• HOME
  • ALL SONGS
    • TOP TWENTY-FIVE
  • ALL ALBUMS
  • DISCOGRAPHY
    • DISCOGRAPHY (Detailed)
  • * * * * * * * * * *
  • STUDIO ALBUMS
    • Cold Spring Harbor (1971) >
      • Album Page - Cold Spring Harbor
      • She's Got A Way
      • You Can Make Me Free
      • Everybody Loves You Now
      • Why Judy Why
      • Falling Of The Rain
      • Turn Around
      • You Look So Good To Me
      • Tomorrow Is Today
      • Nocturne
      • Got To Begin Again
    • Piano Man (1973) >
      • Album Page - Piano Man
      • Travelin' Prayer
      • Piano Man >
        • Piano Man - Videos Page
      • Ain't No Crime
      • You're My Home
      • The Ballad of Billy The Kid
      • Worse Comes To Worst
      • Stop In Nevada
      • If I Only Had The Words (To Tell You)
      • Somewhere Along The Line
      • Captain Jack
    • Streetlife Serenade (1974) >
      • Album Page - Streetlife Serenade
      • Streetlife Serenader
      • Los Angelenos
      • The Great Suburban Showdown
      • Root Beer Rag
      • Roberta
      • The Entertainer
      • Last of the Big Time Spenders
      • Weekend Song
      • Souvenir
      • The Mexican Connection
    • Turnstiles (1976) >
      • Album Page - Turnstiles
      • Say Goodbye to Hollywood
      • Summer, Highland Falls >
        • Summer, Highland Falls - Videos Page
      • All You Wanna Do Is Dance
      • New York State of Mind >
        • New York State of Mind - Videos Page
      • James
      • Prelude/Angry Young Man
      • I've Loved These Days
      • Miami 2017 (Seen The Lights Go Out On Broadway) >
        • Miami 2017 - Videos Page
    • The Stranger (1977) >
      • Album Page - The Stranger
      • Movin' Out
      • The Stranger
      • Just The Way You Are
      • Scenes From An Italian Restaurant >
        • Scenes From An Italian Restaurant - Videos Page
      • Vienna >
        • Vienna - Videos Page
      • Only The Good Die Young
      • She's Always A Woman
      • Get It Right The First Time
      • Everybody Has A Dream
    • 52nd Street (1978) >
      • Album Page - 52nd Street
      • Big Shot
      • Honesty
      • My Life
      • Zanzibar
      • Stiletto
      • Rosalinda's Eyes
      • Half A Mile Away
      • Until The Night
      • 52nd Street
    • Glass Houses (1980) >
      • Album Page - Glass Houses
      • You May Be Right
      • Sometimes A Fantasy
      • Don't Ask Me Why
      • It's Still Rock and Roll To Me
      • All For Leyna
      • I Don't Want To Be Alone (Anymore)
      • Sleeping With The Television On
      • C'etait Toi (You Were The One)
      • Close to the Borderline
      • Through the Long Night
    • The Nylon Curtain (1982) >
      • Album Page - The Nylon Curtain
      • Allentown
      • Laura
      • Pressure
      • Goodnight Saigon
      • She's Right On Time
      • A Room of Our Own
      • Surprises
      • Scandinavian Skies
      • Where's The Orchestra
    • An Innocent Man (1983) >
      • Album Page - An Innocent Man
      • Easy Money
      • An Innocent Man
      • The Longest Time >
        • The Longest Time - Videos
      • This Night
      • Tell Her About It >
        • Making of Tell Her About It Video
      • Uptown Girl
      • Careless Talk
      • Christie Lee
      • Leave A Tender Moment Alone >
        • Leave A Tender Moment Alone - Videos
      • Keeping The Faith
    • The Bridge (1986) >
      • Album Page - The Bridge
      • Running On Ice
      • This Is The Time
      • A Matter of Trust
      • Modern Woman
      • Baby Grand
      • Temptation
      • Big Man On Mulberry Street
      • Code of Silence
      • Getting Closer
    • Storm Front (1989) >
      • Album Page - Storm Front
      • That's Not Her Style
      • We Didn't Start The Fire >
        • We Didn't Start The Fire - Videos Page
      • The Downeaster 'Alexa' >
        • The Downeaster 'Alexa' - Videos Page
      • I Go To Extremes
      • Shameless
      • Storm Front
      • Leningrad
      • State of Grace
      • When In Rome
      • And So It Goes
    • River of Dreams (1993) >
      • Album Page - River of Dreams
      • No Man's Land
      • The Great Wall of China
      • Blonde Over Blue
      • A Minor Variation
      • Shades of Grey
      • All About Soul
      • Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel)
      • The River of Dreams
      • Two Thousand Years
      • Famous Last Words
    • Fantasies & Delusions (2001)
    • All My Life (2007) (single)
  • LIVE ALBUMS
    • Live on WMMR Sigma Sound Studios (1972) >
      • Falling Of The Rain (Live) (1972)
      • Travelin' Prayer (live) (1972)
      • The Ballad of Billy The Kid (live) (1972)
      • She's Got A Way (live) (1972)
      • Everybody Loves You Now (live) (1972)
      • Nocturne (live) (1972)
      • Turn Around (live) (1972)
      • Long, Long Time (live) (1972)
      • Captain Jack (live) (1972)
      • Josephine (live) (1972)
      • Rosalinda (live) (1972)
      • Tomorrow Is Today (live) (1972)
    • Live At The Great American Music Hall (1975)
    • Live At Carnegie Hall (1977)
    • Songs In The Attic (1981) >
      • Album Page - Songs In The Attic (1981)
      • Miami 2017 (live) (1981)
      • Summer, Highland Falls (live) (1981)
      • Streetlife Serenader (live) (1981)
      • Los Angelenos (live) (1981)
      • She's Got A Way (live) (1981)
      • Everybody Loves You Now (live) (1981)
      • Say Goodbye To Hollywood (live) (1981)
      • Captain Jack (live) (1981)
      • You're My Home (live) (1981)
      • The Ballad of Billy The Kid (live) (1981)
      • I've Loved These Days (live) (1981)
    • Live from Long Island (1982)
    • KOHUEPT (1987) >
      • Album Page - Kohuept (1987)
    • Live at Yankee Stadium (1990)
    • Live from The River of Dreams (1993-1994)
    • 2000 Years: The Millennium Concert (2000)
    • 12 Gardens Live (2006)
    • Live At Shea Stadium (2011)
    • A Matter of Trust: The Bridge to Russia (2014) >
      • Album Page - A Matter of Trust (2014)
      • Prelude/Angry Young Man (Live-Russia)
      • Honesty (Live-Russia)
      • The Ballad of Billy The Kid (Live-Russia)
      • She's Always A Woman (Live-Russia)
      • Scenes From An Italian Restaurant (Live-Russia)
