“I.G.Y. (What a Beautiful World)” is a song written and performed by Donald Fagen and released in 1982 as the opening track and first single from his debut solo album, The Nightfly, following the breakup of his creative partnership with Walter Becker in Steely Dan. The title is an abbreviation for International Geophysical Year, the worldwide scientific project held from July 1957 through December 1958,