Billy Squier
Billy Squier (born May 12, 1950, in Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts) is a ro… Read Full Bio ↴Billy Squier (born May 12, 1950, in Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts) is a rock musician. He had a string of arena rock and power ballad type hits in the 80s. He's probably best known for the song "The Stroke", on his 1981 album 'Don't Say No'. Said album has been RIAA certified as triple-platinum. Other hits include "Lonely Is The Night", "Everybody Wants You", "In The Dark", "My Kinda Lover", and "Rock Me Tonite". Squier left the music industry in the mid-90s, due in part to issues with his label as well as changing musical trends.
He has been active in the 00s and since, touring both as a single artist and as a member of the rotating supergroup 'Ringo Starr & His All Starr Band'. Before fronting the band titled in his name, Squire was the frontman of the power pop group Piper. Said band had some underground fame in the 70s before Squire left for bigger things.
Squier started off his solo career with May 1980's 'The Tale of the Tape'. Although a commercial breakthrough eluded him, the release spent three months on Billboard's album chart and gained a large fan response. Working with songwriter impresario Desmond Child and Kiss co-guitarist Bruce Kulick, his album also brought him praising critical reviews, noting his talent for meeting catchy pop hooks with aggressive guitars and vocals.
His 1981 follow-up, 'Don't Say No', shot his career into the stratosphere. It hit the Top Five on the Billboard album chart and remained on the chart for over two years (a total of 111 weeks). Getting RIAA certified as triple-platinum, singles such as "Lonely Is The Night" and "The Stroke" became staples of arena rock radio. His music from this album has popped up in variety of places such as in the comedy film 'Blades of Glory' and in the popular Guitar Hero video game series.
Squier's third album, 'Emotions in Motion', also picked up both critical praise, with Allmusic calling it a "slice of AOR heaven", and commercial acclaim. The album itself peaked at #5 on the Billboard 200 chart while singles such as "Everybody Wants You" and "Learn How To Live" achieved top 40 rock stardom. Squier also achieved notability both for his album cover, devised by famous artist Andy Warhol, and for his popular music videos, played often on MTV.
Massively successful touring with artists such as Queen had Squier labeled as one of the best hard rock artists of the decade. Still, 'what goes up, must come down', as the saying goes, and his next album would spell his downfall. 1984's 'Signs of Life' came out with initial good press, viewed as perhaps lacking the rock crunch of his previous affairs but still involving some catchy tunes. Single "Rock Me Tonite", released in June 1984 as the lead single, became his highest charting U.S. song, peaking at number 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 and hitting the Top 10 on the Cash Box singles chart. It also returned him to #1 on the Top Rock Tracks chart in August of 1984.
Nevertheless, the music video for the song was the beginning of the end for this part of Squier's career. Popularly regarded as one of the worst ever music videos ever made, if not the worst, it shows Squier putting on a pink tank top and making effeminate dance moves around a bed with pastel-colored satin sheets while badly miming to the song, rolling around on the floor in several parts. Many viewers who saw it thought that it depicted the singer on drugs or pretending to be flamboyantly gay. It was directed by Kenny Ortega, who was the third director to be considered for the job.
After an acrimonious break from his label and also making other changes, Squier re-grouped and released 'Enough Is Enough' on September 27, 1986. Signed to Capitol Records, he achieved some success, with the album having peaked at #61 on the Billboard album chart, but failed to meet expectations. Some critics charged that the stress that he had been put under took its toll on his songwriting. Future releases over the next few years failed to change things as his popularity slid downwards, and he ultimately quit the music industry for several years in the 90s.
As stated before, he has been active in the 00s and since, touring both as a single artist and as a member of the rotating supergroup 'Ringo Starr & His All Starr Band'. More recently, a few live albums have come out featuring his music. He also has had several low-key tours.
