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47-409: "Sunday Papers" was released as a single in the UK as the follow-up to his single, " Is She Really Going Out with Him? ", but did not chart. Despite this, the song has generally received positive critical reception. "Sunday Papers" was written by Jackson as a critique of the British tabloid press. In the lyrics, Jackson, a vocal opponent of the press, sings of the trashy and inaccurate stories printed by

94-501: A "soft seesaw rhythm of plunking guitar and bass"; the bass line, played by Jackson's longtime collaborator Graham Maby , has seen praise from critics. Steve Huey of AllMusic praises the rhythm section's performance for "immediately setting a vibe of cool indignation". The song's chorus, which has been described as "perfectly singable" and "strong and emotionally compelling", contains "clean guitars and tight bass and drum groove" accompanied by Jackson's "lush vocals". The song's bridge

141-442: A cappella doo-wop version, performances of which have both been released on Live 1980/86 . An a cappella version of "Is She Really Going Out with Him?" was released as a single in 1988 in some European countries. Jackson attributes this tendency to rework his songs to jazz musician Duke Ellington , a musical idol of Jackson's for whom Jackson released a tribute album titled The Duke in 2012; he explained in an interview, "I

188-588: A cappella version reached number three on the Dutch Top 40 and number 17 in Belgium. Since its release, "Is She Really Going Out with Him?" has appeared on compilation albums such as Stepping Out: The Very Best of Joe Jackson , Joe Jackson - Greatest Hits , and This Is It! (The A&M Years 1979–1989) . The song was also used in the 1998 romantic comedy film There's Something About Mary . "Is She Really Going Out with Him?" saw positive reception during

235-524: A cappella version released in 1988 was a top five single in the Netherlands. It has been described as one of the classics of the new wave genre, though Jackson does not consider it his best song. "Is She Really Going Out with Him?" was one of the first songs Joe Jackson recorded with the Joe Jackson Band, which included bassist Graham Maby , guitarist Gary Sanford, and drummer Dave Houghton. The song

282-422: A classic of new wave . Sarah Larson of The New Yorker called the song one of Jackson's "brilliantly agitated New Wave masterworks", while an author for Billboard dubbed the song one of Jackson's "classics" and "old favorites". Paste Magazine also praised the song, saying, "Only Joe Jackson could turn a song so self-deprecating and sarcastic into something so peppy and upbeat". AllMusic's Huey praised

329-624: A cover version by some guy I used to know". When asked if audiences at his concerts interrupt to ask for "Is She Really Going Out with Him?", Jackson said, "I mean, that never really happens. I always play it anyway. It's fine with me. You always get a reaction for the best-known songs — that's obvious". "Is She Really Going Out with Him?" has been a mainstay of Jackson's live setlist since its release. Like many of Jackson's songs, "Is She Really Going Out with Him?" has been rearranged in live concerts to align with Jackson's shifting musical interests. These reworkings include an acoustic rendition and an

376-399: A kind of funny song about gorgeous girls going out with monsters. It just started from there. It was just a funny song, or supposed to be funny. It was a great surprise to me when some people interpreted it as being angry. In another interview, Jackson recalled another incident where the lyrics to the song were misinterpreted. He explained that he was accused of racism by a black man because of

423-484: A lady that I used to know / She's married now or engaged or something so I am told". In a call and response , Jackson says "Look over there" and the band responds "Where?"; in live shows, the audience calls often provides the response, which Sarah Larson of The New Yorker recalled made Jackson laugh during a performance. "Is She Really Going Out with Him?" was initially released as a single in October 1978 with "You Got

470-466: A prominent bass line and a chorus praised by critics as memorable. Jackson has since stated that the song's reputation for being angry was untrue. On its initial release, the single was commercially unsuccessful and failed to chart. Two follow-up singles, " Sunday Papers " and " One More Time ", were also chart failures. However, when "Is She Really Going Out with Him?" was rereleased in 1979 after Jackson's reputation and new wave music grew in popularity,

517-490: A review of the song, "Rhythmically, the track ventures from the mostly straight ahead rock found on the album, playing with Reggae-like counter accents within a new wave context, something that had come into vogue, particularly with the success of the Police , which effectively gives the tracks slow tempo a funky rock feel". The song ends with a faster, louder section, which Magginnis described as "a sort of mock gospel rave up, [with]

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564-641: A sarcastic manner. He would also mockingly talk about the papers in general, sardonically calling the British papers "a sophisticated standard of journalism" in one performance. As Jackson performed the song, he would gradually rip the paper he showed the audience to pieces. When a British newspaper, News of the World , became involved in a phone scandal, Jackson was asked whether the lyrics to "Sunday Papers" were prophetic. He replied: "I don't know that [it] was. I think that what applied now applied then. I think that some of

