In the infamous song “Uptown Girl,” Billy Joel takes us on a journey of a working-class man’s pursuit of the affection of a wealthy woman. Released in 1983 as part of his album “An Innocent Man,” the song reflects a different time in the singer’s life and cultural status.
A Twist in the Tale
There has been speculation about whom the song is truly about. In a conversation between Joel and Howard Stern, Stern reveals that there is a book claiming the song is actually about Elle MacPherson, not Christie Brinkley, as popularly believed. However, Joel clarified that they only got part of the story.
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According to Joel: “When I started writing the song, I was dating Elle. It was an incredible time, and that’s why I initially called it ‘Uptown Girls’ – plural. I couldn’t believe the situation I found myself in.”
Setting the Record Straight
Stern then asks Joel if he ever imagined that he would be sitting in front of Christie Brinkley, Elle MacPherson, and Whitney Houston on the same night. Joel confirms that they were all admirers of his piano playing. It is worth noting, however, that Stern’s comments about MacPherson were disrespectful and objectifying.
To provide more context, Joel explains that he wrote some subpar lyrics, such as “Uptown girls, I’ve been all around the world.” He continues, “I was dating Elle for a few months, but then she went to Europe, and I thought that was the end of it.”
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Later, Joel began dating Christie Brinkley after his relationship with Elle had ended. He transformed the song from being about multiple girls to focusing solely on Brinkley. Joel emphasizes that the story got twisted, and the song is, indeed, about Christie.
A Tribute to Frankie Valli
During the conversation, Stern mentions his belief that it may have upset Brinkley to be largely defined by the term “uptown girl.” Joel counters, explaining, “I started writing the song when I was dating Elle, and the original title was ‘Uptown Girls.’ It was actually a tribute to Frankie Valli.”
With this new understanding, the truth behind “Uptown Girl” becomes clear. It is an anthem of love and desire, inspired by Joel’s experiences with the women in his life and his admiration for Frankie Valli.
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