Powerful First Time Reaction To Billy Joel - Goodnight Saigon 

Shout out to all of our past, present and current service people. We appreciate everything you've done for this great nation. \m/

In WWll the average soldier was 25 in Vietnam they were 18, they were just kids watching their friends getting blown up. The Vietnamese were fierce experienced fighters and had already fought against the French for years . We sent kids to fight men and they were put in a position by politicians where they could never win. The guys singing the chorus…we will all go down together’ are actually Vietnam Veterans.

Started crying as soon as it started. I've seen him do this twice in concert. The arena starts in blackness, then the hum of the helicopter starts soft, then louder and louder until you are almost ducking down , then Billy's piano started in. So powerful. The chorus is actually sung by Vietnam vets he brings onstage, and it ends with the helicopter getting louder and stage goes black again. Not a dry eye in the house.....

My Dad was a Vietnam Vet. Every time I listen to this song I think of him and can't not cry. Every time.

I can't imagine this song being your first Billy Joel song. Crazy. Good job, you guys. Definitely one of his best.

As a disabled vet this song tears me up. I was 18 in the Vietnam era and we were cursed and spit on after so many of our friends never returned. I’m so happy that things have changed for our young men now. But for me I’m 72 now and I’ve had ptsd since I was 18. God Bless the USA she’s not perfect but she’s as close as it comes.

Billy Joel is definitely an artist you need to dive into. Piano Man should be next.

One of the best songs about the Vietnam war vets recorded later after passions were less inflamed. (I think it's off his Nylon Curtain album in the early 80s) This was also around the time the memorial was built in Washington. The Vietnam vets really got raw deal sent to fight a dirty war to support a corrupt government, then given less than no respect when they came home. Honestly maybe the best song on the subject. Great reaction!

My favorite Joel song. Thanks y'all. Friend of mine did two tours with special forces. Then 6 months in Laos with the CIA. Said 6 months was all he could take. Did not trust them. They were Vietnam veterans that were singing the chorus. Another friend in the marines, was helping with the evacuation of Siagon in 75. Said they landed on the embassy, the South Vietnamese soldiers on the perimeter turned their machine guns toward them. He told his guys to fire on them if they opened fire. They didn't. Said as they were flying away they got up and stripped off their uniforms. Said he could see the North Vietnamese army marching into Siagon in columns of 4. Said his commander hugged him when the chopper got back to the carrier. Told him he was not sure he would get back. RIP Monte, kidneys failed him in 2020, refused dialysis. Once a Marine, always a Marine.

The guys singing the chorus are vietnam vets.

I get it, T. I can never make it through the beginning without tearing up either. Every single time. No shame here. I hope you guys do more Billy Joel. He’s got a catalogue that goes for days. Pressure, Allentown, Only the Good Die Young, and of course, the iconic Piano Man. Just a few to cut your teeth on. 😊💃🏻🎶

Omg thank you for listening to this and reacting. I’ve been saying that this song in particular does not have NEARLY enough reacts. This is such a moving song. Semper Fi to my fellow Marines. This made my week. ❤️❤️❤️

Your emotions are so relevant. I have avoided listening to this song about my bothers in the Marine Corps. Too emotional. I served in the Air Force and flew on gunship combat missions mostly over Laos and the Ho Chi Minh trail attacking supply convoys to South Vietnam. That was bad enough. I can’t even imagine what the ground troops in the Army or Marines went through. God bless them all living and dead. Thank you for bringing this to us! Lest we forget!! Semper Fi!! 🙏🙏🙏

Tasha is absolutely right! This is an important song to listen to--each and every word! Our Vietnam soldiers had been the most controversial and underappreciated troops in U.S. history. This memorial song is in reference to those who encountered that war. Respects are given to all who have experienced war battle. Billy Joel spent much time with Vietnam vets to get a true perspective (think of focus groups) of the human costs of war. Much appreciation to Billy and to TNT for this. Thank you so much

"They counted the rotors" - it means that they (the Vietcong) had learned how to time when the helicopter would come into view so they could ambush and shoot it down.

