When Billy Joel released "Only the Good Die Young" in 1977, he likely expected controversy.
What he may not have expected was that the song would remain divisive for decades, eventually even appearing on lists of tracks discouraged from radio play in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks.
Released on Joel's breakthrough album The Stranger, the song quickly became one of his signature hits thanks to its upbeat piano-driven sound and rebellious lyrics centered around religion, youth and temptation.
The track tells the story of a young man attempting to persuade a Catholic girl named Virginia to loosen up and rebel against strict religious expectations. While Joel has long described the song as playful and tongue-in-cheek, many religious groups viewed it very differently at the time.
Some Catholic organizations protested the song, and certain radio stations either banned it or refused to play it because of its perceived anti-Catholic themes.
Ironically, the backlash only made the song more popular.
The controversy fueled curiosity among younger listeners, helping transform "Only the Good Die Young" into a rebellious anthem for a generation increasingly pushing back against authority and social expectations.
"When I wrote 'Only the Good Die Young,' the point of the song wasn't so much anti-Catholic as pro-lust," Joel said in an interview.
"I wrote it as a reggae song," Joel recounted. "And Liberty [DeVitto], my drummer, is so sick of reggae that he literally throws his drumsticks at me and says, 'Ugh, I frigging hate reggae! The closest you've ever been to Jamaica is when you changed trains in Queens.' So I said, 'Yeah, what's your solution?' And he played that opening fill and went into this kind of shuffle."
The rest was history. And then, decades later, the song unexpectedly resurfaced in another cultural controversy.
Following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, some radio companies circulated lists of songs considered potentially insensitive or inappropriate for airplay during the national mourning period. According to reporting highlighted by Consequence, "Only the Good Die Young" was among the many songs that appeared on those controversial lists.
The reasons varied widely across different songs, and many critics later questioned the broad nature of the recommendations, which included tracks with themes involving death, violence or emotional distress.
Despite the periodic backlash, "Only the Good Die Young" endured as one of Billy Joel's most beloved classics.
"I think music in itself is healing," Joel told Rolling Stone. "It's an explosive expression of humanity. It's something we are all touched by. No matter what culture you're from, everyone loves music."
Over the years, the song has remained a staple of classic rock radio and concert setlists, celebrated for its infectious melody, rapid-fire lyrics and youthful energy.
Nearly 50 years after its release, the song still resonates as both a catchy rock hit and a symbol of youthful defiance. Sometimes the most controversial songs become the ones that have the most staying power.
Related: 1976 Hit Film, Written in 10 Days, Ranked Among Greatest Films of All Time
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