I Go to Extremes#Charts
{{Short description|1989 single by Billy Joel}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox song
| name = I Go to Extremes
| cover = GoToExtremes.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Billy Joel
| album = Storm Front
| released = January 1990
| recorded =
| studio =
| genre = Rock
| length = 4:23
| label = Columbia
| writer = Billy Joel
| producer =
- Mick Jones
- Billy Joel
| prev_title = Leningrad
| prev_year = 1989
| next_title = The Downeaster 'Alexa'
| next_year = 1990
}}
"I Go to Extremes" is a song by American singer Billy Joel from his eleventh studio album, Storm Front (1989), released as the album's second US single in early 1990. It reached the number-six position on the US Billboard Hot 100 and peaked at number three on the Canadian RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart. The song was also a top-10 hit on both the Billboard Adult Contemporary and Album Rock Tracks charts. The song also reached at number 70 on the UK Singles Chart.
At one point considered a song about a manic-depressive, the song was originally written as an apology to Joel's wife at the time, Christie Brinkley. The B-side to the single was "When In Rome", which appeared on the same album. The music video consists of Joel and his backing band playing the song in a room. The song received mostly positive response, and a live version appears on the album 2000 Years: The Millennium Concert. During live performances, Joel would often jokingly change the lyrics to the chorus, as well as to various lines in the song.
Writing and recording
The St. Paul Pioneer Press believes that the song chronicles the highs and lows of a "manic-depressive".{{cite web |title=Joel Shines on 'Storm Front' |work=St. Paul Pioneer Press |date=January 7, 1990 |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=PD&s_site=twincities&p_multi=SP&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB5D953377B9AF5&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|access-date=March 27, 2009}} However, according to Joel, the song is an apology that is directed to his then wife, Christie Brinkley.{{cite news |first= Patrick |last= MacDonald |title= He's Between Rock and a Hard Place |work= Seattle Times |date= April 13, 1990 |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19900413/1066235/hes-between-rock-and-a-hard-place |access-date=March 28, 2009 }} Joel was apologizing for his erratic personality. In live concerts, Joel would often jokingly create new lyrics for the chorus, such as "I go for ice cream", and "I got a new wife on the cover of Life."{{cite web |title=It's Back to Basics in a Show of Old Favorites |work=Harvard Crimson |date=June 29, 1990 |last=S. Cohn |first=Jonathan |url=http://www.thecrimson.com/article/1990/6/29/its-back-to-basics-in-a/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305015937/http://www.thecrimson.com/article/1990/6/29/its-back-to-basics-in-a/ |archive-date=March 5, 2016 |access-date=May 12, 2025}} The song is believed to be about Joel's own lifestyle.{{cite web |title=Piano Man Billy Joel Just Wants to Have Fun |work=Atlanta Journal-Constitution |date=July 5, 1990 |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=AT&p_theme=at&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB7C4835AB5A4D2&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|access-date=March 27, 2009}} The B-side to the single release was another song from the album, "When in Rome". The music video consists of Joel playing with musicians in a room.
Reception
Dennis Hunt of The Los Angeles Times believed the song was the highlight of the album, saying that it was the only song that wasn't "tainted by a social message".{{cite web |title=Mixed Media: Eye of the Storm |work=Los Angeles Times |date=June 3, 1990 |last=Hunt |first=Dennis |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/60066258.html?dids=60066258:60066258&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Jun+03%2C+1990&author=DENNIS+HUNT&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=MIXED+MEDIA+**+%22EYE+OF+THE+STORM%22+Billy+Joel+CMV+videocassette+(%2416.98)%3A+Items+in+this+survey+of+pop-related+videos%2C+books+and+laser+discs+are+rated+on+a+scale+of+one+star+(poor)+to+five+(a+classic).&pqatl=google|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019214840/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/60066258.html?dids=60066258:60066258&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Jun+03,+1990&author=DENNIS+HUNT&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=MIXED+MEDIA+**+%22EYE+OF+THE+STORM%22+Billy+Joel+CMV+videocassette+($16.98):+Items+in+this+survey+of+pop-related+videos,+books+and+laser+discs+are+rated+on+a+scale+of+one+star+(poor)+to+five+(a+classic).&pqatl=google|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 19, 2012|access-date=March 27, 2009}} The Fresno Bee sarcastically says "Oh, Billy, stop it – you're just soooo extreme! Have your machine call my machine, and we'll do this extreme thing together."{{cite web |title=In Rating Singles, The 'Nays' Have It |work=Fresno Bee |date=March 9, 1990 |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=FB&p_theme=fb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EAE842F5A89A5FA&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|access-date=March 27, 2009}} The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette said of the song, "I realized a lot of rock critics must have tin ears. Why else would they pan Billy Joel?"