My Life (Billy Joel song)

Last updated
"My Life"
My Life - Billy Joel.jpg
Dutch, French and German picture sleeve
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)
Label Columbia
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.

Contents

A cover of this song was used as the theme song for the situation comedy TV series, Bosom Buddies .

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 ]

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

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada) [31] Gold75,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ) [32] Platinum30,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI) [33]
Physical 		Silver250,000^
United Kingdom (BPI) [34]
Digital 		Gold400,000‡
United States (RIAA) [35] 3× Platinum3,000,000‡

^ 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. 1 2 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). Le classement de singles. 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. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2014). Cash Box Pop Hits: 1952-1996. Record Research.
  23. ↑ "Billy Joel Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
  24. ↑ "Billy Joel Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
  25. ↑ "Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. 17 July 2013. Retrieved 2016-10-13.
  26. ↑ "Kent Music Report No 288 – 31 December 1979 > National Top 100 Singles for 1979". Kent Music Report . Retrieved January 10, 2023– via Imgur.com.
  27. ↑ "Brazilian Top 100 Year-End 1979". Crowley Broadcast Analysis. April 3, 2018. Retrieved June 29, 2025.
  28. ↑ "1979 Top 200 Singles". RPM . Vol. 32, no. 13. Library and Archives Canada. December 22, 1979. Retrieved March 3, 2018.
  29. ↑ "Top 20 Hit Singles of 1979" . Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  30. ↑ "Top 100 Hits of 1979/Top 100 Songs of 1979". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 2016-10-13.
  31. ↑ "Canadian single certifications – Billy Joel – My Life". Music Canada . Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  32. ↑ "New Zealand single certifications – Billy Joel – My Life". Radioscope. Retrieved December 21, 2024.Type My Life in the "Search:" field.
  33. ↑ "British single certifications – Billy Joel – My Life". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved May 19, 2021.
  34. ↑ "British single certifications – Billy Joel – My Life". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved April 11, 2025.
  35. ↑ "American single certifications – Billy Joel – My Life". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved July 18, 2025.
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