611-400: Is a song written and performed by British musician Joe Jackson . It was released in October 1978 as his debut single and was later included on Jackson's debut album, Look Sharp! The track was one of the first Jackson recorded with his new backing band, a band he would perform with for his first three albums. Written as a humorous commentary on women dating unattractive men, the song contains

658-488: Is more piano-based, showing what Huey describes as "a glimpse of Jackson jazz training". Lyrically, the song contains a "string of priceless quips" about "boy/girl laws of attraction"; the opening lyric, "Pretty women out walking with gorillas down my street", has been highlighted by Huey. Huey also praises Jackson for "capturing mood and meaning through minor detail" in lyrics like "From my window I'm staring while my coffee goes cold / Look over there (where?) / There, there's

705-448: Is nostalgia and a tendency to romanticise people's first albums, as though later ones must somehow be less 'authentic'. For a first album, this one's not bad, but I was only 23 when I made it and it would be pretty weird if I didn't think I'd done better things since. Look Sharp! was re-released in 2001 with two bonus tracks, "Don't Ask Me" and "You Got the Fever", the respective B-sides of

752-486: The Australian ARIA Singles Chart. Comedic a cappella singing group Da Vinci's Notebook also recorded a cover of the song, which appeared on their album The Life and Times of Mike Fanning . The Raconteurs ' 2006 song " Steady, As She Goes " has been compared by some critics to "Is She Really Going Out with Him?" for its similar-sounding bass line. Leah Greenblatt of Entertainment Weekly compared

799-614: The Fever" as the B-side. The American single release instead included "(Do the) Instant Mash". This release of the single was unsuccessful on the charts, failing to reach the top 100 in either the UK or the US. Two follow-up singles, " Sunday Papers " and " One More Time ", were released, but neither charted. However, when the Look Sharp! album began to gain notoriety and British new wave music grew more popular in

846-735: The United States, a reissue of the single was released in July 1979 with the new catalogue number AMS 7459. The new release of the single saw much greater success than the initial pressing, reaching number 13 in Britain and number 21 in America. "Is She Really Going Out with Him?" was also a chart success in other nations, reaching the top 10 in Ireland and Canada and the top 20 in Australia and New Zealand. A live

893-474: The album from autumn 1977 to spring 1978 in a studio in Portsmouth . However, after producer David Kershenbaum heard a demo tape from Jackson, he signed Jackson to A&M Records in 1978, after which Jackson and his band quickly re-recorded the album. This was then followed by a tour to promote the record. Look Sharp! was heavily influenced by reggae music, which, in a June 1979 interview, Jackson said he

940-460: The album was mixed, with the artist later claiming that I'm the Man and 2003's Volume 4 were better albums overall. He later said on his website, What can anyone say about something they did so long ago?! I'm not embarrassed by it, or not by most of it, anyway. It positively reeks of London 1978–79 and, well, it is what it is. I'm glad people liked it, and still like it, though I think some of that

987-693: The band kicking into double time to shouts of 'Read all about it! ' ". In addition to its release on the Look Sharp! album, "Sunday Papers" saw single release in the UK and Germany in early 1979. The B-side for the single was "Look Sharp!" in both countries. The single failed to enter the UK Singles Chart , but reached No. 100 on the Record Business Singles Chart. It was followed in the UK by " One More Time ," another Look Sharp! single. "Sunday Papers" has generally received positive feedback from critics. AllMusic 's Tom Maginnis stated that

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1034-469: The band shouting 'Sunday papers!' to Jackson’s sharp accusations". Another AllMusic writer, Steve Huey, said that the song "deal[s] with the lack of thoughtful reflection in everyday life". An author for Billboard called the song a "classic". Music critic Robert Christgau was more critical, saying that the track "inspires fond memories of ' Pleasant Valley Sunday ' ". Is She Really Going Out with Him%3F " Is She Really Going Out with Him? "

1081-449: The brunt of the tabloid press; he explained, "I don't think I've ever been a big enough star ... to be a victim of the tabloids. I just think they're not really interested in me to that extent". Musically, "Sunday Papers" originated when Jackson took a rhythm-and-blues riff and played it with reggae syncopation. Jackson then added the bass part. "Sunday Papers" features influence from reggae and ska . Tom Magginnis of AllMusic wrote in

1128-484: The charts. Look Sharp! also stalled upon its initial release, but upon the re-release of "Is She Really Going Out with Him?" in Britain (as well as a single release in the US), the album grew in popularity, reaching the top #20 in America. After the performance of the first album, the band quickly recorded a follow-up, I'm the Man , which has been described by Jackson as "Part Two of Look Sharp! " since its release. The album