He has been active in the 00s and since, touring both as a single artist and as a member of the rotating supergroup 'Ringo Starr & His All Starr Band'. Before fronting the band titled in his name, Squire was the frontman of the power pop group Piper. Said band had some underground fame in the 70s before Squire left for bigger things.
Squier started off his solo career with May 1980's 'The Tale of the Tape'. Although a commercial breakthrough eluded him, the release spent three months on Billboard's album chart and gained a large fan response. Working with songwriter impresario Desmond Child and Kiss co-guitarist Bruce Kulick, his album also brought him praising critical reviews, noting his talent for meeting catchy pop hooks with aggressive guitars and vocals.
His 1981 follow-up, 'Don't Say No', shot his career into the stratosphere. It hit the Top Five on the Billboard album chart and remained on the chart for over two years (a total of 111 weeks). Getting RIAA certified as triple-platinum, singles such as "Lonely Is The Night" and "The Stroke" became staples of arena rock radio. His music from this album has popped up in variety of places such as in the comedy film 'Blades of Glory' and in the popular Guitar Hero video game series.
Squier's third album, 'Emotions in Motion', also picked up both critical praise, with Allmusic calling it a "slice of AOR heaven", and commercial acclaim. The album itself peaked at #5 on the Billboard 200 chart while singles such as "Everybody Wants You" and "Learn How To Live" achieved top 40 rock stardom. Squier also achieved notability both for his album cover, devised by famous artist Andy Warhol, and for his popular music videos, played often on MTV.
Massively successful touring with artists such as Queen had Squier labeled as one of the best hard rock artists of the decade. Still, 'what goes up, must come down', as the saying goes, and his next album would spell his downfall. 1984's 'Signs of Life' came out with initial good press, viewed as perhaps lacking the rock crunch of his previous affairs but still involving some catchy tunes. Single "Rock Me Tonite", released in June 1984 as the lead single, became his highest charting U.S. song, peaking at number 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 and hitting the Top 10 on the Cash Box singles chart. It also returned him to #1 on the Top Rock Tracks chart in August of 1984.
Nevertheless, the music video for the song was the beginning of the end for this part of Squier's career. Popularly regarded as one of the worst ever music videos ever made, if not the worst, it shows Squier putting on a pink tank top and making effeminate dance moves around a bed with pastel-colored satin sheets while badly miming to the song, rolling around on the floor in several parts. Many viewers who saw it thought that it depicted the singer on drugs or pretending to be flamboyantly gay. It was directed by Kenny Ortega, who was the third director to be considered for the job.
After an acrimonious break from his label and also making other changes, Squier re-grouped and released 'Enough Is Enough' on September 27, 1986. Signed to Capitol Records, he achieved some success, with the album having peaked at #61 on the Billboard album chart, but failed to meet expectations. Some critics charged that the stress that he had been put under took its toll on his songwriting. Future releases over the next few years failed to change things as his popularity slid downwards, and he ultimately quit the music industry for several years in the 90s.
As stated before, he has been active in the 00s and since, touring both as a single artist and as a member of the rotating supergroup 'Ringo Starr & His All Starr Band'. More recently, a few live albums have come out featuring his music. He also has had several low-key tours.
