We Are All Made of Stars explained

"We Are All Made of Stars" is a song by American electronica musician Moby. It was released as the first single from his sixth studio album, 18 (2002), on April 1, 2002. It reached number 11 on the UK Singles Chart and became a top-10 hit in several other European countries.

Background

"We Are All Made of Stars" was written by Moby in New York after the September 11 attacks to express a sense of hopefulness.^[1] Moby has stated that the song was inspired by the song "Flowers" from the album Today by American alternative rock band Galaxie 500, as well as quantum physics in that "On a basic quantum level, all the matter in the universe is essentially made up of stardust."^[2] He disclosed the reason behind choosing the song as the lead single from the album:

Music video

The song's music video, directed by Joseph Kahn, edited by David Blackburn and photographed by Brad Rushing, points out the excesses of the typical "Hollywood" lifestyle, showing celebrities in seedy environments, while Moby, an outsider to that world, portrays a spaceman. Celebrities who make appearances in the video include Kato Kaelin, Verne Troyer, Corey Feldman, Todd Bridges, Gary Coleman, JC Chasez, Dave Navarro, Sean Bean, Dominique Swain, Ron Jeremy, Thora Birch, Tommy Lee, Molly Sims, Ritchie Blackmore, Angelyne, The Toxic Avenger, Leelee Sobieski, Sgt. Kabukiman N.Y.P.D., and Robert Evans. The atmosphere of the video was inspired by photographs by Philip-Lorca diCorcia. The theme and some of the imagery also derives from the 1968 film and novel 2001: A Space Odyssey, particularly the Star Child motif ("We are all stars") and Moby's appearance throughout much of the video wearing a space suit.

The video won the MTV Video Music Award for Best Cinematography at the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards.^[3]

Track listings

• US 2×12-inch single ^[4]

A1. "We Are All Made of Stars" – 7:03

A2. "We Are All Made of Stars" – 5:28

B1. "We Are All Made of Stars" – 8:06

B2. "We Are All Made of Stars" – 3:31

C1. "We Are All Made of Stars" – 7:56

D1. "We Are All Made of Stars" – 6:30

D2. "We Are All Made of Stars" – 6:25

• UK and Australian CD1 ^[5]

1. "We Are All Made of Stars"
2. "Landing"
3. "Soul to Love"

• UK and Australian CD2 ^[6]

1. "We Are All Made of Stars"
2. "We Are All Made of Stars"
3. "We Are All Made of Stars"

• UK 12-inch single ^[7]

A1. "We Are All Made of Stars"

B1. "We Are All Made of Stars"

B2. "We Are All Made of Stars"

• UK cassette single ^[8]

1. "We Are All Made of Stars"
2. "Landing"
3. "We Are All Made of Stars"

• European CD single ^[9]

1. "We Are All Made of Stars"
2. "Landing"

• Japanese CD single ^[10]

1. "We Are All Made of Stars"
2. "Landing"
3. "We Are All Made of Stars"

Charts

Chart (2002)	Peak position
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[11]	18
Greece (IFPI)[12]	5
Hungary (Mahasz)[13]	3
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[14]	3
Portugal (AFP)	5
Romania (Romanian Top 100)[15]	80

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)
United States	April 1, 2002		V2	[16]
Japan	April 24, 2002	CD	Mute	[17]
Australia	April 29, 2002			[18]
United Kingdom			Mute	[19] [20]
	May 13, 2002	12-inch vinyl		[21]
United States			V2	[22]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Moby - We are all made of stars (Live at Glastonbury 06.29.2003). https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/oW8teYk-7LE. December 21, 2021. live. September 25, 2012.
2. Web site: Moby Cavorts With Gary Coleman, Todd Bridges In New Video . https://web.archive.org/web/20121108014736/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1452825/mobys-new-video-diffrent.jhtml . dead . November 8, 2012 . Goodman . Abbey . March 11, 2002 . . September 19, 2011.
3. Web site: 2002 MTV Video Music Awards Winners. Billboard. September 1, 2002. November 16, 2021.
4. We Are All Made of Stars. Moby. 2002. US 2×12-inch single sleeve. V2 Records. 63881-27745-1.
5. We Are All Made of Stars. Moby. 2002. UK & Australian CD1 liner notes. Mute Records. CDMUTE268.
6. We Are All Made of Stars. Moby. 2002. UK & Australian CD2 liner notes. Mute Records. LCDMUTE268.
7. We Are All Made of Stars. Moby. 2002. UK 12-inch single sleeve. Mute Records. 12 MUTE 268.
8. We Are All Made of Stars. Moby. 2002. UK cassette single sleeve. Mute Records. CMUTE268.
9. We Are All Made of Stars. Moby. 2002. European CD single liner notes. Mute Records. 724354646324.
10. We Are All Made of Stars. Moby. 2002. Japanese CD single liner notes. Mute Records. V2CP 125.
11. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 20. 21. 8. May 18, 2002. May 9, 2020.
12. Web site: Top 50 Singles. IFPI. el. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20020602200316/http://www.ifpi.gr/chart02.htm. June 2, 2002. June 28, 2020. See Best column.
13. Top National Sellers. Music & Media. 20. 21. 11. May 18, 2002. May 9, 2020.
14. Web site: Tipparade-lijst van week 20, 2002. dutch. Dutch Top 40. March 19, 2023.
15. Web site: Arhiva romanian top 100 – Editia 21, saptamina 27.05–2.06, 2002. Romanian Top 100. ro. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20050215113045/http://www.rt100.ro/editie-top-100_x10022.html. February 15, 2005. May 9, 2020.
16. Going for Adds. Radio & Records. 1446. 32. March 29, 2002. April 28, 2021.
17. Web site: ウィ・アー・オール・メイド・オヴ・スターズ モービー. We Are All Made of Stars Moby. Oricon. ja. 2 September 2023.
18. Web site: The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 29th April 2002. ARIA. 25. April 29, 2002. dead. https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20020514140000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20020515-0000/www.aria.com.au/Issue635.pdf. May 14, 2002. April 28, 2021.
19. Airborne. Stone. Jen. Music & Media. 20. 18. 14. April 27, 2002. October 25, 2020.
20. New Releases – For Week Starting 29 April 2002: Singles. Music Week. 31. April 27, 2002. August 23, 2021.
21. New Releases – For Week Starting 13 May 2002: Singles. Music Week. 27. May 11, 2002. August 26, 2021.
22. Going for Adds. Radio & Records. 1452. 32. May 10, 2002. April 28, 2021.