1978 single by Billy Joel
"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
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
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
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Certifications
References
^ "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 .
^ "New Zealand single certifications – Billy Joel – My Life" . Radioscope. Retrieved December 21, 2024 . Type My Life in the "Search:" field.
^ "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 .
External links
Studio albums Live albums Compilations Singles Other songs Tours Films See also