I Go to Extremes
"I Go to Extremes" | ||||
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Single by Billy Joel | ||||
from the album Storm Front | ||||
B-side | "When in Rome"[1] | |||
Released | January 1990 | |||
Recorded | 1989 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 4:23 | |||
Label | Columbia | |||
Songwriter(s) | Billy Joel | |||
Producer(s) |
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Billy Joel singles chronology | ||||
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"I Go to Extremes" is the fourth track on Billy Joel's 1989 album, Storm Front. It was released as the second single from the album in 1990. It reached the number-six position on the US Billboard Hot 100 and peaked at number three on the Canadian RPM Top Singles chart. The song was also a top-ten hit on both the Billboard Adult Contemporary and Album Rock Tracks charts.
At one point considered a song about a manic-depressive, the song was originally written as an apology to Joel's wife at the time, Christie Brinkley. The B-side to the single was "When In Rome", which appeared on the same album. The music video consists of Joel and his backing band playing the song in a room. The song received a mostly positive response, and a live version appears on the album 2000 Years: The Millennium Concert. During live performances, Joel would often jokingly change the lyrics to the chorus, as well as to various lines in the song.
Writing and recording[]
The St. Paul Pioneer Press believes that the song chronicles the highs and lows of a "manic-depressive".[2] However, according to Joel, the song is an apology that is directed to his then wife, Christie Brinkley.[3] Joel was apologizing for his erratic personality.[3] In live concerts, Joel would often jokingly create new lyrics for the chorus, such as "I go for ice cream", and "I got a new wife on the cover of Life."[4][5][failed verification] The song is believed to be about Joel's own lifestyle.[6] The b-side to the single release was another song from the album, "When in Rome".[1] The music video consists of Joel playing with musicians in a room.
Reception[]
The song reached the top ten in the US at number six and reached number 70 on the UK Singles Chart.[7] A live version of the song appeared on his album, 2000 Years: The Millennium Concert.
Dennis Hunt of The Los Angeles Times believed the song was the highlight of the album, saying that it was the only song that wasn't "tainted by a social message."[8] The Fresno Bee sarcastically says "Oh, Billy, stop it - you're just soooo extreme! Have your machine call my machine, and we'll do this extreme thing together."[9] The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette said of the song, "I realized a lot of rock critics must have tin ears. Why else would they pan Billy Joel?"[10] Jan DeKnock of The Chicago Tribune believed that the song was "another sure-fire winner from his [Joel's] "Storm Front" LP."[11] Robb Frederick of The Daily Collegian believed that the song "shows remorse for a moodiness which almost reaches the degree of schizophrenia".[12] John MCalley of Rolling Stone called the song "hard-driving", and thought the character in the song was "futilely [trying] to account to his girlfriend for his inconsistent moods and wavering confidence."[13] The Miami Herald believed that the song had potential to be a "great" song, but was still disappointed.[14] Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic believed that the song was one of the strongest songs of the album, also calling it "catchy."[15] Matthew Bernstein of The Boston Globe believes that it's a great work-out song.[16]
Charts[]
Weekly charts[]
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Year-end charts[]
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See also[]
The song was also released as downloadable content for the video game Rock Band 3 on March 21, 2011 as part of the Billy Joel Piano Challenge Pack.
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b c "Australian-charts.com – Billy Joel – I Go to Extremes". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
- ^ "Joel Shines on 'Storm Front'". St. Paul Pioneer Press. January 7, 1990. Retrieved March 27, 2009.
- ^ Jump up to: a b MacDonald, Patrick (April 13, 1990). "He's Between Rock and a Hard Place". Seattle Times. Retrieved March 28, 2009.
- ^ S. Cohn, Jonathan (June 29, 1990). "It's Back to Basics in a Show of Old Favorites". Harvard Crimson. Retrieved March 27, 2009.
- ^ Bernade, Scott (March 4, 1990). "Joel Storms into Miami". The Palm Beach Post. Retrieved March 27, 2009.
- ^ "Piano Man Billy Joel Just Wants to Have Fun". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. July 5, 1990. Retrieved March 27, 2009.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
- ^ Hunt, Dennis (June 3, 1990). "Mixed Media: Eye of the Storm". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 27, 2009.
- ^ "In Rating Singles, The 'Nays' Have It". Fresno Bee. March 9, 1990. Retrieved March 27, 2009.
- ^ "Billy Starts the Fire At Star Lake". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. June 18, 1990. Retrieved March 27, 2009.
- ^ DeKnock, Jan (January 19, 1990). "It's Out with the Old, In with the New". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 27, 2009.
- ^ Frederick, Robb (December 7, 1989). "Billy Joel Catches a Flame". The Daily Collegian. Retrieved March 27, 2009.
- ^ MCalley, John (November 30, 1989). "Billy Joel: Storm Front: Music Reviews: Rolling Stone". The Daily Collegian. Archived from the original on May 6, 2007.
- ^ "Billy Joel Reaches Too Far for Too Little". Miami Herald. November 4, 1990. Retrieved March 27, 2009.
- ^ "allmusic ((( Storm Front > Overview )))". allmusic.com. Retrieved March 27, 2009.
- ^ Bernstein, Matthew (April 14, 2007). "From Start to Finish: Tunes for the Long Haul". The Boston Globe.
- ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 9243." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
- ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 9060." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Billy Joel – I Go to Extremes" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
- ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – I Go to Extremes". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Billy Joel – I Go to Extremes" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
- ^ "Charts.nz – Billy Joel – I Go to Extremes". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
- ^ "Billy Joel Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
- ^ "Billy Joel Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
- ^ "Billy Joel Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
- ^ "Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1990". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
- ^ "Top 100 Adult Contemporary Tracks of 1990". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
- ^ "Billboard Top 100 – 1990". Archived from the original on January 17, 2010. Retrieved September 15, 2009.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary Songs – Year-End 1990". Billboard. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
External links[]
- 1989 songs
- 1990 singles
- Billy Joel songs
- Columbia Records singles
- Songs written by Billy Joel