      • Goodnight Saigon (Live-Russia) - Billy Joel
      • Stiletto (Live-Russia)
      • Big Man On Mulberry Street (Live-Russia)
      • Baby Grand (Live-Russia)
      • What's Your Name (Live-Russia)
      • The Longest Time (Live-Russia)
      • An Innocent Man (Live-Russia)
      • Pressure (Live-Russia)
      • A Matter of Trust (Live-Russia)
      • It's Still Rock and Roll To Me (Live-Russia)
      • Sometimes A Fantasy (Live-Russia)
      • You May Be Right (Live-Russia)
      • Uptown Girl (Live-Russia)
      • Back In the USSR (Live-Russia)
      • The Times They Are A Changin' (Live-Russia)
      • New York State of Mind (Live-Russia)
    • Live in Miami (2017) (fictional)
    • Live Through The Years (2019)
  • COMPILATIONS & SPECIAL EDITIONS
    • Souvenir (1977)
    • Greatest Hits, I & II (1985) >
      • You're Only Human (Second Wind) - Billy Joel
      • The Night Is Still Young
    • Greatest Hits, III (1997) >
      • To Make You Feel My Love
      • Hey Girl
      • Light As The Breeze
    • The Complete Hits (1997)
    • The Essential Billy Joel (2001)
    • Movin' Out (2002)
    • My Lives (2005) >
      • My Journey's End
      • You've Got Me Hummin'
      • Only A Man
      • Oyster Bay
      • The Siegfried Line
      • New Mexico
      • Cross to Bear
      • Miami 2017 (demo version)
      • These Rhinestone Days
      • Only The Good Die Young (alternate version)
      • The End of the World
      • The Prime of Your Life
      • Elvis Presley Boulevard
      • Nobody Knows But Me
      • Christie Lee (demo)
      • I'll Cry Instead
      • House of Blue Light
      • Money or Love
      • The Times They Are A Changin'
      • Shout
      • All Shook Up
      • Heartbreak Hotel
      • When You Wish Upon A Star
      • In A Sentimental Mood
      • Motorcycle Song
      • You Picked A Real Bad Time
      • A Hard Day's Night
      • Why Should I Worry
      • Where Were You (On Our Wedding Day)?
      • Highway 61 Revisited
      • Don't Worry Baby
      • Elegy: The Great Peconic
      • So Long Reverend Ike
    • The Stranger - Legacy (2008)
    • The Hits (2010)
    • Piano Man - Legacy (2011)
    • The Complete Albums (2011)
    • She's Got A Way - Love Songs (2013)
    • Sadness or Euphoria (2017) (fictional)
  • * * * * * * * * * *
  • BIOGRAPHY
  • Timeline
  • NEWS (Official Site)
  • TOUR (Official Site)
  • TWITTER
  • YOUTUBE
  • * * * * * * * * * *
  • ARTICLES & INTERVIEWS
    • 2020's
    • 2010's
    • 2000's
    • 1990's
    • 1980's
    • 1970's
    • Rolling Stone Articles
  • BILLY JOEL BAND
  • BOOKS & SHEET MUSIC
    • Books
    • Sheet Music
  • LINKS & LISTS
  • PHOTOS
  • ROOT BEER RAG Past Issues
  • STREETLIFE SERENADE Past Issues
  • VIDEOS & CONCERTS
    • Concerts on Video/DVD
    • Concerts on YouTube
    • Documentaries et al.
    • Face to Face Tours
    • Havana Jam 1979
    • Music Videos
    • YouTube Channel - One Final Serenade
  • CONTACT US
    • TERMS OF USE & PRIVACY POLICY
  • * * * * * * * * * *
  • HOME
  • ALL SONGS
    • TOP TWENTY-FIVE
  • ALL ALBUMS
  • DISCOGRAPHY
    • DISCOGRAPHY (Detailed)
  • * * * * * * * * * *
  • STUDIO ALBUMS
    • Cold Spring Harbor (1971) >
      • Album Page - Cold Spring Harbor
      • She's Got A Way
      • You Can Make Me Free
      • Everybody Loves You Now
      • Why Judy Why
      • Falling Of The Rain
      • Turn Around
      • You Look So Good To Me
      • Tomorrow Is Today
      • Nocturne
      • Got To Begin Again
    • Piano Man (1973) >
      • Album Page - Piano Man
      • Travelin' Prayer
      • Piano Man >
        • Piano Man - Videos Page
      • Ain't No Crime
      • You're My Home
      • The Ballad of Billy The Kid
      • Worse Comes To Worst
      • Stop In Nevada
      • If I Only Had The Words (To Tell You)
      • Somewhere Along The Line
      • Captain Jack
    • Streetlife Serenade (1974) >
      • Album Page - Streetlife Serenade
      • Streetlife Serenader
      • Los Angelenos
      • The Great Suburban Showdown
      • Root Beer Rag
      • Roberta
      • The Entertainer
      • Last of the Big Time Spenders
      • Weekend Song
      • Souvenir
      • The Mexican Connection
    • Turnstiles (1976) >
      • Album Page - Turnstiles
      • Say Goodbye to Hollywood
      • Summer, Highland Falls >
        • Summer, Highland Falls - Videos Page
      • All You Wanna Do Is Dance
      • New York State of Mind >
        • New York State of Mind - Videos Page
      • James
      • Prelude/Angry Young Man
      • I've Loved These Days
      • Miami 2017 (Seen The Lights Go Out On Broadway) >
        • Miami 2017 - Videos Page
    • The Stranger (1977) >
      • Album Page - The Stranger
      • Movin' Out
      • The Stranger
      • Just The Way You Are
      • Scenes From An Italian Restaurant >
        • Scenes From An Italian Restaurant - Videos Page
      • Vienna >
        • Vienna - Videos Page
      • Only The Good Die Young
      • She's Always A Woman
      • Get It Right The First Time
      • Everybody Has A Dream
    • 52nd Street (1978) >
      • Album Page - 52nd Street
      • Big Shot
      • Honesty
      • My Life
      • Zanzibar
      • Stiletto
      • Rosalinda's Eyes
      • Half A Mile Away
      • Until The Night
      • 52nd Street
    • Glass Houses (1980) >
      • Album Page - Glass Houses
      • You May Be Right
      • Sometimes A Fantasy
      • Don't Ask Me Why
      • It's Still Rock and Roll To Me
      • All For Leyna
      • I Don't Want To Be Alone (Anymore)
      • Sleeping With The Television On
      • C'etait Toi (You Were The One)
      • Close to the Borderline
      • Through the Long Night
    • The Nylon Curtain (1982) >
      • Album Page - The Nylon Curtain
      • Allentown
      • Laura
      • Pressure
      • Goodnight Saigon
      • She's Right On Time
      • A Room of Our Own
      • Surprises
      • Scandinavian Skies
      • Where's The Orchestra
    • An Innocent Man (1983) >
      • Album Page - An Innocent Man
      • Easy Money
      • An Innocent Man
      • The Longest Time >
        • The Longest Time - Videos
      • This Night
      • Tell Her About It >
        • Making of Tell Her About It Video
      • Uptown Girl
      • Careless Talk
