Just the Way You Are

What a cool tune.

The song was written by Billy Joel and made its world debut on BJ's 1977 album The Stranger.

Here is Billy doing the song live in 1977. Awesome.

It's a great song, so it has obviously been covered a time or two. Here's two great versions.

First, the inestimable Barry White. That's rare concert footage from a concert Barry did in Belgium.

And finally, the gorgeous and extremely talented Diana Krall really took the song somewhere else. Some of you may know Diana Krall as Elvis Costello's wife. I will always know her as the girl I should have married if not for that pesky Elvis Costello. She's a sublime artist and here she is taking on the Just the Way You Are.

Much respect to Mr. Joel for writing it, but that Diana Krall version is a chill-bumper. If you like it, do yourself a favor and check out Diana's Live in Paris concert footage where she sings this song as well as many others. She kills it in that show and wow does she own that piano.

So there's three pretty different takes on the tune. I think you will agree though that no matter how it's performed it's a pretty amazing piece of work. Touching lyrics and great music. It's a rare gem and here's hoping that after watching these links, you hum it in the shower tomorrow morning.

DT3