The sad submessage of the lyrics is, that he knows every struggle of everyone around him, but no one asks him how he's doing. He's the piano man, just there to make them feel better.
Hi Cynthia! Yes! Bingo! You got it right, this song does have a very sad subtext. I remember the first time I ever heard it, that was what struck me. I enjoyed the song because I love Billy Joel's singing and music style. But as he introduced us listeners to each of the people, I sensed a sort of quiet desperation in each life. The bar and the music were an escape from the tragic and unexpected realities of life. This scene is a metaphor for so many of us and the things we do to "forget about life for awhile." Great reaction, Cynthia! A+ for you! I loved this. Here's to your next reaction! 🙏🙂❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Super late with seeing this but i feel the same, there's always been something about this song that chokes me up more than most other songs it creates such a powerful image of the problems everyone faces and deals with and it seems like it affects him hearing all the negative stories he does at the bar, I almost can't tell if his tone is happy to be helping the people he is or that he feels unfulfilled just being just a "piano man" really great song tho always been a favorite
What do you mean subtext? Sadness is the ONLY text. With just one exception, everybody in this bar, and most especially Billy himself, is living "a life of quiet desperation". The only person enjoying the experience at all is the manager, and his pleasure only comes from making money off the misery of others. It's not an accident that he is portrayed as a sleazy lowlife, stealing peeks at the waitresses chests.
I'm from Long Island N.Y. and so is Billy Joel. I grew up about 20mins from him. To this day they call him "Long Island's Own Billy Joel" He is so loved. He still lives on the Long Island to this day. He's got a lot of hits that aren't sad. I think you'd love "Just the Way You Are"
You are sooooooo spot on in your interpretation of the song but at the end of the day when people have had a tough day at the office or a tough week in this case just a few minutes or sooooo before going home to the GRIND is so meaningful to just relax and chill!!!!! So says Austin Tx!!!!!😍😍😍😎🍸
I grew up listening to Billy Joel on the radio. Always had great songs. Great reaction and hope you come out with a lot more videos. Always great watching your reaction videos.
My dear Cynthia, now I have a lot on my mind that I would like to mention right now : As beautiful as this song is and as much as I love to listen to it, you were absolutely right in saying that the text is rather sad. People go to the bar for different reasons... there are people that are alone in their life and feel like they are in some company when going to the bar... some people go there to just have a good time, meeting with friends... some people - like me, for example - go there because there is a concert... it's all about entertainment... entertainment that you don't get anywhere else... why do people love to be entertained ? Why are people coming to see the "Piano man" (or any other musician / band) ? Like Billy Joel said : "... to forget about life for a while"... forget about all their troubles, their issues, their every day problems... their usual life has become odd, maybe... for some people, every day feels the same... and this is a perfect occasion for them to escape their odd reality. Some people feel better after such a concert and go back home with a smile on their face and beautiful memories in their heads, before they go to sleep and go back to work and "normal life" next day. And this is basically a good thing, in my opinion. Some people go to a bar regularly - almost daily - because they see no other choice to escape from their lonely life... and get addicted to it, sometimes without even realizing it... which is rather sad. And in this song, Billy Joel talks about all these different types of people that are all in that bar for the same purpose.... "to forget about life for a while". Your sum-up at the end was so lovely... it's always the "highlight" for me in each of your reaction videos. This fact makes your youtube channel my absolute favourite one on this website. Here's to your next one... Hugs and kisses : Your friend Gerry PS : Another beautful Billy Joel song with a melancholic and sad story behind it is "Leningrad"... please react to this Blly Joel song next, it will definitely touch you.
Ive watched a lot of reactions to this song. You are the only one who has actually gotten it. It’s sad. It’s about broken dreams and unfulfilled potentials. I was around when it came out in 1973 it’s still one of my favorite songs.
I definitely agree that when they go home they are going back to the lives they wanted to escape from, and they all have a story, most of them trying to get away from, but I think the song is more about how he feels being able to give these people a few minutes of relief or happiness, he performs not for the manager, or the money, but to give a crowd some sense of comfort.
I grew up in 70s with progressive rock. Some hard rock. But in the 70s there was some beautiful pop too, for prog lovers :) 2 most notable such artists were elton john & billy Joel. IMHO this is the #1 pop song of 70s ;)
Nobody belts out a melancholy piano tune like Billy Joel. I appreciate anyone who is willing to give him a listen, even more so those that are impacted by his music.
Before Billy Joel became famous he used to be a piano man. These bars were in large hotels or motels and were quite popular. It was a great way for people to get away for a while have a good meal and join in singing with the piano man.
Cold Spring Harbor was Billy's 1st album. The studio sped up the sound to make his voice higher. he left. Clive Owen resolved the issue but did not want to use his band. then Phil Ramone did The Stranger one of the greatest albums
This was one of the best, most accurate reactions to this classic song written by a great songwriter, who by the way , played in piano bars which were popular about 50; years ago.This was the song that launched his career. I have just subscribed to your channel, and if this a sample of how you react, with spot on reactions, then I’m in for some good listening!!!!! Looking forward to your next video.😎👍👍
Yea Cynthia but that's just life, you know, it's people he sees all the time working at the bar and he's just telling their story through his eyes. But this was the beginning of many beautiful songs he wrote, you just heard the tip of the iceberg of what is one of the greatest singer/ songwriters of our time, Cause you'll fall in love with his music!
Yes a sad song. People running from there problems. Great artist. Many good hits. Like only the good die young. Uptown girl. Ect. Ect. Always love your interpretations. This was a big hit when I was in high school.
Hello they're Ambrose I'm from Canada. I enjoyed your reaction. Yo should watch Billy Joel again but live only about 3 to 4 years ago and he looks totally different but he does of course have the same voice and Beautiful piano skills as a dead 30 to 40 years ago. I would recommend listening to Eric Clapton who sings Tears In Heaven. You will probably be crying when you find out why he wrote the song.
My friend; it's not "distraction" at all, it's reality 😀 they (crowd) all there every Saturday night for therapy (when they put 🤑in his jar and and asked him "man what are you doing here"), obviously he was a huge star (previously) but whatever went wrong, he's now playing to small crowds in a bar ( there for the same reasons they're there) and that's his therapy...playing for them and listening to all of their stories is his form of therapy; man, I'm here for the same reasons you're all here...THERAPY (forget about all the things that has gone wrong in my life)😀I heard this sing 44 years ago for the first time; can there be any better lyrics 🤔possibly, if you react to his We Didn't Start the Fire; a complete high school (4 years) History lessons in just 7 minutes or so 👍💯
This is one of my most favorite songs even though it's kind of sad in that I have been out there and I've been one of these people. Also I would like to request you react to"Traces" by the classics IV Another of my favorites. ( I have many favorites.)
The sad subtext is that he's this gifted and playing at a crappy little bar on Long Island for people who have no idea how good he is. But, this was *before* he became a star.
Stories of people who are going nowhere in life, and come to the bar to forget. Of course by the end of the song, we find out the piano player is another one of those stories. Fortunately, for Billy, his story didn't end in a piano bar that smells of stale beer. Beautiful song.
