"Stars"
Single by Dubstar
from the album Disgraceful
Released1995
Genre
Length4:12
Label
Songwriter(s)
  • Steve Hillier
Producer(s)
  • Graeme Robinson
  • Stephen Hague
Dubstar singles chronology
"Stars"
(1995)		 "Anywhere"
(1995)
Music video
"Stars" on YouTube

"Stars" is a song by English indie dance trio Dubstar, released in 1995 by EMI and Polydor as the debut single from their first album, Disgraceful (1995). The song peaked at number 40 in the UK, but after being re-released in 1996, it was more successful, reaching number 15 on the UK Singles Chart and number 18 in Scotland, as well as number 69 on the Eurochart Hot 100. Outside Europe, the song was a hit in Israel, peaking at number-one for three weeks. It received a great deal of play time in clubs and many remixes were also created. There were produced three different music videos to promote the single. Italian metal band Lacuna Coil covered it on their 2000 EP Halflife.

Critical reception

AllMusic editor Kelvin Hayes called the song "sumptuous".[1] Another editor, Jon O'Brien, described it as "ethereal" and "layered with shimmering synths to produce an achingly beautiful ballad".[2] Jennifer Nine from Melody Maker named it Single of the Week.[3] Pan-European magazine Music & Media commented, "Will dub make pop stars? If Portishead is the first band in that vein, then you might find the second here, though in a less ambient identity. The "sky edit" makes it a very average track though."[4] A reviewer from Music Week gave it four out of five, writing, "The overt Pet Shop Boys overtones of Dubstar's debut can't detract from its gorgeous melody and lilting chorus. On this form, the duo are destined for great things."[5]

An editor, Martin Aston, added, "Its elegant and lush Euro-pop sound positions the band somewhere between Pet Shop Boys and St Etienne."[6] On the 1996 re-release, a reviewer described it as "delightfully catchy".[7] Daisy & Havoc from the RM Dance Update noted "the slightly Deacon Blue-ish pop original", stating that "the basic slightly trippy song and vocal is a nice piece of summer outdoor dancing-in-fields material (that is if we were allowed to do such wicked things) but it does have a tendency towards the Pet Shop Boys when housed up."[8] Another editor, James Hamilton, declared it as a "Billie Ray Martin-ish melancholy bounder".[9]

Track listing

  • 12", UK (1995)
  1. "Stars" (Sky 12" Mix)
  2. "Stars" (Search & Destroy Mix)
  3. "Stars" (Way Out West Mix)
  4. "Stars" (Mother Dub)
  5. "Stars" (Original Mix)
  • CD maxi, Europe (1995)
  1. "Stars" (Original Mix) — 4:12
  2. "Stars" (Sky Edit) — 4:32
  3. "Stars" (Mother Dub) — 6:27
  4. "Stars" (Search & Destroy Full Vox Mix) — 7:35
  5. "Stars" (Sweet Tooths DJs Excursion) — 6:11
  • CD single (The Mixes), Europe (1996)
  1. "Stars" (Original Mix) — 4:12
  2. "Stars" (Motiv 8 Radio Mix) — 3:57
  3. "Stars" (Sonic Star Dub) — 9:47
  4. "Stars" (Way Out West Mix) — 6:13

Charts

Chart (1995) Peak
position
Europe (European Dance Radio)[10] 13
Scotland (OCC)[11] 35
UK Singles (OCC)[12] 40
UK Dance (OCC)[13] 25
Chart (1996) Peak
position
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[14] 69
Scotland (OCC)[15] 18
UK Singles (OCC)[16] 15

References

  1. ↑ Hayes, Kelvin. "Disgraceful - Dubstar". AllMusic. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  2. ↑ O'Brien, Jon. "Stars: The Best of Dubstar - Dubstar". AllMusic. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  3. ↑ Nine, Jennifer (17 June 1996). "Singles". Melody Maker.
  4. ↑ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 8 July 1995. p. 9. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  5. ↑ "Reviews: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 3 June 1995. p. 30. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  6. ↑ Aston, Martin (10 June 1995). "Dubstar – Synth Trio Aim For The Top" (PDF). Music Week. p. 26. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  7. ↑ "Reviews" (PDF). Music Week. 9 March 1996. p. 12. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  8. ↑ Daisy & Havoc (10 June 1995). "Hot Vinyl" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). p. 9. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  9. ↑ Hamilton, James (17 June 1995). "Dj directory" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). p. 11. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  10. ↑ "European Dance Radio Top 25" (PDF). Music & Media. 19 August 1995. p. 19. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  11. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100 02 July 1995 - 08 July 1995". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  12. ↑ "Dubstar Full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  13. ↑ "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40 23 July 1995 - 29 July 1995". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  14. ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media. 13 April 1996. p. 23. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  15. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100 24 March 1996 - 30 March 1996". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  16. ↑ "Dubstar Full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
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