Rock And Roll Star (part. Fito Paez)

Charly García's song 'Rock And Roll Star,' featuring Fito Paez, offers a satirical take on the journey to becoming a rock star. The lyrics provide a step-by-step guide filled with irony and cynicism, highlighting the superficial aspects of the music industry. García, a legendary figure in Argentine rock, uses his platform to critique the commercialization and commodification of music, suggesting that talent and authenticity are often secondary to image and marketability.

The song begins with practical advice for aspiring rock stars: rent an electric guitar, take a month to learn how to play, and soon you'll be on TV with girls screaming for you. This oversimplified path to fame mocks the idea that becoming a rock star is easy and accessible to anyone willing to follow a formula. García's tone is both humorous and critical, pointing out the absurdity of the industry's focus on appearance and quick success.

As the song progresses, García delves deeper into the darker side of the music business. He advises finding a manager who will exploit you, selling your soul to a corporation, dressing well, and stealing a song. These lines underscore the exploitation and moral compromises often involved in achieving fame. The repeated mention of girls screaming serves as a metaphor for the shallow rewards of stardom, emphasizing the emptiness behind the glamorous facade.

In the final verses, García warns not to forget the 'electric end' and to learn how to record in a closet, a nod to the DIY ethos that contrasts sharply with the commercial route he describes. The song concludes with a reminder that despite the industry's pitfalls, the aspiring musician is still a 'rock and roll star,' encapsulating the bittersweet reality of chasing fame in a commercialized world.