So You Want to Be a Rock 'n' Roll Star
"So You Want to Be a Rock 'n' Roll Star" is a song by the American rock band The Byrds, written by Jim McGuinn and Chris Hillman and included on their 1967 album, Younger Than Yesterday. The song was released as a single on January 9, 1967 (see 1967 in music) and reached #29 on the Billboard Hot 100 but failed to chart in the United Kingdom. The song was inspired by the hype surrounding the creation of The Monkees, whose television series had recently debuted in America and had launched the pre-fabricated band to international fame. The manufactured nature of the group caused Hillman and McGuinn to look upon the current state of the pop world with more than a little cynicism.
Background and content
Musically, one of the song's main hooks is provided by McGuinn's striking 12-string Rickenbacker guitar riff, while Hillman's driving bass-line forms the core of the song. Hillman has stated that he composed the song's bass guitar part during a recording session for South African musician Hugh Masekela. The song also features the trumpet playing of Masekela, which represents the first use of brass on a Byrds recording. In addition, "So You Want to Be a Rock 'n' Roll Star" features the sound of hysterical teenage pop fans screaming. These screams were recorded at an August 15, 1965 Byrds' concert in Bournemouth by the band's publicist, Derek Taylor, at McGuinn's request.
Podcasts:
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by Patti Smith
So You Want To Be
by: Patti SmithSo, you want to be a rock 'n roll star
Well, listen now to what I say
Get yourself an electric guitar
And take some time and learn how to play
And when your hair's combed right
And your pants are tight, it's gonna be all right
With time you go downtown
To the agent man, he won't let you down
Sell your soul to the company
They're all waiting there to sell plastic wares
And in a week or two, if you make the charts
The girls will tear you apart
What you pay for these riches and fame?
Well, it's all a vicious game, you're a little insane
What you get is the public acclaim
Don't forget who you are, you're a rock 'n roll star
Na, na na, na na na, na na
Na na, na na, na na na
Hey you, come here, get up
Ah, this is the era where everybody creates
Recognize my face? They call me broken glass
That's because of the sounds [Incomprehensible]
What you pay for all these riches and fame?
Well, it's all a vicious game, you're a little insane
Well, you're a little insane, oh a little insane
'Cause the thing that you gain is the public acclaim
Don't forget who you are, don't forget who you are