That Gleam in Your Eye: The Glamorous, Self-Aware Anthem of Stardom
An ode to the intoxicating, often cynical, dream machine of the music industry.
There are certain songs, certain moments in music history, that perfectly capture the zeitgeist of their era while also, quite unexpectedly, reflecting the complex career of the artist who created them. “Gonna Make You A Star” by the quintessential 70s teen idol, David Essex, is one such track. Released in the glorious, glitter-strewn heyday of glam rock on September 27, 1974, this single didn’t just climb the charts—it conquered them. It became Essex’s first UK Number One, reigning supreme atop the UK Singles Chart for three glorious weeks in November of that year, a massive feat in an era of ferocious pop competition. For a generation caught between the grit of rock and roll and the shine of pure pop, this song was an irresistible, swaggering siren call. It was the lead track from his second studio album, the self-titled ‘David Essex’, which itself soared to a peak position of Number 2 on the UK Albums Chart that same year, cementing his superstar status.
The song’s infectious, synth-laden pop-rock sound, penned by David Essex himself and expertly produced by Jeff Wayne (who would later collaborate with Essex on the iconic ‘War of the Worlds’ concept album), was pure 1970s alchemy. It was a perfect blend of the glam rock sensibility that was all the rage and the accessible, charming pop melody that made Essex so beloved. The prominent use of the synthesizer gave it a distinctly modern, slightly space-age feel, a hallmark of the era’s musical experimentation. Yet, the song is far more than just a catchy hit; its meaning is deeply intertwined with Essex’s own unique journey through the very star-making machinery he sings about.
The track is an amusingly self-aware, and somewhat cynical, commentary on the music business, particularly the manufactured nature of fame. It’s sung from the perspective of someone who sees the potential in an aspirant—or perhaps a critique of an existing star being remolded—offering a promise of celebrity. The opening lines, “Oh, is he more, too much more than a pretty face? It’s so strange the way you talk, it’s a disgrace,” immediately set an irreverent, mocking tone directed at the vapid image-making of the rock media. It’s almost as if Essex is winking at his audience, letting them in on the joke of his own teen idol status, a persona that had been built on his earlier film roles in ‘That’ll Be The Day’ and its sequel, ‘Stardust’—films that themselves explored the dream and reality of pop stardom.
The recurring, powerful declaration—“I don’t care how cold you are, I’m coming home soon, I’m gonna make you a star, yeah”—carries a fascinating double meaning. On the surface, it’s a seductive, almost manipulative, boast of a manager or Svengali-like figure promising fame and fortune. But given Essex’s own experience, having started his career as an East End lad who found success in musical theatre before exploding onto the rock scene with the haunting “Rock On”, it feels deeply personal. It reflects his own cocksure ambition and the sheer force of will it took to transcend his humble beginnings and become an icon. The song is a theatrical, high-stakes drama compressed into three minutes and forty-seven seconds, capturing the glamour, the artifice, and the sheer intoxicating power of the 1970s pop world. Listening to it now, it doesn’t just transport you to the dance floor; it pulls back the curtain on the whole show.