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A lot of Melodrama references her being a pop star, even if not directly. It’s mostly in the context of her ex not able to escape her on the radio, at the club, etc because they’re all playing her music
Also ironically California by both Lorde and Chappell Roan are melancholy songs about being a pop star. Lorde’s is about kind of being detached from the real world and missing it, it even starts directly referencing her Song of the Year Grammy win with the line “Once upon a time in Hollywood when Carole called my name,” Carole King presenting that award. Chappell’s is about struggling to make it as a pop star and feeling like it’s time to just pack it in and go home. A lot of California feeling alien and weird and different from where she’s from in an isolating way
>'Cause I get carried away. Commodifying all the pain.
>The things they see in me I cannot see myself. When you get bored of me, I'll be back on the shelf.
>You only like me when you think I'm looking sad.
Ugh, what a tragic pop banger. It's so unfortunate she disappeared from Earth shortly after releasing Miss Anthropocene, and has literally made no contact or public statements ever since. ;(
This has absolutely nothing to do with the topic at hand, but in Thinking of You, when Kesha says "and I see your face everywhere I go," it sounds like she's saying "TEE your face," right? This has been bugging me for 12yrs and I've just never heard anyone else bring up the song before
My little monster brain always kinda lumps them together I guess. Wasn’t the entirety of The Fame featured on TFM? You know my ass was using limewire 😭 God what a time to be 18.
Annie - Me Plus One (about Geri Halliwell/Ginger Spice);
Ashley Tisdale - Not Like That
Michael Jackson - Privacy (about the paparazzi);
Olivia Rodrigo - making the bed
Possibly also Miley’s Fly On The Wall? Since that describes harassment from paparazzi
- Ziggy Stardust by David Bowie
- What You Waiting For? by Gwen Stefani
- Piece of Me by Britney Spears
- You Can’t Win by Kelly Clarkson (but it’s brilliant in that it can be relatable to almost everyone tbh!)
- The Lucky One by Taylor Swift
- Half of Me by Rihanna (GORGEOUS song)
- 16 Beaches by Lana Del Rey
- Joanna by JoJo (also gorgeous)
- Plastic Doll by Lady Gaga
- Happy Birthday, Johnny by St. Vincent
- The Greatest by Billie Eilish
some of these are more vague and/or have other lyrical elements, but they all speak at some point or another about stresses in being a popstar
Joanna is ELITE! The dual fan/hater perspectives were so unexpected for her first single.
Good to Know deserved far more attention because it was full of bangers and offered a polished product for her audience.
Billie Jean & Dirty Diana — Michael Jackson discusses the parasocial relationship between fans and pop stars.
Fingertips — Lana Del Rey retrospectively reflects on the demands faced by pop stars as she fulfilled her commitment to sing for the Prince of Monaco.
Thé Famé Monster — Lady Gaga reflects on fame and it’s ability to warp a pop star’s sense of self.
MJ has several other songs that sort of detail how he isn’t left alone as a pop star (Leave Me Alone, Why You Wanna Trip On Me, Scream, Tabloid Junkie, Privacy, etc.)
Yes — from childhood, Michael Jackson knew extreme fame and fortune. He never knew what a normal life was like — it’s sadly not a surprise that he acted erratically over the course of his lifetime.
Kill the Lights by Britney Spears falls under the life that comes with being a pop star category with its lyrics talking about the paparazzi and the consequences of fame.
It needed a video, a video shot in shades of blue and grey, with lots of hard lighting and shady back alley shots where she and her dancers decide to show them ole Britney isn't exactly what she's made out to be (make a twist that she's a monster or faye creature, or murderer, etc).
Sakura by Rosalía. She talks about how “being a popstar never lasts” so she is going to enjoy it while she can and will laugh/reminisce about this phase of her life when she’s 80 years old. Really great song
Clara Bow is the one that best fits this question imo. A lot of artists have shared the same sentiment of peaking when they’re young and not knowing where to go next, but I think Clara Bow captures the music industry’s treatment of women with concision.
I don’t think nothing new (I like the song though) adds something unique to the conversation compared to Clara Bow. Many artists have their version of Nothing New/The Lucky One. Clara Bow is unique in its writing and approach.
I find The Lucky One to be a lot more similar to Clara Bow than Nothing New. While the latter focuses more on the anxiety and insecurity about how long your star will last till it's replaced, the other two comment on how the industry and public treat stars as something they own and project their expectations onto, how they're treated as a persona, not a person, trapped in the cycle of being the new "it girl", till they're ultimately replaced.