      • Christie Lee
      • Leave A Tender Moment Alone >
        • Leave A Tender Moment Alone - Videos
      • Keeping The Faith
    • The Bridge (1986) >
      • Album Page - The Bridge
      • Running On Ice
      • This Is The Time
      • A Matter of Trust
      • Modern Woman
      • Baby Grand
      • Temptation
      • Big Man On Mulberry Street
      • Code of Silence
      • Getting Closer
    • Storm Front (1989) >
      • Album Page - Storm Front
      • That's Not Her Style
      • We Didn't Start The Fire >
        • We Didn't Start The Fire - Videos Page
      • The Downeaster 'Alexa' >
        • The Downeaster 'Alexa' - Videos Page
      • I Go To Extremes
      • Shameless
      • Storm Front
      • Leningrad
      • State of Grace
      • When In Rome
      • And So It Goes
    • River of Dreams (1993) >
      • Album Page - River of Dreams
      • No Man's Land
      • The Great Wall of China
      • Blonde Over Blue
      • A Minor Variation
      • Shades of Grey
      • All About Soul
      • Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel)
      • The River of Dreams
      • Two Thousand Years
      • Famous Last Words
    • Fantasies & Delusions (2001)
    • All My Life (2007) (single)
  • LIVE ALBUMS
    • Live on WMMR Sigma Sound Studios (1972) >
      • Falling Of The Rain (Live) (1972)
      • Travelin' Prayer (live) (1972)
      • The Ballad of Billy The Kid (live) (1972)
      • She's Got A Way (live) (1972)
      • Everybody Loves You Now (live) (1972)
      • Nocturne (live) (1972)
      • Turn Around (live) (1972)
      • Long, Long Time (live) (1972)
      • Captain Jack (live) (1972)
      • Josephine (live) (1972)
      • Rosalinda (live) (1972)
      • Tomorrow Is Today (live) (1972)
    • Live At The Great American Music Hall (1975)
    • Live At Carnegie Hall (1977)
    • Songs In The Attic (1981) >
      • Album Page - Songs In The Attic (1981)
      • Miami 2017 (live) (1981)
      • Summer, Highland Falls (live) (1981)
      • Streetlife Serenader (live) (1981)
      • Los Angelenos (live) (1981)
      • She's Got A Way (live) (1981)
      • Everybody Loves You Now (live) (1981)
      • Say Goodbye To Hollywood (live) (1981)
      • Captain Jack (live) (1981)
      • You're My Home (live) (1981)
      • The Ballad of Billy The Kid (live) (1981)
      • I've Loved These Days (live) (1981)
    • Live from Long Island (1982)
    • KOHUEPT (1987) >
      • Album Page - Kohuept (1987)
    • Live at Yankee Stadium (1990)
    • Live from The River of Dreams (1993-1994)
    • 2000 Years: The Millennium Concert (2000)
    • 12 Gardens Live (2006)
    • Live At Shea Stadium (2011)
    • A Matter of Trust: The Bridge to Russia (2014) >
      • Album Page - A Matter of Trust (2014)
      • Prelude/Angry Young Man (Live-Russia)
      • Honesty (Live-Russia)
      • The Ballad of Billy The Kid (Live-Russia)
      • She's Always A Woman (Live-Russia)
      • Scenes From An Italian Restaurant (Live-Russia)
      • Goodnight Saigon (Live-Russia) - Billy Joel
      • Stiletto (Live-Russia)
      • Big Man On Mulberry Street (Live-Russia)
      • Baby Grand (Live-Russia)
      • What's Your Name (Live-Russia)
      • The Longest Time (Live-Russia)
      • An Innocent Man (Live-Russia)
      • Pressure (Live-Russia)
      • A Matter of Trust (Live-Russia)
      • It's Still Rock and Roll To Me (Live-Russia)
      • Sometimes A Fantasy (Live-Russia)
      • You May Be Right (Live-Russia)
      • Uptown Girl (Live-Russia)
      • Back In the USSR (Live-Russia)
      • The Times They Are A Changin' (Live-Russia)
      • New York State of Mind (Live-Russia)
    • Live in Miami (2017) (fictional)
    • Live Through The Years (2019)
  • COMPILATIONS & SPECIAL EDITIONS
    • Souvenir (1977)
    • Greatest Hits, I & II (1985) >
      • You're Only Human (Second Wind) - Billy Joel
      • The Night Is Still Young
    • Greatest Hits, III (1997) >
      • To Make You Feel My Love
      • Hey Girl
      • Light As The Breeze
    • The Complete Hits (1997)
    • The Essential Billy Joel (2001)
    • Movin' Out (2002)
    • My Lives (2005) >
      • My Journey's End
      • You've Got Me Hummin'
      • Only A Man
      • Oyster Bay
      • The Siegfried Line
      • New Mexico
      • Cross to Bear
      • Miami 2017 (demo version)
      • These Rhinestone Days
      • Only The Good Die Young (alternate version)
      • The End of the World
      • The Prime of Your Life
      • Elvis Presley Boulevard
      • Nobody Knows But Me
      • Christie Lee (demo)
      • I'll Cry Instead
      • House of Blue Light
      • Money or Love
      • The Times They Are A Changin'
      • Shout
      • All Shook Up
      • Heartbreak Hotel
      • When You Wish Upon A Star
      • In A Sentimental Mood
      • Motorcycle Song
      • You Picked A Real Bad Time
      • A Hard Day's Night
      • Why Should I Worry
      • Where Were You (On Our Wedding Day)?
      • Highway 61 Revisited
      • Don't Worry Baby
      • Elegy: The Great Peconic
      • So Long Reverend Ike
    • The Stranger - Legacy (2008)
    • The Hits (2010)
    • Piano Man - Legacy (2011)
    • The Complete Albums (2011)
    • She's Got A Way - Love Songs (2013)
    • Sadness or Euphoria (2017) (fictional)
  • * * * * * * * * * *
  • BIOGRAPHY
  • Timeline
  • NEWS (Official Site)
  • TOUR (Official Site)
  • TWITTER
  • YOUTUBE
  • * * * * * * * * * *
  • ARTICLES & INTERVIEWS
    • 2020's
    • 2010's
    • 2000's
    • 1990's
    • 1980's
    • 1970's
    • Rolling Stone Articles
  • BILLY JOEL BAND
  • BOOKS & SHEET MUSIC
    • Books
    • Sheet Music
  • LINKS & LISTS
  • PHOTOS
  • ROOT BEER RAG Past Issues
  • STREETLIFE SERENADE Past Issues
  • VIDEOS & CONCERTS
    • Concerts on Video/DVD
    • Concerts on YouTube
    • Documentaries et al.
    • Face to Face Tours
    • Havana Jam 1979
    • Music Videos
    • YouTube Channel - One Final Serenade
  • CONTACT US
    • TERMS OF USE & PRIVACY POLICY
  • * * * * * * * * * *
<<      ​
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​    I don't want clever conversation
     I never want to work that hard
     I just want someone that I can talk to
     I want you just the way you are.

