Just The Way You Are
 | This article does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed. (May 2008) |
| “Just the Way You Are” | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | |||||
| Single by Billy Joel from the album The Stranger | |||||
| B-side | "Get It Right the First Time" | ||||
| Released | 1977 | ||||
| Format | 7" | ||||
| Recorded | 1977 | ||||
| Genre | Pop | ||||
| Length | 4:47 (album version) 3:36 (edited version) | ||||
| Label | Columbia | ||||
| Writer(s) | Billy Joel | ||||
| Producer | Phil Ramone | ||||
| Certification | Gold (RIAA) | ||||
| Billy Joel singles chronology | |||||
| |||||
"Just the Way You Are" is a love song from Billy Joel's 1977 pop rock album, The Stranger. It was written as a birthday gift to Joel's first wife Elizabeth Weber. After they divorced, Joel said that when performing the song, he would imagine what he would eat for dinner or what he would do after the show, or even accidentally sing alternate lyrics written by Liberty DeVitto ("She took the dog, the house, the car"). This was his first US Top 10 (reaching #3) and UK Top 20 single, and it was also Joel's first Gold single in the US. "Just the Way You Are" won the 1978 Grammy Awards for Record of the Year and Song of the Year.
The track features an alto sax solo by jazz artist Phil Woods, who replaced Richie Cannata (who played sax for most of the songs on The Stranger) when the latter's style of playing was deemed unfit for the song. Guitarist Steve Khan, who played on most of the songs on The Stranger missed playing this one because he was on a trip, and had to be replaced. The bossa nova style of the song was strongly encouraged by producer Phil Ramone. Upon learning this would be the beat used for the song, drummer Devitto threw his drumsticks at Joel and said, "I'm not a damned cocktail lounge drummer!"
Joel has gone on record stating that he personally dislikes the song and was originally going to leave it off the album. However, at the request of both Linda Ronstadt and Phoebe Snow (both were recording in other studios in the same building at the time), Joel and Ramone agreed to leave it on the album. Joel has not performed "Just the Way You Are" live in many years.
topJust The Way You Are
Ethical shopping is just another way of showing how rich you are The middle classes congratulate themselves on going green, then carry on buying and flying as much as before
George Monbiot: Ethical shopping is just another way of showing how ...
This is a shot of me playing Just the way you are, with my band 'Alfresco' at a good friends 40th birthday. Its my dream to play live (or record) with billy but I know itll never ...
Billy Joel Me playing Just the way you are. | The Official Billy Joel ...
Change the originaltext or create Your own, in the Song-text-editor - while listening to the Music. "Just the Way You Are"
Song Text Editor 4, Karaoke / "Just the Way You Are"
You are lovable just the way you are ... You Are Lovable Just The Way You Are! Humaniversity Fundamentals by Veeresh
Humaniversity Fundamentals: You Are Lovable Just The Way You Are
Songs like "Just The Way You Are", "My Life", "You May Be Right", "Captain Jack", "Anthony's Song (Movin' Out)","New York State Of Mind", "Piano Man" and "Scenes From An Italian ...