Billy Joel is one of the greatest American songwriters of a generation, an incredible talent....Obviously, this song is about being drafted into the Vietnam War... this song is heavy, this song is great

That's an unusual choice for a first Billy Joel reaction, but still very moving. I literally have about 25 Billy Joel songs on one of my playlists. The guy is a hit maker.

When they did the tribute to Billy Joel at the Kennedy Honors, all the old soldiers came on stage and sang the chorus to this song and it was incredibly touching. If you want to see it, I believe it's on You Tube.

Song gives respect to the enemy too. Underestimating the guy trying to kill you gets you dead.

This one is a great song. I’d highly recommend listening to “Leningrad” by Billy Joel next.

You NEED to hear ALL of Billy Joel. Please... He was such an important part of my childhood. xo

My pop did two tours in Vietnam, but they cost him his ....Spirit. HIs love for life...His joy....He took great care of his family, but stayed emotionally distant for the rest of his life. If the battle Joel sang about serves my memory right, Our troops barely made it out of there alive with, with heavy casualties.

About 20 years ago, I visited Vietnam as a tourist. In Hue, I met an old NVA veteran who, as a boy soldier, had fought against the French. On the second day, he asked me if I wanted to see where his unit had been during the Tet offensive. He took me on his motorbike several kilometers along the Perfume River to a spot where once an American observation post had stood. It had been raining hard and the water had uncovered spent cartridge cases all over the place. My guide told me that his unit attacked the position in overwhelming force on the first day of the battle. When the Americans ran out of ammunition, they fought with knives, bayonets, and their bare hands down to the last man. My guide had a tear in his eye as he spoke of this. It was a very sad place, even sadder, I think, than Dien Bien Phu.

I guess I didn't know that Billy Joel was reactable. He has an entire Playlist of great songs

My dad was in the Marine Corps, he and his buddies listened to this alot

that is a songwriter folks !

My father was only 19 when he enlisted for WW2. He and his teenage friends were living through the Great Depression. He was riding the rails when they arrived in Calgary, Alberta and heard that the war had started. They went straight to the nearest recruiting office and joined up. He spent the next 6 years overseas. My mother was a teenager in Liverpool, in the U.K.. At 17 she was drafted into the British army. She REALLY was defending her country. She spent part of her time serving in sites on the coast watching for bombers, with spotlights and anti-aircraft guns. Over a thousand of those women died.

Billy Joel is a prolific song-writer. He's throwing every angle - including that the enemy has a say in war. so this wasn't just a puff piece. he reminds us that they had our number in Vietnam, eg. they heard the motors, counted the rotors, and waited for us to arrive. Moreover, we knew they had our number, and we still flew in wave after wave of often unsuccessful offensives - knowing we would all go down together. Very well written.

Y'all did great! USMC 1969.

You hit Billy Joel's heaviest song right out of the gate. In the Marines they taught us that we weren't being trained to die for our country, we were there to make the enemy die for his. That said, you always knew that you might have to make the highest sacrifice at some point. Anyway, Billy Joel has quite the body of work, so you all could keep busy with his stuff for a long time. I recommend Piano Man in the near future.

Don't be sad. Be proud. All vets give thanks and are so proud of our fallen heroes.

As a teenager I heard this song and it always moved me. Now as an older guy who joined the army and fought in a war I hear this song so very differently because I understand down in my core what they felt and I know what fear they had because I had it too. I cannot avoid tears now whenever I hear this. Even though it was not my war specifically, everyone who has experienced combat lives it with them in the retelling.

The hum of the motors and counting the rotors is the enemy waiting in ambush for the troop insertion by helicopter. They could hear them coming for miles. A hot lz (landing zone) was a nightmare for the guys in the choppers. As far as a suggestion for future listening, that's just about a toss up as Billy Joel has a huge catalog. One of my personal favorites is "The Entertainer". Just a fun song about being in the business.

nice choice ! more Billy

This song always makes me cry. Remembering those I went to school with and lost during the Vietnam War.

My Father was in Vietnam & Korea he joined at 17 to help his Family in P.R., he did 22 years in the Army, he never talked about it, sometimes he will say something about it but not that much, he definitely had PTSD and we did not know .He took care of our Family with all that inside him, God Bless his Soul. He was a very good Man!

