As someone who played a lot of baseball video games in my youth, I can never forget the soundtrack from MVP Baseball 2004 for the PC (or the Gamecube). It’s to this day my favorite in-game soundtrack of all-time, with plenty of great songs, including “Walkie Talkie Man” by Steriogram, “Spitting Games” by Snow Patrol, and many others. However, my favorite of all of them, and the one I probably heard more than any other on those MVP Baseball menus which I spent many long hours on perfecting my baseball team, was “My Coco” by Stellastarr*.

Here’s the music video of “My Coco” on YouTube.

“My Coco” was released originally on the band’s self-titled debut album in September 2003. While it wasn’t officially released as a single until August 2004, it was previewed on the MVP 2004 soundtrack nonetheless. To this day, this is probably one of my favorite under-rated songs of all time. I love the guitar work, the melodies, the lyrics – I love everything about this song. 

Speaking of the lyrics, I took some time to produce this thoughtful review of the song crafted by all four of the band members: frontman Shawn Christensen (also an Academy Award winning filmmaker, no joke), bassist Amanda Tannen, guitarist Michael Jurin, and drummer Arthur Kremer.

The lyrics are rich in emotional depth, evoking themes of nostalgia, yearning, and the transformative power of a significant presence in one’s life.  The opening lines, “Cool my brains and soothe my head / Stimulate me my Co-co-co,” set the tone for the song. They speak to a desire for comfort and mental escape, possibly from the stresses and noise of everyday life. 

At the core of the song is this repeated invocation of “Coco.” This figure, whether a person, a memory, or a metaphorical concept, serves as a stabilizing force, a symbolic anchor for the narrator. The phrase “my Coco” suggests a deep, personal connection, implying that Coco has become more than just a person, but a symbol of comfort and understanding. The use of “Coco” to cool the narrator’s brains and soothe their head indicates a calming influence, possibly signifying a sense of peace and clarity Coco brings into the narrator’s life.

The lyrics oscillate between moments of solitude (“I sat alone and I didn’t care”) and vivid memories of connection (“And when I was down and failing life, You came and saved me”). This contrast paints a portrait of a narrator grappling with isolation and finding solace in the memories of Coco. The solitary scenes are marked by indecision and stagnation (“I saw three roads and I didn’t know which way to go”), while the moments with Coco are filled with action and clarity.

There’s a poignant sense of nostalgia and the pain of absence that permeates the song. Phrases like “But you were gone when I came through” and “I won’t forget you” suggest that Coco is no longer present. This absence turns Coco into a beacon of the past, a reminder of better times, possibly imbuing the narrator with a mix of gratitude and sorrow.

The lyrics frequently allude to a sense of aimlessness and a need for guidance (“I need some help from a little love”). Coco appears as a guiding figure, providing not just emotional support, but also a sense of direction. The repeated lines about sitting in the same chair and viewing three roads underscore a period of stagnation and indecisiveness, from which Coco seems to offer an escape or solution.

Finally, the song touches on the healing power of memories and dreams. Even in Coco’s absence, the narrator finds comfort in the mere act of reminiscence and in the hope of reconnection in dreams (“Well someday I’ll dance with you, When I’m dreaming”). It suggests that the impact of Coco is so profound that their memory transcends physical presence, living on in the narrator’s mind and continuing to provide comfort and inspiration.

Overall, “My Coco” by Stellastarr is a lyrical journey through the landscapes of memory, loss, and the enduring power of significant emotional connections. Coco may have just started out as a person, but they become a symbol of everything that has been for our song’s narrator, and the hope of what might still be in the narrator’s life. This song speaks to the universal experience of clinging to cherished memories and the people who shape us, long after they have faded from our daily lives, and perhaps, physically at least, even from this earth.

I never really got into the band besides “My Coco,” although a few of their songs are decent enough. They’ve toured with big acts like Jane’s Addiction, Placebo, the Editors, and the Killers. The band put out an album as recent as 2009 and toured as recently as 2010. While they definitely have had a following, the Brooklyn, New York band is now on indefinite hiatus.

I’d definitely suggest checking out Stellastarr* as a band, even if just for “My Coco” because it’s such a great indie rock ballad. “Inside the Walls” is a pretty good tune I’d recommend, as well.

~ Amelia <3