Revival of a "superstar"

Revival of a "superstar"

One of the key moments in the Academy Award nominated film Juno is a discussion about the value of a version of the song "Superstar" by legendary art-punk band Sonic Youth. The song has a history nearly as fascinating as the film itself.

"Superstar" was written by Bonnie Bramlett and Leon Russell. It was inspired by a suggestion from Rita Coolidge that they write a song from the perspective of a groupie. Rita Coolidge has said that rock legend Eric Clapton was the specific inspiration. When Richard Carpenter, of the brother and sister group the Carpenters, heard the song, he says that he instantly thought it could be a hit and would be perfect for the Carpenters.

The subject matter of "Superstar" may seem somewhat unusual for a mainstream act like the Carpenters. However, with Karen Carpenter's voice, the tone of melancholy in the song was emphasized in gripping fashion. It was not their biggest hit, but "Superstar" reached #2 on the pop singles chart and has been strongly tied to the duo ever since.

In 1994, a tribute album to the Carpenters titled If I Were a Carpenter featured a version of "Superstar" by the band Sonic Youth (pictured). This recording has been both treasured and reviled by fans of the band. After 14 years, the film Juno has pulled the recording out of obscurity and made it the subject of discussion for another generation of music fans.

"Superstar" has gone on to have life in numerous other cover versions. Perhaps most notable of these is a version by Luther Vandross. Usher also recorded the song in a tribute to Luther, and "Superstar" was a key performance by American Idol champion Ruben Studdard.