The song was a monster hit in the UK, the second-biggest selling single of 1983 behind only Culture Club’s “Karma Chameleon.”ġ00. Being armed with that information go back and listen to the song (or even better, watch the video) and you’ll see the homage is unmistakable.
She’s been living in her white bread worldįun Fact: Joel’s said in interviews that the song was inspired by Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. 528, 5th November 1983, video Billy Joel pays tribute to the music of his childhood, and so inevitably there’s something childish about Uptown Girl: its instant singability makes it sound like a Grease outtake, except there was more sex and chemistry in Grease’s flirtatious goofery.The street music doo-wop and rock’n’roll that Uptown Girl draws energy from was able. Great Lyrics: The lyrics “backstreet guy” and “white bread world” in the same verse. It finished 39 th on the year-end (1984) Billboard Top 100. Uptown Girl ultimately was nominated for a Best Pop Vocal Performance (Male) Grammy in 1984, losing to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” because of course.Ĭhart Success: Peaked at number-three on Billboard and spent 22 weeks on the charts. Of course, Brinkley is the hot chick in the video, tho Joel said the song originally started out being written about this then-girlfriend Macpherson. The song depicts a mechanic from the wrong side of the tracks in love with the sexy rich girl. Not only did I love the song, but the video was one of the hippest I’d had ever seen as a 12-year old and keep in mind-music videos had a much greater influence on pop culture during that era. While some (perhaps many) prefer “Tell Her About It” or “The Longest Time” my favorite was Uptown Girl.
While Joel is far better known for his music in the 70s (Piano Man, Scenes From An Italian Restaurant, Moving Out-I can go on forever) his Grammy nominated An Innocent Man album in 1983 was a big hit critically and commercially. If he couldn’t get any cooler, the dude dated supermodels and not just any - we’re talking Elle Macpherson and (future wife) Christie Brinkley. He’s a New York City icon and his music is treasured by New Yorkers everywhere. In late April 2021, Pace announced a UK tour of his award-winning show The Billy Joel Songbook in September and October 2021.Being born and raised in the great state of New York, it can’t be overstated how smooth Billy Joel is. Among other accolades, Sir Terry Wogan said The Billy Joel Songbook is “only sensational”, while Pace counts Huey Lewis and Queen’s Brian May among his fans. The result was the 2018 concert film The Billy Joel Songbook Live, which received an award at the 17th annual Independent Music Awards in New York City for Best Overall Long Form Music Video. In 2015, one of those shows was filmed during which he played 30 classic Billy Joel tunes including Uptown Girl, Just The Way You Are, My Life, Scenes From An Italian Restaurant, It’s Only Rock And Roll and New York State Of Mind. Over the next two years, Pace took The Billy Joel Songbook on a 70-date UK and Ireland tour. Instead of trying to do an impression, The Elio Pace Band channels his artistry while performing an array of songs – from Joel’s biggest hits to others he doesn’t perform live anymore. Upon returning to the UK, Pace created The Billy Joel Songbook, a show celebrating Joel’s artistry. In 2013, he was invited to fill the icon’s shoes at reunion concerts with Joel’s original 1971-72 touring band in New York and Philadelphia. In-depth analysis of 15 tracks from the second half of Billy Joels long and successful career including River of Dreams Tell Her About It and Karaoke standard Uptown Girl 14. Pace had always regarded Billy Joel as an amazing vocalist and lyricist.
In 1993, he also formed The Elio Pace Band, playing venues across the UK. He even appeared as Elton John and Billy Joel in Bill Kenwright’s Thank You For The Music.
After training at Leeds College of Music, he entered BBC’s Bob Says Opportunity Knocks in 2014 and reached the final, which opened doors for him on TV and the stage.ĭuring the next decade, Pace worked in musical theatre, both as a cast member and music director for shows like Joseph And The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat and West Side Story. While growing up, he was greatly influenced by the music of Elvis Presley. Born in Surrey, Elio Pace has been singing and playing piano since the age of four.