He started off learning to play the violin but soon switched to piano. From the age of 16 he played in bars, and won a scholarship to study musical composition at London's Royal Academy of Music. Jackson did not like the prospect of being a serious composer, and moved towards pop and rock.
His first band was Arms and Legs which collapsed after two unsuccessful singles. He then spent some time in the cabaret circuit to make money to record his own demos.
In 1978 a producer heard his tape, and got him signed to A&M Records. The album Look Sharp! was recorded straight away, and was released in 1979, quickly followed by I'm the Man and Beat Crazy in 1980. He also collaborated with Lincoln Thompson in reggae crossover.
The Joe Jackson Band was very successful and toured extensively. After the breakup of the band, Joe took a break and recorded an album of old-style swing and blues tunes, Jumpin' Jive, featuring songs of Cab Calloway, Lester Young, Glenn Miller, and most prominently, Louis Jordan. He went on to record Night and Day, an album that paid tribute to the wit and style of Cole Porter (and less directly, to New York City) and was his last album to hit the Top 10, peaking at #4.
He recorded another record that was heavily influenced by jazz, pop and jazz standards, and salsa, Body and Soul, which hit #20, containing the hit You Can't Get What You Want ('Til You Know What You Want).
Jackson followed with Big World, a three-sided double record (the fourth side consisted of a single centring groove and a label stating "there is no music on this side"). The instrumental Will Power set the stage for things to come later, but before he left pop behind he put out two more cerebral and celebratory albums, Blaze of Glory and Laughter and Lust. For some years he drifted away from the pop style, going on to be signed by Sony Classical in 1997, which released his Symphony No. 1 in 1999 for which he received a Grammy award.
Night and Day II in 2000 lacked strong pop hooks though, as usual with Jackson, displayed fine lyrics and some elegant songwriting. Volume 4 in 2003 reunited the original band and was well received. A promotional CD, bundled with the initial release, of the 'live' band playing some of Jackson's strongest material was widely admired.
Jackson is also an author, having written A Cure for Gravity, published in 1999, which Jackson has described as a "book about music, thinly disguised as a memoir". It traces his early musical life from childhood until his 24th birthday. Life as a pop star, he suggested, was hardly worth writing about.
In 2004 Jackson performed a cover of Common People with William Shatner for Shatner's album Has Been.
He has actively campaigned against smoking bans in both the USA and the UK, writing a 2005 pamphlet The Smoking Issue and issuing a satirical song (In 20-0-3) on the subject.
In 2008 the album Rain was released by Joe Jackson. Like its predecessor Volume 4, it featured members of the 'Joe Jackson Band', this time minus guitarist Gary Sanford.
Currently he lives in Kreuzberg, Germany.
Discography:
1979 - Look Sharp!
1979 - I'm The Man
1980 - Beat Crazy
1981 - Jumpin' Jive
1982 - Night and Day
1983 - Mike’s Murder, (Soundtrack)
1984 - Body and Soul
1986 - Big World
1987 - Will Power
1988 - Live 1980/86
1988 - Tucker, (Soundtrack)
1989 - Blaze of Glory
1991 - Laughter & Lust
1994 - Night Music
1997 - Heaven and Hell
1999 - Symphony No. 1
2000 - Summer in the City: Live in New York
2000 - Night and Day II
2002 - Two Rainy Nights, (Live)
2004 - Volume 4
2004 - Afterlife, (Live)
2008 - Rain
2011 - Live Music, (Live)
2012 - The Duke
Beat Crazy
Joe Jackson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All call themselves-some crazy name
All those drugs-they can't be sane
All that noise-affects their brains
And it's such a crime
How they waste their time
They can't get nowwhere
Beat Crazy
They say the world-is in a mess
But they can talk-the way they dress
Can't get no jobs-can't get no careers
With safety pins-stuck through their ears
And it's such a crime
How they waste their time
They can't get nowwhere
They've all gone Beat Crazy
Beat Crazy
And if the Russians ever come
They'll all be beating bongo drums
So who'll defend-in World War III
Where could we turn-where would they be
And it's such a crime
How they waste their time
They can't get nowwhere
They've all gone Beat Crazy
Beat Crazy
The lyrics to Joe Jackson's song "Beat Crazy" are a commentary on the youth culture of the time and the perceived sense of detachment and disillusionment that affected many young people in the 1980s. The song criticizes the use of drugs and the seemingly aimless pursuit of non-conformity, typified by the punk rock and new wave movements of the era. The lyrics accuse the youth of wasting their time, and warn that their attitudes and behaviors could have grave consequences in the face of a global crisis.