     "Just The Way You Are" is the song that made Billy an international superstar.  It won both Song of the Year and Record of the Year in 1978 at the Grammy Awards and was probably the most frequently played song on the radio in 1977.  Millions of newlyweds played it at their weddings. 

​     It is a classic.  It remains Billy Joel's most covered song, along with "New York State of Mind."  The gradually descending bass line of diminished 7ths chords coupled with producer Phil Ramone's soft Latin-like samba beat played in part by Liberty Devitto, of course, and Phil Woods' beautiful sax solo make the song irresistible, even sublime.  Click here (removed) to read about how it was put together, from an interview of Billy in Jazz Wax by Mark Myers. \

     And the sentiment behind Billy's lyrics still rings true.  The lyrics are sincere and clever at the same time.  Each verse is unique, none are repeated until the end (rare in a pop song), and each expresses a heartfelt sentiment.   In a time of turbulent change, "Just The Way You Are" struck a chord with people who wanted to be accepted and loved for being just the way they were.  

​     The song almost didn't make it on the album as Billy and his bandmates thought it was too sappy, a "chick song" as Billy said.  But singers Linda Ronstadt and Phoebe Snow (photo below), who were visiting Billy in the recording studio, urged him to keep it on the album. 
​Words and Music by Billy Joel
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Don't go changing, to try and please me
You never let me down before
Don't imagine you're too familiar
And I don't see you anymore

I would not leave you in times of trouble
We never could have come this far
I took the good times, I'll take the bad times
I'll take you just the way you are

Don't go trying some new fashion
Don't change the color of your hair
You always have my unspoken passion
Although I might not seem to care

I don't want clever conversation
I never want to work that hard
I just want someone that I can talk to
I want you just the way you are.

I need to know that you will always be
The same old someone that I knew
What will it take till you believe in me
The way that I believe in you.

I said I love you and that's forever
And this I promise from the heart
I could not love you any better
I love you just the way you are.


I don't want clever conversation
I never want to work that hard
I just want someone that I can talk to
I want you just the way you are. ​

​HUGH MCCRACKEN - ACOUSTIC GUITAR
RALPH MCDONALD - PERCUSSION
STEVE BURGH - ACOUSTIC GUITAR
PHIL WOODS - ALTO SAX
​
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Jazz saxophonist Phil Woods. 
​Photo from Wikimedia Commons (1978).
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Billy and Jamie Cullum discuss the sax solo of "Just The Way You Are" on BBC Radio 2 (2016).
      The enormous popularity of the song (it peaked at #3 on the US charts) caused many critics to unfairly peg Billy as a balladeer, another soft-rock sensitive guy like Barry Manilow or Neil Diamond, although Billy's roots were always in rock and pop.   A critical backlash began to develop against the song and Billy who was enjoying worldwide recognition for the first time.  Some critics mocked the song as being  maudlin or "lounge" music.   But that didn't stop millions of people from buying the record, and over the years, it has become recognized as a pop standard by musicians and fans alike.  Both Billy and the song have withstood the test of time.  That's why Billy and the song are classics.
​
*             *            *             *             *             *             *

