Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man)

"Fooling Yourself" is the second single released from Styx's The Grand Illusion album. On the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart in the U.S., the single peaked at number 29. It also hit #20 on the Canada RPM Top Singles chart the week of May 6th 1978.

The song was written by guitarist Tommy Shaw. It was originally based on Shaw's initial perception of Styx keyboardist Dennis DeYoung — an "angry young man" who viewed the group's successes with a wary eye and grew angry or depressed with every setback. It was only in later years that Shaw began to see himself in the lyrics, and the song took on a more personal meaning to him.

The composition features a number of time signature changes. The intro and outro are performed in 6/8 time, led by Shaw's acoustic guitar tracks and Dennis DeYoung's synthesizer melodies. The vocal sections of the song are in 4/4. The instrumental features a synthesizer solo in 7/4 time, before returning to 4/4 for the final chorus. After a brief intro recap, there is a brief break with two measures of 5/8 time, and then a return to the 6/8 meter, with another synthesizer solo, before fading out.

Chart performance

Weekly charts

Chart (1978)	Peak position
Australia Kent Music Report	42
Canada RPM Top Singles	20
U.S. Billboard Hot 100^[1]	29
U.S. Cash Box Top 100^[2]	23

Year-end charts

Chart (1978)	Rank
Canada	158

Personnel

Tommy Shaw-acoustic lead guitar, lead vocals
Dennis DeYoung-keyboards, backing vocals
James Young-electric rhythm guitar, backing vocals
Chuck Panozzo-bass
John Panozzo-drums

References

↑ Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
↑

Styx

Chuck Panozzo James "J.Y." Young Tommy Shaw Todd Sucherman Lawrence Gowan Ricky Phillips Dennis DeYoung John Panozzo John "J.C." Curulewski Glen Burtnik

Studio albums	Styx Styx II The Serpent Is Rising Man of Miracles Equinox Crystal Ball The Grand Illusion Pieces of Eight Cornerstone Paradise Theatre Kilroy Was Here Edge of the Century Brave New World Cyclorama Big Bang Theory

Live albums	Caught in the Act Return to Paradise Arch Allies: Live at Riverport Styx World: Live 2001 At the River's Edge: Live in St. Louis 21st Century Live One with Everything: Styx and the Contemporary Youth Orchestra

Compilations	Best of Styx Lady Styx Classics Volume 15 Greatest Hits Styx Greatest Hits Part 2 Extended Versions Styx Yesterday & Today Rockers Come Sail Away – The Styx Anthology The Complete Wooden Nickel Recordings Regeneration: Volume I & II

Songs	"Best Thing" "Lady" "You Need Love" "Lorelei" "Mademoiselle" "Crystal Ball" "Come Sail Away" "Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man)" "Blue Collar Man (Long Nights)" "Sing for the Day" "Renegade "Babe" "Why Me" "Boat on the River "Borrowed Time" "The Best of Times" "Too Much Time on My Hands" "Nothing Ever Goes as Planned" "Rockin' the Paradise "Snowblind" "Mr. Roboto" "Don't Let It End" "High Time" "Heavy Metal Poisoning" "Music Time" "Love Is the Ritual" "Show Me the Way" "Love at First Sight" "Paradise"

Related articles	Discography

Book Category

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