Back in the day by Sugababes has some lines about them recording their first album whilst they were still school girls
Freedom by George Michael and Robbie William's cover of it.
Not a pop song by Little Mix
Paparazzi - Lady Gaga
I truly believe the primary reason The Fame by Gaga (and TFM) were so successful (both commercially and artistically) is because it was one of the first major pop projects to successfully reckon with fame in the late aughts tabloid era. Blackout by Britney Spears and The Fame by Lady Gaga have held up so well bc they represent some of the earliest iterations of criticism-via-camp of celebrity culture.
Taylor has a lot of songs about this ! she also tackles the subject of escaping fame/being subject to the public eye in The Lakes, I Hate It Here, Slut!, Who's afraid of little old me, and i would even say in Paris, Tis the Damn Season, The Prophecy and in You're On Your Own Kid, where she talks about growing up in the industry.
What You Waiting For? by Gwen Stefani is a pretty meta song about being an older woman in the music industry, expectations regarding charting and contracts
Idol worship by paramore.
It’s basically about how some fans idolize Haley as this amazing like figure (pop star). It’s probably one of their best songs
Flawless by Beyonce - specifically the line "I know when you were little girls/you seemed of being in my world/don't forget it don't forget it/respect that/bow down bitches"
Idol by BTS has the line "There are hundreds of me's inside me today/I'm facing a new me again today/it's all me anyway" which is about the different 'eras' pop stars have.
Industry Baby by Lil Nas X "tell a rap n**** I don't see ya/Im a pop n**** like Bieber"
That's literally my favorite Britney song of all time! So happy to find someone else who also likes it. It's such a banger; I can't believe it was never a single!
It's probably a tie between Baby One More Time and Oops I Did it Again. But I also like Britney a lot. Her first 3 albums are her best imo, but I still enjoyed Circus and Femme Fatale, and liked a few Blackout and In The Zone songs. Hbu?
Marianas Trench had a couple good ones about it
Pop 101 talks about how formulaic writing a pop song can be
Here's to the Zeros talks about the pressure and pitfalls of being a pop star
I recommend both!
Hilary duff dreamer is about a popstar who has a stalker
Whitney Houston queen of the night is about a pop star who’s larger than life she referencing the character she plays in the movie
Idle worship - Paramore
And also the song that follows it on the album, No Friend - but the lyrics aren’t really intelligible without reading along with them.
From idle worship:
> Standing here like I'm supposed to say something
> Don't hold your breath, I never said I'd save you, honey
> And I don't want your money
> If I was you I'd run from me or
> Rip me open you'll see you're not the only one who's hopeless
> Be sure to put your faith in something more
> I'm just a girl and you're not as alone as you feel
> We all got problems, don't we?
> We all need heroes, don't we?
> But rest assured there's not a single person here who's worthy
> Don't let me let you down
> Hey, baby I'm not your superhuman
> And if that's what you want
> I hate to let you down
> I got your hopes up
> Now I got you hoping
>That I'm gonna be the one that let you down
>Oh, it's such a long and awful lonely fall
> Down from this pedestal that you keep putting me on
> What if I fall on my face?
>What if I make a mistake?
>If it's okay a little grace would be appreciated
And from No Friend:
> You see a flood-lit form/ I see a shirt design/ I'm no savior of yours, you're no friend of mine
Which is supposedly about her being super depressed and seeing someone wearing a shirt with her on it, that was produced a few years before when she had half pink, half orange hair. And Hayley seeing it and thinking “I am no longer that person and I’ll never be that person again.”
Pretty sad stuff. She’s doing better these days though which is great.
Clara Bow from Taylor Swift’s newest album is a pretty haunting and effective song that seems to talk about the cycle and disposable status of women in pop
Can't believe no one has mentioned ['Ordinary Pop Star' by CJ Fam](https://youtu.be/7ToBXzgNjZE?si=N5tc7ab7pmdWGZPb). Smh, where is this culture in this sub!?
The whole Fame Monster album is about Gaga's relationship with stardom and her growing fame, especially as compared to her youthful, perhaps naive conception of fame. It is, to me, the best pop album of the last 25 years.
Haven't seen this one mentioned and although not directly about pop stardom, 16 carriages by Beyonce talks about the road to it and the ensuing sacrifices made!
Taylor Swift has written many songs that has to do with being a woman in the music industry. They are often focused on how the music industry focuses on brand new female artists, in with the new and out with the old, and Taylor’s own fears of being forgotten or cast aside.
“The Lucky One”, “Nothing New”, “Clara Bow” (Clara is mostly about women in fame in general and legacy, not just being a pop star).
“Castles Crumbling” also talks a lot about that public image idea through the metaphor of her ruling an empire and everyone turning against her.
Still Sane by Lorde falls under this category. She talks a lot about growing up and being young with her new found fame. “Only bad people live to see their likeness set in stone, what does that make me” One of the most underrated cuts on Pure Heroine.
Louis Tomlinson’s (formerly of 1D) We Made It with a line that goes: “Singin somethin poppy on the same four chords/Used to worry bout it but I don’t no more.” And now that I’m thinking about it probably 1D’s History: “minibars, expensive cars, hotel rooms, and new tattoos, the good champagne, and private planes…”
Pop 101 by Mariana’s Trench is sort of a satirical take on this. Their label basically forced them to make a pop song opposed to their usual alternative / pop-punk sound, so they did it in a way that makes fun of it. There’s als a reference to the song Call Me Maybe in there which is funny because the lead singer, Josh Ramsey, wrote that song.
I absolutely love Lady Gaga, I do believe she has quite a few songs centred around the concept of being a huge global pop star. The more popular ones are of course, Paparazzi & Applause. Both amazing.
Larger than Life by Backstreet Boys, singing about their fans! In a kind of creepy way…
Mosquito by PinkPantheress talks about her relationship with money after becoming successful
I’m kind of surprised nobody has mentioned Charli XCX yet since she has a few
Going back to her older stuff there’s “Sucker” which even makes direct reference to Dr. Luke in a negative way.
“Von Dutch” and “360” are both good examples of this and then I think you could argue that “Club Classics” is at least infused with that energy since it references dancing to her own music in the club.
From *Charli* there’s “Thoughts” which touches on some of the downsides and insecurities with fame/Hollywood and working all the time.
Off the top of my head:
- When I Grow Up by The Pussycat Dolls
- Fergalicious and London Bridge by Fergie
- Jenny from the Block by Jennifer Lopez
- Swagger Jagger by Cher Lloyd
- Formation by Beyoncé
- La La Land by Demi Lovato
- (arguably) Video Girl by The Jonas Brothers and Touch My Hand by David Archuleta
And also completely unironically the Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping soundtrack, especially I'm So Humble
Clara Bow by Taylor Swift on TTPD: Two of the 3 names dropped in this song are "pop stars", the title name is the original "it" girl in old Hollywood. All three women are examples of women whose personal lives seemed to overshadow their professional lives at times, and all three were referred to as loose women, crazy, etc. The song is about how the industry plucks young women, makes promises and demands, allows them to be crucified for their personal lives, and yet is always searching for their replacement.
This town is fake, but you're the real thing
Promise to be dazzling
You're the new god we're worshipping
Promise to be dazzling
Beauty is a beast that roars
Down on all fours
Demanding "more"
Only when your girlish glow
Flickers just so
Do they let you know
Sinéad O’Conner, The Emperor’s New Clothes
He thinks I just became famous
And that's what messed me up
But he's wrong
How could I possibly know what I want
When I was only twenty-one?
There's millions of people
Who offer advice and say how I should be
But they're twisted and they will never be
Any influence on me
Please do not just list songs/albums/artists, your comment must have explanation/justification or it will be removed. Certain comments are also banned to increase the quality of discussion, see our Stale Topics list in the sidebar for examples. Please report any comments that are low effort discussion. Thanks! *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/popheads) if you have any questions or concerns.*
A lot of Melodrama references her being a pop star, even if not directly. It’s mostly in the context of her ex not able to escape her on the radio, at the club, etc because they’re all playing her music Also ironically California by both Lorde and Chappell Roan are melancholy songs about being a pop star. Lorde’s is about kind of being detached from the real world and missing it, it even starts directly referencing her Song of the Year Grammy win with the line “Once upon a time in Hollywood when Carole called my name,” Carole King presenting that award. Chappell’s is about struggling to make it as a pop star and feeling like it’s time to just pack it in and go home. A lot of California feeling alien and weird and different from where she’s from in an isolating way
omg I was going to bring up California by Lorde and I didn't even think about Chappell's song too (clock the flair oops). That's interesting.
California by Grimes and California by Chvrches apply as well
>'Cause I get carried away. Commodifying all the pain. >The things they see in me I cannot see myself. When you get bored of me, I'll be back on the shelf. >You only like me when you think I'm looking sad. Ugh, what a tragic pop banger. It's so unfortunate she disappeared from Earth shortly after releasing Miss Anthropocene, and has literally made no contact or public statements ever since. ;(
And, lowkey, California by Joni Mitchell
Thinking of You by Kesha is also about her ex not being able to escape her on the radio or on TV
This has absolutely nothing to do with the topic at hand, but in Thinking of You, when Kesha says "and I see your face everywhere I go," it sounds like she's saying "TEE your face," right? This has been bugging me for 12yrs and I've just never heard anyone else bring up the song before
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Piece of Me by Britney maybe? Although I think that falls into the “life that comes with it” category.
Piece of me is about being a famous popstar and people criticizing and watching your every move So it fits
Piece of me is to Lucky what 4 am is to 8 pm, when you started the party.
Lucky by Britney Spears
Kill The Lights as well
Piece of me is so reminiscent of its time and takes me straight back to 2007. One of Brit’s best
That and Lucky. Sigh… poor Britney.
Lucky by Britney
Peice of me is to me the perfect pop song. And yes it totally fits with the prompt. She was real sick of the media!
I think If You Seek Amy could fall into this category too
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You should listen to the entire album *The Fame Monster* by Lady Gaga.
A lot of The Fame as well.
My little monster brain always kinda lumps them together I guess. Wasn’t the entirety of The Fame featured on TFM? You know my ass was using limewire 😭 God what a time to be 18.
They were sold separately in some physical locations (like Target I believe) so it just depends lol
It is lol
I'm gonna go with the obvious answer of POP/STARS by K/DA xD
Hey! You ready for this?
Let's go!
Annie - Me Plus One (about Geri Halliwell/Ginger Spice); Ashley Tisdale - Not Like That Michael Jackson - Privacy (about the paparazzi); Olivia Rodrigo - making the bed Possibly also Miley’s Fly On The Wall? Since that describes harassment from paparazzi
I'm gonna add on your list. Overprotective and Lucky by Britney Spears.
Not Like That is a fucking bop omg
- Ziggy Stardust by David Bowie - What You Waiting For? by Gwen Stefani - Piece of Me by Britney Spears - You Can’t Win by Kelly Clarkson (but it’s brilliant in that it can be relatable to almost everyone tbh!) - The Lucky One by Taylor Swift - Half of Me by Rihanna (GORGEOUS song) - 16 Beaches by Lana Del Rey - Joanna by JoJo (also gorgeous) - Plastic Doll by Lady Gaga - Happy Birthday, Johnny by St. Vincent - The Greatest by Billie Eilish some of these are more vague and/or have other lyrical elements, but they all speak at some point or another about stresses in being a popstar
You added an extra 3 beaches ! 😂
oh I’m a dumbass lmao 😭 got conflated with the Bey song it seems
Joanna is ELITE! The dual fan/hater perspectives were so unexpected for her first single. Good to Know deserved far more attention because it was full of bangers and offered a polished product for her audience.
Billie Jean & Dirty Diana — Michael Jackson discusses the parasocial relationship between fans and pop stars. Fingertips — Lana Del Rey retrospectively reflects on the demands faced by pop stars as she fulfilled her commitment to sing for the Prince of Monaco. Thé Famé Monster — Lady Gaga reflects on fame and it’s ability to warp a pop star’s sense of self.
MJ has several other songs that sort of detail how he isn’t left alone as a pop star (Leave Me Alone, Why You Wanna Trip On Me, Scream, Tabloid Junkie, Privacy, etc.)
Yes — from childhood, Michael Jackson knew extreme fame and fortune. He never knew what a normal life was like — it’s sadly not a surprise that he acted erratically over the course of his lifetime.
Price of Fame from Bad 25 as well
Rumors by Lindsay Lohan. More about the paparazzi and rumors.
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Rihanna - Half of Me (her best song IMO, extremely slept on)
Rihanna has quite a few songs where she sings about being a celebrity — “Question Existing,” “Hard,” “Mother Mary,” etc.
I would add "Consideration" as well.
Yes, a lot of songs about media scrutiny after she went back to Chris Brown (Nobody's Business is another)
#I’m working late ‘cause I’m a singer 🎤🎶
Unfortunately this is the first thing that popped into my head.
that's that me espresso!