​       Jazz and R&B musicians and vocalists such as Frank Sinatra, Isaac Hayes, Diana Krall, Harry Connick Jr., Barry White and numerous others have covered "Just The Way You Are."  Guitarist Jose Feliciano does an impassioned cover as well.  Here is a nice bossa nova version by Breeze.  Billy's daughter Alexa Ray Joel does a nice version too.   See her discuss the song as part of the Gap promotion, and hear a snippet of an in studio performance.   And here is a good mashup of Billy's song with Bruno Mars' same-titled "Just The Way You Are" from 2010.  Here is a nice jazzy and funky cover by Piere Aristil and friends.  In 2021, Jose James did a unique cover of the song too (see below) with an album cover that is an homage to the 52nd Street album.  But my favorite version is the jazzy cover by New Zealand group Twinset which is done as a duet.  See video below.
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Phoebe Snow urged Billy to keep the song on the album.  Photo: Sheri Lynn Behr.
​Billy discusses how the music came to him, and how the lyrics have sometimes been misinterpreted, from SiriusXM.
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​Billy and Tom Odell discuss the nuance in the song and Billy's use of an electric piano (Fender Rhodes) from BBC Radio 2 (2019).
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Videos
​
"Just The Way You Are"  won Grammy Awards for both Song of the Year and Record of the  Year.   ​© 1977 Sony Music Entertainment.  
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Billy singing his hit "Just The Way You Are'" on SNL with Richie Cannata on sax, in February 1978.
​
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Original studio LP version of "Just The Way You Are." 
Billy sings a modified version of the song on Sesame Street in 1986, with actress Marlee Matlin (who later appeared in the "We Didn't Start The Fire" video in 1990). 
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Billy explains how "Just The Way You Are" came to him, first in a dream and then later during a meeting.
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Legendary producer Phil Ramone explains how 10cc's "I'm Not In Love" influenced "Just The Way You Are." 
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Covers
​
Many artists have covered "Just The Way You Are."  Below are some of my favorites.   For a YouTube playlist of covers, click list.
​
Jazz vocalist Diana Krall did a lovely cover of the song in 2002, which apparently was used in the movie The Guru
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Beautiful acoustic cover of "Just The Way You Are" by Naudo.  This is very impressive.
The New Zealand band Twinset performs the song as a jazzy duet.
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Very nice version from Jose James, released in 2020, but reminiscent of 1970's soul.  The album cover pays homage to Billy's 52nd Street album.

Comments
​

PicturePublicity photo (1981)
All music and lyrics by Billy Joel, except as noted. Lyrics to Billy Joel songs are © Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG), Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC.  This is an unofficial fan site providing information and commentary on Billy Joel's music. This site has no advertisements, makes no money, and does not collect any personal information.  It is not affiliated, endorsed, or sponsored by Billy Joel, UMPG, Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Sony Music, Columbia Records, Maritime Music, or any Billy Joel organization.  Billy Joel's official site is at BillyJoel.com.

