“Stargirl Interlude” is a song by the Canadian singer The Weeknd, featuring American singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey. Dubbed as an “interlude,” the track is part of The Weeknd’s third studio album, Starboy (2016).
The lyrics delve into a passionate and intense sexual encounter. As the title suggests, it explores the character of “Stargirl.” On the surface, it’s about a couple enjoying sexual pleasure, but on a deeper level, it makes us question what it means to shine as a woman and whether it needs any recognition from a man.
In this article, we will analyze the meaning behind the lyrics, breaking them down verse by verse.
Table of Contents
Inspiration Behind “Stargirl Interlude”
“Stargirl Interlude” is a brief ballad, and to delve into its deeper meaning, I’ve researched the song’s background.
The title directly nods to the album’s main character, Starboy, with the lyrics honing in on a female counterpart named Stargirl.
In an interview on Beats 1 Radio, The Weeknd discussed his collaboration with Lana and their songwriting dynamic:
“I was making my music, and it felt like Lana Del Rey’s lyrics and my lyrics were talking to each other sometimes. She’s one of my closest friends in the industry.”
On the day Starboy was released, Del Rey shared a video on Instagram. In the video, we can see her singing and dancing along to the song.
“Stargirl Interlude” Lyrics Meaning
[Verse: Lana Del Rey]
I had a vision
A vision of my nails in the kitchen
Scratchin’ counter tops, I was screamin’
My back arched like a cat
My position couldn’t stop, you were hittin’
And I shouldn’t cry, but I love it, starboy
And I shouldn’t cry, but I love it (I love it), starboy
And I shouldn’t cry, but I love it, starboy
And I shouldn’t cry, but I love it, starboy
In the first verse, Lana Del Rey describes a daydream or a vivid mental image. At first glance, it seems like she’s upset, scratching her nails on the kitchen countertops, possibly due to something her partner did. She sings, “I had a vision/A vision of my nails in the kitchen/Scratchin’ countertops, I was screamin’.”
But in the next lines, “My back arched like a cat,” it becomes clear there’s no conflict with her partner; instead, they’re having sex in the kitchen. The comparison of her posture to a cat adds a touch of humor, playing on the idea of women being like cats that men try to tame. Also, it means she’s being approached from behind.
Lana goes on to sing, “My position couldn’t stop, you were hittin’/And I shouldn’t cry, but I love it, starboy,” using different pitches that might imitate the sounds of a woman in the midst of sexual pleasure with her partner.
It’s clear she’s savoring the experience and maintaining her position. The kitchen setting hints at a mix of excitement and concern that neighbors might overhear what they’re doing. This explains why she “couldn’t cry” but seems unable to resist the pleasure.
Here, she’s referring to her man as “starboy,” making herself the “stargirl.”
[Outro: The Weeknd]
I just wanna see you shine ’cause I know you are a stargirl
I just wanna see you shine ’cause I know you are a stargirl
I just wanna see you shine ’cause I know you are a stargirl
I just wanna see you shine ’cause I know you are a stargirl
The outro by The Weeknd repeats the line, “I just wanna see you shine ’cause I know you are a stargirl.” So, what’s the meaning behind this? In the lyrics, his “stargirl” seems to be solely reveling in sexual pleasure.
Could it be suggesting that the more his “stargirl” enjoys being approached from behind, the more “shiny” she becomes, akin to a “star”? It appears to imply that a woman can only shine brightly, like a star, when she receives love from her man.
“Stargirl Interlude” Deeper Meaning
I’m not particularly into feminism or lyrics about intimate activities, but I find the song “Stargirl Interlude” raising a couple of intriguing points.
Let’s start with the concept of a star. What does it mean to be a star? It’s about brightness, right? In reality, a star can shine on its own, but in the starboy and stargirl story, it seems like the stargirl’s light comes from the starboy. The Weeknd sings about making his girl brighter during intimacy. This portrayal seems to go against feminist ideals. The Weeknd is pretty direct in suggesting that girls can only shine with him.
Now, let’s consider the perspective of the “stargirl” herself. How does it feel to be with a dominant man who sees himself as her sole source of light? From their depicted sexual activities, it appears the “stargirl” enjoys a submissive role. Does this go against the idea of women’s independence? Well, not necessarily. Many women still value men with high social status, power, and wealth even in today’s society. It’s often because women seek security, and in that security, their lives seem to shine.
Jacob Carter is a lyricist. He created the lyrics writing course to teach people how to analyze and write lyrics. He graduated from the University of Oxford with a degree in English Literature, so he’s skilled at playing with words.
He’s also an amateur guitarist, which means he knows music and melody very well. With this background, he’s a great lyricist you can rely on to learn writing lyrics.