’93-’13: Stars Are Blind, Paris Hilton

A series highlighting great (but critically-ignored) songs from the past twenty years.

As inevitable as it may have been in 2006, the idea of socialite/heiress/astute-business-woman Paris Hilton releasing a single still sends an involuntary shudder down the spines of many. Rather than a club banger, however, Paris Hilton’s debut single was a breezy reggae-lite number, which owed a slight stylistic debt to similar tracks such as Tide Is High by Blondie, and Madonna’s exotic La Isla Bonita.

Taken on face value – and not as the latest item of merchandise from Paris Hilton Pty. Ltd. – Stars Are Blind is a great pop single, with Hilton’s laconic drawl perfectly suited to the laid-back arrangement. The track reached #7 on the ARIA Charts, and #18 in the US; the attention resulted in Hilton and publisher Warner Chappell being sued by the copyright holders of 1950 reggae hit Kingston Town (the two tracks use the same, extremely common chord progression), which is akin to Jack White being sued for lifting the 12-bar blues.

It might not seem to be the most sonically daring single, but as Paris Hilton’s debut single, it kinda is. At any rate it seems to suit her life of luxury more than an auto-tuned dance anthem would. Not to be enjoyed ironically.