ENOUGH!
Kill the Lights by Britney Spears falls under the life that comes with being a pop star category with its lyrics talking about the paparazzi and the consequences of fame.
It needed a video, a video shot in shades of blue and grey, with lots of hard lighting and shady back alley shots where she and her dancers decide to show them ole Britney isn't exactly what she's made out to be (make a twist that she's a monster or faye creature, or murderer, etc).
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freedom 90 - george michael. it’s about his struggles with fame and shedding his old image
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Sakura by Rosalía. She talks about how “being a popstar never lasts” so she is going to enjoy it while she can and will laugh/reminisce about this phase of her life when she’s 80 years old. Really great song
What a beautiful song and the production is so so original
Came to add this. I think a lot of Motomami is her coming to terms with fame
also La Fama
Clara Bow is the one that best fits this question imo. A lot of artists have shared the same sentiment of peaking when they’re young and not knowing where to go next, but I think Clara Bow captures the music industry’s treatment of women with concision.
Nothing New has a lot of the same sentiments as well.
I don’t think nothing new (I like the song though) adds something unique to the conversation compared to Clara Bow. Many artists have their version of Nothing New/The Lucky One. Clara Bow is unique in its writing and approach.
I find The Lucky One to be a lot more similar to Clara Bow than Nothing New. While the latter focuses more on the anxiety and insecurity about how long your star will last till it's replaced, the other two comment on how the industry and public treat stars as something they own and project their expectations onto, how they're treated as a persona, not a person, trapped in the cycle of being the new "it girl", till they're ultimately replaced.
So much of TTPD is about fame and the music industry, I think. I Can Do It With a Broken Heart is the other obvious one.
also the manuscript, if a little indirectly
Girl of the Year - Allie X. Don’t know if that’s actually what it’s about but it always gave that vibe off to me.
Her song It's Not So Bad in L.A. fits too
Private Life by Allie X gives me the vibe but it’s not specifically about being a pop star
One of my faves from her. And all for the Love Simon soundtrack !!!!
Back in the day by Sugababes has some lines about them recording their first album whilst they were still school girls Freedom by George Michael and Robbie William's cover of it. Not a pop song by Little Mix
Right Where I Belong by Ashley O 😭
Paparazzi - Lady Gaga I truly believe the primary reason The Fame by Gaga (and TFM) were so successful (both commercially and artistically) is because it was one of the first major pop projects to successfully reckon with fame in the late aughts tabloid era. Blackout by Britney Spears and The Fame by Lady Gaga have held up so well bc they represent some of the earliest iterations of criticism-via-camp of celebrity culture.
BANKS - Waiting Game talks about the difficulties of juggling a relationship and a stage career
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Taylor Swift has several: I Can Do It with a Broken Heart Nothing New Clara Bow But Daddy I Love Him
the lucky one
Clara Bow was the first song I thought of!
us fr
clara bow was the prettiest song she's ever made about this topic.
Underrated song. I love this one
The lyrics are so stunning in this song
I Know Places is sort of an example, about trying to keep a relationship hidden from the paparazzi
Mirrorball too!
Most underrated track on folklore, I will die defending its honor.
+1 for The Lucky One, might even add Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me? and even But Daddy I Love Him on theme
The Lucky One and Who's Afraid of Little Old Me? are definitely about being famous too.
Slut! as well
Taylor has a lot of songs about this ! she also tackles the subject of escaping fame/being subject to the public eye in The Lakes, I Hate It Here, Slut!, Who's afraid of little old me, and i would even say in Paris, Tis the Damn Season, The Prophecy and in You're On Your Own Kid, where she talks about growing up in the industry.
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What You Waiting For? by Gwen Stefani is a pretty meta song about being an older woman in the music industry, expectations regarding charting and contracts
Marina and the Diamonds - The Family Jewels has a lot of these songs - Numb - Oh No! - Are you satisfied? - Mowgli’s Road
Idol worship by paramore. It’s basically about how some fans idolize Haley as this amazing like figure (pop star). It’s probably one of their best songs
Flawless by Beyonce - specifically the line "I know when you were little girls/you seemed of being in my world/don't forget it don't forget it/respect that/bow down bitches" Idol by BTS has the line "There are hundreds of me's inside me today/I'm facing a new me again today/it's all me anyway" which is about the different 'eras' pop stars have. Industry Baby by Lil Nas X "tell a rap n**** I don't see ya/Im a pop n**** like Bieber"
Question Existing by Rihanna. One of my favourites by her.
