It's Still Rock and Roll to Me by Billy Joel

By Ron Powers

In 1980, Billy Joel scored the biggest hit of his career to that point with “It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me”. Released as the second single from Glass Houses, the song quickly climbed the charts, becoming Joel’s first number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and spending two weeks at the top. More than just a commercial triumph, it captured the tension between timeless songwriting and ever-changing musical trends, as Joel poked fun at the fashion, hype, and industry obsession with the next big thing. From its infectious rockabilly groove and saxophone-driven arrangement to its witty, tongue-in-cheek lyrics, “It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me” combines classic rock and roll spirit with sharp social commentary, creating a song that remains just as relevant decades later as it was when it first topped the charts.

The song starts things with a single palm-muted note played on an electric guitar at mid-tempo with a touch of slapback delay. The gentle thump of a kick drum can also be heard along with the guitar, giving this classic tune some toe-tapping power right from the get-go. In no time at all, Joel chimes in with the verse melody expressing a mix of Elvis charm and an ‘80s brat attitude. His lyrics express a satirical response to someone feeling pressured to keep up with the latest fashions and cultural trends. Billy adopts the voice of someone offering blunt, sarcastic advice, suggesting that chasing every new style is ultimately superficial and unnecessary. As the verse progresses, slowly strummed guitar chords are struck and allowed to ring out with tremolo and subtle overdrive effects. A second electric guitar is used percussively by muting all the notes and striking the strings with a pick to emphasize the backbeat. The kickdrum also picks up the pace, giving the minimalist arrangement a lift in energy just before the full band is introduced.

Moving out of the verse and into the chorus, drummer Liberty DeVitto and bassist Doug Stegmeyer join forces to create a tight 16th note fill that raises the energy and maintains the sophisticated and focused sound of the song. Joel also switches up the chord progression for the chorus and gets even more mileage out of the classic rock and roll shuffle pattern the world has loved since the 1950s. A second rhythm guitar part is also added for the chorus that emphasizes the offbeat and mixes with the other rhythm elements to make the song jump. Lyrically Joel is essentially arguing that despite all the hype surrounding new bands, new sounds, and changing tastes, the fundamental appeal of rock and roll hasn't really changed. What gets marketed as something new is often just an old musical idea dressed up in a different style.

Billy Joel is currently focused on his health and recovery after being diagnosed with Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH), a brain disorder that can affect balance, movement, and vision. He has canceled his active touring schedule to undergo regular physical therapy, though he has continued to make occasional minor public appearances and surprise short sets. If you would like to listen to “It's Still Rock and Roll to Me”, or any of Joel’s classic songs, you can find his music on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and most other places music is streamed or sold. If you would like to learn more about Billy Joel, you can find more information on Wikipedia, Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok.

Ron Powers