Rockstar (Nickelback song)
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| "Rockstar" | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
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| Single by Nickelback | ||
| from the album All the Right Reasons | ||
| Released | August 2006 | |
| Format | Airplay Digital download |
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| Recorded | April 2005 in Dallas, Texas | |
| Genre | Alternative rock | |
| Length | 4:15 | |
| Label | Roadrunner | |
| Writer(s) | Chad Kroeger, Nickelback |
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| Chart positions | ||
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| Nickelback singles chronology | ||
| "Far Away" (2006) |
"Rockstar" (2006) |
"If Everyone Cared" (2006) |
"Rockstar" is an alternative rock song by the Canadian rock band Nickelback from their 2005 fifth studio album All the Right Reasons. It was released as the fifth single off the album in the U.S., around the same time as the fourth single "Far Away". Although "Far Away" has been far more successful on the U.S. Hot 100 and U.S. Pop charts, "Rockstar" has instead found moderate success on the rock charts. So far it has peaked at #4 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, and #37 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart. It has recently entered the Billboard Hot 100, so far peaking at #54. For unknown reasons, a music video for it was never made. Some feel the lack of a video to promote the song to a wider audience hindered the song's ability to chart high. Coupled with the fact that it was released in the U.S. so close together with "Far Away," which made it very hard for both songs to be successful. Still the song can be considered a minor hit.
The song details the stereotype that most people have about the life of a rockstar. The lead singer, Chad Kroeger, assumes the role of a person wanting to get to that life.
Mysterious spoken-word vocals between each verse are provided by the Reverend Billy F. Gibbons of ZZ Top. Gibbons assumes the role of the rock star who has already made it, and he asks some challenging questions to the would-be newcomer. Another theory is that the low voice symbolizes the voice of the devil, and Kroeger is selling his soul to become famous. This is what "trading his life for fortune and fame" is referring to.
[edit] Charts
| Chart | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canadian BDS Airplay Chart | 13 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 54 |
| U.S. Billboard Pop 100 | 48 |
| U.S. Billboard Modern Rock Tracks | 37 |
| U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks | 4 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Top 40 | 34 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Digital Songs | 49 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Ringtones | 3 |
- "Rockstar" has sold 363,279 downloads in the U.S. as of April 14, 2007.[citation needed]
[edit] References
The song makes several references to pop culture including the main character of the song wanting a house on MTV Cribs, which is ironic because Chad Kroeger, the band's frontman, appeared on an episode. Also various Playboy references are made, along with references to Anorexia, for example a part of the lyrics go "We'll all stay skinny, cause we just won't eat, Elvis, and Pez Dispensers.