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Billy Squier Lyrics
(L-O-V-E) Four Letter Word L-o...whaddo i know V-e...she's not comin' back to me L-o...…
08. On Your Own In every heart there comes a time You find yourself, you…
1984 From over the air comes a voice without care Says we're…
All Night Long I get up, I run through the world like a…
All We Have To Give I see the world around me...i feel the joy and…
Alone In Your Dreams I saw you last night...alone in your dreams You were so…
Angry Get your master key...open up your doors Set your servants f…
Big Beat I got the big beat I hear the sound I got the…
Break Down I found your note this mornin'... I didn't want to know I…
Break The Silence Turn through the pages back in your life The world in…
Calley Oh 1. I thought I knew the Story. I thought I'd…
Can Say I can't get next to you Doesn't matter what can…
Catch 22 I read you like an autograph You love the spotlight You shoo…
Christmas Is the Time to Say "I Love You" Christmas is the time to say "I love you" Share the…
Come Home Poundin' on the pavement, soundin' the alarm Strangulation m…
Conscience Point Freedom rider...though you've tried Words are not enough for…
Don We live in confusion times My world is a vice Nobody gets…
Don't Let Me Go Over and over, wanderin' through the years Life is a diamond…
Don't Say No We live in confusion times My world is a vice Nobody gets…
Don't Say You Love Me Don't, don't, don't, don't, don't say you love me Yea You…
Dont Let Me Go Over and over, wanderin' through the years Life is a diamond…
Dont Say You Love Me Don't, don't, don't, don't, don't say you love me Yea You…
Emotions In Motion One, two, three, four, hey Bend your back by the light…
Eveeybody Wants You You see 'em coming at you every night Strung on pretension,…
Eye On You I watch you on the tv--you�re with me every place…
Facts of Life These are the golden years When people get what they want An…
Fall For Love You know sometimes I wake up in the middle of…
Fast Times You can talk about me if you want to You can…
Four Letter Word L-O- whaddo I know V-E- she's not comin' back to me L-O…
G.o.d I been searchin' for so long For a love to fill…
G.O.D. I been searchin' for so long For a love to fill…
Grasping for Oblivion Squier Cezanne, the unloved prophet, found a dignity th…
Hand Me Downs Look to your left--look to your right Look to yourself--look…
Hand-Me-Downs Look to your left--look to your right Look to yourself--loo…
Hands Of Seduction Love...it's that one big step you take Eyes...watchin' every…
Happy Blues Squier I don't wanna be happy if happy means I got…
Hercules I can't stop...it always gets the best of me I can't…
Hollywood Heaven, everything you wanted You know what you came for T…
I Need You I rise at the break of day, your smile sets…
If You Would Hate Me Less I Would Love You More I'm havin' a daydream Thinkin' of how it might have been I…
If You Would Hate Me Less I'd Love You More I'm havin' a daydream Thinkin' of how it might have been If…
In The Dark Life isn't easy from the singular side Down in the hole…
In The Dark ** Life isn't easy from the singular side Down in the hole…
In Your Eyes Never was a man to make a name on promises Never…
Inferno Started out at the break of dawn Braved the woods fro…
It Keeps You Rockin When the lights blow and anything goes and nobody knows When…
Keep Me Satisfied Early in the mornin' I'm layin' on my bed Stickin' to…
Lady With A Tenor Sax I been fakin' my past... But now I know my connection…
Learn How To Live You got a lot to learn You play in the fire You…
Like I'm Lovin' You I been thinkin' a lot about you lately Sitting here wasting…
Listen To The Heartbeat Sometimes I wonder...think I just can't stand no more Can't …
Lonely Is The Night Lonely is the night when you find yourself alone Your demons…
Lonely One Light in the window but out in the night it's…
Long Way to Fall Squier Off in the land of heroes and fables a man…
Love Is The Hero There is a course in life, so all the teachers…
Lover I was green in my younger days Full of plans but…
Lovin' You Ain't So Hard Oh...it's all clear to me now Oh, oh-oh...it all comes throu…
Mind Machine I saw you for the first time yesterday You looked at…
Mind-Machine I saw you for the first time yesterday You looked at…
Mine Tonite Another time, another place for you and me Is that the…
