Stardust - Zayn, Willie, and Ringo
Both these albums contain the song Stardust. "Stardust" is a 1927 song composed by Hoagy Carmichael, with lyrics later added by Mitchell Parish. It has been recorded as an instrumental or vocal track over 1,500 times, and has been translated into over 40 languages.
Originally written as a jazz instrumental, however when Carmichael began working for Mills Music in 1928, they assigned Mitchell Parish to write lyrics for the song. Don Redman was the first to play the song, and it became a regular song at the Cotton Club NYC nightclub.
It's interesting to note that during this time segregation was in full effect. People of Color were not allowed to attend performances as patrons of the Cotton Night Club, however, they could perform there. This nightclub quickly became a regular haunt for celebrities of the time.
Carmichael went on to say that he wrote the music for Stardust during the end of his love affair with Kathryn Moore, who would go on to marry Art Baker, a trumpet player in Carmichael's group Carmichael's Collegians.
This song is considered part of the Great American Songbook. The original composition being inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1995.
The reason this song becomes important is because of the Willie Nelson references that Zayn has used in his roll out of his latest album Room Under the Stairs.
March 6, 2024 Zayn began the roll out and introduction of Room Under the Stairs. Part of this rollout consisted of photographs. One of the photographs was notably, Zayn sitting at a drum set wearing a Willie Nelson 4th of July T-Shirt.
In many interviews, including Nylon Magazine, Zayn mentions the influence Willie Nelson had on this album.
That's when I discovered that Willi also recorded a song with the same name, Stardust. It was after listening to Ringo's version of the same song that I found the sonic references.
Why does any of this matter...
Zayn is leaning into this reference indirectly.
When looking at the Beatles history, I discovered a couple of things.
John Lennon announced his intention to leave the Beatles in 1969. Ringo Starr was the first to release a solo album in March of 1970, and McCartney released his own album on April 27, 1970. McCartney actually arranged Ringo's version of Stardust on his album Sentimental Journey. There was zero animosity between McCartney and Starr.
Leaning into how much Harry has not only visually assimilated himself to Paul McCartney in his Fine Line era, but also acknowledged the influence of Paul McCartney solo music in the writing of that album, leads me down the road of there was no animosity between him and Zayn. I don't believe that use of Ringo Starr's name on Saturday Night Live instead of Zayn's name was a slam or a dig.
