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"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.[5]

"Don't Ask Me Why"
Single by Billy Joel
from the album Glass Houses
B-side	"C'était Toi (You Were the One)"
Released	July 24, 1980
Recorded	1979
Genre	Bossa nova[1] pop[2] yacht rock[3] Latin rock[4]
Length	2:59
Label	Columbia Records
Songwriter(s)	Billy Joel
Producer(s)	Phil Ramone
Billy Joel singles chronology
"It's Still Rock and Roll to Me" (1980) "Don't Ask Me Why" (1980) "Sometimes a Fantasy" (1980)

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."[6]

Reception

Billboard found the song to be "catchy" and felt that Joel's vocal performance sounded similar to Paul McCartney.[7] Cash Box said it has a "crisp pop/Latin/rock rhythm" and that the lyrics deal with the "themes of success and chance."[4]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1980)	Peak position
Canada RPM Top Singles[8]	4
Canada RPM Adult Contemporary[9]	1
Dutch Singles Chart	42
French Singles Chart[10]	42
US Billboard Hot 100	19
US Billboard Adult Contemporary	1
US Cash Box Top 100	21

Year-end charts

Chart (1980)	Rank
Canada[11]	45
US (Joel Whitburn's Pop Annual)[12]	122

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

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