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.
Emotions In Motion
Billy Squier Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bend your back by the light o' the sun
You come to the business
You're the number one, ooh yeah
When twilight comes you're a runner in the night
It turns you on like a hot taillight, mmm
Get down, you really get down, you never let down
Come down, you never come down, you never come down
Emotions in motion
Emotions in motion, hey
Emotions in motion
Emotions in motion, yeah
Back street boy gonna sell you some sin
He'll wind you up, he gonna suck you in
Ah ah ah, ah ah ah (ooh)
The blood say yes, the mind say no
The voice in your ear say you go, go, go, yeah so
Run down, you really run down, you really run down
Cool down, you never cool down, you better cool down
Emotions in motion, ah ah ah ah
Emotions in motion, yeah
Emotions in motion, ah ah ah ah
Emotions in motion (in motion)
Ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah
Give yourself to a life of extremes
You're into the action, it's a part of your dream
Ah ah ah, ah ah ah (ooh)
And there're some things you never can tell
But when the door lies open throw your coins in the well (ooh)
Get down, you really get down, you really get down
Right now, you want it right now, hold tight now (ooh)
Emotions in motion, ah ah ah ah
Emotions in motion
Emotions in motion, ah ah ah ah
Emotions in motion (in motion, yeah)
Emotions in motion
Emotions in motion (in motion)
Emotions in motion (in motion)
Emotions in motion (ah)
Ah
Take it
Mmm, ooh yeah
Hey
I tried to get myself over you, ah ah ah
Ah
The lyrics of “Emotions in Motion” by Billy Squier explore the excitement and stimulation of living on the edge and taking risks. The song begins with an energetic count-in, leading into the first verse that encourages listeners to embrace life and be unafraid. The lyrics depict a figure who revels in danger, who thrives on the thrill of the unknown. This figure is praised as the “number one” and likened to a “runner in the night,” suggestion that they excel when operating under cover of darkness. The music is energetic and lively, mirroring the pulse and movement of action, which further emphasizes the excitement and risk-taking nature of the lyrics.
As the song progresses, Squier introduces a character known as the “back street boy,” an anonymous seller of sin who, he warns, will suck the listener in. This evocative point provides a warning of the dangers of such extreme living, and a potential downfall that consumers of these experiences may face. “The blood say yes, the mind say no” hints at the internal conflict that may occur as an individual struggles with the morality of living life on the edge.
Line by Line Meaning
Bend your back by the light o' the sun
Work hard in broad daylight
You come to the business
You're here for the challenge
You're the number one, ooh yeah
You're a champion
When twilight comes you're a runner in the night
You thrive in darkness
It turns you on like a hot taillight, mmm
It excites you
Get down, you really get down, you never let down
You go all out, never giving up
Come down, you never come down, you never come down
You maintain your intensity
Emotions in motion
You're driven by your passion
Back street boy gonna sell you some sin
A bad influence will corrupt you
He'll wind you up, he gonna suck you in
He'll manipulate you
The blood say yes, the mind say no
Your instincts are telling you different things
The voice in your ear say you go, go, go, yeah so
You succumb to temptation
Run down, you really run down, you really run down
You're exhausted
Cool down, you never cool down, you better cool down
You need to rest
Give yourself to a life of extremes
You're willing to take risks
You're into the action, it's a part of your dream
You live for adrenaline
And there're some things you never can tell
You have secrets
But when the door lies open throw your coins in the well (ooh)
Take opportunities when they arise
Right now, you want it right now, hold tight now (ooh)
You're impatient, but need to be patient
Emotions in motion
Your feelings drive your actions
Take it
Go for it
I tried to get myself over you, ah ah ah
You're struggling to move on
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Spirit Music Group
Written by: WILLIAM H SQUIER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mstripling86
Billy squire is one of the most underrated musicians I've ever heard. Really like a lot of what I've heard from him.
@Unstoppablemindy
Sadly true
@mattiodowd3209
Like Jeff Buckley to good people don't even get it I mean lots of people get it right but not the masses which is kind a better eh
@yasha_0895
ikr ..I'm glad I found out about him from dad.
@jonbarndt4848
His concerts smelled great too.
@ms.mojo_risin
@@jonbarndt4848 😁 They sure did.
@NoodleMutt
Freddie Mercury & Roger Taylor on backing vocals - destined to be a hit.
@elcid8889
No wonder this sound almost identical to Queen's 'Dragon Attack'.
@carlalaudicinaLFC
Oh that's cool. I did not know that! My first concert. ❤️
@bnx200
@@elcid8889 I was thinking the same thing.