Released: 2024
“Starburster” by Fontaines D.C. is a whirlwind of imagery and emotions that captures the essence of seeking thrill, understanding life’s darker moments, and the quest for personal connections amidst it all. It’s a raw, gritty look at life through the lens of someone who’s craving more, be it through love, danger, or self-discovery. The lyrics are a mix of colloquial slang and poetic images that create a vivid, if somewhat chaotic, picture.
The opening lines, “It may feel bad, It may feel bad,” set the tone for a song that delves into the complexity of our desires and actions, even when they lead us into trouble. When the singer talks about wanting to “see you alone, I wanna sharp the stone, I wanna bounce the bone,” he’s speaking about the intense hunger for intimate connection, honing in on someone or something with fierce determination, and stirring up the status quo. This longing to mess with the order of things, to challenge and be challenged, is a theme that runs deep.
The reference to wanting to “lay the deville, the whole crew on the sill, I want the preacher and pill, I wanna bless with it,” suggests a desire to unite the sacred with the profane, the crew with the solitary preacher, in an attempt to find blessing or meaning in what many may see as a chaotic or sinful life. This blending of worlds and seeking meaning where others might not find any is a stark reflection of trying to make sense of life’s contradictions.
The chorus, with its repetition of “I’m gon’ hit your business if it’s momentary blissness,” conveys a determination to seize fleeting moments of joy, no matter how transient or impermanent they may be. This punchy line embodies the drive to pursue happiness in the face of uncertainty, a determination to chase those brief instances of bliss amidst life’s chaos.
Verse sections that talk about talking with a gag, striking with the SAG (Screen Actors Guild, possibly alluding to playing a role or dealing with appearances), or wanting to “live the arc,” speak to a deeper commentary on how we navigate our narratives and identities in a world that’s always watching, always judging. The song then dips into introspection with lines like “My God given insanity, it depends on it,” suggesting that the speaker’s unique perspective or ‘insanity’ is both a gift and a curse, depending on how it’s viewed or leveraged.
Finally, the imagery of being like “the pig on the Chinese calendar,” with a shadow like a “.58 Caliber,” and moving “like a new Salamander,” mixes elements of fate, danger, and rebirth. This ties back to the song’s core themes of embracing life’s unpredictability, the quest for meaning, and the potential for transformation, however challenging or obscure the path may be.
In essence, “Starburster” by Fontaines D.C. is a complex exploration of longing, rebellion, and the search for authenticity in a world full of contradictions. It challenges listeners to find their own path to “blissness,” no matter how fleeting, and to embrace the multifaceted nature of their desires and identities.
