Electric Light Orchestra fans say they used to ‘despise’ underrated classic from Jeff Lynne’s discography

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Fans of the legendary band Electric Light Orchestra have changed their tune on a song they say they used to “despise”.

The Jeff Lynne-led group has more than a few underrated gems, though one of them was subject to split opinions. The Out of the Blue song, Starlight, seems to have rubbed people the wrong way on first listen. Members of the r/ELO subreddit shared their opinions on the song, with some softening to its charm over time. One user wrote: “As a ELO (Jeff Lynne) fanatic for almost 20 years, I’m always surprised how the song Starlight is slept on. It’s on their biggest album, it has all the pop elements of their other big hits, yet somehow it remains a deep cut.”

But fans say the lacklustre response from some fans is from hearing it the first time around and finding it “annoying”. One user who slowly came to love the song wrote: “I used to despise starlight because I thought the vocals were annoying but recently I listened to it and think it’s definitely one of the best songs on the album.” Others have gone on to call the song a “standout” track from Out of the Blue.

They wrote: “Last year when I listened through Out of The Blue again, Starlight was the standout track.” Another added: “Starlight’s a gorgeous song, one of my favourites of theirs to play on piano. The chords are very pretty, especially when they gently descend over the outro.”

Another user gave a lengthy description of why they love Starlight. They wrote: “My first copy of Out Of The Blue was on an 8-track I got at a thrift store in 1980 when I was a nine year old. I already knew all the hits off the album from the radio, but hadn’t heard the rest.

“I was already an ELO fan having had Olé ELO on LP since shortly after its release, as well as getting the 45″ for Roll Over Beethoven when it was a current hit on the radio. Upon finally being able to hear the whole album, Starlight was one of my favorites of the songs that I hadn’t heard yet, and still to this day constantly gets stuck in my head.

And of course Starlight will always remain a deep cut, as it wasn’t released on a 45″ back in the day, nor serviced to radio stations for airplay. The only thing likely to change that status is being prominently featured in a big movie or TV soundtrack to the point people start searching it out on streaming platforms.

“That said, it could happen. In the US, the two biggest hits off Out Of The Blue were Turn To Stone and Sweet Talkin’ Woman, charting at thirteen and seventeen respectively. Mr. Blue Sky only hit thirty-five, not getting nearly as much airplay back in 1977 and ’78.

As a ELO (Jeff Lynne) fanatic for almost 20 years, I’m always surprised how the song Starlight is slept on. It’s on their biggest album, it has all the pop elements of their other big hits, yet somehow it remains a deep cut.
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“Now it’s by far better known, largely by how many soundtracks and compilations it has been featured in after the 1980s, resulting in many more plays on modern streaming platforms. Meanwhile, I still listen to it on my eight-track tape. The nostalgia hits harder that way.”

Other users loved the song, with one adding: “I always loved that song. Out of the Blue was one of the first records I bought with my own money and I played the heck out of it. Every song on that record is very dear to me.”

Another suggested they too had a change of heart when listening to the song a while longer. They wrote: “I think it’s probably bland and slow on the first listen but I loved zoning out to it and now I just straight up like it.”