These are painful life lessons and are critical for evaluating what is happening in the world today. My cousin, a navy pilot, was shot down (somewhere over North Vietnam / Cambodia) in 1966 having flown 40+ missions in less than two months. His remains were never found. As others have said, our "leaders" send some of the best we have to offer to die in foreign wars with no goal of winning the war. Very, very sad. :(

4:58 "They left their childhood on every acre" It describes about the soldiers blown to bits by landmines.

Saw Billy in concert twice. Amazing experiences.

He is making reference to young Marine's who first bonded at Paris Island boot camp. Saigon has been renamed to Ho Chi Minh City. Marine Corps Vietnam Vet 1969-1970 7th Marines. Most don't quite understand what all is going down in this tune , but you guys pretty much caught the gist of it. I'm now 71 and it all seems like just yesterday. PEACE !

In the Netherlands it's on the top 25 of best songs for over decades now.

"We didn't start the fire" another great song by Billy Joel and my favorite song by Billy Joel

This song chokes me up every time. "Piano Man" is the quintessential Billy Joel song. His career spans decades and encompasses many different styles, but if got haven't heard "Piano Man", you haven't really heard Billy Joel.

my husband is a veteran of that war. sometimes, when he chooses to answer questions about his experiences, he will break down and then just wants to be alone. He had just turned 19. He never did drugs there, but that's where he started smoking. to this day he doesn't like to hear helicopters, and he says the smells and sounds are still vivid. hardest part was returning to the US and the mistreatment from fellow citizens. You mentioned PTSD: we were never counselled for PTSD, only given pain killers to deal with anger/depression/sleeplessness and it took decades for the VA to even recognize that VV suffered from PTSD.

I heard him say he didn't write this. Hebspokento vets and just wrote down what they said. Bless you for this. I was too youn to fight in Vietnam, but it was a part of our lives from elementary school to high school

i have a whole tape (yup no cds during our time) of billy joel which includes this song. everytime this song is played, i always cry, but still I like it so much. the music especially the words are so graphic. no word is just a filler. imo, billy joel is one of the best songwriters in my time. love from the philippines.

Breaks my heart, every time I see it. Some of my friends big brothers were in 'Nam while we were in junior high and high school.

I saw Billy during the nylon curtain tour which this song came from. This song was so beautiful but so sad. 45,000 ppl in tears but so proud and thankful to our fallen soldiers (heroes)!

Momma has heart. Most people dodge this kind of music, because it doesn't paint a pretty picture. But momma, she says watch the truth. You know? I never dodged it, but I am just as guilty! I am 64, and I love old country the most. One of my badass singer was Johnny Cash. But before he died, he came out with Hurt. To this day I haven't listened to it all the way through. I stumbled across reactions by mistake. I am thinking, this can't be entertaining. First reaction was Elvis Presley. I am thinking who hasn't heard of Elvis? Well I tell you I was educated, and entertained. Now I can believe that I missed these great songs. In the Getto. Polk Salad Annie. And several other hits. Plus other 😊artists. I look forward to the both of you daily. Love ya both.

Great reaction to my all time favorite, Billy Joel. A fantastic song, but you really jumped into the deep end on this one. He has vets on stage singing the chorus when he plays this in concert. Such a deep and moving song. Would love to hear more Billy Joel from you.

this song came out only seven years after the fall of saigon. so it was still pretty fresh, and those veterans were pretty much forgotten.

Billy is awesome

One of the most powerful lyrics ever written. Billy was a master at that.

My personal favorite.....I cry every time I hear this....check out Kennedy center honors with him....Garth brooks does this song and I cry my butt off

I served during the Vietnam Era, and this song gets me every time

My dad was coming out of the service as my brother was going in, hard to react to... saying goodbye to your brother and then hello to my daddy. I can't fathom the pain of those who didn't get that last ❤hello. America 🇺🇸 Strong.

It took me years to be able to hear this beginning to end. Sometimes I still cry.

I don't cry during this song. I want to join the fight. I did 20 years in the Navy because of the Viet Nam Vets to honor their sacrifice.

One way my pstd manifests itself is that I get emotional at certain kinds of stuff. I can't listen to this song without tearing up. I love this song and I love it when people react powerfully to it.

I was born during the tail end of the Vietnam War so I was too young to know what was going on and once I got older and listened to Billy Joel's music I learned all I needed to know with this song. I love the helicopter sounds at the beginning and end of this song on the studio version.

Along with Brothers in Arms, this is possibly the most powerful songs in honour of those who served.. To all who do, or have served.... THANK YOU is NEVER enough... I had a friend who DID serve, after leaving the service He once said. "I don't know what's wrong with me. I don't trust people, I can't settle ANYWHERE. WHAT DID I DO WORNG????." This broke my heart and I replied saying this... "You were a kind, gentle, intelligent and thoughtful person as a kid, The Army took you in and broke you down bit by bit, to create a warrior to defend us civvies. They made you part of a brotherhood I'll never understand, where even the comaptriots you HATE you absolutely KNOW will stand back to back with you and fight off oppresssion. You were a completely different person when you were on leave compared to who you were as a kid, but that's what they NEEDED you to be! When you left they just cut you loose, alone into civilian life. So you went from that world where you could trust EVERYONE around you with your life and were dumped into a world where everyone is trying to f**k everyone else over for almost nothing. How can you expect to trust ANYONE in civvie street after that? I can see it! You're around for 3-6 months, then you disappear for 3-6 months, same as your average posting in the military. Let me tell you something.... THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH YOU! NEVER say that to me again! You served with honour, You gave your blood, sweat and tears so we that have the freedoms we have right now. You will ALWAYS have my admiration, respect and friendship till my dying day! Anything you need just ask, even just someone to talk to, you don't need to relive what you went through, just show up and we'll sit quietly or shoot the breeze, I'll be right here." He broke down and wept... This warrior fell apart in front of me and said "How did YOU know?" "Because I watched, because I saw the transitions you went through, most importantly, because I was and always will be your friend, friends, TRUE friends become Family, just like those you served with are, You are the Brother I never had and I couldn't be more PROUD to have known you and counted you as my brother!"

Billy is my favorite musical artist, after the Beatles….more Billy Joel!!!

My Grandpa was a Vietnam Veteran (Marine Mechanic) his brothers and sisters often told me how different he was when he came back. Where before he was the life of the party always smiling with a story or a joke to tell....when he came back he would self isolate, hardly ever spoke and no matter what happened he never spoke about his time or defended himself. My great uncle told me he would get into fights with people because they spit at my grandpa, hit him, cursed him and called him a baby killer and my grandpa never fought back, never said a word back and just took it all. He was the kindest and most soft spoken man i ever knew until cancer took him in 2014. He refused treatment

1st Billy asked Vets to talk about what they saw in country, this is where he got the information and inspiration to write the lyrics. 2nd in the chorus he makes a point to have Veterans singing, Billy wanted this song to honor and respect both sides in a way that was not political just as truthful as he can make horrible situation in a positive light. We had no cameras to shoot the landscape… this line is to show the Beauty of Vietnam. Who was wrong and who was right didn’t matter in the thick of the fight… may favorite line nobody wins in war ever something to remember. May we have peace on earth some day thank you to all artists that take a stand for peace

Billy Joel has a long list of great songs. The most Iconic is probably "Piano Man." "Just The Way You Are" is a great love song. "Scenes From an Italian Restaurant" is a masterpiece. Others you may like "You May Be Right" "Honesty" "Vienna" "She's Always A Woman To Me" "Only The Good Die Young" "Big Shot" "My Life" "Its Still Rick and Roll To Me." A great duet with Ray Charles called "Baby Grand" and a ton more that others may suggest.

Billy released new music for decades and his style changed a lot over the years so you will see lots of different types of music from him. He was not afraid to let his life experiences help write his songs.

I haven't heard this in ages.

First of all,I salute your family members who served,and all who served!Billy Joel is a consummate poet,storyteller,and musician! Allentown and Downeaster Alexa,are 2 others that make you feel the plight of the steelworkers,and the fisherman.Scenes from an Italian Restaurant is also a must!

I ca tell you 6 weeks on Paris Island last for f'ing ever... Great song and Great reaction. Thank you.

