Starfuckers, Inc. (song)
Starfuckers, Inc. (The Day The World Went Away)
Starsuckers, Inc.
Starfuckers, Inc. (Version—Adrian Sherwood)
Starfuckers, Inc. (Version—Charlie Clouser)
Starfuckers, Inc. (Version—Dave Ogilvie)
Starfuckers, Inc. (And All That Could Have Been)
"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, though the lyrics only support a generalized take against pop music celebrities in general.
Contents
- 1 Etymology
- 2 Song Credits
- 3 Appearances
- 4 Versions
- 4.1 Starfuckers, Inc.
- 4.2 Starfuckers, Inc. (Edit)
- 4.3 Starfuckers, Inc. (The Day The World Went Away)
- 4.4 Starsuckers, Inc.
- 4.5 Starfuckers, Inc. (Version)—Adrian Sherwood
- 4.6 Starfuckers, Inc. (Version)—Dave "Rave" Ogilvie
- 4.7 Starfuckers, Inc. (Version)—Charlie Clouser
- 4.8 Starfuckers, Inc. (And All That Could Have Been)
- 5 Music Video
- 6 Live
- 7 Lyrics
- 8 External Links
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.
Song Credits
- Writing: Trent Reznor and Charlie Clouser, including some lyrics from Carly Simon's "You're So Vain."
- 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
Appearances
Halos
Seeds
Versions
Starfuckers, Inc.
This is the version found on The Fragile. Slowly fading in with a quiet beat and moving synthesizers, the first verse then erupts, with locked drum loops and synthesized bass. Reznor's verse vocals were recorded and cut in such a way that each word sounds like it is from a different vocal take, possibly as a stab at the pop music celebrities the lyrics seem to satirize. In contrast, the chorus is loud and guitar-heavy, with several repeated group shouts. A wah guitar solo similar in sound to the one from "The Wretched" connects to the second verse. After the second chorus, the song quickly quiets for the lonely guitar-and-vocal bridge before erupting back into the loud chorus.
Starfuckers, Inc. (Edit)
In this version, it fades in half as fast. The word 'bitch' is censored, as is the word 'fuck' - during the chorus, it is silenced. The guitar solo that comes next is cut in half. In the second verse the word 'fucking' is censored, as is 'asskisser'. Also censored is the word 'suck', but, interestingly enough, the word 'whore' is not. During the loud chorus at the end of the lonely bridge, an added guitar that plays nine times in the studio plays only four in this edit. Also, at the very end, a part that plays thrice plays only twice. However, at the end of this edit, there is the KISS extended ending, but it fades out sooner.
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!, and the beginning guitar riff of "Complication." The track then fades out.
Starsuckers, Inc.
This is a heavily censored version, released on the Starsuckers, Inc. promo disc and is the version generally played with the song's music video. The bridge verse is changed from the Carly Simon-quoting lyrics, and the "f" in the word "Starfuckers" is changed to an "s" to make "Starsuckers" throughout.
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 remix, with emphasis on percussion and melodic synthesizers.
Song Credits
- Manipulation: Dave Ogilvie
Starfuckers, Inc. (Version)—Charlie Clouser
A more industrial remix, this 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 bridge, with Reznor declaring, "Well, fuck you!" after repeating "Don't you?" many times. 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.
During the throwing of CD's into a toilet, discs are seen of Marilyn Manson's "Mechanical Animals" and "Smells Like Children".
Live
"Starfuckers, Inc." has been played live since the Fragility tour. During the Live: With Teeth tour, the song was played at a much faster speed & 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 "Starsuckers, Inc.," 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?
External Links
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