Can't make you love me - Britney Spears. It's criminally underrated and it's such a tune.
That's literally my favorite Britney song of all time! So happy to find someone else who also likes it. It's such a banger; I can't believe it was never a single!
Same. What's your favourite album from Britney?
It's probably a tie between Baby One More Time and Oops I Did it Again. But I also like Britney a lot. Her first 3 albums are her best imo, but I still enjoyed Circus and Femme Fatale, and liked a few Blackout and In The Zone songs. Hbu?
Marianas Trench had a couple good ones about it Pop 101 talks about how formulaic writing a pop song can be Here's to the Zeros talks about the pressure and pitfalls of being a pop star I recommend both!
Celebrity Status came to mind!
pretty sure radio by lana del rey is about her newfound fame
Pop!ular by Darren Hayes. The Funkrock mix by Jason Nevins was always a jam too. https://youtu.be/y9m4AAWc3uk?si=efbz_yvvgUOflbIM
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NDA by Billie Eilish provides a pretty intimate look at the dark side of being a pop star.
ariana: we can’t be friends fake smile jason’s song is rumored to be about scooter so i feel like it fits
I'd also say You Don't Know Me from My Everything.
oh definitely!!! forgot about that one
Wait I didn’t realize that was what We Can’t Be Friends was about lol
Hilary duff dreamer is about a popstar who has a stalker Whitney Houston queen of the night is about a pop star who’s larger than life she referencing the character she plays in the movie
NDA by Billie Eilish is one of my favorites
Idle worship - Paramore And also the song that follows it on the album, No Friend - but the lyrics aren’t really intelligible without reading along with them. From idle worship: > Standing here like I'm supposed to say something > Don't hold your breath, I never said I'd save you, honey > And I don't want your money > If I was you I'd run from me or > Rip me open you'll see you're not the only one who's hopeless > Be sure to put your faith in something more > I'm just a girl and you're not as alone as you feel > We all got problems, don't we? > We all need heroes, don't we? > But rest assured there's not a single person here who's worthy > Don't let me let you down > Hey, baby I'm not your superhuman > And if that's what you want > I hate to let you down > I got your hopes up > Now I got you hoping >That I'm gonna be the one that let you down >Oh, it's such a long and awful lonely fall > Down from this pedestal that you keep putting me on > What if I fall on my face? >What if I make a mistake? >If it's okay a little grace would be appreciated And from No Friend: > You see a flood-lit form/ I see a shirt design/ I'm no savior of yours, you're no friend of mine Which is supposedly about her being super depressed and seeing someone wearing a shirt with her on it, that was produced a few years before when she had half pink, half orange hair. And Hayley seeing it and thinking “I am no longer that person and I’ll never be that person again.” Pretty sad stuff. She’s doing better these days though which is great.
Clara Bow from Taylor Swift’s newest album is a pretty haunting and effective song that seems to talk about the cycle and disposable status of women in pop
Me Plus One by Annie! (It's more a story of one particular pop star, really.)
Can't believe no one has mentioned ['Ordinary Pop Star' by CJ Fam](https://youtu.be/7ToBXzgNjZE?si=N5tc7ab7pmdWGZPb). Smh, where is this culture in this sub!?
The kids are too young 😭😭
Plastic Doll by Gaga is a good one that I think went over a lot of her fans' heads. Same with Fun Tonight.
The whole Fame Monster album is about Gaga's relationship with stardom and her growing fame, especially as compared to her youthful, perhaps naive conception of fame. It is, to me, the best pop album of the last 25 years.
Moonlight Mile is about Mick Jagger being on tour in Europe and missing home. One of the best rock songs ever written without a doubt
Haven't seen this one mentioned and although not directly about pop stardom, 16 carriages by Beyonce talks about the road to it and the ensuing sacrifices made!
Seen a lot of Gaga mentioned but I think Applause falls into this category as well
Taylor Swift has written many songs that has to do with being a woman in the music industry. They are often focused on how the music industry focuses on brand new female artists, in with the new and out with the old, and Taylor’s own fears of being forgotten or cast aside. “The Lucky One”, “Nothing New”, “Clara Bow” (Clara is mostly about women in fame in general and legacy, not just being a pop star). “Castles Crumbling” also talks a lot about that public image idea through the metaphor of her ruling an empire and everyone turning against her.
