Modern Woman

Last updated
"Modern Woman"
Modern Woman.jpg
Single by Billy Joel
from the album The Bridge
B-side "Sleeping with the Television On"
Released1986
Length3:48
Label Columbia
Songwriter(s) Billy Joel
Producer(s) Phil Ramone
Billy Joel singles chronology
"The Night Is Still Young"
(1985)
"Modern Woman"
(1986)
"A Matter of Trust"
(1986)

"Modern Woman" is a song performed by Billy Joel from his album The Bridge . It was the album's lead-off single and was featured on the soundtrack to the film Ruthless People . In the film, the song removes an instrumental break present in the original. It was a Top 10 hit on Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1986.

Contents

Reception

Cash Box called it "a chugging, instantly appealing cut". [1] Billboard said: "phrases turn with top hat-and-tails flair, rhythm track barrels along like the last of the steam powered trains". [2]

Personnel

Additional personnel

Charts

Chart (1986)Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report) [3] 21
Canada Top Singles (RPM) [4] 27
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) [5] 28
US Billboard Hot 100 [6] 10
US Adult Contemporary ( Billboard ) [7] 7
US Mainstream Rock ( Billboard ) [8] 34

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Just the Way You Are (Billy Joel song)</span> 1977 single by Billy Joel

"Just the Way You Are" is a song by Billy Joel from his fifth studio album The Stranger (1977), released as the album's second single in early November 1977. It became both Joel's first US Top 10 and UK Top 20 single, as well as Joel's first gold single in the US. The song also topped the Billboard Easy Listening Chart for the entire month of January 1978.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amanda (Boston song)</span> 1986 single by Boston

"Amanda" is a power ballad by American rock band Boston written by Tom Scholz. The song was released as the first single from the band's third album, Third Stage, in 1986, six years after it was recorded.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'm Every Woman</span> 1978 single by Chaka Khan

"I'm Every Woman" is a song by American singer Chaka Khan, released as her debut solo single from her first album, Chaka (1978). It was Khan's first hit outside her recordings with the funk band Rufus. "I'm Every Woman" was produced by Arif Mardin and written by the successful songwriting team Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson. The single established Chaka's career outside the group Rufus, whom she would leave after their eighth studio album Masterjam was released in late 1979.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You're Only Human (Second Wind)</span> 1985 single by Billy Joel

"You're Only Human (Second Wind)" is a song written and performed by Billy Joel that originally appeared on Greatest Hits – Volume I & Volume II in 1985. The song deals with teenage depression and suicide. It became a top-ten hit, peaking at No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Addicted to Love (song)</span> 1986 single by Robert Palmer

"Addicted to Love" is a song by English rock singer Robert Palmer released in 1986. It is the third song on Palmer's eighth studio album Riptide (1985) and was released as its second single. The single version is a shorter edit of the full-length album version.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Let's Go (The Cars song)</span> 1979 single by the Cars

"Let's Go" is a song by American rock band the Cars, written by Ric Ocasek for the band's second studio album, Candy-O (1979). A new wave rock song, the song's hook was inspired by the Routers. The song's vocals are performed by bassist Benjamin Orr.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barbra Streisand discography</span>

Barbra Streisand is an American actress and singer. Her discography consists of 117 singles, 36 studio albums, 12 compilations, 11 live albums, and 15 soundtracks. According to the Recording Industry Association of America, Streisand is the second-best-selling female album artist in the United States with 68.5 million certified albums in the country, and a career total of 150 million making her one of the best-selling music artists

<span class="mw-page-title-main">My Life (Billy Joel song)</span> 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">These Dreams</span> 1986 single by Heart

"These Dreams" is a song by American rock band Heart from their 1985 self-titled eighth studio album Heart. It was released on January 18, 1986, as the album's third single, becoming the band's first song to top the Billboard Hot 100. The single's B-side track "Shell Shock", was also the B-side of Heart's previous single "Never".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love the One You're With</span> 1970 single by Stephen Stills

"Love the One You're With" is a song by American folk rock musician Stephen Stills. It was released as the lead single from his debut self-titled studio album in November 1970. The song, inspired by a remark Stills heard from musician Billy Preston, became his biggest hit single, peaking at No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1971. David Crosby and Graham Nash, Stills' fellow members of Crosby, Stills & Nash, provide background vocals on the song. Also providing the backups are Rita Coolidge, her sister Priscilla Jones, and John Sebastian. They all sing the "Do Dos" that come before the instrumental portion and the Outro. The song was also recorded by the Isley Brothers, The Meters, Bucks Fizz, Luther Vandross, Bob Seger and Richard Clapton, among others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glory of Love</span> 1986 single by Peter Cetera

