Stranger Than You

"Stranger Than You"
Single by Joe Jackson
from the album Night and Day II
B-side	"Hell of a Town"
Released	2000
Length	3:47 (single version) 4:19 (album version)
Label	Sony Classical
Songwriter(s)	Joe Jackson
Producer(s)	Joe Jackson
Joe Jackson singles chronology
"Statue of Liberty" (1997) "Stranger Than You" (2000) "Glamour and Pain" (2002)

"Stranger Than You" is a song by British singer-songwriter and musician Joe Jackson, released in 2000 as the lead single from his studio album Night and Day II (2000). The song was written and produced by Jackson. It reached No. 91 on the Dutch Single Top 100 chart.^[1]

In a 2007 interview with FaceCulture, Jackson revealed his inspiration for the song: "It was one of the things that attracted me to New York; no matter how weird you think you are, there's always someone stranger than you."^[2]

Critical reception

In a review of the single, FMQB wrote, "Joe Jackson's is a talent that encompasses styles and genres that just won't work on most mainstream radio stations. That's where we come in. Own this."^[3] In a review of Night and Day II, Bernard Zuel of The Sydney Morning Herald felt "Stranger Than You" was reminiscent of Billy Joel and described it as a "fine pop song, though too stylish for mainstream radio".^[4] L.A. Tarone of the Standard-Speaker considered it to use a "Chopin-ish piano as its foundation" and noted the "gorgeous chamber string explosion mid-tune". Lyrically, he added, "Jackson finds romance amidst the seemliness and is happy".^[5]

Steve Darnall of the Chicago Tribune commented, "The sardonic overture 'Hell of a Town' and the Brill Building-influenced "Stranger Than You" prove that intimacy and humor are still Jackson's greatest assets."^[6] Trouser Press noted the "humorous" aspect of the song's lyrics which "salut[es] the oddest characters Jackson's found in his adopted hometown".^[7] Dw. Dunphy of Popdose picked the song as number two on a top ten list of Jackson's songs. Dunphy felt that Night and Day II was "probably an ill-advised project" where "several of the songs simply don't hang together", but added "Stranger Than You" was an exception.^[8]

Track listing

CD single

1. "Stranger Than You" - 4:19
2. "Hell of a Town" - 3:19

CD single (European promo)

1. "Stranger Than You" (Special Radio Edit) - 3:17
2. "Hell of a Town" - 3:19

CD single (Canadian promo)

1. "Stranger Than You" (Radio Edit) - 3:47
2. "Stranger Than You" (Album Version) - 4:19

CD single (French promo)

1. "Stranger Than You" (Radio Edit) - 3:47
2. "Love Got Lost" - 4:24

Personnel

Production

• Joe Jackson - producer, arranger
• Dan Gellert - engineer, associate producer
• Charlie Post, Ross Peterson - additional engineering
• Ted Jensen - mastering

Other

• Alex Vandoros - photography
• Joe Jackson - art direction

Charts

Chart (2000-01)	Peak position
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[9]	91
US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard)[10]	30
US Adult Alternative Top 30 (Radio & Records)[11]	20

References

1. Hung, Steffen. "Joe Jackson - Stranger Than You". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
2. FaceCulture. "Joe Jackson interview (part 1)". Retrieved 14 August 2020 – via YouTube.
3. "Progressive Adult Radio Music - Singles/EPs" (PDF). FMQB. 20 October 2000. p. 31. Retrieved 28 March 2021 – via World Radio History.
4. Zuel, Bernard (17 February 2001). "CD Reviews: Joe Blows". The Sydney Morning Herald.
5. Tarone, L.A. (19 November 2000). "Joe Jackson's sequel album unlike any other". The Standard-Speaker. p. E5.
6. Darnall, Steve (22 October 2000). "Recordings". The Chicago Tribune.
7. "Joe Jackson". Trouser Press. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
8. "10 Songs: Joe Jackson". Popdose. 30 September 2015. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
9. "Joe Jackson – Stranger Than You" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
10. "Joe Jackson Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
11. "Adult Alternative Top 30". Radio & Records. No. 1380. Radio & Records, Inc. 8 December 2000. p. 109. ISSN 0277-4860.