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.
Angry
Billy Squier Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Set your servants free...they won't come no more
Wrapped my life in chains...gave my everything
Learned to feel no pain...now everyday I wake up
Angry...angry I said
Angry...angry I said
But you only go so far...won't take me all the way
I tried so hard to please...take my place in line
Begged you on my knees...now all I got makes me
Angry...angry I said
Angry...angry I said
Your mantle's 'bout to fall
Your grip's gonna come undone
Nobody hear you call...no flowers from anyone
I'm gettin' down off the rack...i'm takin' this baby back
Angry...
I've wasted too much time
I'm gettin' down off the rack
I'm packin' up all my crimes...and I ain't comin' back
Your mantle's 'bout to fall...your mantle's bound to fall
No heaven after all...no heaven after all
Angry...no heaven after all
Angry...no one to break your fall
Angry...no heaven after all
Angry...no heaven after all
The song "Angry" by Billy Squier is about betrayal and the anger that comes with it. The lyrics describe a situation in which the singer has been held captive in his own life, surrounded by people who have used him and taken advantage of him. He has reached his breaking point and is determined to break free and take back control of his life.
The first verse expresses the singer's determination to break free from those who have held him captive. He urges them to open their doors and set their servants free, indicating that he is done being under their control. The second verse is directed towards the person who has been driving his life away in their car but only taking him so far. The singer has tried to please them and begged for their help, but all he has gotten is anger and bitterness.
The chorus, "Angry...angry I said," is repeated throughout the song, emphasizing the singer's emotions and his overwhelming sense of anger. In the bridge, Squier sings about how the person who has been holding him down will soon fall from their mantle of power, and nobody will be there to help them. The final chorus repeats that there is no heaven after all, and the singer is angry and will not be coming back.
Overall, the song "Angry" is a powerful display of the emotions that come with feeling betrayed and taken advantage of. The lyrics express a sense of determination to break free and take back control of one's life, even if it means leaving everything else behind.
Line by Line Meaning
Get your master key...open up your doors
Free yourself from the constraints of your own mind and let new experiences in.
Set your servants free...they won't come no more
Release whatever it is that has been holding you back so you can move forward with those who support you.
Wrapped my life in chains...gave my everything
I've been giving everything, but it's trapped me instead of setting me free.
Learned to feel no pain...now everyday I wake up
I've discovered how to be numb to the pain, but every day it's still there.
Angry...angry I said
I'm filled with anger, and I'm expressing it.
You pack me in your car...you drive my life away
You've taken control of my life and are leading me down a path I don't want to follow.
But you only go so far...won't take me all the way
You're not taking me to where I really want to be, and it's not enough.
I tried so hard to please...take my place in line
I've done everything I could to fit in and be accepted by following the crowd.
Begged you on my knees...now all I got makes me
I've begged for acceptance, but now I'm left feeling angry and empty.
Your mantle's 'bout to fall
Your façade is about to crack, and the truth will be revealed.
Your grip's gonna come undone
You'll soon lose control over everything you thought you had a hold on.
Nobody hear you call...no flowers from anyone
You'll be abandoned in your time of need, and no one will be there to help or offer condolences.
I'm gettin' down off the rack...i'm takin' this baby back
I'm getting off the path that's been set out for me and taking control of my own life.
I've wasted too much time
I've spent too long chasing after the acceptance of others at the expense of my own happiness.
I'm packin' up all my crimes...and I ain't comin' back
I'm leaving behind all the guilt and mistakes I've made in the past and moving on.
No heaven after all
There is no ultimate reward for the good and the faithful.
no one to break your fall
There will be no one to help when things go wrong, and you'll be left to pick up the pieces on your own.
Lyrics © Spirit Music Group
Written by: BILLY SQUIER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind