Starstruck (Years & Years song)

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"Starstruck"
Years & Years - Starstruck.png
Cover art for single. Other versions of the song use the same cover, but with different background colours.
Single by Years & Years
Released8 April 2021 (2021-04-08)
Length3:27
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • DetoNate
  • Mark Ralph
Years & Years singles chronology
"It's a Sin"
(2021) 		"Starstruck"
(2021)
Kylie Minogue singles chronology
"Real Groove"
(2020) 		"Starstruck (Kylie Minogue Remix)"
(2021)

"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.[1][2][3] 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.[4] A remix featuring Australian singer Kylie Minogue was released on 21 May 2021.[5][6]

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".[7]

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."[4]

On 18 May 2021, Years & Years confirmed a remix of "Starstruck" featuring Kylie Minogue.[8] 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.[9][5]

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.[10][11][12]

Live performances[]

On 16 April 2021, Alexander performed the song live on The Graham Norton Show and The One Show.[13] On 25 April, he performed again on Sunday Brunch and The Late Late Show with James Corden on 28 April.[14][15]

Personnel[]

Credits adapted from Tidal.[16]

  • 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[]

Chart performance for "Starstruck"
Chart (2021) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)[17] 30
Czech Republic (Rádio Top 100)[18] 43
Iceland (Plötutíðindi)[19] 40
Ireland (IRMA)[20] 55
Japan Hot Overseas (Billboard)[21] 5
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[22] 24
UK Singles (OCC)[23] 31
US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard)[24] 18

Release history[]

Release history for "Starstruck"
Region Date Format Version Label Ref.
Various 8 April 2021
Original Polydor [1][2]
United Kingdom 9 April 2021 Contemporary hit radio [25]
Italy Universal [26]
Various 23 April 2021
  • Digital download
  • streaming
 Paul Woolford remix Polydor [27]
30 April 2021 Ofenbach remix [28]
7 May 2021 Vegyn remix [29]
21 May 2021 Kylie Minogue remix [5]
Australia Contemporary hit radio Universal Music Australia [30]
United Kingdom 22 May 2021 Adult contemporary radio Polydor [31]
4 June 2021 CD single
  • Original
  • Kylie Minogue remix
  • Paul Woolford remix
  • acoustic
 [32]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b "Starstruck - Single by Years & Years". Apple Music. Archived from the original on 18 April 2021. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b "Starstruck - Single by Years & Years". Spotify. Archived from the original on 18 April 2021. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ Jump up to: 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.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Starstruck (Kylie Minogue Remix) - Single - Single by Years & Years". Apple Music. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  6. ^ Moore, Sam (19 May 2021). "Years & Years announce Kylie Minogue-featuring remix of 'Starstruck'". NME. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  7. ^ "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.
  8. ^ "Kylie Minogue to collaborate with Years & Years on remix of Starstruck". 18 May 2021. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  9. ^ "Starstruck (Kylie Minogue Remix) - Single by Years & Years and Kylie Minogue". Apple Music. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
  10. ^ "Years & Years - Starstruck (Official Video)". Archived from the original on 17 April 2021. Retrieved 18 April 2021 – via YouTube.
  11. ^ "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.
  12. ^ "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.
  13. ^ "Years & Years - Starstruck (Live on Graham Norton)". Archived from the original on 18 April 2021. Retrieved 18 April 2021 – via YouTube.
  14. ^ "Sun 25 Apr, 9.30am". Retrieved 21 May 2021 – via Channel 4.
  15. ^ "Olly Alexander's Years & Years Perform 'Starstruck' on 'Corden'". Retrieved 18 May 2021 – via Rolling Stone.
  16. ^ "Credits / Starstruck / Years & Years – TIDAL". Tidal. Archived from the original on 18 April 2021. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  17. ^ "Ultratop.be – Years & Years – Starstruck" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  18. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – RADIO – TOP 100 and insert 202124 into search. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  19. ^ "Tónlistinn – Lög" [The Music – Songs] (in Icelandic). Plötutíðindi. Archived from the original on 20 May 2021. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
  20. ^ "IRMA – Irish Charts". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  21. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot Overseas" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. 26 April 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  22. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 3 May 2021. Archived from the original on 28 April 2021. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
  23. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  24. ^ "Years & Years Chart History (Hot Dance/Electronic Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
  25. ^ "Radio 1 Playlist". Radio airplay. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  26. ^ "Starstruck - Years & Years (Radio Date)". Radio airplay. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  27. ^ "Starstruck (Paul Woolford Remix) - Single by Years & Years". Apple Music. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  28. ^ "Starstruck (Ofenbach Remix) - Single by Years & Years". Apple Music. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  29. ^ "Starstruck (Vegyn Remix) - Single by Years & Years". Apple Music. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  30. ^ "Single to Radio - The Music Network". The Music Network. Archived from the original on May 21, 2021. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
  31. ^ "BBC 2 New Music Playlist". BBC. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  32. ^ "Years & Years - Starstruck CD single". Universal Music Store. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
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