My Life (Billy Joel song)

"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.

"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	Rock[1] pop rock[2][3] jazz rock[3]
Length	4:44 (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)

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

• 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 Chart (1978–1979) Peak position Australia (Kent Music Report)[7] 6 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[8] 11 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[9] 27 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[10] 3 Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[11] 2 France (SNEP)[12] 6 Irish Singles Chart[13] 3 Japan (Oricon) 37 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[14] 23 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[15] 22 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[16] 6 Rhodesia (Lyons Maid)[17] 1 South Africa (RISA)[18] 2 Spain (PROMUSICAE)[19] 13 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[20] 4 UK Singles (OCC)[21] 12 US Cash Box Top 100[22] 3 US Billboard Hot 100[23] 3 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[24] 2

Year-end charts Chart (1978) Position Canada Top Singles (RPM)[25] 109 Chart (1979) Position Australia (Kent Music Report)[26] 65 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[27] 26 South Africa (RISA)[28] 10 US Billboard Hot 100[29] 28

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[30]	Gold	75,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[31]	Platinum	30,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[32] Physical	Silver	250,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[33] Digital	Gold	400,000‡
United States (RIAA)[34]	3× Platinum	3,000,000‡
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.