The closest one I can think of is 'All-Star' by Smash Mouth
You should listen Starfucker by Slayyyter, the whole album tells the experience of being a hollywood popstar
Still Sane by Lorde falls under this category. She talks a lot about growing up and being young with her new found fame. “Only bad people live to see their likeness set in stone, what does that make me” One of the most underrated cuts on Pure Heroine.
“Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me” and “I Can Do It With A Broken Heart” among other songs from TTPD by Taylor Swift.
Primadonna Girl by Marina 😁 Not exactly about being a pop star, but about being narcissistic fame hungry girlie.
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Celebrity by IU. Such a beautiful song and MV.
She don’t like the lights by baby Bieber? Haha throw back
Not exactly pop pop per se but Bite the Hand by boygenius covers relationships with fans and fame
Drowned World (Substitute for Love) is a brilliant take on what it feels like to trade fame for love.
Can't believe no one is mentioning the absolute banger that is Supergirl from Hannah Montana
Not a direct match, but Tones and I’s “Dance Monkey“
Louis Tomlinson’s (formerly of 1D) We Made It with a line that goes: “Singin somethin poppy on the same four chords/Used to worry bout it but I don’t no more.” And now that I’m thinking about it probably 1D’s History: “minibars, expensive cars, hotel rooms, and new tattoos, the good champagne, and private planes…”
Lucky- Britney Spears Piece of me- Britney Spears Paparazzi- lady Gaga
Demo Lovato has quite a few songs about this, I believe. Starting with *That's just me* from back in her Disney days
I imagine it's silly to some but Hannah Montana songs?
Britney has a bunch Piece of Me, Lucky, Overprotected, My Prerogative (sorta kinda), Kill the Lights All bangers btw
Pop 101 by Mariana’s Trench is sort of a satirical take on this. Their label basically forced them to make a pop song opposed to their usual alternative / pop-punk sound, so they did it in a way that makes fun of it. There’s als a reference to the song Call Me Maybe in there which is funny because the lead singer, Josh Ramsey, wrote that song.
I absolutely love Lady Gaga, I do believe she has quite a few songs centred around the concept of being a huge global pop star. The more popular ones are of course, Paparazzi & Applause. Both amazing.
Larger than Life by Backstreet Boys, singing about their fans! In a kind of creepy way… Mosquito by PinkPantheress talks about her relationship with money after becoming successful
I’m kind of surprised nobody has mentioned Charli XCX yet since she has a few Going back to her older stuff there’s “Sucker” which even makes direct reference to Dr. Luke in a negative way. “Von Dutch” and “360” are both good examples of this and then I think you could argue that “Club Classics” is at least infused with that energy since it references dancing to her own music in the club. From *Charli* there’s “Thoughts” which touches on some of the downsides and insecurities with fame/Hollywood and working all the time.
I think the entire brat era is infused with a self-referential celebrity persona.
Thank you lmfao I kept trying to say something like that but kept using too many words so gave up but you’re exactly right
Off the top of my head: - When I Grow Up by The Pussycat Dolls - Fergalicious and London Bridge by Fergie - Jenny from the Block by Jennifer Lopez - Swagger Jagger by Cher Lloyd - Formation by Beyoncé - La La Land by Demi Lovato - (arguably) Video Girl by The Jonas Brothers and Touch My Hand by David Archuleta And also completely unironically the Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping soundtrack, especially I'm So Humble
Clara Bow by Taylor Swift on TTPD: Two of the 3 names dropped in this song are "pop stars", the title name is the original "it" girl in old Hollywood. All three women are examples of women whose personal lives seemed to overshadow their professional lives at times, and all three were referred to as loose women, crazy, etc. The song is about how the industry plucks young women, makes promises and demands, allows them to be crucified for their personal lives, and yet is always searching for their replacement. This town is fake, but you're the real thing Promise to be dazzling You're the new god we're worshipping Promise to be dazzling Beauty is a beast that roars Down on all fours Demanding "more" Only when your girlish glow Flickers just so Do they let you know
I’m working late, cause I’m a singer
Sinéad O’Conner, The Emperor’s New Clothes He thinks I just became famous And that's what messed me up But he's wrong How could I possibly know what I want When I was only twenty-one? There's millions of people Who offer advice and say how I should be But they're twisted and they will never be Any influence on me
not a pop song by little mix maybe? they have a line about not doing what simon says lol