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It's Still Rock and Roll to Me
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Wikipedia article
{{Infobox song
| name = It's Still Rock and Roll to Me
| cover = StillRock&Roll.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Billy Joel
| album = Glass Houses
| B-side = Through the Long Night
| released = May 12, 1980
| recorded = 1979
| studio =
| venue =
| genre =
| length = 2:57
| label = Columbia
| writer = Billy Joel
| producer = Phil Ramone
| prev_title = You May Be Right
| prev_year = 1980
| next_title = Don't Ask Me Why
| next_year = 1980
}}
"'It's Still Rock and Roll to Me'" is a song written and performed by Billy Joel, from the hit album 'Glass Houses'. Released in 1980, the song peaked at number 1 on the 'Billboard' Hot 100 charts for two weeks, from July 19 through August 1, 1980. The song spent 11 weeks in the top 10 of the 'Billboard' Hot 100 and was the 7th biggest hit of 1980 according to American Top 40.
The song conveys Joel's criticisms of the music industry and press, commenting on new musical styles of the time such as new wave being mere rehashes of older musical styles. It also addresses changing trends and attitudes of the era.
The single eventually reached Platinum status from the RIAA for sales of over 1 million copies in the United States. Pop rock musician Drake Bell covered the song in 2014 on his rockabilly album 'Ready Steady Go!'.
History and composition
Joel wrote the song in response to critics that often described his music as adult contemporary, middle-of-the-road pop. He felt that new styles of music were not particularly different to older styles of music unlike what was being marketed, especially viewing new wave as akin to older genres such as power pop and rock and roll, commenting in an interview with Rolling Stone that "new wave songs, it seems, can only be about two and a half minutes long... only a certain number of instruments can be played on the record - usually a very few... only a certain amount of production is allowed or can be heard... the sound has to be limited to what you can hear in a garage... a return to that sound is all thats going on now".
The song is in 4/4 time, is at 144bpm and is written in C Major. It features a saxophone solo before the final verse. According to drummer Liberty DeVitto in an interview, the sound engineer for the song had him tune his snare drum extremely low so that it would "flop" when he played it.Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/XfFo2TVKeLw Ghostarchive] and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20211005035401/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfFo2TVKeLw Wayback Machine]: The "miracle mile" mentioned in the lyrics refers to a road host to many stores in Manhasset, Long Island, a location near the area Joel grew up in.
Critical reception
In review made a week later after single release, 'Billboard' editors noticed the laconicism of backing support and Joel's vocal that made the song sparkling. Tom Breihan of Stereogum, in a retrospective review, was mixed, referring to it as "a sharp, well-written song" but commenting that it "never takes off". 'Cash Box' said that Joel "throws a few slyly humorous stones...at the present new wave fad" and that the song includes "a torrid sax break."
Personnel
* Billy Joel lead and backing vocals, acoustic piano, electric piano
* Dave Brown electric guitar
* Russell Javors electric guitar
* Doug Stegmeyer bass
* Liberty DeVitto drums, percussion
* Richie Cannata saxophone solo
Chart history
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
All-time charts
Certifications and sales
Music video
A music video for the song was made, showing Joel performing the song live with his band. According to his band members, the song vocals were performed live by Joel during the video's filming.
Parody
"Weird Al" Yankovic recorded a parody of the song entitled "It's Still Billy Joel to Me" in 1980, popularized on the Dr. Demento radio program. It was not released, either as a single or an album track. Yankovic commented, "I wrote that in 1980, but even by 1983 (when my first album came out) it felt a bit dated. Also, we figured that Billy wasnt very likely to give us his blessing on that one anyway, so we never even bothered asking."
See also
*List of 'Billboard' Hot 100 number-one singles of 1980
References
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