  One Final Serenade: The Songs of Billy Joel (Billy Joel Fan Site)
  • HOME
  • ALL SONGS
    • TOP TWENTY-FIVE
  • ALL ALBUMS
  • DISCOGRAPHY
    • DISCOGRAPHY (Detailed)
  • * * * * * * * * * *
  • STUDIO ALBUMS
    • Cold Spring Harbor (1971) >
      • Album Page - Cold Spring Harbor
      • She's Got A Way
      • You Can Make Me Free
      • Everybody Loves You Now
      • Why Judy Why
      • Falling Of The Rain
      • Turn Around
      • You Look So Good To Me
      • Tomorrow Is Today
      • Nocturne
      • Got To Begin Again
    • Piano Man (1973) >
      • Album Page - Piano Man
      • Travelin' Prayer
      • Piano Man >
        • Piano Man - Videos Page
      • Ain't No Crime
      • You're My Home
      • The Ballad of Billy The Kid
      • Worse Comes To Worst
      • Stop In Nevada
      • If I Only Had The Words (To Tell You)
      • Somewhere Along The Line
      • Captain Jack
    • Streetlife Serenade (1974) >
      • Album Page - Streetlife Serenade
      • Streetlife Serenader
      • Los Angelenos
      • The Great Suburban Showdown
      • Root Beer Rag
      • Roberta
      • The Entertainer
      • Last of the Big Time Spenders
      • Weekend Song
      • Souvenir
      • The Mexican Connection
    • Turnstiles (1976) >
      • Album Page - Turnstiles
      • Say Goodbye to Hollywood
      • Summer, Highland Falls >
        • Summer, Highland Falls - Videos Page
      • All You Wanna Do Is Dance
      • New York State of Mind >
        • New York State of Mind - Videos Page
      • James
      • Prelude/Angry Young Man
      • I've Loved These Days
      • Miami 2017 (Seen The Lights Go Out On Broadway) >
        • Miami 2017 - Videos Page
    • The Stranger (1977) >
      • Album Page - The Stranger
      • Movin' Out
      • The Stranger
      • Just The Way You Are
      • Scenes From An Italian Restaurant >
        • Scenes From An Italian Restaurant - Videos Page
      • Vienna >
        • Vienna - Videos Page
      • Only The Good Die Young
      • She's Always A Woman
      • Get It Right The First Time
      • Everybody Has A Dream
    • 52nd Street (1978) >
      • Album Page - 52nd Street
      • Big Shot
      • Honesty
      • My Life
      • Zanzibar
      • Stiletto
      • Rosalinda's Eyes
      • Half A Mile Away
      • Until The Night
      • 52nd Street
    • Glass Houses (1980) >
      • Album Page - Glass Houses
      • You May Be Right
      • Sometimes A Fantasy
      • Don't Ask Me Why
      • It's Still Rock and Roll To Me
      • All For Leyna
      • I Don't Want To Be Alone (Anymore)
      • Sleeping With The Television On
      • C'etait Toi (You Were The One)
      • Close to the Borderline
      • Through the Long Night
    • The Nylon Curtain (1982) >
      • Album Page - The Nylon Curtain
      • Allentown
      • Laura
      • Pressure
      • Goodnight Saigon
      • She's Right On Time
      • A Room of Our Own
      • Surprises
      • Scandinavian Skies
      • Where's The Orchestra
    • An Innocent Man (1983) >
      • Album Page - An Innocent Man
      • Easy Money
      • An Innocent Man
      • The Longest Time >
        • The Longest Time - Videos
      • This Night
      • Tell Her About It >
        • Making of Tell Her About It Video
      • Uptown Girl
      • Careless Talk
      • Christie Lee
      • Leave A Tender Moment Alone >
        • Leave A Tender Moment Alone - Videos
      • Keeping The Faith
    • The Bridge (1986) >
      • Album Page - The Bridge
      • Running On Ice
      • This Is The Time
      • A Matter of Trust
      • Modern Woman
      • Baby Grand
      • Temptation
      • Big Man On Mulberry Street
      • Code of Silence
      • Getting Closer
    • Storm Front (1989) >
      • Album Page - Storm Front
      • That's Not Her Style
      • We Didn't Start The Fire >
        • We Didn't Start The Fire - Videos Page
      • The Downeaster 'Alexa' >
        • The Downeaster 'Alexa' - Videos Page
      • I Go To Extremes
      • Shameless
      • Storm Front
      • Leningrad
      • State of Grace
      • When In Rome
      • And So It Goes
    • River of Dreams (1993) >
      • Album Page - River of Dreams
      • No Man's Land
      • The Great Wall of China
      • Blonde Over Blue
      • A Minor Variation
      • Shades of Grey
      • All About Soul
      • Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel)
      • The River of Dreams
      • Two Thousand Years
      • Famous Last Words
    • Fantasies & Delusions (2001)
    • All My Life (2007) (single)
  • LIVE ALBUMS
    • Live on WMMR Sigma Sound Studios (1972) >
      • Falling Of The Rain (Live) (1972)
      • Travelin' Prayer (live) (1972)
      • The Ballad of Billy The Kid (live) (1972)
      • She's Got A Way (live) (1972)
      • Everybody Loves You Now (live) (1972)
      • Nocturne (live) (1972)
      • Turn Around (live) (1972)
      • Long, Long Time (live) (1972)
      • Captain Jack (live) (1972)
      • Josephine (live) (1972)
      • Rosalinda (live) (1972)
      • Tomorrow Is Today (live) (1972)
    • Live At The Great American Music Hall (1975)
    • Live At Carnegie Hall (1977)
    • Songs In The Attic (1981) >
      • Album Page - Songs In The Attic (1981)
      • Miami 2017 (live) (1981)
      • Summer, Highland Falls (live) (1981)
      • Streetlife Serenader (live) (1981)
      • Los Angelenos (live) (1981)
      • She's Got A Way (live) (1981)
      • Everybody Loves You Now (live) (1981)
      • Say Goodbye To Hollywood (live) (1981)
      • Captain Jack (live) (1981)
      • You're My Home (live) (1981)
      • The Ballad of Billy The Kid (live) (1981)
      • I've Loved These Days (live) (1981)
    • Live from Long Island (1982)
    • KOHUEPT (1987) >
      • Album Page - Kohuept (1987)
    • Live at Yankee Stadium (1990)
    • Live from The River of Dreams (1993-1994)
    • 2000 Years: The Millennium Concert (2000)
    • 12 Gardens Live (2006)
    • Live At Shea Stadium (2011)
    • A Matter of Trust: The Bridge to Russia (2014) >
      • Album Page - A Matter of Trust (2014)
      • Prelude/Angry Young Man (Live-Russia)
      • Honesty (Live-Russia)
      • The Ballad of Billy The Kid (Live-Russia)
