Erik James - Root Beer Rag (Billy Joel) 

I’ve heard about fifteen covers of this song this evening, and yours is the best one I’ve heard hands down. It’s not rushed, the notes are crisp, and you didn’t get carried away. Very well done!

I respectfully disagree with Daniel Robinson. I think this was one of the best performances of the rag I've seen, I liked the extra notes, your special touch. Thanks, Erik.

I normally can’t get through an entire instrumental video bc I have the attention span of a goldfish, but this was mesmerizing

Totally awesome stuff. A little improv in there, I like it. Let's hear the 2020 version now!

Buff, Handsome, and EXTREMELY Talented! You are GOALS.

Level of Quality: Billy Joel. Great job!

The best rendition and performance of this that I have heard. Billy would commend.

Billy needs to see this if he hasn't already. Bravo, Mr. Erik.

I agree......... you have made this song your own.Normally people dont raise the bar when doing so....NOT SO in this case!!

That Simpsons theme quote at 2:47 XD Great stuff!

Hey man, I've been playing for 33 years and would like to say this is incredible! Love your embellishment. Billy himself would be so impressed!

The satisfied smile at the end knowing you nailed the crap out of it.

Who would dislike this? This is as good if not better than Billy himself. Really well played Erik.

You deserve a billion views and subscribers

That was awesome !

How does he only have 350 subs he should have more than 1 million with this kind of playing!

スゴー! 完璧！PERFECT！GREAT！

Without backup instruments, that was fantastic.

Love this tune.

Just an awesome interpretation of Billy Joel's masterpiece - brilliant!

I liked your Simpsons quote on 2:47. Great job!

I just revisited this and I am amazed at how clean this rendition is....well done!

DAMN good rendition of Root Beer Rag! Almost as good as Billy Joel himself...he would be very proud! 😃😁

Thank you! ☯❤🧡💛💚💙💜🤎☮

I never comment on RU-vid videos but that was absolutely incredible!

PLEASE TEACH ME YOUR WAYS

Well done! Absolutely brilliant!

hallo @inesh6223 Auch ich habe vollsten Respekt!!! Viele haben versucht diesen Titel umzusetzen. doch hat keiner dieses Feeling so in mir auslösen können wie das Original, bis zu diesem Video!!!

Fanstastic.

By any standards, outstanding!

what the hell did i just listened you're amazing congrats ✨🖤

Incredible job man wow!!!

That was a great rendition. You threw in a few licks of your own, and changed up a few rhythms, and it sounded great. You are a skilled player! Love it!! Thank you for sharing.

Unbelievable

...Very nice--Billy J. would be proud.

Will always be the theme tune to Hold Your Plums to me on BBC Radio Merseyside

amazing, great performance

excellent

G’day, have watched this vid many times. I actually really like the extra keys you play and you have made it you own. Its a terribly difficult piece to play, I’m jealous. Keep up the good work!

Great job well done!

I'll be honest by saying I was skeptical about clicking on this, but I am glad I did. An amazing job! BRAVO!!

WOW!

Hey, so cool, I'm working with this peace for a few weeks too. Like you easy playing, thank you!

Wow!!! I love this! Truly awesome.

FANTASTIC! Great playing and I love the sidesteps, it shows you don't just play what you learned from sheets but you actually know what you're doing.

wonderful😀👍

F***ing awesome

Excellent. Simply excellent. I love the personal touch you put into this. Billy would be proud. Flawless execution. Well done, Eric. Well done.

That was wonderful!!

Well done !

Great!!!!!!!

Awesome!!!!!

Yeah, I saw that little smile at the end there, and you deserve to take some satisfaction, because that was excellent

My God,.. what an awsome Version ist that !!!! You re a lucky guy man !!!

Marvelous version...you rock!!

Brilliant 👍🏼👍🏼

UNGLAUBLICH!! Vollsten Respekt!! Ich liebe diesen Titel von Billy Joel, Du hast ihn sehr gut umgesetzt. 🙌🙌🙌

So cool

Amazing. One of Billy’s best works, most people don’t understand the level of difficulty this song is... you absolutely nailed it.

Awesome. Bet if Billy Joel sees this, he'll have a big grin.

This is absolutely incredible!!!!!! Amazing job!!!!!!!

You are INSANELY good!!!!!!!

AWESOME!!!

Great job man, love the variations you came up with!

All I can say is, Wow!

Astounding playing, thank you for posting.

Amazing!

simply superb

That was a great rendition. I love the extra flourishes.

I’m a piano player, I cannot play this song. And you were awesome. You were absolutely spectacular. Bravo.

Unbelievable!!! You did SUCH a great job of this super difficult piece 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼🔥🔥🔥🔥🥲

Yes!

Top performance man. Tribute to lots of hard work.

Just became your 400th sub! I hope to be able to play piano like this!

Superb playing !

Awesome. I need to have classes with you !!!

Genius! 🎼🎹🎼🎹🎼🎹

HOLY CRAP!! AMAZING!! I loved your added pizzazz.

The best performance I've ever heard! Congrats! Awesome!

Absolutely fantastic, hats off to you man that was incredible.

Bravo!! Wow

holy smoke! This cover was played with such precision!!! Bravo!!!!!!!

Cleanly executed .. great improvs .. excellente' :-)

BRAVO!!!!!👉👍👈

Fantastic! 👏👏👏👏👏

Nailed it!!!!

Wow! I'm speechless. Beautiful!

Great!!👏👏👏👏👏

Man, you are AWESOME!🙂Wish I were such a talented pianist!

Great playing and camera angles!

Great with this bluesy tough and your own licks!

Great arrangement!

Props my man! What a monster!

Erik make more videos you are unreal!

Excellent! I was just watching Yotam Cohen play this on a DX7! I love this tune. Great job playing it. I need to get the music for this and learn it. My piano is out of tune a little and it'd sound great playing this on it. Take care and keep up the great work. Sam from machiwoomiapoo channel. :)

That's PERFECT ! :D Richard Clayderman's Root Beer Rag led me to your video, btw... Arigatoh so much for sharing ! :)

Wow..totally loved it!

Holy shit, well done

Fabulous!!! From Cleveland. Love it. Mr

Dude this is amazing. I’ve been wanting to learn this so bad but watching you is making me think I’ll never be able to live up to that 😭😉 you’re extremely talented 🙌🙌