Like all nice artists earlier than and since, Billy Joel all the time appeared to inherently know when to pivot. One of these pivot factors was the 1980 album Glass Homes, which discovered him rocking a lot tougher than he had ever beforehand carried out. “You May Be Proper” gave him the splendid music to showcase this new facet.

What was the music about? What’s with the breaking glass at the starting of the music? And why did Joel really feel the want to repair what wasn’t actually damaged. Let’s discover out with a deep dive to “You May Be Proper,” one of the most enjoyable rockers from this one-of-a-kind artist.

Estranged from The Stranger

The Stranger pushed Billy Joel to stratospheric ranges of success when he launched it in 1977. It featured 4 Prime 25 singles and a signature non-single monitor in “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant.” 52nd Road solidified that success a yr later. There are certainly rock songs on each of these albums. However Joel felt that he was slightly bit ballad-heavy.

This turned problematic, as a result of his success led to the alternative to play greater and greater venues. Placing the tender sluggish songs throughout in these vaster settings wasn’t all the time straightforward. Thus, Joel determined that he needed to place collectively a document that let his piano play extra of a supporting position whereas leaning heavier into guitars, drums, and saxophones.

For an album title, Joel selected the title Glass Homes. He defined his reasoning in an interview with Playboy:

“It was, ‘I’m going to throw a rock at the picture individuals have of me as this mellow balladeer.’ We had been doing rock ‘n’ roll earlier than, however there occurred to be extra of it on this document. The outdated factor about individuals who dwell in glass homes shouldn’t throw stones—I don’t consider it. I believe, ‘Why not? Take possibilities.’ I actually needed to throw a rock at my very own home.”

That’s why the album cowl options Joel poised to heave a rock by a home with large glass home windows. The truth that Joel as soon as lived in that home solely ramps up the symbolism. He was certainly making an attempt to shatter individuals’s perceptions of who he was at a musician. As well as, he was taking a preemptive strike at his critics, some of whom would declare that Glass Homes was Joel making an attempt to hop on the New Wave bandwagon.

Whereas songs like “All for Leyna” and “Typically a Fantasy” undoubtedly include some New Wave vibes, the album’s opening monitor, “You May Be Proper,” is a heaping slab or old style rock and roll, full with a livid sax solo from Richie Cannata. While you hear the breaking glass at the begin of the music, that’s Joel’s symbolically crashing by these Glass Homes.

What’s the Meaning of “You May Be Proper”?

“You May Be Proper” stands tall in a protracted line of Joel songs the place he’s making an attempt to persuade a reticent lady to let him be the one. Solely this man may not be as righteous as heroes of songs like “An Harmless Man.” And he may not be in search of a protracted relationship, however somewhat a one-night stand. However he at least appears earnest in considering that his model of chaos is simply what this cloistered lady wants.

He begins the music apologetic, however not fairly, for his unhinged habits: And all of us loved the weekend for a change. Maybe he’s not doing himself any favors by itemizing all his reckless deeds, however there’s one thing charming in his steadfast insistence on taking each mistaken flip. ‘Trigger you may take pleasure in some insanity for some time, he suggests. And perhaps she’s secretly drawn to him in any case: And also you wouldn’t need me every other approach.

It’s too late to struggle / It’s too late to vary me, the narrator explains in the refrain. He even admits that her protestations could be on level, however is that value her passing up the alternative to stroll on the wild facet?: It’s possible you’ll be mistaken, however for all I do know / It’s possible you’ll be proper. We all know that Billy Joel was proper to unfold his wings with this music and this album, crafting an even bigger sound for an ever-expanding profession.