The song opens with Jackson bemoaning the conformity of the younger generation. He notes that they have all adopted similar, "crazy" names for themselves, and are all involved in drugs and noisy music that "affects their brains". He accuses them of wasting their time, and suggests that they have little hope of achieving anything in life. This sentiment is echoed throughout the song, with lines like "can't get no jobs, can't get no careers" and "they can't get nowhere".
In the final verse, Jackson goes even further, suggesting that the youth's focus on non-conformity could lead to disastrous consequences in the event of a war. He imagines a scenario where the Russians have invaded, and the youth are all too busy beating bongo drums to defend their country. This image serves as a stark warning against the excesses of youth culture, and suggests that there are more pressing concerns than simply rebelling against mainstream society.
Overall, "Beat Crazy" is a song that reflects the concerns and anxieties of a generation struggling to find its place in a changing world. Through its critique of youth culture, the song provides a powerful commentary on the dangers of excess and the need for a sense of purpose and direction.
Line by Line Meaning
Kids today-they're all the same
Joe Jackson is pointing out that the youth are becoming less individual, despite all the talk of individuality.
All call themselves-some crazy name
The youth are trying to stand out, but not succeeding as they are all calling themselves the same forms of names.
All those drugs-they can't be sane
Joe Jackson is criticising the use of drugs amongst the youth, which is affecting their sanity.
All that noise-affects their brains
The noise created by the youth through their music is having a negative effect on their brains.
And it's such a crime
Joe Jackson is really upset and concerned about the current state of the youth and the impact of their actions on the world.
How they waste their time
The youth are not making the most of their time and potential.
They can't get nowwhere
Joe Jackson is disappointed in the lack of progress the youth are making with their lives.
They've all gone Beat Crazy
The youth's behaviour is irrational and concerning, which is what Joe Jackson refers to as being Beat Crazy.
Beat Crazy
Joe Jackson is using this phrase as a call to action to address the concerning behaviour of the youth.
They say the world-is in a mess
The youth understand that the world is not in a good state, yet they are not doing anything productive about it.
But they can talk-the way they dress
The youth are more concerned with their appearance than taking meaningful action to improve the world.
Can't get no jobs-can't get no careers
The youth are struggling to find work or career paths.
With safety pins-stuck through their ears
Joe Jackson is commenting on the youth's fashion and how they are using safety pins to make a statement as part of their appearance.
And if the Russians ever come
Joe Jackson is pointing out how unprepared the youth would be if they were ever confronted with a real issue such as war.
They'll all be beating bongo drums
The youth do not have the capacity to prepare for any real issue as they are too caught up in superficial concerns.
So who'll defend-in World War III
Joe Jackson is being critical of the youth's lack of readiness and inability to be responsible citizens should there be a future war.
Where could we turn-where would they be
The youth would be an inadequate and unstable support system for the generations that follow them.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: JOE JACKSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Rosie Vela
I’ve loved beat crazy since it was released. WoW. I still love love love it too. ❤️
antonio
I'm right with ya!
Dana
One of the greatest, first 25 seconds of a song you'll ever here. It was tough to sustain after that but still a solid song.
Kent Dunn
The coolest album cover of all time!
steviedog54
Played the shit out of this album , what a talent
irishpogi
steviedog54 I was a high school junior when this album was released in the US. Loved it then love it now!
Miguel Torres
yes!
kewlthings
I think if I ever heard this song on the radio nowadays I would pass out. This song gets absolutely no radio play now when back in the 80's it did. Criminal.
Quinn W. Johnson
If your looking for america to play it, they only care about the hits. Night and Day and Body & Soul. It's the same with every good to great band not getting coverage here. Speak of Talk Talk, Prefab Sprout, The Damned, Gang of 4. I rest my case...
Lydia Gray
This song reminds me of when shortly after my daughter was born. Now she is 40!