My Life (Billy Joel song)
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| "My Life" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Dutch, French and German picture sleeve | ||||
| Single by Billy Joel | ||||
| from the album 52nd Street | ||||
| B-side | "52nd Street" | |||
| Released | October 1978 | |||
| Recorded | 1978 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 4:44 (album version) 3:50 (single version) | |||
| Label | Columbia | |||
| Songwriter | Billy Joel | |||
| Producer | Phil Ramone | |||
| Billy Joel singles chronology | ||||
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"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.
The song begins with drums, bass guitar, 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]
Television theme
A recording of this song by a different singer[by whom?] was used as the theme song for the situation comedy TV series, Bosom Buddies.[citation needed]
Personnel
- Billy Joel – lead and backing vocals, acoustic piano (layered with a Yamaha CP-70 electric grand piano), synthesizers
- David Brown – electric guitar
- Russell Javors – acoustic guitar
- Doug Stegmeyer – bass
- Liberty DeVitto – drums
- Richie Cannata – clarinet
- Peter Cetera – backing vocals
- Donnie Dacus – backing vocals
Charts
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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