This Is the Time (song)

This article is about the song by Billy Joel. For the song by Nothing More, see This is the Time (Ballast).

"This Is the Time" is a song performed by Billy Joel released as the third single from his album The Bridge. The song reached No. 18 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and topped the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.^[2]

"This Is the Time"
Single by Billy Joel
from the album The Bridge
B-side	"Code of Silence"
Released	November 1986^[1]
Length	4:56
Label	Columbia
Songwriter(s)	Billy Joel
Producer(s)	Phil Ramone
Billy Joel singles chronology
"A Matter of Trust" (1986) "This Is the Time" (1986) "Baby Grand" (1986)

Reception

Billboard called it a "melancholy rock ballad from a doom-filled perspective."^[3] Cash Box said that the "songwriting genius of Joel is in force again in this wistful, melodic ballad."^[4]

Chart positions

Chart (1986–1987)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)^[5]	73
Canadian Singles Chart^[6]	26
U.S. Billboard Hot 100^[7]	18
U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary^[8]	1
U.S. Billboard Album Rock Tracks	32

In pop culture

• The song was featured on the NBA VHS NBA Superstars, in a segment showcasing Hall of Fame players from the 1950s to the 1970s.^{[citation needed]} It was also played during Larry Bird's retirement ceremony at the Boston Garden in 1993, this time honoring past players of the Boston Celtics.^{[citation needed]}
• "This Is the Time" is the title of a 2014 season 2 episode of The Carrie Diaries in which Carrie (AnnaSophia Robb) attends her senior prom. Joel's song is referenced by character Donna LaDonna (Chloe Bridges) during her prom queen acceptance speech as the music begins to play in the background. It is mentioned twice more in conversations shortly thereafter. The Correatown cover version of the song also plays in the closing minutes of this penultimate episode.
• In Italy this song was used as opening and closing theme for the soap opera "Guiding Light" (In Italy called "Sentieri") from 1986 to 2007.^[9]

References

1. "Great Rock Discography". p. 437.
2. Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 127.
3. "Reviews". Billboard. November 15, 1986. p. 89. Retrieved 2022-08-07.
4. "Single Releases" (PDF). Cash Box. November 15, 1986. p. 9. Retrieved 2022-08-07.
5. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 156. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
6. . Archived from the original on 2012-10-23.
7. "Billy Joel Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
8. "Billy Joel Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
9. "La Stampa - Finisce Sentieri la soap delle soap". 11 August 2009.