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"My Life"
Artwork for Dutch, French, and German vinyl releases
Single by Billy Joel
from the album 52nd Street
B-side"52nd Street"
ReleasedOctober 1978
Recorded1978
Genre
Length4:44 (Album Version)
3:50 (Single Version)
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)Billy Joel
Producer(s)Phil Ramone
Billy Joel singles chronology
"The Stranger"
(1978) 		"My Life"
(1978) 		"Big Shot"
(1979)

"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]

"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

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

Certifications

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.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ "52nd Street by Billy Joel – Classic Rock Review". 5 September 2013.
  2. ^ "52nd Street". Rolling Stone. 14 December 1978.
  3. ^ a b Mitchell, Matt (January 20, 2024). "The 25 Greatest Billy Joel Songs of All Time". Paste. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  4. ^ "Top Single Picks" (PDF). Billboard Magazine. November 4, 1978. p. 110. Retrieved 2020-06-12.
  5. ^ "CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. November 4, 1978. p. 26. Retrieved 2022-01-01.
  6. ^ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. November 4, 1978. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-02-13.
  7. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. Australian Chart Book, St Ives, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  8. ^ "Billy Joel – My Life" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved September 2, 2013.
  9. ^ "Billy Joel – My Life" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved September 17, 2012.
  10. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0091a." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
  11. ^ "RPM Adult Oriented Playlist". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1979-01-20. Retrieved 2018-12-10.
  12. ^ "Billy Joel – My Life" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
  13. ^ "Results for "Billy Joel"". irishcharts.ie. p. 3. Retrieved September 2, 2013.
  14. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Billy Joel" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved September 17, 2012.
  15. ^ "Billy Joel – My Life" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved September 2, 2013.
  16. ^ "Billy Joel – My Life". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved September 2, 2013.
  17. ^ Kimberley, C. Zimbabwe: Singles Chart Book. Harare: C. Kimberley, 2000
  18. ^ ""My Life" on the South African Singles Chart". Springbok Radio. January 26, 1979. Retrieved September 25, 2010.
  19. ^ "Billy Joel – My Life" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved September 2, 2013.
  20. ^ "Billy Joel – My Life". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved September 2, 2013.
  21. ^ "Billy Joel: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
  22. ^ "Billy Joel Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
  23. ^ "Billy Joel Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
  24. ^ "Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. 17 July 2013. Retrieved 2016-10-13.
  25. ^ "Kent Music Report No 288 – 31 December 1979 > National Top 100 Singles for 1979". Kent Music Report. Retrieved January 10, 2023 – via Imgur.com.
  26. ^ "1979 Top 200 Singles". RPM. Vol. 32, no. 13. Library and Archives Canada. December 22, 1979. Retrieved March 3, 2018.
  27. ^ "Top 20 Hit Singles of 1979". Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  28. ^ "Top 100 Hits of 1979/Top 100 Songs of 1979". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 2016-10-13.
  29. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Billy Joel – My Life". Music Canada. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  30. ^ "British single certifications – Billy Joel – My Life". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
  31. ^ "British single certifications – Billy Joel – My Life". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
  32. ^ "American single certifications – Billy Joel – My Life". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved May 19, 2021.

External links

Billy Joel
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