Uptown Girl

Uptown Girl

Infobox Single |
Name = Uptown Girl


Artist = Billy Joel
from Album = An Innocent Man
Released = 1983
Format = 7"
Recorded = 1983
Genre = Pop
Length = 3:15
Writer = Billy Joel
Label = Columbia
Producer = Phil Ramone
Last single = "Tell Her About It" (1983)
This single = "Uptown Girl" (1983)
Next single = "An Innocent Man" (1983)

"Uptown Girl" is a song performed by musician Billy Joel, whose lyrics deal with a working-class "downtown man" attempting to woo a wealthy "uptown girl". The song was first released in 1983 on his album "An Innocent Man". It peaked at #3 on the Billboard charts in the US,cite book |title= Rock N' Roll Gold Rush |last= Dean |first= Maury |authorlink= Maury Dean |coauthors= |year= 2003 |publisher= Algora |location= |isbn= 0-87586-207-1 |pages= 137-138 |url= ] and #1 in the UK; in 1988, "Rolling Stone" ranked "Uptown Girl" #99 on their list of the 100 most important singles of the period 1963-1988. The style of music, including the doo-wop beat, the close harmonies and Joel's frequent use of falsetto singing, is reminiscent of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons (as the song is meant to be Joel's response to the Four Seasons song "Rag Doll"); the verse melody bears some resemblance to Ravel's "Boléro". The song also has the uncommon feature of changing key from the original two times before giving back, for a total of three keys.

Covers of this song have been performed by Alvin and the Chipmunks, Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, Aaron Carter, Weezer and most notably in 2001 by Irish boy band Westlife, again reaching #1 in the UK, albeit only for a single week.

Inspiration

The song was written about his relationship with his then wife, Christie Brinkley.Joel makes reference to Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice in the song.

Music video

The title character in the music video was played by model Christie Brinkley. The two married in 1985. They divorced in 1994 and subsequently the song was missing from the setlist during Joel's 1994 "River of Dreams" tour.

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. The only logos known to be used are MTV and Friday Night Videos.

Chart positions

Westlife version

Infobox Single
Name = Uptown Girl


Artist = Westlife
from Album = Coast to Coast
Released = March 5 2001
Format = CD single
Genre = Pop
Length = 3:06
Certification = Platinum (UK), Gold (SWE)
Last single = "I Lay My Love on You" (2001)
(9)
This single = "Uptown Girl" (2001)
(10)
Next single = "When You're Looking Like That" (2001)
(11)
Misc = Extra album cover 2
Upper caption = "Uptown Girl" CD2
Type = single

Extra track listing
Album = World Of Our Own (Deluxe Edition) Bonus Disc
Type = studio
this_track = "Uptown Girl (Radio Edit)"
track_no = 1
next_track = "Uptown Girl (Extended Version)"
next_no = 2
Extra track listing
Album = World of Our Own (UK & Ireland Version)
Type = studio
prev_track = "I Cry"
prev_no = 3
this_track = "Uptown Girl (Radio Edit)"
track_no = 4
next_track = "Why Do I Love You"
next_no = 5
Extra track listing
Album = Unbreakable - The Greatest Hits Vol. 1
Type = compilation
prev_track = "I Lay My Love On You"
(International) /
"What Makes A Man"
(UK & Ireland)
prev_no = 8
this_track = "Uptown Girl (Radio Edit)"
track_no = 9
next_track = "Queen Of My Heart"
next_no = 10

"Uptown Girl" was covered and then released as a single by Irish boyband Westlife from second album "Coast to Coast". The single was then also released as a special Comic Relief charity single.

The song is the #14th best selling single of the 21st century in the UK.

Track listing Montalbano

CD1

# "Uptown Girl"
# "Angel's Wings"
# CD Rom Function

CD2

# "Uptown Girl"
# "Angel's Wings" (2001 Remix)
# CD Rom Function

Music video

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

Chart performance

Note:The song also reached #1 in several radio charts in Asia like the Philippines.

Video album Montalbano

Infobox music DVD
Name = Uptown Girl
Type = Music video
Artist = Westlife


Released = March 12, 2001
Recorded =
Genre = Pop
Length =
Label = Sony BMG
Director =
Reviews =
Last DVD = "Coast to Coast - Up Close and Personal" (2000)
This DVD = "Uptown Girl" (2001)
Next DVD = "Where Dreams Come True" (2001)

A video album for this single was released on March 12, 2001 and went straight to #1.

References


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