"The Stranger" is a song by rock artist Billy Joel and the title track from his 1977 album of the same name.[3] The song was released as a single in Japan where it became very popular and peaked at #2 on the Oricon chart, selling more than 471,000 copies, charting as well in Australia, New Zealand and France.[4] It was the last single from the album in Japan, while the US and UK saw "She's Always a Woman", released the previous year, as the last single from the album. The single is featured on Joel's greatest hits album, Greatest Hits - Volume I & II.[5]
| "The Stranger" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Billy Joel | ||||
| from the album The Stranger | ||||
| B-side | "Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)" | |||
| Released | May 21, 1978 (Japan) | |||
| Recorded | A & R Recording, Inc., New York City, 1977 | |||
| Genre | Funk rock[1] | |||
| Length | 5:10 (Album version) 4:10 (Single version)[2] | |||
| Label | Columbia CBS Sony (Japan) | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Billy Joel | |||
| Producer(s) | Phil Ramone | |||
| Billy Joel singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Background
editThe song begins and ends with a quiet melody, played on piano and whistled by Joel with accompaniment from his band. He had originally wanted it to be played by some kind of wind instrument, but after he whistled it as a demonstration, producer Phil Ramone persuaded him to abandon the idea and whistle the melody himself for the final cut.[6] It was Joel's homage to Carl Jung's definition of the psychology archetype known as "The Shadow".
An untitled two-minute instrumental "hidden track" reprise of this song is featured at the end of the album The Stranger, after "Everybody Has a Dream".[7]
"The Stranger" has been sampled frequently, primarily in the hip hop genre, in songs such as "Tha Shiznit" by Snoop Dogg.[8]
Track listing
edit7" vinyl (CBS)
edit- "The Stranger"
- "Just the Way You Are"
Japanese 7" vinyl
edit- "The Stranger" [4:10]
- "Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)" [3:30]
Chart history
edit| Chart (1978) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[9] | 59 |
| France (IFOP)[10] | 59 |
| Japan (Oricon Singles Chart) | 2 |
| New Zealand (RIANZ) | 8 |
In popular culture
editThe song was featured during the ending credits of the first episode for the 2020 miniseries The Stand.[citation needed]
The song was featured in the film Uncut Gems.
References
edit- ^ Mitchell, Matt (January 20, 2024). "The 25 Greatest Billy Joel Songs of All Time". Paste. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
- ^ "Billy Joel - The Stranger (Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM, Single)". Discogs.com. 1978. Retrieved 2017-04-16.
- ^ Useted, Tom (24 July 2008). "Billy Joel: The Stranger". PopMatters.
- ^ "Best-selling singles in Japan". Archived from the original on 2015-07-14. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Greatest Hits, Vols. 1-2 (1973-1985) - Billy Joel | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-10-13.
- ^ Joel, Billy (April 3, 2013). "Billy Joel Pays Tribute to Phil Ramone: 'He Was the King'". Rolling Stone.
- ^ "Billy Joel - The Stranger (Vinyl, LP, Album)". Discogs.com. 1977. Retrieved 2016-10-13.
- ^ "Samples of The Stranger by Billy Joel". WhoSampled. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 156. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "Toutes les Chansons N° 1 des Années 70" (in French). InfoDisc. 1978-04-14. Retrieved 11 March 2019.