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Uptown Girl

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This article is about the song. For the similarly named film, see Uptown Girls.

"Uptown Girl"
Song

"Uptown Girl" is a song written and performed by American musician Billy Joel. It was released on September 29, 1983, on his ninth studio album An Innocent Man (1983). The lyrics describe a working-class "downtown man" attempting to woo a wealthy "uptown girl."

The 12" EP featured the tracks "My Life", "Just the Way You Are" and "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me" (catalogue number TA3775). Whereas some 7" single versions featured 'Careless Talk' as a B-side (TBC).

Inspiration

According to an interview with Howard Stern, Joel had originally titled the song "Uptown Girls" and it was conceived on an occasion when he was surrounded by Christie Brinkley, Whitney Houston and his then-girlfriend Elle Macpherson. According to numerous interviews with Joel, the song was initially written about his relationship with Macpherson, but it ended up also becoming about his soon-to-be wife, Brinkley (both women being two of the most famous supermodels of the 1980s).[2][3] Joel also has said that the song was inspired by the music of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.[4]

Success

Although "Uptown Girl" was not as successful in the U.S. as previous single "Tell Her About It", it was still a big hit. It peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100,[5] and number one in the United Kingdom, staying at that position for five weeks; it was the second biggest-selling single of 1983 in the United Kingdom behind only Culture Club's "Karma Chameleon", which Joel had knocked off the number one position on November 1, 1983. The song was the 19th biggest-selling single of the 1980s in the United Kingdom, selling 975,000 copies. It has sold 1.02 million copies as of 2013.[6]

Music video

Christie Brinkley appears as the main character of the video and later married Joel.

The title character in the music video was played by Christie Brinkley.

Different versions of the music video opening were produced, in which an auto mechanic is watching the end of Joel's previous hit "Tell Her About It" on a small TV. Then, depending on the version, the next image on the TV is either a blank screen or the logo of the network or TV show the video was on.[citation needed]

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts

Preceded by UK Singles Chart
November 5, 1983 (5 weeks) 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Irish Singles Chart
November 12, 1983 (3 weeks) 		Succeeded by
Preceded by New Zealand Singles Chart
December 11, 1983 (3 weeks) 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Australian Singles Chart
December 5, 1983 (1 week) 		Succeeded by

Westlife version

"Uptown Girl"
Song

"Uptown Girl" was recorded by Irish boy band Westlife for their third studio album, World of Our Own (2001). It was released on March 5, 2001 as the fifth single from the album. It was also the 2001 Comic Relief charity single. The song was also included on the European Special Edition and Asian Deluxe Edition Bonus Disc of the group's second album, Coast to Coast (2000). The Westlife version is slightly shorter than the Billy Joel version because the one of the verses was repeated in the Billy Joel version which wasn't repeated in the Westlife version.

"Uptown Girl" reached number one on in Ireland and the United Kingdom. It became the sixth best-selling single of 2001 and the 24th best-selling single of the decade in the UK, with sales of 756,215 copies. It became the band's biggest-selling single in the UK, and also achieved the highest first-week sales (292,318 copies) of any of their singles. It has since been certified Platinum by the British Phonographic Industry for shipments of 600,000 copies.[21] As of October 2011, the song had sold almost 800,000 copies.[22]

Music video

The video for this song was shot in a Cafe setting with the band working there. Claudia Schiffer starred as the title character, while Robert Bathurst, James Wilby, Ioan Gruffudd, Crispin Bonham-Carter and Tim McInnerny were featured as high class customers.

Track listing

  • United Kingdom
CD1
  1. "Uptown Girl" (Radio Edit) – 3:06
  2. "Angel's Wings" (2001 Remix) – 4:14
  3. "Uptown Girl" (Video) – 3:14
CD2
  1. "Uptown Girl" (Radio Edit) – 3:06
  2. "Uptown Girl" (Extended Version) – 5:02
  3. "Behind The Scenes Footage & Band Messages"
DVD
  1. "Uptown Girl" (Video) – 3:14
  2. "Behind The Scenes Footage & Band Messages"
  • Japan
  1. "Uptown Girl" (Radio Edit) – 3:06
  2. "Uptown Girl" (Extended Version) – 5:02
  3. "Angel's Wings" (Original Version) – 4:02
  4. "Close Your Eyes" – 4:32
  5. "Uptown Girl" (Video) – 3:14
  6. "Behind The Scenes Footage & Band Messages"

