Don't Ask Me Why (Billy Joel song)

"Don't Ask Me Why" is a 1980 song by Billy Joel released as the third single from the album Glass Houses. The song spent two weeks at number one on the Adult Contemporary chart and peaked at number 19 on the Billboard Hot 100.^[5]

B-side"C'était Toi (You Were the One)"

ReleasedJuly 24, 1980

Genre

• Bossa nova^[1]
• yacht rock^[2]
• folk rock^[3]
• pop^[4]
• Latin rock

Length2:59

Quick facts Single by Billy Joel, from the album Glass Houses ...

"Don't Ask Me Why"
Single by Billy Joel
from the album Glass Houses
B-side	"C'était Toi (You Were the One)"
Released	July 24, 1980
Genre	Bossa nova[1] yacht rock[2] folk rock[3] pop[4] Latin rock
Length	2:59
Label	Columbia Records
Songwriter	Billy Joel
Producer	Phil Ramone
Billy Joel singles chronology
"It's Still Rock and Roll to Me" (1980) "Don't Ask Me Why" (1980) "Sometimes a Fantasy" (1980)

Close

The track contains all acoustic and Latin percussion instruments performing in an Afro-Cuban rhythmic style. An eclectic, instrumental "Latin Ballroom" piano solo, played over the bridge section after the second verse, is also featured in part of the song; Joel states that the mix for the midsection includes "fifteen pianos overdubbed on top of each other."^[6]

The syncopated "333322" accent pattern in the verses is identical to that in the song "Big Shot", from Joel's previous album 52nd Street (1978). The same pattern can be found in other songs of the 1980s, including "Karma Chameleon" (1983) by Culture Club, "Crazy for You" (1985) by Madonna, "Summer of '69" (1985) by Bryan Adams, and "Desire" (1988) by U2.^[7]