☝️ Key Points
- The song lyrics are about the desire for fame and the consequences associated with it.
- It describes people's reaction towards the singer when he becomes famous.
- It addresses the loneliness and emptiness that can come with fame.
- It emphasizes that fame has become the singer's only identity.
Interpretation
The lyrics of the song 'Celebrity' by
Barenaked Ladies are about the desire to be famous and the consequences that come with it. The singer longs to be a hero, like Phil Esposito or the Kennedys. He wants to be famous, be in the spotlight, and be imitated and overestimated by others. But he also realizes that all of that is not so important.
The lyrics describe how people will react to the singer when he becomes famous. The masses will cheer and the girls will scream. There will be a lot of excitement when he shows up. He will become a celebrity and that's all people will see in him.
The singer also describes the loneliness that comes with his fame. He will ride in a limousine and not look out the window. He will be able to go anywhere and not know anyone. Yet, he still feels a void that consumes him.
The lyrics emphasize that what is left of him is his fame. He leaves his heart and his art for the party and tries to behave. He is happy to have become a celebrity, but he also realizes that he can disappear in the crowd and that his fame has become his only identity.
Overall, the lyrics of the song describe the ambivalence of fame and how it can affect identity and personal happiness. It shows that fame is not everything and that it can also bring loneliness and emptiness.