Stargazer (Rainbow song)

"Stargazer" is the fifth track from British rock band Rainbow's 1976 album Rising. It is an epic song narrating the story of a wizard whose attempt to fly by constructing a tower to the stars led to the enslavement of vast numbers of people. "Stargazer" is notable for its musical qualities as well, with the guitar and drum solos cited as important examples of the qualities of guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, singer Ronnie James Dio, and drummer Cozy Powell.

"Stargazer"
Song by Rainbow
from the album Rising
Released17 May 1976
RecordedFebruary 1976
Genre
Length8:26
LabelPolydor/Oyster
Songwriter(s)Ritchie Blackmore
Ronnie James Dio
Producer(s)Martin Birch

Description

The long, epic track with symphonic influences starts with a short drum solo by Cozy Powell, a "great drumming moment"[2] frequently cited as an example of his skills.[3][4] It features the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra, a Vako Orchestron, and what Ritchie Blackmore called "a string thing all playing this half-Turkish Scale".[5] Blackmore's solo, after the second verse, is in B Phrygian dominant scale, and is cited as "one of his best".[6]

The song has been called a "morality tale",[7] and its lyrics are written from the standpoint of a "slave in Egyptian times", according to lyricist Ronnie James Dio. They relate the story of the Wizard, an astronomer who becomes "obsessed with the idea of flying" and enslaves a vast army of people to build him a tower from which he can take off and fly.[5]:70 The people hope for the day when their misery comes to an end, building the tower in harsh conditions ("In the heat and rain, with whips and chains; /just to see him fly, too many died"). In the end, the wizard climbs to the top of the tower but, instead of flying, falls down and dies: "no sound as he falls instead of rising. / Time standing still, then there's blood on the sand". The next song, "A Light in the Black", continues the story of the people who have lost all purpose after the Wizard's death "until they see the Light in the Dark", according to Dio.[5]

Critical legacy

AllMusic[8] and MusicHound[9] describe the song as one of Rainbow's classics, AllMusic calling it a "bombastic, strings-enriched epic".[8] Vincent DeMasi, transcribing part of Blackmore's solo as an example of his taste for "classical drama" with a "Middle Eastern flavor", calls the song an "operatic blockbuster".[10] Jeff Perkins argues that the "incredible epic", one of the band's highlights, derives its strength from Blackmore's guitar playing, Dio's lyrics and vocals, and Powell's drumming.[5]:23–24 Andy DiGelsomina, composer for the neo-operatic metal project Lyraka, argued for both Wagnerian and existentialist interpretations of the lyrics. A poll held by Gibson ranked the song the 17th greatest heavy metal song of all time.[11]

Alternate versions

"Stargazer (Rough Mix)", an early mix from the 2011 Deluxe Edition of Rising, starts with a keyboard intro played by Tony Carey and has a length of 9:08.

Personnel

with:

References
  1. High Fidelity News and Record Review. Link House Publications. 2006. p. 162. UK hard-rock outfit Rainbow went all metaphysical with the world's first ever power-metal record, 'Stargazer'.
  2. Litten, Robert. Famous DRUM FILLS, Licks & Solos!. www.DrumsTheWord.com. p. 372.
  3. The Drummer: 100 Years of Rhythmic Power and Invention. Modern Drummer. 2010. p. 112. ISBN 9781476855899.
  4. Elflein, Dietmar (2010). Schwermetallanalysen: die musikalische Sprache des Heavy Metal. transcript Verlag. p. 129. ISBN 9783837615760.
  5. Perkins, Jeff. Rainbow - Uncensored on the Record. Coda Books. ISBN 9781908538574.
  6. Maloof, Rich; Prown, Pete (2006). Shred!: The Ultimate Guide to Warp-speed Guitar. Backbeat Books. pp. 32–33. ISBN 9780879308773.
  7. Earl, Benjamin (2013). "Metal Goes 'Pop': The Explosion of Heavy Metal into the Mainstream". In Bayer, Gerd (ed.). Heavy Metal Music in Britain. Ashgate. p. 56. ISBN 9781409493853.
  8. Woodstra, Chris; Bush, John; Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (2007). All Music Guide Required Listening: Classic Rock. Backbeat Books. p. 171. ISBN 9780879309176.
  9. Graff, Gary (1996). MusicHound rock: the essential album guide. Visible Ink Press. ISBN 9780787610371.
  10. Mike Molenda, ed. (2007). The Guitar Player Book: 40 Years of Interviews, Gear, and Lessons from the World's Most Celebrated Guitar Magazine. Backbeat Books. p. 163. ISBN 9780879307820.
  11. "Full Top 50 Metal Songs List". Archived from the original on 28 October 2016. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
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