"Starpower" is a song by American

alternative rock Alternative rock (also known as alternative music, alt-rock or simply alternative) is a category of rock music that evolved from the independent music underground of the 1970s. Alternative rock acts achieved mainstream success in the 1990s w ...

band

Sonic Youth Sonic Youth were an American rock band formed in New York City in 1981. Founding members Kim Gordon (bass, vocals, guitar), Thurston Moore (lead guitar, vocals) and Lee Ranaldo (rhythm guitar, vocals) remained together for the entire history of ...

. It was released in 1986 by record label SST as the first and only single from the band's third studio album, ''

EVOL EvoL (Korean: ) was a five-member South Korean girl group under the label Stardom Entertainment. They released their debut EP and music video for the track "We Are a Bit Different (우린 좀 달라; ''Urin Jom Dalla'')" on August 10, 2012. I ...

''. It was re-released on colored vinyl in both 1990 and 1991.

Writing

Though

Kim Gordon Kim Althea Gordon (born April 28, 1953) is an American musician, singer and songwriter best known as the bassist, guitarist, and vocalist of alternative rock band Sonic Youth. Born in Rochester, New York, she was raised in Los Angeles, Califor ...

sang the studio version, the lyrics were written by

Thurston Moore Thurston Joseph Moore (born July 25, 1958) is an American guitarist, singer and songwriter best known as a member of the rock band Sonic Youth. He has also participated in many solo and group collaborations outside Sonic Youth, as well as running ...

, and he sings on all concert versions.

Content

Both versions of "Starpower" and "Expressway to Yr Skull" are edits.

Mike Watt Michael David Watt (born December 20, 1957) is an American bassist, vocalist and songwriter. He co-founded and played bass guitar for the rock bands Minutemen (1980–1985), Dos (1985–present), and Firehose (1986–1994). He began a solo ca ...

played bass on "Bubblegum", a

Kim Fowley Kim Vincent Fowley (July 21, 1939 – January 15, 2015) was an American record producer, songwriter and musician who was behind a string of novelty and cult pop rock singles in the 1960s, and managed the Runaways in the 1970s. He has been ...

cover which was also the bonus track on the ''EVOL'' CD. Only the 7" version featured the first two songs; all other releases had all three. A live version of "Starpower" was referred to by Moore as "Watt Power", referring to bassist Watt.

Release

"Starpower" was released in July 1986 by record label SST. Its first pressing on 7" vinyl" included an ''EVOL'' poster and pendant. A 10" was issued on various colors of vinyl, including grey and purple. The 2009 ''

Gossip Girl ''Gossip Girl'' is an American teen drama television series created and developed by Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage and based on the series of novels of the same name by Cecily von Ziegesar. It follows a group of students on Manhattan's ...

'' episode "Rufus Getting Married" featured a live version of this song, with Gordon on vocals. Gordon also acted in a small speaking role. Before the performance, Moore and guitarist

Lee Ranaldo Lee Mark Ranaldo (born February 3, 1956) is an American guitarist, singer and songwriter, best known as a co-founder of the rock band Sonic Youth. In 2004, ''Rolling Stone'' ranked Ranaldo at number 33 on its "Greatest Guitarists of All Time" li ...

were shown tuning their guitars.

Track listing

# "Starpower (Edit)" – 2:50 # "Bubblegum" (

) – 2:45 # "Expressway to Yr Skull (Edit)" – 4:30

References

External links

Starpower
at Sonicyouth.com {{Sonic Youth Sonic Youth songs 1986 singles 1986 songs SST Records singles