| "Moviestar" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
&sq=Envato&lang=en&file=File:Harpo_Movistar_Se.jpg) | ||||
| Single by Harpo | ||||
| from the album Moviestar | ||||
| B-side |
| |||
| Released | 18 July 1975 | |||
| Recorded | 27 February 1975 | |||
| Studio | EMI (Skärmarbrink, Sweden) | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Label | ||||
| Songwriter(s) | Harpo | |||
| Producer(s) | Bengt Palmers | |||
| Harpo singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Moviestar" (audio) on YouTube | ||||
"Moviestar" (also released as "Movie Star") is a song written and recorded by Swedish singer-songwriter Harpo. Following two hit singles on Tio i Topp, Harpo wrote the song while sitting in his window, dedicating it to a friend of his that had aspirations of becoming an actor. "Moviestar" tells the story of an individual who believes they are an A-list actor in the league of Steve McQueen and James Dean, when instead it is revealed that they have only acted in a television advertisement. It makes multiple references to popular culture, including movie producer Ingmar Bergman.
When presented with the song, producer Bengt Palmers rejected it as he felt he could not properly produce the record. After Sveriges Television started shooting a documentary about Harpo, the song was resurrected and recorded in front of television cameras in February 1975. Anni-Frid Lyngstad from ABBA sings backing vocals on the song due to previous connections to Harpo.
The song was first released as a single on 18 July 1975 in the United Kingdom, backed by "Teddy Love". It initially became a hit in continental Europe, charting in the Netherlands during August of that year. It made its way across Europe to Germany, and eventually Scandinavia, reaching number one in all territories before also landing on the UK Singles Chart the following year. The single was well-received upon release, with many critics praising the production of Palmers. It has sold over one million copies worldwide and has become Harpo's signature song.