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My Life (Billy Joel song)

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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

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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.[citation needed] 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.

Reception

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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

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Charts

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Certifications

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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

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  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.
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