. Although I’d never worked that way before, everything flowed so naturally that day, all the parts complementing each other perfectly. In the second bridge, the lyrics delve into the artificial and shallow nature of the entertainment industry. When we get bored and flick on the TV on a Saturday night we are often greeted by a poor soul stood on stage in front of thousands, willed on by family and friends; only for us to soon learn that actually they aren’t that talented after all and are swiftly met with laughs from the crowd and snide jokes and remarks from the judges.Just Jack’s 'Starz in their Eyes' in this way is the predecessor for Mike Posner; the upbeat and catchy tune is topped by a cockney vocal that makes it such an entertaining listen – but there is so much more to it than that. What they don’t show on TV however is that these shows usually require video auditions and face-to-face off-camera auditions before people are even allowed onto the stage.