You're Only Human (Second Wind)

{{Infobox song

| name = You're Only Human (Second Wind)

| cover = You'reOnlyHuman.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Billy Joel

| album = Greatest Hits – Volume I & Volume II

| B-side = Surprises

| released = June 1985

| recorded = 1985

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = {{hlist|Synthpop|R&B}}

| length = 4:48 (album version)
4:21 (single version)

| label = Columbia

| writer = Billy Joel

| producer = Phil Ramone

| prev_title = Keeping the Faith

| prev_year = 1985

| next_title = The Night Is Still Young

| next_year = 1985

}}

"You're Only Human (Second Wind)" is a song written and performed by Billy Joel that originally appeared on Greatest Hits – Volume I & Volume II in 1985. The song deals with teenage depression and suicide. It became a top-ten hit, peaking at {{thinspace|No.| 9}} on the Billboard Hot 100.

Background and recording

Joel, who said he once attempted suicide himself, stated in a 1985 interview that he wrote the song as a way to help young people struggling with depression and suicidal thoughts.{{cite web |url= https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=YIsvAAAAIBAJ&pg=1560,403216&dq=you-re+only+human+billy-joel&hl=en |title= Billy Joel sees self as working homebody|first= Mary|last= Campbell|work=Kentucky New Era|date= September 5, 1985|access-date=April 13, 2011}}

In its original draft, he was concerned the song sounded too depressing so he imbued it with a bouncy, joyous beat and melody, with lyrics emphasizing personal forgiveness and optimism. The song was originally titled simply "Second Wind” but Joel changed it to "You're Only Human" with "Second Wind" as the subtitle after drummer Liberty DeVitto mocked the name.Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211206/XTgz7eeLwvg Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20200618195009/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTgz7eeLwvg&gl=US&hl=en Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTgz7eeLwvg| title = Billy Joel: 1985 Interview | website=YouTube| date = January 13, 2016 }}{{cbignore}} Joel donated all royalties from the song to the National Committee for Youth Suicide Prevention.{{cite web |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=yh0jAAAAIBAJ&pg=6353,1819029&dq=billy+joel+you-re+only+human+second+wind&hl=en |title= Joel to Aid Teen Suicide Prevention Program|work= The Palm Beach Post|access-date= April 3, 2010|date= July 23, 1985|first= Marlene|last=Aig}}

During the song, Joel audibly chuckles after briefly hesitating and stuttering during one of the verses. At the prompting of Paul Simon and Christie Brinkley, who was listening in the studio, he left it in the finished recording as it seemed to illustrate the song's point about celebrating personal fallibility.

Reception

Cash Box said that the song has "a lilting reggae rhythm much like that in Julian Lennon’s 'Too Late For Goodbyes'" and "Joel’s inimitable sense of melodic and musical themes."{{cite magazine|title=Single Releases|magazine=Cash Box|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/80s/1985/CB-1985-07-06.pdf|date=July 6, 1985|accessdate=2022-07-29|page=9}} Billboard said that it has a "syncopated synthesized rhythm."{{cite magazine|magazine=Billboard|date=July 6, 1985|accessdate=2022-07-29|page=77|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RCQEAAAAMBAJ&q=reviews|title=Reviews}}

Personnel

Billy Joel – lead vocals, keyboards
David Brown – lead guitar
Russell Javors – rhythm guitar
Doug Stegmeyer – bass guitar
Liberty DeVitto – drums
Jimmy Bralower – percussion
Peter Hewlett – background vocals
Frank Simms – background vocals
David Lebolt – synthesizer
Ronnie Cuber – syntharmonicas
Jon Faddis – syntharmonicas
Mark Rivera – syntharmonicas
David Matthews – horns arrangements

Music video

At the beginning of the video, Joel plays "Piano Man" on his harmonica. The entire video pays homage to the film It's a Wonderful Life, as the angelic Joel shows a suicidal young man named George Young, (played by Jason Andrews){{Cite web|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/answers/comments/ipbrid/who_is_the_main_actor_in_the_music_video_for/?rdt=54882|title=Who is the main actor in the music video for Billy Joel's You're Only Human?|date=September 9, 2020}} threatening to jump off a bridge because of a break-up with his girlfriend what life will be like without him, as his family and friends mourn his death—as well as showing him the joys in his future he would be missing if he dies (e.g. high school graduation, marriage). The video ends with the young man choosing to live, and reconciling with his girlfriend when Joel plays "Piano Man" once again before tossing him his harmonica.

One of the extras in the music video is Adam Savage, who later found fame as the co-host of the popular science television show MythBusters.{{cite web| title=Adam Savage, Co-Host| work=The Discovery Channel| url=http://dsc.discovery.com/fansites/mythbusters/meet/adam-savage.html| access-date=May 9, 2009| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080913192113/http://dsc.discovery.com/fansites/mythbusters/meet/adam-savage.html| archive-date=September 13, 2008}}

The video was shot on Staten Island and Manhattan and features landmarks such as the 59th Street Bridge and Monsignor Farrell High School.

Single and album edits

The single version is 27 seconds shorter than the album version, removing the saxophone solo between the bridge and the third verse.

Charts

=Weekly charts=

Chart (1985) !Peak position
class="wikitable sortable"
Australia (Kent Music Report){{cite book\|last=Kent\|first=David\|author-link=David Kent (historian)\|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992\|edition=illustrated\|publisher=Australian Chart Book\|location=St Ives, N.S.W.\|year=1993\|isbn=0-646-11917-6\|page=156}} \| style="text-align:center;"\|6
{{single chart\|Canadatopsingles\|15\|chartid=0573\|rowheader=true\|access-date=December 7, 2024}}
{{Single chart\|Dutch100\|22\|artist=Billy Joel\|song=You're Only Human (Second Wind)\|rowheader=true}}
{{Single chart\|New Zealand\|17\|artist=Billy Joel\|song=You're Only Human (Second Wind)\|rowheader=true}}
{{singlechart\|UKsinglesbyname\|94\|artist=Billy Joel\|artistid=16696\|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart\|Billboardhot100\|9\|artist=Billy Joel\|rowheader=true\|access-date=December 27, 2023}}
{{single chart\|Billboardadultcontemporary\|2\|artist=Billy Joel\|rowheader=true\|access-date=December 27, 2023}}
{{single chart\|Billboardmainstreamrock\|26\|artist=Billy Joel\|rowheader=true\|access-date=December 27, 2023}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" \|+Year-end chart performance for "You're Only Human (Second Wind)" ! Chart (1985) ! Position
scope="row"\| Australia (Kent Music Report){{cite web\|url=https://i.imgur.com/SN2evHp.jpg\|title=Kent Music Report No 599 – 30 December 1985 > National Top 100 Singles for 1985\|publisher=Kent Music Report\|via=Imgur\|access-date=January 23, 2023}} \| 59

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+Year-end chart performance for "You're Only Human (Second Wind)"

! Chart (1985)

! Position

scope="row"| Australia (Kent Music Report){{cite web|url=https://i.imgur.com/SN2evHp.jpg|title=Kent Music Report No 599 – 30 December 1985 > National Top 100 Singles for 1985|publisher=Kent Music Report|via=Imgur|access-date=January 23, 2023}}

| 59

References

External links

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhxjNYvJbgM Billy Joel - You're Only Human (Second Wind) (Official Video)]

Category:1985 singles

Category:Billy Joel songs

Category:Songs about suicide

Category:Songs written by Billy Joel

Category:Columbia Records singles

Category:Songs about depression

Category:Song recordings produced by Phil Ramone

Category:1985 songs