Starstruck

About

Starstruck appears on Reality Killed The Video Star, released in November 2009. It was not issued as a single but serves as one of the album’s most upbeat and rhythm-driven tracks. Positioned after the reflective middle section, it reintroduces a brighter, dance-oriented energy reminiscent of Williams’s 2006 work on Rudebox, though with Trevor Horn’s more polished production.

The song was written by Robbie Williams with Kelvin Andrews, Danny Spencer, Richard Scott and Scott Ralph, and produced by Trevor Horn. It was recorded at Sarm Studios in London. Built around a steady electronic beat, guitar hooks and layered backing vocals, Starstruck fuses pop and disco influences with a sleek studio finish typical of Horn’s approach.

Lyrically, the track reflects on fame and admiration, exploring the fascination and distortion that accompany celebrity culture. Its chorus, built around the repeated title phrase, conveys both irony and affection. The theme aligns with the album’s exploration of identity and public perception, contrasting the confessional tone of the surrounding songs with playful detachment.

“It’s one of the fun ones. It’s about the shiny stuff, the surface, and how easy it is to get lost in it.”Robbie Williams

Although Starstruck did not chart or feature in Williams’s live setlists, critics recognised it as a key example of the album’s stylistic range. Its combination of electronic and pop elements highlighted the balance Trevor Horn achieved between Williams’s humour and introspection, contributing to the album’s sense of contrast and reinvention.