{{cite web |title=Billy Starts the Fire At Star Lake |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |date=June 18, 1990 |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=PG&p_theme=pg&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EADE6A6060C6C14&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|access-date=March 27, 2009}} Jan DeKnock of The Chicago Tribune believed that the song was "another sure-fire winner from his [Joel's] 'Storm Front' LP".{{cite web |title=It's Out with the Old, In with the New |work=Chicago Tribune |date=19 January 1990 |last=DeKnock |first=Jan |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/28844483.html?dids=28844483:28844483&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Jan+19%2C+1990&author=Jan+DeKnock&pub=Chicago+Tribune+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=It%27s+out+with+the+old%2C+in+with+the+new&pqatl=google|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130131235743/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/28844483.html?dids=28844483:28844483&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Jan+19,+1990&author=Jan+DeKnock&pub=Chicago+Tribune+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=It's+out+with+the+old,+in+with+the+new&pqatl=google|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 31, 2013|access-date=March 27, 2009}} Robb Frederick of The Daily Collegian believed that the song "shows remorse for a moodiness which almost reaches the degree of schizophrenia".{{cite web |title=Billy Joel Catches a Flame |work=The Daily Collegian |date=December 7, 1989 |last=Frederick |first=Robb |url=http://digitalnewspapers.libraries.psu.edu/Default/Skins/BasicArch/Client.asp?Skin=BasicArch&&AppName=2&enter=true&BaseHref=CLG/1989/12/07&EntityId=Ar00800|access-date=March 27, 2009}} John MCalley of Rolling Stone called the song "hard-driving", and thought the character in the song was "futilely [trying] to account to his girlfriend for his inconsistent moods and wavering confidence".{{cite web |title=Billy Joel: Storm Front: Music Reviews: Rolling Stone |work=The Daily Collegian |date=November 30, 1989 |last=MCalley |first=John |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/billyjoel/albums/album/236527/review/5945484/storm_front|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070506051523/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/billyjoel/albums/album/236527/review/5945484/storm_front|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 6, 2007}} The Miami Herald believed that the song had potential to be a "great" song, but was still disappointed.{{cite web |title=Billy Joel Reaches Too Far for Too Little |work=Miami Herald |date=November 4, 1990 |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=MH&s_site=miami&p_multi=MH&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB33E806AC9D7BA&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|access-date=March 27, 2009}} Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic believed that the song was one of the strongest songs of the album, also calling it "catchy".{{cite web |url={{Allmusic|class=album|id=r10439|pure_url=yes}} |title=allmusic ((( Storm Front > Overview ))) |access-date=March 27, 2009 |publisher=allmusic.com}} Matthew Bernstein of The Boston Globe believes that it's a great work-out song.{{cite news |first= Matthew |last= Bernstein |title= From Start to Finish: Tunes for the Long Haul |work= The Boston Globe |date= April 14, 2007 }}
Personnel
- Billy Joel – lead and backing vocals, acoustic piano, Hammond organ
- Jeff Jacobs – synthesizers
- David Brown – guitars
- Schuyler Deale – bass
- Liberty DeVitto – drums
- Mick Jones – backing vocals
- Ian Lloyd – backing vocals
- Joe Lynn Turner – backing vocals
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
!Chart (1990) !Peak |
| {{single chart|Australia|48|artist=Billy Joel|song=I Go to Extremes|rowheader=true|access-date=July 8, 2020|refname="aus"}} |
| {{single chart|Canadatopsingles|3|chartid=9243|rowheader=true|access-date=July 8, 2020}} |
| {{single chart|Canadaadultcontemporary|2|chartid=9060|rowheader=true|access-date=July 8, 2020}} |
| {{single chart|Ireland2|29|song=I Go to Extremes|rowheader=true|access-date=July 8, 2020}} |
| {{single chart|Dutch100|43|artist=Billy Joel|song=I Go to Extremes|rowheader=true|access-date=July 8, 2020}} |
| {{single chart|New Zealand|45|artist=Billy Joel|song=I Go to Extremes|rowheader=true|access-date=July 8, 2020}} |
| {{single chart|UK|70|date=19900310|rowheader=true|access-date=July 8, 2020|refname="uk"}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardhot100|6|artist=Billy Joel|rowheader=true|access-date=July 8, 2020}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardadultcontemporary|4|artist=Billy Joel|rowheader=true|access-date=July 8, 2020}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardmainstreamrock|10|artist=Billy Joel|rowheader=true|access-date=July 8, 2020}} |
| {{single chart|West Germany|36|artist=Billy Joel|song=I Go to Extremes|songid=14635|rowheader=true|access-date=July 8, 2020}} |
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
{{col-end}}
Release history
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
!scope="col"|Region !scope="col"|Date !scope="col"|Format(s) !scope="col"|Label(s) !scope="col"|{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |
| scope="row"|United States
|January 1990 |{{hlist|7-inch vinyl|cassette}} |
|---|
| scope="row"|Japan
|January 21, 1990 |Mini-CD |{{cite web|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/134163/products/90096/1/|title=愛はExtremes {{!}} ビリー・ジョエル|trans-title=Love Extremes {{!}} Billy Joel|publisher=Oricon|language=ja|access-date=September 6, 2023}} |
| scope="row"|United Kingdom
|February 19, 1990 |{{hlist|7-inch vinyl|12-inch vinyl|CD}} |CBS |{{cite magazine|title=New Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=35|date=February 17, 1990}} |