Charts and certifications

Chart successions

Preceded by
"It Wasn't Me" by Shaggy featuring Rikrok
 Irish IRMA number one single
March 10, 2001 (6 weeks) 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
"It Wasn't Me" by Shaggy featuring Rikrok
 Scottish Singles Chart
March 11, 2001 (1 week) 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
"It Wasn't Me" by Shaggy featuring Rikrok
 UK number-one single
March 11, 2001 (1 week) 		Succeeded by

Popular culture

"Uptown Girl" has appeared on the television series The Simpsons, Glee, Ashes to Ashes, and 30 Rock, and was featured in the film Trainwreck.[44]

References

  1. ^ a b "Billy Joel - Uptown Girl". Discogs.
  2. ^ "Channel Five Interview" on YouTube
  3. ^ "Billy Joel Visits. 11/16/10. 7:55am". Howard Stern archive. Marksfriggin.com. November 16, 2010. Retrieved March 15, 2012.
  4. ^ Billy Joel Website Interview
  5. ^ Dean, Maury (2003). Rock N' Roll Gold Rush. Algora. pp. 137–138. ISBN 0-87586-207-1.
  6. ^ a b Lane, Daniel (June 27, 2013). "Daft Punk's Get Lucky becomes one of the UK's biggest selling singles of all-time!". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
  7. ^ "Billy Joel – Uptown Girl". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  8. ^ "Billy Joel – Uptown Girl" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  9. ^ "Billy Joel – Uptown Girl" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  10. ^ Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada
  11. ^ "Billy Joel – Uptown Girl". Tracklisten.
  12. ^ "Billy Joel: Uptown Girl" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat.
  13. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Billy Joel" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  14. ^ "Billy Joel – Uptown Girl". Top 40 Singles.
  15. ^ "Billy Joel – Uptown Girl". VG-lista.
  16. ^ ""Uptown Girl" on the South African Singles Chart". Springbok Radio. January 13, 1984. Retrieved September 25, 2010.
  17. ^ "Billy Joel Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  18. ^ "Billy Joel Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
  19. ^ * Zimbabwe. Kimberley, C. Zimbabwe: singles chart book. Harare: C. Kimberley, 2000
  20. ^ "British single certifications – Billy Joel – Uptown Girl". British Phonographic Industry. Select singles in the Format field. Select Platinum in the Certification field. Type Uptown Girl in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  21. ^ "BPI Certified Awards". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved February 8, 2011.
  22. ^ The nation’s favourite Westlife tracks revealed!
  23. ^ "Westlife – Uptown Girl". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  24. ^ "Westlife – Uptown Girl" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  25. ^ "Westlife – Uptown Girl" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  26. ^ "Westlife – Uptown Girl" (in French). Ultratip.
  27. ^ "Westlife – Uptown Girl". Tracklisten.
  28. ^ Nielsen Business Media, Inc (March 24, 2001). "Billboard". {{cite journal}}: |author1= has generic name (help); Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  29. ^ "Westlife: Uptown Girl" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat.
  30. ^ "Westlife – Uptown Girl" (in French). Les classement single.
  31. ^ "Westlife – Uptown Girl". Top Digital Download.
  32. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Westlife" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  33. ^ "Westlife – Uptown Girl". Top 40 Singles.
  34. ^ "Westlife – Uptown Girl". VG-lista.
  35. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  36. ^ "Westlife – Uptown Girl" Canciones Top 50.
  37. ^ "Westlife – Uptown Girl". Singles Top 100.
  38. ^ "Westlife – Uptown Girl". Swiss Singles Chart.
  39. ^ "Westlife: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  40. ^ "2001 UK Singles Chart" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved May 26, 2015.
  41. ^ Radio 1 Official Chart of the Decade, as broadcast on BBC Radio 1 on December 29, 2009, presented by DJ Nihal
  42. ^ Myers, Justin (April 25, 2014). "Official Charts Flashback 1999: Westlife – Swear It Again". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 18, 2015.
  43. ^ "British single certifications – Westlife – Uptown Girl". British Phonographic Industry. Select singles in the Format field. Select Platinum in the Certification field. Type Uptown Girl in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  44. ^ Brayson, Johnny (July 16, 2015). "'Uptown Girl' In 'Trainwreck' Is A Great Reminder That The Billy Joel Classic Has Major Comedy Creed". Bustle. Retrieved January 10, 2016.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Uptown_Girl&oldid=705190141"