BILLY JOEL - I GO TO EXTREMES

Released: January 1990

Charts:  US: #6   UK: #70 

“I Go to Extremes” is a rock-driven track from the album “Storm Front”, released as the album’s second US single in early 1990. The song became a Top 10 hit, reaching #6 on the Billboard Hot 100, #3 on the Canadian RPM chart, and placing well on the Adult Contemporary and Album Rock Tracks charts. In the UK, it peaked at #70.

Often misinterpreted as a song about manic depression, Joel has said it was originally written as an apology to his then-wife, Christie Brinkley, acknowledging how his intense personality and emotional highs and lows affected their relationship. The use of “darling” in the lyrics supports this personal connection. Joel later confirmed in interviews that he does identify with manic depression (now known as bipolar disorder) and that his extremes of emotion have influenced his songwriting: “There’s not a lot of material in moderation,” he quipped.

This personal theme is mirrored musically—Joel’s piano part spans the full keyboard, dramatically bouncing from extreme highs to deep lows, reflecting the song’s message in a literal, musical way. The song is marked by pounding piano chords, urgent vocals, and a high-energy rhythm, contrasting with some of Joel’s earlier, more melodic or nostalgic work. It aligns with the harder rock sound he explored on “Storm Front”.

Joel would often alter the lyrics during live performances, inserting humorous lines or personalized phrases, showing both his comfort with the material and the song’s playful flexibility despite its intense theme. A live version appears on “2000 Years: The Millennium Concert”.

Directed by Paula Greif—who also worked with The Smiths and Duran Duran—the music video features Joel and his band performing in a minimalistic room, emphasizing the raw energy of the track. Greif incorporated footage of Joel playing the piano furiously, even with his feet, inspired by a studio anecdote where he played so aggressively that he broke strings on the instrument.