My Life (Billy Joel song)
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (April 2021) |
| "My Life" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Artwork for Dutch, French, and German vinyl releases | ||||
| Single by Billy Joel | ||||
| from the album 52nd Street | ||||
| B-side | "52nd Street" | |||
| Released | October 1978 | |||
| Recorded | 1978 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 4:44 (album version) 3:50 (single version) | |||
| Label | Columbia | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Billy Joel | |||
| Producer(s) | Phil Ramone | |||
| Billy Joel singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"My Life" is a song by Billy Joel that first appeared on his 1978 album 52nd Street. A single version was released in the fall of 1978 and reached No. 2 on the U.S. adult contemporary chart. Early the next year, it peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Musical structure
[edit]The song begins with drums, electric bass, and a left-hand piano part, followed by a keyboard riff in the right hand. The riff is also used as a fill between verse and chorus sections and is also played at the end. The section order is intro-verse-fill-chorus-bridge-v-f-c-b-solo-c-outro.
Chicago members Peter Cetera and Donnie Dacus performed the backing vocals and sang along with Joel during the bridge and in the outro ("Keep it to yourself, it's my life").[citation needed]
Reception
[edit]Billboard described "My Life" as "an infectious uptempo tune guaranteeing a good mood for the listener."[4] Cash Box said that the "jumpy, upfront beat, keyboards, and acoustic guitar lines back Joel's strong singing" and praised the "musical and lyrical hooks."[5] Record World called it a "Top 40 & adult [oriented rock] natural."[6]
Personnel
[edit]- Billy Joel – lead and backing vocals, Yamaha CP-70 electric grand piano, synthesizers
- David Brown – electric guitar
- Russell Javors – acoustic guitar
- Doug Stegmeyer – bass
- Liberty DeVitto – drums
- Richie Cannata – clarinet
- Peter Cetera – backing vocals
- Donnie Dacus – backing vocals
Charts
[edit]
Weekly charts[edit]
|
Year-end charts[edit]
|
Certifications
[edit]| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Canada (Music Canada)[29] | Gold | 75,000^ |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[30] Physical |
Silver | 250,000^ |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[31] Digital |
Silver | 200,000‡ |
| United States (RIAA)[32] | Platinum | 1,000,000^ |
|
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
[edit]- ^ "52nd Street by Billy Joel – Classic Rock Review". 5 September 2013.
- ^ "52nd Street". Rolling Stone. 14 December 1978.
- ^ a b Mitchell, Matt (January 20, 2024). "The 25 Greatest Billy Joel Songs of All Time". Paste. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
- ^ "Top Single Picks" (PDF). Billboard Magazine. November 4, 1978. p. 110. Retrieved 2020-06-12.
- ^ "CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. November 4, 1978. p. 26. Retrieved 2022-01-01.
- ^ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. November 4, 1978. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-02-13.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. Australian Chart Book, St Ives, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "Billy Joel – My Life" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved September 2, 2013.
- ^ "Billy Joel – My Life" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved September 17, 2012.
- ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0091a." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
- ^ "RPM Adult Oriented Playlist". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1979-01-20. Retrieved 2018-12-10.
- ^ "Billy Joel – My Life" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
- ^ "Results for "Billy Joel"". irishcharts.ie. p. 3. Retrieved September 2, 2013.
- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Billy Joel" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved September 17, 2012.
- ^ "Billy Joel – My Life" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved September 2, 2013.
- ^ "Billy Joel – My Life". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved September 2, 2013.
- ^ Kimberley, C. Zimbabwe: Singles Chart Book. Harare: C. Kimberley, 2000
- ^ ""My Life" on the South African Singles Chart". Springbok Radio. January 26, 1979. Retrieved September 25, 2010.
- ^ "Billy Joel – My Life" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved September 2, 2013.
- ^ "Billy Joel – My Life". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved September 2, 2013.
- ^ "Billy Joel: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
- ^ "Billy Joel Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
- ^ "Billy Joel Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
- ^ "Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. 17 July 2013. Retrieved 2016-10-13.
- ^ "Kent Music Report No 288 – 31 December 1979 > National Top 100 Singles for 1979". Kent Music Report. Retrieved January 10, 2023 – via Imgur.com.
- ^ "1979 Top 200 Singles". RPM. Vol. 32, no. 13. Library and Archives Canada. December 22, 1979. Retrieved March 3, 2018.
- ^ "Top 20 Hit Singles of 1979". Retrieved 2 September 2018.
- ^ "Top 100 Hits of 1979/Top 100 Songs of 1979". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 2016-10-13.
- ^ "Canadian single certifications – Billy Joel – My Life". Music Canada. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
- ^ "British single certifications – Billy Joel – My Life". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
- ^ "British single certifications – Billy Joel – My Life". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
- ^ "American single certifications – Billy Joel – My Life". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
