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| The song is about the protagonist mocking a woman, probably a celebrity ("And the stories of your latest success / Kept 'em so entertained"), with a severe ] about her intoxicated galavanting around town, making numerous social and verbal ] while high on alcohol and drugs ("But now you just can't remember / All the things you said / And you're not sure you want to know / I'll give you one hint, honey / You sure did put on a show!") The song makes late 1970's cultural references to such ] fads such as and ]. | The song is about the protagonist mocking a woman, probably a celebrity ("And the stories of your latest success / Kept 'em so entertained"), with a severe ] about her intoxicated galavanting around town, making numerous social and verbal ] while high on alcohol and drugs ("But now you just can't remember / All the things you said / And you're not sure you want to know / I'll give you one hint, honey / You sure did put on a show!") The song makes late 1970's cultural references to such ] fads such as and ]. | ||
| A rumor that the song was based on a bad date with ] is not true. In an interview in 2006, Billy Joel said, "I read that the song Big Shot is said to be about a date I had with Bianca Jagger. I never had a date with Bianca Jagger."<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20736947-1702,00.html | title=Billy Joel back to Aussie basics | author=La Canna, Xavier | date=2006-11-10 | publisher=Australian Associated Press | accessdate=2007-06-18}}</ref> | A rumor that the song was based on a bad date with ] is not true. In an interview in 2006, Billy Joel said, "I read that the song 'Big Shot' is said to be about a date I had with Bianca Jagger. I never had a date with Bianca Jagger."<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20736947-1702,00.html | title=Billy Joel back to Aussie basics | author=La Canna, Xavier | date=2006-11-10 | publisher=Australian Associated Press | accessdate=2007-06-18}}</ref> | ||
| ==Single and album edits== | ==Single and album edits== | ||
Revision as of 06:08, 7 March 2010
| "Big Shot" | |
|---|---|
| Song | |
| B-side | "Root Beer Rag", "Half a Mile Away" |
"Big Shot" was the second hit single from Billy Joel's 1978 album 52nd Street. The song was released in early-1979, just as his other hit single from that same album, "'My Life", was peaking at #3. It would soon become his second top-twenty hit of 1979, peaking at #14.
The song is about the protagonist mocking a woman, probably a celebrity ("And the stories of your latest success / Kept 'em so entertained"), with a severe hangover about her intoxicated galavanting around town, making numerous social and verbal faux pas while high on alcohol and drugs ("But now you just can't remember / All the things you said / And you're not sure you want to know / I'll give you one hint, honey / You sure did put on a show!") The song makes late 1970's cultural references to such nouveaux riche fads such as Elaine's Restaurant and Halston.
A rumor that the song was based on a bad date with Bianca Jagger is not true. In an interview in 2006, Billy Joel said, "I read that the song 'Big Shot' is said to be about a date I had with Bianca Jagger. I never had a date with Bianca Jagger."
Single and album edits
The only change made in the single version is an abridged outro.
Chart positions
| Chart (1979) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 14 |
References
- La Canna, Xavier (2006-11-10). "Billy Joel back to Aussie basics". Australian Associated Press. Retrieved 2007-06-18.
