A 1977 Billy Joel ballad addressed to his first wife Elizabeth, featuring a soprano saxophone solo by Phil Woods on the original recording.
Composition
Just the Way You Are was written by Billy Joel for his then-wife Elizabeth Weber, who managed his career at the time. The song is built on a flowing piano arrangement in a gentle waltz feel and includes a featured soprano sax solo by Phil Woods.
Reception
Released as a single in late 1977, the song reached the top three on the Billboard Hot 100 and the top twenty in the United Kingdom. It won Grammy Awards for both Record of the Year and Song of the Year at the 1979 ceremony.
Legacy
The song became Joel’s signature ballad and the centerpiece of his concert sets. After his divorce, Joel reportedly performed the song less frequently before reincorporating it into setlists later in his career.
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Just the Way You Are starts with J and ends with E. Browse other songs along the same letter.
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