1175-480: The general summation of him as a "sartorial disaster area". Look Sharp! has seen critical acclaim since its release. In a five star review, Rolling Stone compared the album to the best works of Jackson's contemporary Elvis Costello , commenting, "Though Jackson would never achieve Costello's cachet, his early work holds up alongside that of his rival." John Rockwell in The New York Times picked it as

1222-471: The girls could possibly see in the guys". Jackson recalled, "It wasn't based on a specific incident or anything like that ... I tried to write a funny song around that title, and that’s about all there was to it, really". Though the song was written to be comical, it has been interpreted by some critics as angry, earning Jackson the tag of "angry young man". He said of the song's origins in an interview: I heard that phrase somewhere and I thought that could be

1269-558: The name of the album, this version of the song is an in-studio recording, like all the others on the album. American alternative rock band Sugar Ray recorded a cover of "Is She Really Going Out with Him?" on their album In the Pursuit of Leisure . This version reached number 19 on the US Billboard Adult Top 40 Tracks and was used as the theme for the short-lived sitcom I'm with Her . Chuck Taylor of Billboard reviewed

1316-585: The ninth best album of that year, stating that it was " Power pop at its refreshing best." In a later review, Allmusic was similarly complimentary, stating, " Look Sharp! is the sound of a young man searching for substance in a superficial world -- and it also happens to rock like hell." Paste named Look Sharp! the 17th best new wave album, with staff writer Mark Lore stating that it "ranks right up there with early records from another brainy, pissed-off songwriter called Elvis Costello , bursting with frustration and spazzy pop songs". Jackson's own opinion on

1363-417: The papers. He recalled, "An image that came into my mind was, like, if someone just more or less lived on a diet of these kind of papers, that they might turn into a complete idiot". Jackson later described the song as an example of the "sarcastic flavor" his lyrics had at the time. On stage, Jackson would often bring out a newspaper prior to performing the song, which he would read the headlines and stories in

1410-766: The record sleeve as it did not include his face, and vowed never to work with Griffin again. Nonetheless, the album artwork became one of the nominees for the 1980 Grammy Award for Best Recording Package . Some observers didn't understand the tongue-in-cheek nature of Jackson's choice of title and cover art—an early reviewer in New Musical Express said they "suggest an obsession with style" and sniffed that Jackson sported "a pair of white side-lace Denson winklepickers that are, unfortunately, not nearly as cool as he evidently thinks they are". As time went on, journalists became more familiar with his youthful lack of interest in fashion, and The Face noted how most agreed with

1457-437: The single saw more attention and became a chart success. This second release reached the top 20 in the UK and top 30 in the US, becoming one of Jackson's highest-charting singles worldwide. Since then, the song has been praised as one of Jackson's greatest and most famous and has been covered by multiple artists. The song has appeared on several of Jackson's compilation albums and remains a staple of Jackson's live setlist. A live

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1504-448: The song "proved that the success of the novelty hit 'Is She Really Going Out With Him' was not a fluke," and went on to say that "[a]s engaging as Jackson’s lyrics are, the music refuses to be overlooked as the rhythm section of Graham Maby (bass) and Dave Houghton (drums) groove with a precise swing that exudes a playful confidence while Jackson contributes a well placed harmonica solo before the last surging call and response chorus that has

1551-675: The song as "the song Jackson is most remembered for", Maginnis called it "the track that put Joe Jackson on the musical map", and Lifton said it has "proven to be his best-known song". Jackson later wrote, "People still occasionally tell me that this song is the best thing I've ever done. I'm certainly not ashamed of it, and I thank them, but I have to admit I sincerely hope they're not right". In another interview, Jackson said of "Is She Really Going Out with Him?" and his 1982 hit " Steppin' Out ", "I wrote them, so I'm biased, and I think they're pretty good. Those songs have been around for so long, and I've played them so many times, it's almost like doing

1598-448: The song favourably, saying that McGrath "infuses it with his consistently likeable brand of hand-waving posturing", though Will Levith of Ultimate Classic Rock named the song one of the worst covers ever released and said "the song just misses the heart and soul of the original completely". Australian pop punk band Kid Courageous released a version of the song as the first single from their album Dear Diary , reaching number 25 on

1645-660: The song was recorded with American producer David Kershenbaum in August 1978 after Jackson was signed to A&M Records . According to Jackson, the song originated from when he heard the title. Jackson claimed that he had first heard it on a song by the Damned , who had gotten it from the Shangri-Las ' song, " Leader of the Pack ". From there, he came up with the basis for lyrics for "a funny little song about watching couples and wondering what