      • She's Always A Woman (Live-Russia)
      • Scenes From An Italian Restaurant (Live-Russia)
      • Goodnight Saigon (Live-Russia) - Billy Joel
      • Stiletto (Live-Russia)
      • Big Man On Mulberry Street (Live-Russia)
      • Baby Grand (Live-Russia)
      • What's Your Name (Live-Russia)
      • The Longest Time (Live-Russia)
      • An Innocent Man (Live-Russia)
      • Pressure (Live-Russia)
      • A Matter of Trust (Live-Russia)
      • It's Still Rock and Roll To Me (Live-Russia)
      • Sometimes A Fantasy (Live-Russia)
      • You May Be Right (Live-Russia)
      • Uptown Girl (Live-Russia)
      • Back In the USSR (Live-Russia)
      • The Times They Are A Changin' (Live-Russia)
      • New York State of Mind (Live-Russia)
    • Live in Miami (2017) (fictional)
    • Live Through The Years (2019)
  • COMPILATIONS & SPECIAL EDITIONS
    • Souvenir (1977)
    • Greatest Hits, I & II (1985) >
      • You're Only Human (Second Wind) - Billy Joel
      • The Night Is Still Young
    • Greatest Hits, III (1997) >
      • To Make You Feel My Love
      • Hey Girl
      • Light As The Breeze
    • The Complete Hits (1997)
    • The Essential Billy Joel (2001)
    • Movin' Out (2002)
    • My Lives (2005) >
      • My Journey's End
      • You've Got Me Hummin'
      • Only A Man
      • Oyster Bay
      • The Siegfried Line
      • New Mexico
      • Cross to Bear
      • Miami 2017 (demo version)
      • These Rhinestone Days
      • Only The Good Die Young (alternate version)
      • The End of the World
      • The Prime of Your Life
      • Elvis Presley Boulevard
      • Nobody Knows But Me
      • Christie Lee (demo)
      • I'll Cry Instead
      • House of Blue Light
      • Money or Love
      • The Times They Are A Changin'
      • Shout
      • All Shook Up
      • Heartbreak Hotel
      • When You Wish Upon A Star
      • In A Sentimental Mood
      • Motorcycle Song
      • You Picked A Real Bad Time
      • A Hard Day's Night
      • Why Should I Worry
      • Where Were You (On Our Wedding Day)?
      • Highway 61 Revisited
      • Don't Worry Baby
      • Elegy: The Great Peconic
      • So Long Reverend Ike
    • The Stranger - Legacy (2008)
    • The Hits (2010)
    • Piano Man - Legacy (2011)
    • The Complete Albums (2011)
    • She's Got A Way - Love Songs (2013)
    • Sadness or Euphoria (2017) (fictional)
  • * * * * * * * * * *
  • BIOGRAPHY
  • Timeline
  • NEWS (Official Site)
  • TOUR (Official Site)
  • TWITTER
  • YOUTUBE
  • * * * * * * * * * *
  • ARTICLES & INTERVIEWS
    • 2020's
    • 2010's
    • 2000's
    • 1990's
    • 1980's
    • 1970's
    • Rolling Stone Articles
  • BILLY JOEL BAND
  • BOOKS & SHEET MUSIC
    • Books
    • Sheet Music
  • LINKS & LISTS
  • PHOTOS
  • ROOT BEER RAG Past Issues
  • STREETLIFE SERENADE Past Issues
  • VIDEOS & CONCERTS
    • Concerts on Video/DVD
    • Concerts on YouTube
    • Documentaries et al.
    • Face to Face Tours
    • Havana Jam 1979
    • Music Videos
    • YouTube Channel - One Final Serenade
  • CONTACT US
    • TERMS OF USE & PRIVACY POLICY
  • * * * * * * * * * *
  • HOME
  • ALL SONGS
    • TOP TWENTY-FIVE
  • ALL ALBUMS
  • DISCOGRAPHY
    • DISCOGRAPHY (Detailed)
  • * * * * * * * * * *
  • STUDIO ALBUMS
    • Cold Spring Harbor (1971) >
      • Album Page - Cold Spring Harbor
      • She's Got A Way
      • You Can Make Me Free
      • Everybody Loves You Now
      • Why Judy Why
      • Falling Of The Rain
      • Turn Around
      • You Look So Good To Me
      • Tomorrow Is Today
      • Nocturne
      • Got To Begin Again
    • Piano Man (1973) >
      • Album Page - Piano Man
      • Travelin' Prayer
      • Piano Man >
        • Piano Man - Videos Page
      • Ain't No Crime
      • You're My Home
      • The Ballad of Billy The Kid
      • Worse Comes To Worst
      • Stop In Nevada
      • If I Only Had The Words (To Tell You)
      • Somewhere Along The Line
      • Captain Jack
    • Streetlife Serenade (1974) >
      • Album Page - Streetlife Serenade
      • Streetlife Serenader
      • Los Angelenos
      • The Great Suburban Showdown
      • Root Beer Rag
      • Roberta
      • The Entertainer
      • Last of the Big Time Spenders
      • Weekend Song
      • Souvenir
      • The Mexican Connection
    • Turnstiles (1976) >
      • Album Page - Turnstiles
      • Say Goodbye to Hollywood
      • Summer, Highland Falls >
        • Summer, Highland Falls - Videos Page
      • All You Wanna Do Is Dance
      • New York State of Mind >
        • New York State of Mind - Videos Page
      • James
      • Prelude/Angry Young Man
      • I've Loved These Days
      • Miami 2017 (Seen The Lights Go Out On Broadway) >
        • Miami 2017 - Videos Page
    • The Stranger (1977) >
      • Album Page - The Stranger
      • Movin' Out
      • The Stranger
      • Just The Way You Are
      • Scenes From An Italian Restaurant >
        • Scenes From An Italian Restaurant - Videos Page
      • Vienna >
        • Vienna - Videos Page
      • Only The Good Die Young
      • She's Always A Woman
      • Get It Right The First Time
      • Everybody Has A Dream
    • 52nd Street (1978) >
      • Album Page - 52nd Street
      • Big Shot
      • Honesty
      • My Life
      • Zanzibar
      • Stiletto
      • Rosalinda's Eyes
      • Half A Mile Away
      • Until The Night
      • 52nd Street
    • Glass Houses (1980) >
      • Album Page - Glass Houses
      • You May Be Right
      • Sometimes A Fantasy
      • Don't Ask Me Why
      • It's Still Rock and Roll To Me
      • All For Leyna
      • I Don't Want To Be Alone (Anymore)
      • Sleeping With The Television On
      • C'etait Toi (You Were The One)
      • Close to the Borderline
      • Through the Long Night
    • The Nylon Curtain (1982) >
      • Album Page - The Nylon Curtain
      • Allentown
      • Laura
      • Pressure
      • Goodnight Saigon
      • She's Right On Time
      • A Room of Our Own
      • Surprises
      • Scandinavian Skies
      • Where's The Orchestra
    • An Innocent Man (1983) >
      • Album Page - An Innocent Man
      • Easy Money
      • An Innocent Man
      • The Longest Time >
