"Don't Ask Me Why" is a 1980 song by Billy Joel released as the third single from the album Glass Houses. The song spent two weeks at number one on the Adult Contemporary chart and peaked at number 19 on the Billboard Hot 100.
The track contains all acoustic and Latin percussion instruments performing in an Afro-Cuban rhythmic style. An eclectic, instrumental "Latin Ballroom" piano solo, played over the bridge section after the second verse, is also featured in part of the song; Joel states that the mix for the midsection includes "fifteen pianos overdubbed on top of each other."
The syncopated "333322" accent pattern in the verses is identical to that in the song "Big Shot", from Joel's previous album 52nd Street (1978). The same pattern can be found in other songs of the 1980s, including "Karma Chameleon" (1983) by Culture Club, "Crazy for You" (1985) by Madonna, "Summer of '69" (1985) by Bryan Adams, and "Desire" (1988) by U2.
Reception Billboard found the song to be "catchy" and felt that Joel's vocal performance sounded similar to Paul McCartney. Cash Box said it has a "crisp pop/Latin/rock rhythm" and that the lyrics deal with the "themes of success and chance." Record World called it "one of [Joel's] easy rollin' romantic piano ballads that often become pop standards."
Charts Weekly charts Chart (1980)PeakpositionCanada RPM Top Singles4Canada RPM Adult Contemporary1French Singles Chart42Israel (IBA) Search "Billy Joel" for Israeli chart history.20 UK Singles (Record Business)73UK Airplay (Record Business) 6US Billboard Hot 10019US Billboard Adult Contemporary1US Cash Box Top 10021
Year-end charts Chart (1980)RankCanada45US (Joel Whitburn's Pop Annual)122
Certifications
Personnel Billy Joel – lead and backing vocals, acoustic piano, Yamaha electric grand piano David Brown – acoustic guitar Russell Javors – acoustic guitar Doug Stegmeyer – bass Liberty DeVitto – maracas, bass drum, triangle, claves, ratchet, castanets
See also List of number-one adult contemporary singles of 1980 (U.S.)
References