1692-438: The song was released on a bonus CD for Jackson's 2003 album Volume 4 , performed by a reunited Joe Jackson Band; this reunited lineup also performed the song live on Later... with Jools Holland in 2003. Personnel per Look Sharp! liner notes. American ska punk band Goldfinger included a recording of "Is She Really Going Out with Him?" on their 1998 cover album Darrin's Coconut Ass: Live from Omaha . Despite

1739-430: The song's "caustic yet charming witticisms", while the same website's Tom Maginnis called it "the lead salvo from one of the stand out albums of the late 70's New Wave/Pop era". Dave Lifton of Ultimate Classic Rock ranked the song Jackson's second best, highlighting the song's bass line, chorus, and call-and-response. The song has been described by critics as one of Jackson's most remembered tracks; Paste described

1786-568: The song's opening lyric "Pretty women out walking with gorillas down my street", which the man had thought was about black men dating white women. Jackson concluded, "And no matter what I said he wouldn't believe me, and as far as he was concerned that was what it was. So, I mean, really, what can you do? (Laughs) I always feel like my lyrics are very clear, but what can I say?" "Is She Really Going Out with Him?" has been described by critics as "snotty piano pop" and "the sound of New Wave boiled down into three minutes and 35 seconds." The song contains

1833-466: The street and, Oh wow, isn't that a turn-on. In retrospect, it's kind of a stinker. It's embarrassing—ogling girls, I mean, that's kind of lame. It's just childish and silly and derivative, but I was 22 when I wrote it. Not everyone can be a prodigy!" " Is She Really Going Out with Him? " was released as a single in the UK prior to the release of Look Sharp! , but it, as well as follow-ups " Sunday Papers " and " One More Time ," failed to make an impact on

1880-421: The time of its initial release; Geoffrey Himes of The Washington Post called the song "prime New Wave material" and "one of the best reasons for flipping on the car radio this summer". Cash Box said that it has "a pop-reggae beat, accentuated by the steady bass line, bursting into a catchy pop chorus" and uses minimal instrumentation. Since then, "Is She Really Going Out with Him?" has been recognized as

1927-551: The title track "Look Sharp", " Sunday Papers ", " One More Time " and " Fools in Love ". The cover , featuring a pair of white shoes, ranked number 22 on Rolling Stone ' s list of the 100 greatest album covers of all time. In 2000, it was voted number 865 in Colin Larkin 's All Time Top 1000 Albums . Joe Jackson and his band, using money earned by Jackson from touring with the cabaret band Koffee 'n' Kream, began recording

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1974-542: The two songs and declared "Is She Really Going Out with Him?" to be the better song, saying, " 'Steady' proves [Jack] White 's non- Stripes chops (he's not allergic to bass after all!), but Jackson's track is a stone classic". Citations Sources Look Sharp! (Joe Jackson album) Look Sharp! is the debut album by Joe Jackson , released in January 1979. The album features one of Jackson's most well-known songs, " Is She Really Going Out with Him? ", as well as

2021-467: The worst people just got busted, that's all. All that stuff with the News of the World , I think it was business as usual. There are certain publications in the UK that have gone down market, that have gotten trashier. And there are some that are still at least trying to maintain a certain dignity. But yeah, I'm not a big fan of the UK media in general." Jackson later reflected that he personally did not experience

2068-491: Was "totally immersed in". Jackson also sought to capture a spontaneous feel on the album; he reflected at the time, "A lot of the tracks are first takes and there are no overdubs, though we think now it is a bit thin. We wanted a bit more live band sort of sound. In retrospect you always feel there's something you can improve on. Next time 'round we'll feature the guitar a bit more". Jackson later spoke negatively of "Pretty Girls", saying, "It's all about pretty girls walking down

2115-602: Was ... inspired by Ellington's own philosophy, which he thought the same way about his music – he constantly rearranged and reinvented his own compositions. Sometimes in quite radical ways". A live version of "Is She Really Going Out with Him?" recorded at the Hammersmith Palais appeared as the B-side on Jackson's 1981 " Beat Crazy " single. Other live renditions have appeared on Two Rainy Nights , Live in Germany 1980 , and Live at Rockpalast . Another live version of

2162-408: Was immediately popular with the band; Jackson recalled in his autobiography, "Everyone liked it. It was catchy, they said, and had the makings of a hit. I wouldn't know a hit, I protested, from a hole in my head. I liked all my songs, and if I'd written a hit it was by accident. But I appreciated the enthusiasm, and something else, too: a growing feeling that I was up to something". The final version of

2209-526: Was particularly well-received in Canada where it was certified platinum by November 1979. The photo used on the album's cover was shot by Brian Griffin on London 's South Bank , near London Waterloo station . Upon arriving at the South Bank, Griffin noticed a shaft of light landing on the ground and asked Jackson to stand there: the whole process took no more than five minutes. According to Griffin, Jackson hated

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