| Revision as of 12:30, 24 January 2021 editElli (talk | contribs)Edit filter managers, Autopatrolled, Checkusers, Oversighters, Administrators56,790 editsm →Rock Band 3: WP:COMPLETELIST cleanup, replaced: Complete list of downloadable songs for the Rock Band series → List of downloadable songs for the Rock Band seriesTag: AWB← Previous edit | Revision as of 18:38, 28 January 2021 edit undoMonkbot (talk | contribs)Bots3,695,952 editsm Task 18 (cosmetic): eval 4 templates: del empty params (1×); hyphenate params (8×);Tag: AWBNext edit → | ||
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| The song is superficially about the protagonist mocking a woman with a severe ] for her intoxicated escapades around town, making numerous social and verbal faux pas while high on alcohol and drugs ("But now you just don't remember all the things you said / And you're not sure you want to know / I'll give you one hint, honey; you sure did put on a show!") The song makes reference to late 1970s ] fads such as ] restaurant and ]. | The song is superficially about the protagonist mocking a woman with a severe ] for her intoxicated escapades around town, making numerous social and verbal faux pas while high on alcohol and drugs ("But now you just don't remember all the things you said / And you're not sure you want to know / I'll give you one hint, honey; you sure did put on a show!") The song makes reference to late 1970s ] fads such as ] restaurant and ]. | ||
| During a Q&A session at Florida State University in 1996, Joel stated the song is about someone he was very close to, and also about himself.<ref></ref> In an interview in 2006, Billy Joel said, "I read that the song 'Big Shot' is said to be about a date I had with ]. I never had a date with Bianca Jagger."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20736947-1702,00.html |title=Billy Joel back to Aussie basics |author=La Canna, Xavier |date=2006-11-10 |publisher=Australian Associated Press | |
During a Q&A session at Florida State University in 1996, Joel stated the song is about someone he was very close to, and also about himself.<ref></ref> In an interview in 2006, Billy Joel said, "I read that the song 'Big Shot' is said to be about a date I had with ]. I never had a date with Bianca Jagger."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20736947-1702,00.html |title=Billy Joel back to Aussie basics |author=La Canna, Xavier |date=2006-11-10 |publisher=Australian Associated Press |access-date=2007-06-18 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080101093329/http://www.news.com.au/story/0%2C20867%2C20736947-1702%2C00.html |archive-date=January 1, 2008 }}</ref> But in an interview with ] on 16 November 2010, Joel said the song was written after having dinner with Mick and Bianca Jagger. Joel told Stern that while writing the lyrics to "Big Shot," he was thinking of Mick singing the song to Bianca.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.howardstern.com/rundown.hs?j=n&d=1289797200 |title=Billy Joel dreams in music |author=The Howard Stern Show |date=2010-11-16 |publisher=The Howard Stern Show |access-date=2011-11-17 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120503063104/http://www.howardstern.com/rundown.hs?j=n&d=1289797200 |archive-date=2012-05-03 }}</ref> | ||
| '']'' described "Big Shot" as "an upbeat rocker" with "very contemporary m lyrical content," stating that it was driven by "powerfully rhythmic backing."<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Billboard Magazine|title=Top Single Picks| |
'']'' described "Big Shot" as "an upbeat rocker" with "very contemporary m lyrical content," stating that it was driven by "powerfully rhythmic backing."<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Billboard Magazine|title=Top Single Picks|access-date=2020-07-08|date=February 10, 1979|page=62|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/70s/1979/Billboard%201979-02-10.pdf}}</ref> | ||
| ==Release== | ==Release== | ||
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| | style="text-align:center;"|91 | | style="text-align:center;"|91 | ||
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| |]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.4753a&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=r0b0fvnmfdiiqb8dm7jlqidr00 |title=Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada |publisher=Collectionscanada.gc.ca |date |
|]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.4753a&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=r0b0fvnmfdiiqb8dm7jlqidr00 |title=Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada |publisher=Collectionscanada.gc.ca |access-date=2012-05-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023122432/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.4753a&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=r0b0fvnmfdiiqb8dm7jlqidr00 |archive-date=2012-10-23 |url-status=dead }}</ref> | ||
| | style="text-align:center;"|13 | | style="text-align:center;"|13 | ||
| |- | |- | ||
Revision as of 18:38, 28 January 2021
This article is about the Billy Joel song. For other uses, see Big Shot (disambiguation). | This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Big Shot" song – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (June 2020) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
| "Big Shot" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Artwork for Dutch vinyl single | ||||
| Single by Billy Joel | ||||
| from the album 52nd Street | ||||
| B-side | "Root Beer Rag", "Half a Mile Away" | |||
| Released | January 1979 | |||
| Recorded | A & R Recording, Inc., New York City, 1978 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 4:03 (Album version) 3:43 (Single version) | |||
| Label | Columbia | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Billy Joel | |||
| Producer(s) | Phil Ramone | |||
| Billy Joel singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Big Shot" was the second hit single from Billy Joel's 1978 album 52nd Street. The song was released in early 1979, just as his other hit single from that same album, "My Life", was peaking at #3. It would soon become his second top-twenty hit of 1979, peaking at #14.
Lyrics and music
The song is superficially about the protagonist mocking a woman with a severe hangover for her intoxicated escapades around town, making numerous social and verbal faux pas while high on alcohol and drugs ("But now you just don't remember all the things you said / And you're not sure you want to know / I'll give you one hint, honey; you sure did put on a show!") The song makes reference to late 1970s nouveau riche fads such as Elaine's restaurant and Halston.
During a Q&A session at Florida State University in 1996, Joel stated the song is about someone he was very close to, and also about himself. In an interview in 2006, Billy Joel said, "I read that the song 'Big Shot' is said to be about a date I had with Bianca Jagger. I never had a date with Bianca Jagger." But in an interview with Howard Stern on 16 November 2010, Joel said the song was written after having dinner with Mick and Bianca Jagger. Joel told Stern that while writing the lyrics to "Big Shot," he was thinking of Mick singing the song to Bianca.
Billboard Magazine described "Big Shot" as "an upbeat rocker" with "very contemporary m lyrical content," stating that it was driven by "powerfully rhythmic backing."
Release
The single release of the song had an abridged outro compared to the album version.
Rock Band 3
The song was made available to download on December 14, 2010 for use in the Rock Band 3 music gaming platform in both Basic rhythm, and PRO mode which allows the use of a real guitar / bass guitar, and MIDI compatible electronic drum kits / keyboards in addition to vocals.
Chart history
| Chart (1979) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Singles Chart | 91 |
| Canadian Singles Chart | 13 |
| New Zealand Singles Chart | 36 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 14 |
| U.S. Cash Box Top 100 | 13 |
References
- Billy Joel Q&A: What Inspired the Song "Big Shot"?
- La Canna, Xavier (2006-11-10). "Billy Joel back to Aussie basics". Australian Associated Press. Archived from the original on January 1, 2008. Retrieved 2007-06-18.
- The Howard Stern Show (2010-11-16). "Billy Joel dreams in music". The Howard Stern Show. Archived from the original on 2012-05-03. Retrieved 2011-11-17.
- "Top Single Picks" (PDF). Billboard Magazine. February 10, 1979. p. 62. Retrieved 2020-07-08.
- "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 2012-10-23. Retrieved 2012-05-12.
