One Final Serenade: Songs of Billy Joel
Billy performs "You May Be Right" live in Russia in 1987. This video was not released in the 1991 concert video on VHS ("A Matter of Trust") , but was released in 2014's "A Matter of Trust: The Bridge To Russia."
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You may be right
I may be crazy But it just might be a lunatic you're looking for Billy's live performance of "You May Be Right" in Russia did not make 1987's Kohuept album nor the Live in Leningrad video from 1991. But it was included in 2014's A Matter of Trust (CD and DVD). This version has country, honky-tonk feel to it.
The song is Billy at his pugnacious best, telling his listener that Billy may be crazy, but he just may be what the listener is looking for. It's a classic rock-and-roll theme, good girl falls for the "bad" guy. The bad guy may be uncouth, but his rough charms seem to be working ("I told you dirty jokes until you smiled"). This is not unlike the protagonist in "Only The Good Die Young." Here, Billy uses a Mick Jagger-like vocals to enhance the "bad" guy image of the song. It's a fun song, and listeners agreed, sending it to #7 on the charts when it was first released in 1980 on the Glass Houses album. "You May Be Right" has become a favorite in concert and of many cover bands. Its honky-tonk feel which makes it popular for country stars who are rocking out like Keith Urban and Garth Brooks, who both perform it live. There are several live performances of the song on YouTube, listed below: 1982 Live from Long Island 1984 Live at Wembley Arena 1987 Live in Russia (above too) 1990 Live in Syracuse (fan shot) 1998 Live in Tokyo (Face to Face tour with Elton John) 2006 Live from MSG (12 Gardens version) (audio) 2006 Live in Tokyo 2008 Live from Shea Stadium (released in 2011) 2012 The Concert for Sandy Relief 2014 Gershwin Prize concert (Library of Congress) 2014 New Year's Rockin' Eve (ABC) |
Friday night I crashed your party
Saturday I said I'm sorry Sunday came you trashed me out again I was only having fun Wasn't hurting anyone And we all enjoyed the weekend for a change I've been stranded in the combat zone I walked through Bedford Stuy alone Even rode my motorcycle in the rain And you told me not to drive But I made it home alive So you said that only proves that I'm insane You may be right I may be crazy But it just might be a lunatic you're looking for Turn out the light Don't try to save me You may be wrong for all I know But you may be right Remember how I found you there Alone in your electric chair I told you dirty jokes until you smiled You were lonely for a man I said take me as I am 'Cause you might enjoy some madness for a while Now think of all the years you tried to Find someone to satisfy you I might be as crazy as you say If I'm crazy then it's true That it's all because of you And you wouldn't want me any other way You may be right I may be crazy But it just may be a lunatic you're looking for It's too late to fight It's too late to change me You may be wrong for all I know But you may be right You may be right I may be crazy But it just may be a lunatic you're looking for Turn out the light Don't try to save me You may be wrong for all I know You may be right You may be wrong but you may be right Another live version of "You May Be Right," this one from 1984's concert in Wembley Arena which was broadcast on UK television.
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