Starstruck (Years & Years song)

"Starstruck"
Single by Years & Years
from the album Night Call
Released8 April 2021
GenreSynth-pop[1]
Length3:27
LabelPolydor
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • DetoNate
  • Mark Ralph
Years & Years singles chronology
"It's a Sin"
(2021) 		"Starstruck"
(2021) 		"The Edge of Glory"
(2021)
Kylie Minogue singles chronology
"Real Groove"
(2020) 		"Starstruck (Kylie Minogue Remix)"
(2021) 		"A Second to Midnight"
(2021)
Music video
"Starstuck" on YouTube

"Starstruck" is a song by British musician Olly Alexander, released under his solo project Years & Years. It was released for digital download and streaming on 8 April 2021.[2][3][4] The song was written by Clarence Coffee Jr., Mark Ralph, Nathaniel Ledwidge and Olly Alexander, and marks the first release of Years & Years as Alexander's solo project following the departure of Mikey Goldsworthy and Emre Türkmen.[5] A remix featuring Australian singer Kylie Minogue was released on 21 May 2021.[6][7] On 15 February 2022, a remix featuring Japanese singer SIRUP was released.[8]

Background

On 29 March 2021, Olly Alexander uploaded a preview of the single on his TikTok account, and shared the news on his other social media accounts. He also introduced a 'Starstruck Challenge', explaining it as "all about showing your finest post-lockdown glow up that is leaving everyone star-struck because you look so fine".[9]

In a statement, Alexander explained that the track "came together one night at a studio in the countryside outside of London" and that he has been "putting all" his "pent up energy" into music because of the COVID-19 lockdowns. He further elaborated that "'Starstruck' is about the rush you get when you're with somebody you're really into, it's about holding onto a good feeling and not letting it go. Like most of us I've spent the past year at home, and I wanted to create something super positive and fun for people (and myself) to bop along to."[5]

On 18 May 2021, Years & Years confirmed a remix of "Starstruck" featuring Kylie Minogue.[10] On 21 May 2021, the remix was released and featured new vocals by Minogue. A CD single including Kylie Minogue remix and original version was released on 4 June 2021.[11][6]

The remix with Minogue was picked by Billboard as one of the 25 Best Pride Songs of 2021, stating the singers "trade lines on the bubbly verses and come together to belt the luminous, oh-so-catchy chorus for the burst of serotonin we’ve all been desperately seeking over the past year."[12]

Music video

A music video to accompany the release of "Starstruck" was first released on YouTube on 12 April 2021. The video was directed by Fred Rowson. It features Alexander being romantically pursued around a large house by a clone of himself. Near the end of the video, it is revealed that the incident was Alexander's imagination and he was really admiring his reflection before performing a series of dance moves in a large room.[13][14][15]

Live performances

On 16 April 2021, Alexander performed the song live on The Graham Norton Show and The One Show.[16] On 25 April, he performed again on Sunday Brunch and at The Late Late Show with James Corden on 28 April.[17][18] It was performed as the opening to the 2021 British Academy Television Awards.[19] It was included as part of the setlist of Alexander's 2022 Night Call Tour as the final song before the encore.[20]

Personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.[21]

  • DetoNate – producer, co-producer
  • Mark Ralph – producer, composer, lyricist, associated performer, bass, co-producer, executive producer, guitar, music production, percussion, programming, synthesizer
  • Clarence Coffee Jr. – composer, lyricist, associated performer, music production
  • Nathaniel Ledwidge – composer, lyricist
  • Olly Alexander – composer, lyricist, associated performer, vocals
  • Dan Grech-Marguerat – associated performer, mixer, programming, studio personnel
  • Charles Haydon Hicks – assistant recording engineer, studio personnel
  • Luke Burgoyne – assistant recording engineer, studio personnel
  • Gemma Chester – engineer, studio personnel
  • Josh Green – engineer, studio personnel
  • John Davis – mastering engineer, studio personnel

Charts and certifications

Chart performance for "Starstruck"
Chart (2021) Peak
position
Australia Airplay (Radiomonitor)[22] 38
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[23] 30
Croatia (HRT)[24] 18
Czech Republic (Rádio – Top 100)[25] 43
Euro Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[26] 11
Iceland (Tónlistinn)[27] 40
Ireland (IRMA)[28] 55
Japan Hot Overseas (Billboard)[29] 5
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[30] 24
San Marino (SMRRTV Top 50)[31] 23
Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[32] 43
UK Singles (OCC)[33] 31
US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard)[34] 18

Certifications

Certifications for "Starstruck"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[35] Silver 200,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release history for "Starstruck"
Region Date Format Version Label Ref.
Various 8 April 2021
Original Polydor [2][3]
Italy 9 April 2021 Contemporary hit radio Universal [36]
Various 23 April 2021
  • Digital download
  • streaming
 Paul Woolford remix Polydor [37]
30 April 2021 Ofenbach remix [38]
7 May 2021 Vegyn remix [39]
21 May 2021 Kylie Minogue remix [6]
United Kingdom 4 June 2021 CD single
  • Original
  • Kylie Minogue remix
  • Paul Woolford remix
  • acoustic
 Polydor [40]

