"Superstar" is a song written by Mich Hansen, Joe Belmaati, and Remee and performed by Danish pop singer Christine Milton. It was released in January 2003 as the lead single from Milton's debut studio album, Friday (2004), and spent seven weeks at number one on the Danish Singles Chart. The song was later covered to international success by British singer Jamelia.
Background and writing According to a HitQuarters interview with co-writer and producer Cutfather, the song was initially inspired by Liberty X's "Just a Little" (2002), "I liked that song and wanted to do something, not similar, but something in that vibe", he said."Interview With Mich 'Cutfather' Hansen", HitQuarters, 2 November 2009. Originally written for Swedish singer Robyn,,B.T., 16 June 2004. Cutfather also considered giving the song to Australian singer Kylie Minogue.,DR, 26 December 2023.
Track listings CD single "Superstar" – 3:34 "Superstar" (Mestarr radio edit) – 3:38
Maxi-CD single and download single "Superstar" – 3:33 "Superstar" (Mestarr radio edit) – 3:36 "Superstar" (Mestarr club mix) – 6:55 "Superstar" (instrumental) – 3:33
Personnel Personnel are lifted from the CD single liner notes. Mich Hansen – writing Joe Belmaati – writing Remee – writing, co-production Cutfather & Joe – production
Charts Chart (2003–2004)Peakposition
Certifications
Jamelia version
"Superstar" was covered by British R&B singer Jamelia for her second studio album, Thank You. It was released as the album's second single on 15 September 2003 through Parlophone. The song entered the UK Singles Chart at number eight, but as airplay, video play and the general awareness of the track increased, the track climbed to a peak of number three the following month. "Superstar" became the UK's 26th-biggest-selling single of 2003 and has sold 400,000 copies there as of 2019. The single has been certified platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), spending 20 weeks on the UK chart.
"Superstar" also saw worldwide chart success, peaking at number one in Australia, the Czech Republic, New Zealand and Poland, as well as attaining top-10 positions in 13 other countries. The song earned the songwriters an Ivor Novello Award for "Most Performed Work", being the most performed song in the United Kingdom in 2003. According to the Performing Right Society, "Superstar" was the fourth most popular song of the 2000s (decade) in the UK based on the amount of plays and performances.
Music video The music video for "Superstar" was directed by Dominic Leung. It was shot in Birmingham.
Track listings UK CD1 "Superstar" "Superstar" "Ayo Superstar" "Superstar"
UK CD2 and European CD single "Superstar" "Bounce"
UK 12-inch single A1. "Ayo Superstar" A2. "Superstar" B1. "Superstar" B2. "Superstar"
Australasian CD single "Superstar" – 3:34 "Ayo Superstar" – 3:51 "Superstar" – 4:12 "Superstar"
Credits and personnel Credits are lifted from the Thank You album booklet.
Studios Recorded at Cutfather & Joe Studios (Copenhagen, Denmark) Mixed at White Room (Copenhagen, Denmark)
Personnel Remee – writing, rap Mich Hansen – writing, percussion Joe Belmaati – writing, guitar, keys, programming, recording Cutfather & Joe – production, mixing Mads Nilsson – mixing
Charts
Weekly charts Chart (2003–2004)PeakpositionCzech Republic (IFPI)1Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)2Greece (IFPI)6Poland (Polish Airplay Chart)1Romania (Romanian Top 100)12 South Korea (Hanteo)㈜한터정보시스템 ▒ HANTEO.com ▒6
Year-end charts Chart (2003)PositionUK Singles (OCC)26 Chart (2004)PositionAustralia (ARIA)6Australian Urban (ARIA)2Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)17Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)20Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)30France (SNEP)20Germany (Media Control GfK)23Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)39Italy (FIMI)9Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)5Netherlands (Single Top 100)16New Zealand (RIANZ)5Sweden (Hitlistan)56Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)6
Certifications
Release history RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)United Kingdom15 September 2003ParlophoneAustralia12 January 2004CD
Other versions In 2004, Israeli singer Roni Duani released a Hebrew version of the song as a single from her 2004 debut album Olam Shalem Bachutz.
In January 2017, Polish Mandee and Maria Mathea released a new version of the song.MANDEE – Superstar ft. Maria Mathea
In March 2020, a cover of the song was released by British girl group Four of Diamonds and Dutch DJ/producer Joe Stone.
References