"My Life" is a song by
Billy Joel that first appeared on his 1978 album 52nd Street. A single version was released in the fall of 1978 and reached No. 2 on the U.S.
adult contemporary chart. Early the next year, it peaked at No. 3 on the
Billboard Hot 100.
Musical structure
The song begins with drums, electric bass, and a left-hand piano part, followed by a
keyboardriff in the right hand. The riff is also used as a
fill between verse and chorus sections and is also played at the end. The section order is intro-verse-fill-chorus-bridge-v-f-c-b-solo-c-outro.
"My Life" was used as the theme song for the
ABC television series Bosom Buddies (1980–82), albeit in a re-recorded version with a different vocalist.[citation needed] However, due to licensing issues, it does not appear on the VHS and DVD releases of the series, nor is it used in the show's syndicated airings; in both cases, it is replaced by a vocal version of the show's closing instrumental theme, "Shake Me Loose", sung by
Stephanie Mills.
The structure of the opening verse is essentially identical to the one in the song
Sha-La-La-La-La, released five years prior by Danish glam rock band
Walkers. Joel does not credit the band for inspiration.
Reception
Billboard described "My Life" as "an infectious uptempo tune guaranteeing a good mood for the listener."[4]Cash Box said that the "jumpy, upfront beat, keyboards, and acoustic guitar lines back Joel's strong singing" and praised the "musical and lyrical
hooks."[5]Record World called it a "Top 40 & adult [oriented rock] natural."[6]