Big Shot (song)

"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.

This article is about the Billy Joel song. For other uses, see Big Shot (disambiguation).
"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"
ReleasedJanuary 1979
RecordedA & R Recording, Inc., New York City, 1978
Genre
Length4:03 (Album version)
3:43 (Single version)
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)Billy Joel
Producer(s)Phil Ramone
Billy Joel singles chronology
"My Life"
(1978)		 "Big Shot"
(1979)		 "Honesty"
(1979)

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.[1] 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."[2] 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.[3]

Billboard Magazine described "Big Shot" as "an upbeat rocker" with "very contemporary lyrical content," stating that it was driven by "powerfully rhythmic backing."[4]

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[5] 13
New Zealand Singles Chart 36
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 14
U.S. Cash Box Top 100 13

References
  1. Billy Joel Q&A: What Inspired the Song "Big Shot"?
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. "Top Single Picks" (PDF). Billboard Magazine. February 10, 1979. p. 62. Retrieved 2020-07-08.
  5. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 2012-10-23. Retrieved 2012-05-12.
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