"Shooting Star" is a song written by Paul Rodgers that was first released by Bad Company on their 1975 album Straight Shooter.
[2][3][4][5] Rodgers stated that "At that particular time you had Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin...just a catalog of people who didn't make it, who overdosed in their beds...that was the germ of this song."
"[7] In a contemporary review, Messenger-Press critic Steve Wosahla suggested that this line is "typical of how we treat our stars today.
"[10] Rolling Stone critic Ed Naha called "Shooting Star" the "pièce de résistance" of Straight Shooter and "the highpoint of [Paul Rodgers'] writing career.
"[11] Naha states that "Rodgers nearly assumes the role of the Harry Chapin of crotch rock as he casually recounts the chilling tale of a young rock star … from beginning to end" and that the "calculated effect of the song is made stronger by its low-keyed approach to melodrama.
"[12] Stephen Thomas Erlewine described it as one of the two "big hits" from Straight Shooter (along with "Feel Like Makin' Love") and a "classic rock staple".
[13] Ultimate Classic Rock critic Matt Wardlaw rated it as Bad Company's 3rd best song, saying that it "acts as a cautionary tale about what can happen when a big dreamer gets more success than he can handle.
[18][19][20][21][22][23] Bad Company re-recorded the song for their 1996 album Stories Told & Untold with Robert Hart singing lead vocals in place of Rodgers and Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora playing guitar.