Released: 1980
“It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me” by Billy Joel is a charged declaration celebrating the timeless essence of rock and roll amid the ever-changing landscape of music and fashion. Joel doesn’t just sing; he questions the madness of trends, poking fun at the constant chase after the latest style, only to underline a powerful message: no matter the shift in what’s “in,” at its core, rock and roll remains unchanged, vibrant, and rebellious.
The song kicks off with a defiant stance against fashion critique – “What’s the matter with the clothes I’m wearing?” Joel mocks the superficial judgments on trends, pointing out the absurdity in being told your tie’s too wide or needing to revert to old fashion to fit in. It’s a cheeky nod to how the music scene is obsessed with appearance, but Joel argues that style doesn’t define the music. The hook, “Everybody’s talkin’ ’bout the new sound / Funny, but it’s still rock and roll to me,” is Joel’s rallying cry that despite these changes, the spirit of rock and roll isn’t found in the clothes you wear or the car you drive, but in the energy and attitude of the music itself.
The discussion moves to cars, another status symbol often tied to rock stars. Joel jests about his car being out of style and questions if he should buy a “set of white wall tires” to match. Yet again, he counters the materialistic measures of worth with the notion that real value—like real music—transcends these shallow assessments. He uses the phrase “hot funk, cool punk, even if it’s old junk, it’s still rock and roll to me” to bridge genres, suggesting that music’s heart beats the same, regardless of the label slapped on it.
Joel also takes aim at the media’s role in shaping music trends, emphasizing that a true sound can’t be captured just from magazine pages. He mocks the fickle nature of fame and fashion with lines like “How about a pair of pink sidewinders / And a bright orange pair of pants?” encouraging listeners to see past the flashy distractions to the music’s genuine beat. The wisdom in “Don’t waste your money on a new set of speakers / You get more mileage from a cheap pair of sneakers” reinforces the idea that the best musical experiences are about feeling, not the gear.
Finally, Joel critiques the elitism sometimes found among music fans and the industry’s obsession with the “new.” He questions the alienation of those deemed “out of touch” and challenges the pressure to conform to high standards of success and appearance. Through it all, he reaffirms, “It’s the next phase, new pump, dance craze, anyways / It’s still rock and roll to me,” capturing the essence of rock and roll as an enduring, unapologetic force that rises above trends and time.
In essence, Billy Joel’s “It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me” is a testament to the enduring spirit of rock music. It’s a thumbs-up to authenticity, a smirk at the ever-spinning wheel of fashion, and a stand for the timeless connection between a melody and the soul. Joel invites us all to look past the superficial, to find the rock and roll in everything, and remember that at its heart, music is about the connection, the rhythm, and the beat that gets our feet moving. It’s an anthem for keeping it real, in music and in life.
