Superstar (feat. Matthew Santos) by Lupe Fiasco Lyrics Meaning – Unveiling the Brilliance Behind the Glitz

You can view the lyrics, alternate interprations and sheet music for Lupe Fiasco's Superstar (feat. Matthew Santos) at Lyrics.org.

Lyrics

[Chorus – Matthew Santos]
If you are what they say you are – a superstar
Then have no fear, the camera’s here
And the microphones and they wanna know
If you are that they say you are – a superstar
Then have no fear, the crowd is here
And the lights are on and they want a show

[Verse One – Lupe Fiasco]
A fresh cool young Lu
Trying to cash his microphone check two one two
Want to believe my own hype but it’s too untrue
The world brought me to my knees what have you brung you?
Did you improve on the design? Did you do something new?
Well you’re name ain’t on the guest list, who brung you?
You, the more famous person you come through
And the sexy lady next to you, you come too
And then it hit me standing outside of Heaven waitin’ for God to come and get me
I’m too uncouth, unschool’d to the rules and too gum shoe
Too much of a newcomer and too uncool
Like Shadow and Lavelle I battle with it well
Though I need a holiday like lady who sung blue
Go back what ever you did you undo
Heavy as Heaven, the devil on my two tons too

[Chorus – Matthew Santos]
If you are what they say you are – a superstar
Then have no fear, the camera’s here
And the microphones and they wanna know

[Verse Two – Lupe Fiasco]
And you better wear your shades
The spotlights here can burn holes through the stage
Down through the basement past the Indian graves where the dinosaurs laid
And out through China nearly misses air liners
Magnified times five this is pointed at the rhymer
Ricochets off the moon and sets the forest ablaze
Now that’s important to say ’cause even with all of that most of us don’t want it to fade
We want it to braid meaning we want it to grow meaning we want it to stay
Like the governor called and he told him to wait
Un-strap him from the chair and put him back in his cage
The audience ain’t fazed and they ain’t gone clap and they ain’t gone praise
They want everything back that they paid ’cause they been waiting since ten to see the lights get dim

[Chorus – Matthew Santos]
If you are that they say you are – a superstar
Then have no fear, the crowd is here
And the lights are on and they want a show

[Verse Three – Lupe Fiasco]
So chauffeur chauffeur come and take me away
‘Cause I’ve been standing in this line for like five whole days
Me and security ain’t getting along and when I got to the front they told me all of the tickets were gone
So just take me home where the mood is mellow and the roses are thrown, M&M’s are yellow
And the light bulbs around my mirror don’t flicker everybody gets a nice autograph picture
One for you and one for your sister
Who had to work tonight but is an avid listener
Every songs a favorite song and mics don’t feedback
All the reviewers say you need to go and see that
And everybody claps ’cause everybody is pleased
Then they all take the stage and start performing for me

[Chorus – Matthew Santos]
If you are what they say you are – a superstar
Then have no fear, the camera’s here
And the microphones and they wanna know
If you are that they say you are – a superstar
Then have no fear, the crowd is here
And the lights are on and they want a show

When Lupe Fiasco released ‘Superstar’, featuring the hauntingly evocative vocals of Matthew Santos, he not only dropped a track that would become an anthem of aspiration, but he also painted a narrative far more complex than its infectious hook suggests. On the surface, the song is a chant for the confident and the bold, but diving deeper into the lyrics reveals a tale of introspection, vulnerability, and the relentless glare of fame.

Beneath its veneer of glamour, ‘Superstar’ explores the dichotomy of public adoration and the personal sacrifices it demands. It’s a lyrical journey into the soul of an artist navigating the perilous heights of stardom, questioning the very nature of fame, success, and artistic integrity. Let’s wander through this lyrical masterpiece, pulling back the layers to discover what truly makes a ‘Superstar’.

The Weight of Public Expectation: A Verse-by-Verse Dissection

In the first verse, Fiasco introduces himself as ‘a fresh cool young Lu’, grappling with the balance between buying into his own myth and remaining grounded in the unforgiving tide of the music industry. There’s a palpable tension between wanting to succeed and staying true to his roots; his lines are filled with self-doubt and a yearning to belong without selling out.

The interrogation continues as he further reflects on his originality, wondering if he’s done enough to innovate within the rap game, an industry often rife with imitators. The imagery of standing outside heaven waiting not so much for spiritual redemption, but for the divine nod of critical acclaim, sets a tone of yearning that persists throughout the song.

Decoding the Hidden Meanings: ‘Superstar’ as an Allegory for Fame

‘Superstar’ delves into the paradox of public life where the allure of the spotlight comes with an undercurrent of something more ominous. In the second verse, the lyrics paint a picture of celebrity that shines so bright it’s destructive, hinting at the internal toll fame takes on artists.

Fiasco’s words cleverly juxtapose the ancient past and the fleeting nature of fame—it shines, it burns, it is epic and yet it’s not enough to simply exist in the public eye. The spotlight is both a blessing and a curse, a reminder that public acclaim can often feel hollow and its absence even more so.

Basking in the Afterglow: The Allure of the Rose-Tinted Stage

The third verse shifts the scene to the comfort of familiarity ‘where the roses are thrown’, suggesting a longing for the unconditional acceptance that comes away from the public eye. Yet even as Fiasco craves the solace of home, there’s a poignant recognition that he is the superstar for others.

It’s a nod to the cyclic nature of performance: the artist performs for the fans, while the fans, in their adoration, perform for the artist. The setting is intimate and warm, devoid of the glaring lights and demanding crowds, an idealized version of fame where the artist is always the adored protagonist.

The Hunger Behind the Hook: Dissecting the Chorus’ Magnetic Pull

Matthew Santos’ chorus resonates as both an affirmation and a challenge, encapsulating the essence of the entire track. ‘If you are what you say you are, a superstar, then have no fear,’ it beckons, enticingly suggesting that true stars should stand fearless in the intense scrutiny and the expectation of greatness.

Yet even as it reassures, the chorus also echoes with the unspoken tension of proving oneself worthy of the title. It’s a potent hook that offers a glimpse into the internal struggle artists endure—balancing self-belief with the pressure to meet the world’s grandiose expectations.

Memorable Lines: Glimpses into the Psyche of a ‘Superstar’

‘The world brought me to my knees, what have you brung you?’ Lupe Fiasco examines the common ground of humanity, dismantling the perceived gap between the idolized and the idolater. It’s a moment of profound vulnerability that questions the sacrifice at the altar of fame; a line that resonates as a challenging measure of personal growth or decay.

Another thought-provoking line, ‘We want it to braid, meaning we want it to grow, meaning we want it to stay,’ intricately captures the artist’s longing for permanence in an industry defined by transience. The song is saturated with such lines, each a poignant reminder that beneath the veneer of glitz lies a complex negotiation with the self and the search for lasting legacy.