        • The Longest Time - Videos
      • This Night
      • Tell Her About It >
        • Making of Tell Her About It Video
      • Uptown Girl
      • Careless Talk
      • Christie Lee
      • Leave A Tender Moment Alone >
        • Leave A Tender Moment Alone - Videos
      • Keeping The Faith
    • The Bridge (1986) >
      • Album Page - The Bridge
      • Running On Ice
      • This Is The Time
      • A Matter of Trust
      • Modern Woman
      • Baby Grand
      • Temptation
      • Big Man On Mulberry Street
      • Code of Silence
      • Getting Closer
    • Storm Front (1989) >
      • Album Page - Storm Front
      • That's Not Her Style
      • We Didn't Start The Fire >
        • We Didn't Start The Fire - Videos Page
      • The Downeaster 'Alexa' >
        • The Downeaster 'Alexa' - Videos Page
      • I Go To Extremes
      • Shameless
      • Storm Front
      • Leningrad
      • State of Grace
      • When In Rome
      • And So It Goes
    • River of Dreams (1993) >
      • Album Page - River of Dreams
      • No Man's Land
      • The Great Wall of China
      • Blonde Over Blue
      • A Minor Variation
      • Shades of Grey
      • All About Soul
      • Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel)
      • The River of Dreams
      • Two Thousand Years
      • Famous Last Words
    • Fantasies & Delusions (2001)
    • All My Life (2007) (single)
  • LIVE ALBUMS
    • Live on WMMR Sigma Sound Studios (1972) >
      • Falling Of The Rain (Live) (1972)
      • Travelin' Prayer (live) (1972)
      • The Ballad of Billy The Kid (live) (1972)
      • She's Got A Way (live) (1972)
      • Everybody Loves You Now (live) (1972)
      • Nocturne (live) (1972)
      • Turn Around (live) (1972)
      • Long, Long Time (live) (1972)
      • Captain Jack (live) (1972)
      • Josephine (live) (1972)
      • Rosalinda (live) (1972)
      • Tomorrow Is Today (live) (1972)
    • Live At The Great American Music Hall (1975)
    • Live At Carnegie Hall (1977)
    • Songs In The Attic (1981) >
      • Album Page - Songs In The Attic (1981)
      • Miami 2017 (live) (1981)
      • Summer, Highland Falls (live) (1981)
      • Streetlife Serenader (live) (1981)
      • Los Angelenos (live) (1981)
      • She's Got A Way (live) (1981)
      • Everybody Loves You Now (live) (1981)
      • Say Goodbye To Hollywood (live) (1981)
      • Captain Jack (live) (1981)
      • You're My Home (live) (1981)
      • The Ballad of Billy The Kid (live) (1981)
      • I've Loved These Days (live) (1981)
    • Live from Long Island (1982)
    • KOHUEPT (1987) >
      • Album Page - Kohuept (1987)
    • Live at Yankee Stadium (1990)
    • Live from The River of Dreams (1993-1994)
    • 2000 Years: The Millennium Concert (2000)
    • 12 Gardens Live (2006)
    • Live At Shea Stadium (2011)
    • A Matter of Trust: The Bridge to Russia (2014) >
      • Album Page - A Matter of Trust (2014)
      • Prelude/Angry Young Man (Live-Russia)
      • Honesty (Live-Russia)
      • The Ballad of Billy The Kid (Live-Russia)
      • She's Always A Woman (Live-Russia)
      • Scenes From An Italian Restaurant (Live-Russia)
      • Goodnight Saigon (Live-Russia) - Billy Joel
      • Stiletto (Live-Russia)
      • Big Man On Mulberry Street (Live-Russia)
      • Baby Grand (Live-Russia)
      • What's Your Name (Live-Russia)
      • The Longest Time (Live-Russia)
      • An Innocent Man (Live-Russia)
      • Pressure (Live-Russia)
      • A Matter of Trust (Live-Russia)
      • It's Still Rock and Roll To Me (Live-Russia)
      • Sometimes A Fantasy (Live-Russia)
      • You May Be Right (Live-Russia)
      • Uptown Girl (Live-Russia)
      • Back In the USSR (Live-Russia)
      • The Times They Are A Changin' (Live-Russia)
      • New York State of Mind (Live-Russia)
    • Live in Miami (2017) (fictional)
    • Live Through The Years (2019)
  • COMPILATIONS & SPECIAL EDITIONS
    • Souvenir (1977)
    • Greatest Hits, I & II (1985) >
      • You're Only Human (Second Wind) - Billy Joel
      • The Night Is Still Young
    • Greatest Hits, III (1997) >
      • To Make You Feel My Love
      • Hey Girl
      • Light As The Breeze
    • The Complete Hits (1997)
    • The Essential Billy Joel (2001)
    • Movin' Out (2002)
    • My Lives (2005) >
      • My Journey's End
      • You've Got Me Hummin'
      • Only A Man
      • Oyster Bay
      • The Siegfried Line
      • New Mexico
      • Cross to Bear
      • Miami 2017 (demo version)
      • These Rhinestone Days
      • Only The Good Die Young (alternate version)
      • The End of the World
      • The Prime of Your Life
      • Elvis Presley Boulevard
      • Nobody Knows But Me
      • Christie Lee (demo)
      • I'll Cry Instead
      • House of Blue Light
      • Money or Love
      • The Times They Are A Changin'
      • Shout
      • All Shook Up
      • Heartbreak Hotel
      • When You Wish Upon A Star
      • In A Sentimental Mood
      • Motorcycle Song
      • You Picked A Real Bad Time
      • A Hard Day's Night
      • Why Should I Worry
      • Where Were You (On Our Wedding Day)?
      • Highway 61 Revisited
      • Don't Worry Baby
      • Elegy: The Great Peconic
      • So Long Reverend Ike
    • The Stranger - Legacy (2008)
    • The Hits (2010)
    • Piano Man - Legacy (2011)
    • The Complete Albums (2011)
    • She's Got A Way - Love Songs (2013)
    • Sadness or Euphoria (2017) (fictional)
  • * * * * * * * * * *
  • BIOGRAPHY
  • Timeline
  • NEWS (Official Site)
  • TOUR (Official Site)
  • TWITTER
  • YOUTUBE
  • * * * * * * * * * *
  • ARTICLES & INTERVIEWS
    • 2020's
    • 2010's
    • 2000's
    • 1990's
    • 1980's
    • 1970's
    • Rolling Stone Articles
  • BILLY JOEL BAND
  • BOOKS & SHEET MUSIC
    • Books
    • Sheet Music
  • LINKS & LISTS
  • PHOTOS
  • ROOT BEER RAG Past Issues
  • STREETLIFE SERENADE Past Issues
  • VIDEOS & CONCERTS
    • Concerts on Video/DVD
    • Concerts on YouTube
    • Documentaries et al.
    • Face to Face Tours
    • Havana Jam 1979
    • Music Videos
    • YouTube Channel - One Final Serenade
  • CONTACT US
    • TERMS OF USE & PRIVACY POLICY
  • * * * * * * * * * *