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.
Eye On You
Billy Squier Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I�m caught up in the daydream--i�m into everyone you know
Turn on the action--grab every minute
Learn every lesson--then live to regret it
I�m so distracted--my mind�s disengaged
Sharin� the moments when you�re all the rage
Got my eye on you...
Those overnight conditions always get the best of you
You�re fuelin� my suspicions--i�m taken by the sneak preview
You got the numbers--you got no limits
One day you�re out but the next day you�re in it
You find the answers--you know what to say
Give us our reasons for livin� today
I got my eyes on you
Got my eye on you...
We share the laughter and pain when you�re in it
Bring on disaster--cause we know you�ll win it
We�re all believers--so watch what you say
Turn on those feelin�s...i can�t look away
I got my eyes on you
Got my eye on you
The song "Eye on You" by Billy Squier has a reflective and insightful theme that comments on the obsession and infatuation of fans towards their idols. The lyrics are expressed from the perspective of an ardent admirer who follows the life and activities of someone they idolize, irrespective of whether they know the person personally or not. The fan's obsession with their idol is to the extent that they watch every minute detail of the idol's life, even if it is only on television. The fan is occasionally distracted from their routine life by the thoughts of their idol and often lives in a daydream world.
The song highlights the idea that even though this person they idolize may have their own struggles and hardships, the fan still believes that their idol can overcome any problem and is always there to support them. The fan believes that their idol has all the answers, and they can learn something from every lesson. They follow the idol's footsteps and try to replicate their success, but they are also aware of the risks involved. The chorus reinforces the idea that the fan has their "eye on you" always and is a constant observer of everything their idol does.
The song has a relatable message for many as they too have their role models, celebrities or people they look up to, and it’s natural for them to have these desires, dreams, and aspirations. Squier's song suggests that it is okay to have an obsession with your idol as long as it doesn't become toxic or harmful to either the fan or the idol.
Line by Line Meaning
I watch you on the tv--you're with me every place I go
I am obsessed with you, constantly watching you on TV and thinking about you wherever I go.
I'm caught up in the daydream--i'm into everyone you know
I am so enamored with you that I fantasize about being a part of your world and getting to know everyone in your circle.
Turn on the action--grab every minute
I am eager for any opportunity to see and experience your exciting lifestyle.
Learn every lesson--then live to regret it
I am so captivated by your charisma and confident attitude that I follow your lead and try to emulate your behavior, even if it gets me into trouble.
I'm so distracted--my mind's disengaged
My singular focus on you has caused me to lose touch with reality and neglect my own life.
Sharin' the moments when you're all the rage
I feel like I am a part of your inner circle when you are at the height of your popularity and success.
Those overnight conditions always get the best of you
You are at your most vulnerable during the late-night hours, and I can't help but obsess over your every move during that time.
You're fuelin' my suspicions--i'm taken by the sneak preview
The little glimpses I catch of your private life only make me more curious and invested in you.
You got the numbers--you got no limits
You are unstoppable, always pushing the boundaries and never accepting failure.
One day you're out but the next day you're in it
Your career and reputation are constantly fluctuating, but you always come out on top.
You find the answers--you know what to say
You are incredibly charismatic and always have a response for every situation that arises.
Give us our reasons for livin' today
Your inspirational words and actions give us all a reason to keep going and find meaning in our lives.
We share the laughter and pain when you're in it
You bring us all together and make us feel like we are a part of your journey, both the good times and the bad.
Bring on disaster--cause we know you'll win it
Even when things seem dire, we have faith that you will come out on top and continue to thrive.
We're all believers--so watch what you say
We are all hanging onto your every word and action, so you must be careful what you say and do.
Turn on those feelin's...i can't look away
Your magnetic personality and captivating presence are impossible to ignore, and I can't help but be drawn to you.
Lyrics © Spirit Music Group
Written by: BILLY SQUIER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind