Growing up on MTV, I witnessed the heavy and ubiquitous airplay of Joe Jackson’s musical transformation. Almost overnight, this artist went from new wave to something with hints of jazz. “Steppin’ Out” was one of the more overt expressions of the shift. It stuck out like a sore thumb on MTV. The most impressive thing about “Steppin’ Out” was that it represented Joe Jackson’s own stepping out of a budding new wave career and into a musical unknown.

“Now the mist across the window hides the lines. But nothing hides the color of the lights that shine. Electricity so fine, look and dry your eyes.”