More Than Words Can Say Squier More than words can say or the sweetest song tha…
My Kind Of Lover You got me runnin' baby You give me somethin' way beyond…
Nerves On Ice You don't need the papers to read between the lines And…
Nobody Knows I may get around I may laugh a lot Now you'd think…
Not a Color Hey brother the sky is fallin' Hey brother it all comes…
On Your Own In every heart there comes a time You find yourself, you…
One Good Woman I been a traveler for more than too few years I…
Powerhouse Tough day on the firin' line, dontcha wanna make some…
Reach For The Sky A spark of life--a beat in time A lonely light that…
Rhythm Rhythm, rhythm...rhythm, oh-oh Rhythm, rhythm...rhythm, oh-…
Rich Kid The rich kids got the money The rich kids play the…
Rip This Joint Mama says yes, Papa says no Make up you mind 'cause…
River Squier It's comin' on twilight, and all the world's at ea…
Rock Me Tonight I'm rockin' tonite - I'm walkin' on air Gonna find me…
Rock Out / Punch Somebody Say 'hey...everybody rock out Wind me up--I might punch some…
Shake Down Rock, rock, never stop, take your passion to the top Rock,…
She Take my soul to the lost-and-found Girl she made me a…
She Goes Down She goes down She, walks into your life so effortlessly Make…
She Will Squier Men who can't love are so predictable Break your…
She's A Runner Take my soul to the lost-and-found Girl she made me a…
Shocked Straight And so the knife comes down...another curtain falls And no o…
Shot O' Love Ah satisfaction when you gonna show Dyin' for some action do…
Spell On You I put a spell on you because you're mine You better…
Strange Fire What's that sound...this poundin' in my head The beat's so l…
Stranger to Myself Stranger, stranger... I...don't know where I'm goin' But wh…
Stroke Me Say everybody, have you heard If you're in the game, then…
Stroke Me Blues Squier Say everybody - have you heard If you're in the…
Stronger I will live for you--I want you to believe in…
Sweet Release Destiny's a road we ride Sight unseen--our thoughts untried …
Take A Look Behind Ya There's trouble on the rise--you can see it in the…
The Big Beat I got the big beat I hear the sound I got the…
The Big Beat (99 Problems Samp I got the big beat I hear the sound I got the…
The Girl's All Right Got myself a woman...or I should say I try To keep…
The Music's All Right Now I know - that life can be unkind I know…
The Pursuit of Happiness Squier If you want love you gotta love somebody If you…
The Stroke Now everybody, have you heard, if you're in the game Then…
The Work Song You're born into life--learn to discover They take you for l…
Tied Up You need some lovin' but your heart's tied up You need…
Til It's Over It's not over til it's over...it's not over til the…
Time Bomb I'm sittin' on a time-bomb The world is like a time-bomb A…
Too Daze Gone Walkin' through the streets just the other day (movin') Caug…
Tryin Are you lookin' for adventure...are you lookin' at me Are yo…
Two Squier Happy birthday little man On this night you are t…
Whadda Ya Want From Me Down in the dungeon I'm having a hard time I get…
Whadda You Want From Me Down in the dungeon I'm havin' a hard time And I…
Who Knows What A Love Can Do It's a wrong side of town kinda love We let ourselves…
Who's Your Boyfriend Another day with nothin' to do Spend my time lookin' for…
Wink Of An Eye I see you walkin' down the street...you could be walkin'…
You Know What I Like Somewhere in the distance, somewhere down the line A trace o…
You Should Be High Love Some say love is borrowed time A lonely loan only lovers…
Young At Heart So you're out to change the world You can do it…
Young Girls I could love you where you lie whatcha want me…
Your Love Is My Life Your love is my life--I live my life for your…
Merle Newman
on G.O.D.
Hello Stella. You have Done a Great Job!! ...Explaining the Meaning of this. great Song by Billly Squire... YES You Have...Thank You.. for the Information...I've heard the song for 2-3 years now and Understood. Half of It ..maybe...lol....but the other half ..I didn't ..and I saw on another site..song meanings .I believe ..which is just people comments On whatever they Think a Song is about....one person said It was Something to do with Billy Squire . " turning his Back" on G O D.. I knew That didn't seem Right. & I just Knew. Mr. Squire Wouldn't write a Song. saying or meaning That...Keep Up The Good Work Stella..bye