References

  1. ^ "Olly Alexander sees double in Years & Years' new "Starstruck" video". NME. United Kingdom. 12 April 2021. Archived from the original on 18 April 2021. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Starstruck - Single by Years & Years". Apple Music. Archived from the original on 18 April 2021. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Starstruck - Single by Years & Years". Spotify. 8 April 2021. Archived from the original on 18 April 2021. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  4. ^ Griffiths, George (23 March 2021). "Olly Alexander announces release of first Years & Years solo single Starstruck". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 18 April 2021. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  5. ^ a b "Years & Years return with vibrant new single 'Starstruck'". NME. 8 April 2021. Archived from the original on 18 April 2021. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  6. ^ a b c "Starstruck (Kylie Minogue Remix) - Single - Single by Years & Years". Apple Music. Archived from the original on 19 May 2021. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  7. ^ Moore, Sam (19 May 2021). "Years & Years announce Kylie Minogue-featuring remix of 'Starstruck'". NME. Archived from the original on 9 October 2021. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  8. ^ "Years & Years Release New 'Starstruck' Remix With Rising J-pop Artist SIRUP". Billboard. 15 February 2022. Archived from the original on 16 February 2022. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  9. ^ "Years & Years share snippet of new single 'Starstruck' to mark new TikTok challenge". NME. 30 March 2021. Archived from the original on 18 April 2021. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  10. ^ "Kylie Minogue to collaborate with Years & Years on remix of Starstruck". Official Charts. 18 May 2021. Archived from the original on 20 May 2021. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  11. ^ "Starstruck (Kylie Minogue Remix) - Single by Years & Years and Kylie Minogue". Apple Music. Archived from the original on 15 January 2023. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
  12. ^ "25 Best Pride Songs of 2021: Staff Picks". Billboard. 16 December 2021. Archived from the original on 24 December 2021. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
  13. ^ "Years & Years - Starstruck (Official Video)". 12 April 2021. Archived from the original on 17 April 2021. Retrieved 18 April 2021 – via YouTube.
  14. ^ "Olly Alexander sees double in Years & Years' new 'Starstruck' video". NME. 12 April 2021. Archived from the original on 18 April 2021. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  15. ^ "Years & Years New Music, 'Starstruck' Video With Olly Alexander". Rolling Stone. 12 April 2021. Archived from the original on 19 April 2021. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  16. ^ "Years & Years - Starstruck (Live on Graham Norton)". 17 April 2021. Archived from the original on 18 April 2021. Retrieved 18 April 2021 – via YouTube.
  17. ^ "Sun 25 Apr, 9.30am". Archived from the original on 21 May 2021. Retrieved 21 May 2021 – via Channel 4.
  18. ^ "Olly Alexander's Years & Years Perform 'Starstruck' on 'Corden'". 28 April 2021. Archived from the original on 18 May 2021. Retrieved 18 May 2021 – via Rolling Stone.
  19. ^ "BAFTA TV Awards 2021: How to watch this year's ceremony". 4 June 2021. Archived from the original on 6 June 2021. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  20. ^ "Years & Years Setlist at Brighton Centre, Brighton". setlist.fm. Archived from the original on 29 May 2022. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  21. ^ "Credits / Starstruck / Years & Years – TIDAL". Tidal. Archived from the original on 18 April 2021. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  22. ^ "HOT 100 Issue 1344". The Music Network. Archived from the original on 14 June 2021. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  23. ^ "Years & Years – Starstruck" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  24. ^ "Croatia ARC TOP 100". HRT. Archived from the original on 2 June 2021. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  25. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 24. týden 2021 in the date selector. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  26. ^ "Years & Years Chart History (Euro Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Archived from the original on 19 November 2021. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
  27. ^ "Tónlistinn – Lög" [The Music – Songs] (in Icelandic). Plötutíðindi. Archived from the original on 20 May 2021. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
  28. ^ "IRMA – Irish Charts". Irish Recorded Music Association. Archived from the original on 26 June 2019. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  29. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot Overseas" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. 26 April 2021. Archived from the original on 2 May 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  30. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 3 May 2021. Archived from the original on 28 April 2021. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
  31. ^ "Top 50 – Radio San Marino RTV – 02/09/2021" (in Italian). San Marino RTV. 2 September 2021. Archived from the original on 2 September 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  32. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 24. týden 2021 in the date selector. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  33. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  34. ^ "Years & Years Chart History (Hot Dance/Electronic Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
  35. ^ "British single certifications – Years & Years – Starstruck". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  36. ^ "Starstruck - Years & Years (Radio Date)". Radio airplay. Archived from the original on 18 May 2021. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  37. ^ "Starstruck (Paul Woolford Remix) - Single by Years & Years". Apple Music. Archived from the original on 18 May 2021. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  38. ^ "Starstruck (Ofenbach Remix) - Single by Years & Years". Apple Music. Archived from the original on 30 August 2021. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  39. ^ "Starstruck (Vegyn Remix) - Single by Years & Years". Apple Music. Archived from the original on 30 July 2021. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  40. ^ "Years & Years - Starstruck CD single". Universal Music Store. Archived from the original on 24 May 2021. Retrieved 24 May 2021.