"Glory of Love" is a 1986 song performed by Peter Cetera, which he wrote and composed with his then-wife Diane Nini and David Foster. The song was recorded by Cetera shortly after he left the band Chicago to pursue a solo career. Featured in the film The Karate Kid Part II (1986), it was Cetera's first hit single after he left the band, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100, and it was included on his album Solitude/Solitaire (1986), which Michael Omartian produced.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stages (song)</span> 1986 single by ZZ Top

"Stages" is a song by American rock band ZZ Top. It was released as the second single from their ninth studio album Afterburner (1985). It peaked at number 21 on the United States Billboard Hot 100 and topped the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart for two weeks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Billy Joel discography</span>

This is the discography of American singer-songwriter Billy Joel. He has released 13 studio albums, seven live albums, 18 compilation albums, 10 video albums, 61 singles, three promotional singles and 45 music videos. Throughout his career, he has sold over 150 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists in history. According to Recording Industry Association of America, Joel has sold 85 million certified albums in the United States, making him the 4th best-selling solo artist of all time. Billboard ranked him as the 9th Greatest male soloist of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">There'll Be Sad Songs (To Make You Cry)</span> 1986 single by Billy Ocean

"There'll Be Sad Songs (To Make You Cry)" is a song by English singer Billy Ocean from his sixth studio album, Love Zone (1986). The song was written and produced by Wayne Brathwaite and Barry Eastmond; Ocean was also credited as a co-writer for the song. The song reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for the week beginning 5 July 1986, where it remained for one week, becoming the 600th different song to ascend to that position. It also topped the adult contemporary and R&B charts in the United States that same summer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">When Will I Be Loved (song)</span> 1960 single by the Everly Brothers

"When Will I Be Loved" is a popular song written by Phil Everly of the Everly Brothers, who had a US top-ten hit with it in 1960. Linda Ronstadt covered the song in 1975, and her version was an even bigger hit in the US, peaking at No. 2. Vince Gill also covered it in 1994 on the soundtrack of the film 8 Seconds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Suddenly (Billy Ocean song)</span> 1985 song by Billy Ocean

"Suddenly" is a song from 1985 co-written and performed by UK-based singer Billy Ocean. Co-written and produced by Keith Diamond, it is the title track to Ocean's 1984 breakthrough album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">An Innocent Man (song)</span> 1983 single by Billy Joel

"An Innocent Man" is a 1983 song performed by Billy Joel released as the third single from his album of the same name. The song, whose musical style is an homage to Ben E. King and the Drifters, reached No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, the third consecutive top 10 single from the album. It also spent one week at No. 1 on the Billboard adult contemporary chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A Matter of Trust</span> 1986 single by Billy Joel

"A Matter of Trust" is a song by Billy Joel from his 1986 album The Bridge. It was released as the album's second single and became a top ten hit. The song gained major traction in the Soviet Union as part of a state-sponsored television promotion of Joel's songs in preparation for his 1987 USSR concerts, recorded on Kontsert.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tonight She Comes</span> 1985 single by the Cars

"Tonight She Comes" is a 1985 song by American rock band the Cars from their Greatest Hits album. It was released as a single in October 1985, reaching number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 in January 1986. The song reached number one on the Top Rock Tracks chart, where it stayed for three weeks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'm Not the One</span> 1986 single by the Cars

"I'm Not the One" is a song by the American rock band the Cars, from their fourth album, Shake It Up. It features Ric Ocasek on lead vocals, Benjamin Orr singing the 'you know why' phrase, and the whole group repeating "going round and round" as backing vocals throughout the song.

References

  1. "Single Releases" (PDF). Cash Box. June 7, 1986. p. 9. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  2. "Reviews". Billboard. June 7, 1986. p. 85. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  3. 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.
  4. "RPM 100 Singles". RPM . Vol. 44, no. 21. 1986-08-16. Archived from the original on 2012-10-23. Retrieved 2011-07-02 via Library and Archives Canada.
  5. "Billy Joel – Modern Woman". Top 40 Singles.
  6. "Billy Joel Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
  7. "Billy Joel Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
  8. "Billy Joel Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved December 27, 2023.