"Star People '97"
Single by George Michael
from the album Older
B-side"Everything She Wants" (live)
Released4 March 1997 (1997-03-04)
Genre
Length5:38
Label
Songwriter(s)George Michael
Producer(s)George Michael
George Michael singles chronology
"Older" / "I Can't Make You Love Me"
(1997)		 "Star People '97"
(1997)		 "Waltz Away Dreaming"
(1997)
Music video
"Star People '97" on YouTube

"Star People '97" is a song by British singer George Michael, released as the fifth single from his third studio album, Older (1996). It was written and performed by George Michael and was released by Virgin Records in the United Kingdom and DreamWorks Records in the United States. The lyrics make reference to the materialism and frivolity of certain (unspecified) people in show business, suggesting that those behaviours are derived from some insecurity or a bad childhood. The single version is titled "Star People '97", on most issues, because the track was re-recorded for the single release.

"Star People '97" was first released in the US on three formats over three weeks in March 1997 and was issued in the UK on 28 April 1997. The song peaked at No. 2 in the United Kingdom and No. 1 on the US Billboard Dance Club Play chart, becoming Michael's second No. 1 on this chart. Worldwide, the song reached No. 1 in Denmark and Hungary, and reached the top 10 Iceland, Ireland, and Spain.

Critical reception

Matthew Hocter from Albumism noted that the song "spoke to the fakery and greed that consumes many in the entertainment business, making reference to damaging childhoods and insecurity as some of the possible causes." He described it as a song "rooted in a soul, funk sound with splashes of disco".[1] Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, "After teasing his die-hard club following for months with several rhythmic (but not quite dance) singles, George Michael has finally unleashed a slamming house music anthem from his glorious—if underappreciated—opus "Older". Jeremy Healy, Amos, Mike Koglin, and Forthright have been tapped to turn the original retro pop/jazz ditty into a dance ditty. Working as a team, Healy, Amos, and Koglin successfully transform the song into an edgy anthem befitting the swagger of Michael's vocal. Meanwhile, Forthright injects a few drops of Europop flavor into the groove, making the single a viable top 40 contender. A sterling 12-inch package that was well worth the wait."[2]

A reviewer from Music Week rated it four out of five, adding, "The restrained Older track takes on a completely new life in this re-recorded, funked up version which amounts to George's brightest, most uplifting single in a long while."[3] Ed Morales for Vibe opined that "the halfhearted condemnation of glitz in "Star People" has a serious Latin beat working."[4]

Track listings

Charts

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[42] Silver 200,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States 4 March 1997 12-inch vinyl [43]
11 March 1997 Cassette [44]
18 March 1997 CD [45]
United Kingdom 28 April 1997
  • CD
  • cassette
[46]
Japan 6 June 1997 CD [47]

References

  1. ↑ Hocter, Matthew (12 May 2021). "George Michael's 'Older' Turns 25 — Anniversary Retrospective". Albumism. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  2. ↑ Flick, Larry (18 January 1997). "Reviews & Previews: Singles" (PDF). Billboard. p. 73. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  3. ↑ "Reviews: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 19 April 1997. p. 29. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  4. ↑ Morales, Ed (1 August 1996). "George Michael - Older". Vibe. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  5. ↑ Star People '97 (UK CD1 disc notes). George Michael. Virgin Records, Aegean Records. 1997. VSCDG 1641, 7243 8 94243 2 4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  6. ↑ Star People '97 (Australian CD1 disc notes). George Michael. Virgin Records, Aegean Records. 1997. 8942432.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. ↑ Star People '97 (Japanese CD single liner notes). George Michael. Virgin Records, Aegean Records. 1997. VJCP 12057.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. ↑ Star People '97 (UK CD2 disc notes). George Michael. Virgin Records, Aegean Records. 1997. VSCDX 1641, 7243 8 94244 2 3.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. ↑ Star People '97 (Australian CD2 disc notes). George Michael. Virgin Records, Aegean Records. 1997. 8942462.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. ↑ Star People '97 (UK cassette single sleeve). George Michael. Virgin Records, Aegean Records. 1997. VSC 1641, 7243 8 942444 7.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. ↑ Star People '97 (European CD single disc notes). George Michael. Virgin Records, Aegean Records. 1997. VSCDE 1641, 7243 8 94278 2 0.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. ↑ Star People (US CD single liner notes). George Michael. DreamWorks Records, Aegean Records. 1997. DRMDS-59005.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. ↑ Star People (US cassette single sleeve). George Michael. DreamWorks Records, Aegean Records. 1997. DRMCS-59005.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  14. ↑ Star People (US maxi-CD single liner notes). George Michael. DreamWorks Records, Aegean Records. 1997. DRMDM-58003.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  15. ↑ Star People (US 12-inch single sleeve). George Michael. DreamWorks Records, Aegean Records. 1997. DRM12-58003.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  16. ↑ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 187.
  17. ↑ "George Michael – Star People '97" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  18. ↑ "George Michael – Star People '97" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  19. ↑ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 3204." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 28 July 2013.
  20. ↑ "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 8298." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  21. ↑ "Top National Sellers: Denmark" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 14, no. 23. 7 June 1997. p. 19. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  22. ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 14, no. 20. 17 May 1997. p. 11. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  23. ↑ "George Michael: Star People '97" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  24. ↑ "Major Market Airplay: France" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 14, no. 24. 14 June 1997. p. 27. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  25. ↑ "George Michael – Star People '97" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  26. ↑ "Top National Sellers: Hungary" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 14, no. 26. 28 June 1997. p. 20. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
  27. ↑ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (NR. 216 Vikuna 10.4. '97 – 16.4. '97)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 11 April 1997. p. 16. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
  28. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Star People '97". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  29. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 21, 1997" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  30. ↑ "George Michael – Star People '97" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  31. ↑ "Major Market Airplay: Poland" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 15, no. 21. 24 May 1997. p. 23. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  32. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  33. ↑ "Top National Sellers: Spain" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 15, no. 22. 31 May 1997. p. 21. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  34. ↑ "George Michael – Star People '97". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  35. ↑ "George Michael – Star People '97". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  36. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  37. ↑ "George Michael Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  38. ↑ "George Michael Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  39. ↑ "George Michael Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
  40. ↑ "Najlepsze single na UK Top 40–1997 wg sprzedaży" (in Polish). Archived from the original on 4 June 2015. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  41. ↑ "The Year in Music" (PDF). Billboard. 27 December 1997. p. 44. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  42. ↑ "British single certifications – George Michael – Star People". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
  43. ↑ "Star People [Vinyl]". Amazon. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
  44. ↑ "Star People". Amazon. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
  45. ↑ "Star People / Strangest Thing". Amazon. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
  46. ↑ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 26 April 1997. p. 33. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
  47. ↑ "スター・ピープル'97 | ジョージ・マイケル" [Star People '97 | George Michael] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
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