"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.
"My Life"
Artwork for Dutch, French, and German vinyl releases
The song begins with drums, electric bass, and a left-hand piano part, followed by a keyboardriff 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.
"My Life" was used as the theme song for the ABC television series Bosom Buddies (1980–82), albeit in a re-recorded version with a different vocalist. However, due to licensing issues, it does not appear on the VHS and DVD releases of the series, nor is it used in the show's syndicated airings; in both cases, it is replaced by a vocal version of the show's closing instrumental theme, "Shake Me Loose", sung by Stephanie Mills.
The structure of the opening verse is essentially identical to the one in the song Sha-La-La-La-La, released five years prior by Danish glam rock band Walkers. Joel does not credit the band for inspiration.
Receptionedit
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]
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This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources My Life Billy Joel song news newspapers books scholar JSTOR April 2021 Learn how and when to remove this template message 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 My Life Artwork for Dutch French and German vinyl releasesSingle by Billy Joelfrom the album 52nd StreetB side 52nd Street Released1978Recorded1978GenreRock 1 pop rock 2 power ballad 3 Length4 44 Album Version 3 50 Single Version LabelColumbiaSongwriter s Billy JoelProducer s Phil RamoneBilly Joel singles chronology The Stranger 1978 My Life 1978 Big Shot 1979 Contents 1 Musical structure 2 Reception 3 Personnel 4 Charts 4 1 Weekly charts 4 2 Year end charts 5 Certifications 6 References 7 External linksMusical structure editThe 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 My Life was used as the theme song for the ABC television series Bosom Buddies 1980 82 albeit in a re recorded version with a different vocalist However due to licensing issues it does not appear on the VHS and DVD releases of the series nor is it used in the show s syndicated airings in both cases it is replaced by a vocal version of the show s closing instrumental theme Shake Me Loose sung by Stephanie Mills The structure of the opening verse is essentially identical to the one in the song Sha La La La La released five years prior by Danish glam rock band Walkers Joel does not credit the band for inspiration Reception editBillboard 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 amp adult oriented rock natural 6 Personnel editBilly 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 vocalsCharts editWeekly charts edit Chart 1978 79 PeakpositionAustralia Kent Music Report 7 6Austria O3 Austria Top 40 8 11Belgium Ultratop 50 Flanders 9 27Canada Top Singles RPM 10 3Canada Adult Contemporary RPM 11 2France SNEP 12 6Irish Singles Chart 13 3Japan Oricon 37Netherlands Dutch Top 40 14 23Netherlands Single Top 100 15 22New Zealand Recorded Music NZ 16 6Rhodesia Lyons Maid 17 1South Africa RISA 18 2Spain PROMUSICAE 19 13Switzerland Schweizer Hitparade 20 4UK Singles OCC 21 12US Billboard Hot 100 22 3US Adult Contemporary Billboard 23 2 Year end charts edit Chart 1978 PositionCanada Top Singles RPM 24 109Chart 1979 PositionAustralia Kent Music Report 25 65Canada Top Singles RPM 26 26South Africa RISA 27 10US Billboard Hot 100 28 28Certifications editRegion Certification Certified units salesCanada 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 Sales streaming 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 10 of the best Billy Joel songs The Telegraph 4 August 2017 Retrieved 2020 07 28 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 O3 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 gt 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 External links editBilly Joel My Life on YouTube Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title My Life Billy Joel song amp oldid 1175739491, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
