Starfuckers, Inc. (song)

Album:The Fragile (Right)

Length:5:00

Tempo:{{{BPM}}} BPM

Versions:Starfuckers, Inc.
Starfuckers, Inc. (Version—Adrian Sherwood)
Starfuckers, Inc. (And All That Could Have Been)
Starfuckers, Inc. (Version—Charlie Clouser)
Starfuckers, Inc. (Version—Dave Ogilvie)
Starfuckers, Inc. (The Day The World Went Away)
Starsuckers, Inc.

Live:Fragility v1.0 through Performance 2007

"Starfuckers, Inc." is the sixth track on the right disc of The Fragile. It has been speculated that this is a parody of Marilyn Manson and his lifestyle.

The beginning vocals are spliced together, as a jab at Manson's inability to sing songs in a single take.

Etymology

The word "Starfucker" was apparently the original title of the Rolling Stones song "Star Star," released on the 1973 album, Goats Head Soup. The term "starfucker" was later used by the artist Tori Amos in her song "Professional Widow," released on her 1996 album, Boys For Pele. In this song, the eponymous "professional widow" and "starfucker" is widely considered to be Courtney Love. "Starfucker" is also the tenth track on Hanzel Und Gretyl's 1997 industrial metal album Transmissions From Uranus. All three of these songs preceded "Starfuckers, Inc."

Song Credits

• Writing: Trent Reznor and Charlie Clouser, including some lyrics from Carly Simon's "You're So Vain." [1]
• Chanting: Buddha Boys Choir—Nigel Wiesehan, Nick Scott, Steve Duda, Keith Hillebrandt, Clint Mansell, Adam Persaud, Eric Edmonson, Doug Idleman, and Marcus London
• Contains a licensed sample of "Shout It Out Loud" by Kiss [2]

Appearances

Halos

• The Day The World Went Away
• The Fragile
• Things Falling Apart
• And All That Could Have Been

Seeds

• Collected
• The Definitive NIN - The Singles

Versions

Starfuckers, Inc.

This is the version found on The Fragile.

Starfuckers, Inc. (The Day The World Went Away)

This version has an extended ending, incorporating fireworks and applause from KISS' "Shout It Out Loud," found on KISS Alive!, before fading into the beginning of "Complication." The track then fades out.

Starfuckers, Inc. (Version)—Adrian Sherwood

This remix integrates siren noises and various noises reminiscent of old sci-fi movies, as well as samples from KISS Alive!. It has very little in the way of lyrics, consisting only of "Starfuckers," "Starfuckers, Inc." and "You're so fucking beautiful."

Song Credits

• Manipulation: Adrian Sherwood for 140dB
• Additional production: Adrian Sherwood, Mark Stewart
• Engineering: Alan Branch

Starfuckers, Inc. (Version)—Dave "Rave" Ogilvie

This is a more dance-oriented version remix, with emphasis on percussion and melodic synths.

Song Credits

• Manipulation: Dave Ogilvie

Starfuckers, Inc. (Version)—Charlie Clouser

A more industrial remix, this remix is very heavy on percussion and light on lyrical content.

Song Credits

• Manipulation: Charlie Clouser

Starfuckers, Inc. (And All That Could Have Been)

This live version is similar to the album original, with the exception being an extended breakdown, and Reznor declaring, "Well, fuck you." An Easter Egg on the DVD includes a performance of this song at Madison Square Garden in New York City with Manson. It then goes into a performance of Manson's "The Beautiful People." They had re-established a friendship, which did not last long after that performance.

Music Video

The video for "Starfuckers, Inc." was released in 2000 under the name "Starsuckers, Inc." due to censorship issues. The interlude lyrics were also changed for the video, allegedly to avoid a copyright infringement lawsuit. SPOILERS BEGIN
A glammed-out Reznor and a strung-out, leggy blonde are riding in the back of a limousine. They stop at a run-down carnival at a trailer park and participate in the games there. These games include throwing CDs in a toilet, smashing plates bearing head shots of popular musicians, breaking busts of various musicians (including Reznor himself), and a dunk tank the involves a large man dressed like Courtney Love falling into a tank filled with toxic waste.

At this point in the video, it becomes a commentary on the state of music at the time. Bands like Limp Bizkit were extremely popular while Smashing Pumpkins and REM seemed to be past their prime in the eyes of the record labels and many consumers.

After the dunk tank, Reznor and the blonde return to the car. It is then that the blonde is revealed to be Manson dressed in drag. Many people speculated that the feud between Reznor and Manson had ended.
SPOILERS END

The video contains several references to the films of David Lynch. The opening scene with the road and the red-tinted scenes refer to Lost Highway. The limousine and Reznor's clothes and oxygen mask refer to the character Frank Booth in Blue Velvet, who has an addiction to gases and is the perfect figure of depravity.

Live

"Starfuckers, Inc." has been played live since the Fragility tour in 1999. During the Live: With Teeth tour, Reznor has stopped the song and skipped the breakdown, bantering to the audience before going right into the song's finale.

Lyrics

    My god sits in the back of the limousine
    My god comes in a wrapper of cellophane
    My god pouts on the cover of the magazine
    My god's a shallow little bitch trying to make the scene
    
    I have arrived and you should believe the hype
    I listened to everyone now I know that everyone was right
    I'll be there for you as long as it works for me
    I play a game
    It's called insincerity
    
    Starfuckers
    Starfuckers
    Starfuckers, Inc.
    Starfuckers
    
    I am every fucking thing and just a little more
    I sold my soul but don't you dare call me a whore
    And when I suck you off not a drop will go to waste
    It's really not so bad you know once you get past the taste
    (Asskisser)
    
    Starfuckers
    Starfuckers
    Starfuckers, Inc.
    Starfuckers
    
    All our pain
    How did we ever get by without you?
    You're so vain
    I bet you think this song is about you
    Don't you?
    Don't you?
    Don't you?
    Don't you?
    
    Now I belong I'm one of the chosen ones
    Now I belong I'm one of the beautiful ones

The first lyric to the second part of the first verse was changed on the actual recording:

    I have arrived and this time you should believe the hype

In the "Starsuckers, Inc." music video, the lyrics in the breakdown are changed to:

    All our pain
    How did we ever get by without you?
    Overplayed
    And soon you'll make us forget about you
    Won't you?
    Won't you?
    Won't you?
    Won't you?

Also, in some versions of the song, the words "Everywhere you go" can be heard during the "Now I belong" outro.

External Links

• "Starsuckers, Inc." music video
• Discogs entry for CD single