Christie Brinkley Got in Trouble for Doing Billy Joel's 'Uptown Girl' Video for Free
The 1980S Was a Thrilling Time for Music. New Innovations Like Walkman Radios, Digital Synthesizers, and Widespread Portable Boomboxes Changed the Way Music Was Enjoyed and Made. in 1981 the Music Scene Would Be Forever Changed by the Dawn of Mtv. Then, Mtv Didn’t Have Its Reality Programming, Comedy, and Animated Features— It Was All Music Videos, All Day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Christie Brinkley in the Early ’80S
In 1983, Christie Brinkley Was the Very Idea of American Beauty. After Appearing on the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue in 1979, She Was Signed to a 25-Year Contract with Covergirl Cosmetics. She Appeared on the Cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue Again in 1980 and 1981, Making Her the First Model to Do So. in 1983, She Was Growing Her Career out of Primarily Modeling. She Appeared in a Small Role in National Lampoon’s Vacation and Had Done a Series of Segments on Beauty Tips on Good Morning America According to the New York Times. She Was 29-Year's-Old, Beautiful, Talented, and Was a Household Name Worldwide.
Enter the Piano Man
In the Spring of 1983, Brinkley Was St Barts for a Photoshoot. While There, She Would Happen to Be Staying in the Same Hotel as Famous Musician Billy Joel. Joel Was Five Year's Older Than Brinkley and Already Had Well-Established Fame and Appeal. at the Time, He Was Vacationing to Celebrate the Completion of His 7Th Studio Album, Glass Houses.
Screen Actor’s Guild Vs. ‘Uptown Girl’
In the Fall of 1983, Brinkley and Joel Had Been Dating Nearly Half a Year. Joel Had Been a Successful Musician Since the Late ’60S and Hadn’t Quite Adjusted to the New Expectations of Music Videos. When the 1983 Album, an Innocent Man Was Released, the Studio Needed a Music Video for the Hit Single, Uptown Girl. Joel and His Team Hastily Through a Project Together and Asked His Girlfriend to Stop by and Help Play the Titular Uptown Girl. the Video Would Feature Her Dressed as in Style as Always, Dancing with Mechanics in an Auto Service Shop.
