What song did Billy Joel perform for Oliver & Company?

Billy Joel performed “Why Should I Worry?” for Oliver & Company. In the 1988 Disney film, the song is performed through Joel’s character, Dodger, a confident Jack Russell Terrier who leads Fagin’s gang of dogs.

The song presents Dodger’s carefree philosophy about surviving—and enjoying—life on the streets of New York City. Its lyrics and upbeat arrangement introduce his personality while establishing the film’s contemporary urban setting. Joel provided both Dodger’s speaking voice and singing voice, giving the character a distinctive New York-inflected style.

“Why Should I Worry?” is sometimes confused with the film’s other songs because Oliver & Company features several celebrity performers. Bette Midler, who voiced the poodle Georgette, performed “Perfect Isn’t Easy,” while “Once Upon a Time in New York City” serves as the film’s opening number and is not Joel’s song.

The film’s soundtrack used several different singer-songwriters rather than one unified musical team. That approach helped give each character a separate musical identity. Joel’s contribution remains the most closely associated song with Dodger and is the key Billy Joel performance in the movie.