It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me

Producer

From the hit 1980 album Glass Houses, “It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me” was a #1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 and spent 11 weeks in the top 10. Overseas, it reached #14 in… Read More

Mar. 10, 19803 viewers204K views

It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me Lyrics

[Verse 1]
What's the matter with the clothes I'm wearing?
Can't you tell that your tie's too wide?
Maybe I should buy some old tab collars?
Welcome back to the age of jive

[Pre-Chorus]
Where have you been hidin' out lately, honey?
You can't dress trashy 'til you spend a lot of money

[Chorus]
Everybody's talkin' 'bout the new sound
Funny, but it's still rock and roll to me

[Verse 2]
What's the matter with the car I'm driving?
Can't you tell that it's out of style?
Should I get a set of whitewall tires?
Are you gonna cruise the miracle mile?

[Pre-Chorus]
Nowadays you can't be too sentimental
Your best bet's a true baby blue Continental

[Chorus]
Hot funk, cool punk, even if it's old junk
It's still rock and roll to me

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[Bridge]
Oh, it doesn't matter what they say in the papers
'Cause it's always been the same old scene
There's a new band in town but you can't get the sound
From a story in a magazine
Aimed at your average teen

[Verse 3]
How about a pair of pink sidewinders
And a bright orange pair of pants?
You could really be a Beau Brummel baby
If you just give it half a chance

[Pre-Chorus]
Don't waste your money on a new set of speakers
You get more mileage from a cheap pair of sneakers

[Chorus]
Next phase, new wave, dance craze, anyways
It's still rock and roll to me
Alright Richie!

[Saxophone Solo]
Woo!
Ooh

[Verse 4]
What's the matter with the crowd I'm seeing?
Don't you know that they're out of touch?
Should I try to be a straight 'A' student?
If you are then you think too much

[Pre-Chorus]
Don't you know about the new fashion, honey?
All you need are looks and a whole lotta money

[Chorus]
It's the next phase, new wave
Dance craze, anyways
It's still rock and roll to me
Everybody's talkin' 'bout the new sound
Funny, but it's still rock and roll to me

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About

Genius Annotation

From the hit 1980 album Glass Houses, “It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me” was a #1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 and spent 11 weeks in the top 10. Overseas, it reached #14 in the UK and #21 in New Zealand.

The song is a cynical look at the music industry as a publicist/manager begs the protagonist (Joel) to remain hip for the younger crowd, and the protagonist’s refusal to change, claiming his music will remain relevant regardless of his appearance.

The song was a stab by Joel at the new music genres that were around in the late 1970s (punk, funk, new wave) and uses a new wave sound, and was inspired by the realization that, after reading a review about a particular (unnamed) band, Billy had no idea what their music sounded like.

The music video depicted Joel mixing elements of new wave, punk, and funk as he records a music video. The single reached Platinum certification from the RIAA for sales in the U.S.