A couple of Billy's songs that you might enjoy are Only the Good Die Young; & You May Be Right.

That last "and we would all go down together" extends the pact to the enemy. The last refrain is sung by everyone on the battlefield. As it is in life.

She got it right 😁👍

Ok. Now I’m boohooing. Dammit. There need to be so many more reactors reacting to this. Ugh. Good energies. Much love.

Omg why the fuck did it take so long for anyone to react to this song. It’s amazing.

Ya can't refuse your boss lol!

Love Billy Joel, one of the best singer/songwriters ever. Decades of great music from him, each album different than the ones before. Pick almost any song from any album, and you'll find a gem.

The sound was the choppers flying in. They heard the hum. . And counted the rotors of the helicopters so they knew the number of troops inbound to their location and would lay in wait and ambush them. . .

Keep up the Great work. There are so many Great Songs about our Troops. Another One that will put you in tears. The Righteous side of Hell. By Five Finger Death Punch. It's about us Veterans from whom many. Are Betrayed and turn out into the Street.

Please hear me, humbly...From day one Billy married music to music, emotion and memory...so brilliantly. Again, humbly people miss the whimsical, or significantly brilliant threads woven into his songs. Small point on this....Liberty nails the fileld snare in marching order and before the lyric "We'll all go down together in the end the drum roll is representing rapid gunfire before the heli lifts.... Billy is a National treasure. Love the Boss too and Rod is King since Elvis and Frank left us.....

Billy Joel talked to several veterans while writing the song. He said it didnt feel right to write it whitout doing so, because he had never expieriend war. He didnt want to dishonor the soldier.

Any song by Billy Joel is fire, he has a very deep rabbit hole.

I remember the nylon curtain tour. This was the last song billy played and there wasn’t a dry eye in the crowd. We were the Vietnam era crowd. Many of us lost loved ones and friends in Vietnam. I had a couple friends that never returned only to be called MIA by the department of defense.

The song opens with a helicopter and closes with a helicopter. "They heard the hum of the motors and counted the rotters and waited for us to arrive...." When they left Saigon, it was an emergency evacuation and just like Afghanistan, there were people that got left behind. A lot of the Vietnam guys I know had resurgence of PTSD from the footage of Afghanistan because it was so similar to the exit of Vietnam. So the song closes with the helicopter fading off into the distance; a reminder of those who never made it out. Left in Vietnam / Afghanistan and they were still alive. But not for long! I did clean up after Desert Storm and when I saw what happened with Afghanistan, I was sick to my stomach. I was incredibly angry and I cried for days. I was so disgusted.

Ambushed at the end. They all went down together.

Saw him do this live and it was beyond moving…😢

Always puts a tear in my eye

Ken here. I’m a 77 yr old Vietnam Vet. Only six months ago I heard this for the very first time. Play it several times a week now. I love your reaction and interpretation. Love you for it.

Thank you so much for this from yet another vet... It's ok to cry

My husband was a 2 tour combat medic in Vietnam, when this came out, no words.

Brilliant use of the helicopter sound, which is so characteristic and an iconic symbol of the vietnam war. This is one of those rare songs that rises to the level of art.

I haven't heard this in a very long time. Still stirs my soul. Thank you to those served in South Aisa; drug from their lives and ordered to do what no one wanted, to come home to a country that hated them for what they were forced to do. There is no way to make it up to these GREAT American soldiers.

My dad is an Amvets Army Sargent Major...WWII, Korean, and Vietnam. I saw him get out of Hospice into A nursing Rehab center. Spent the week with him and heard war stories I never heard him ever talk about before. I left him to fly back home with him improving every day. He will make his 97 birthday in June. I thought of this song and my two Brother -in- Laws who fought it and passed away years after the conflict. My dad is my Hero in many ways and everyone else"s hero because of his service. I already miss being with him.

My favorite Billy Joel song I lost my father in Vietnam

My favorite Billy Joel song

as the daughter of a Nam Slick Pilot, I believe this is one of his greatest works, That said he is a true Singer Songwriter so there are so many to hear. I was about to see him in concert and this boomed through the arena. I had chills. If he's still touring I''d suggest this at the top of this list while he's still here

Another great song of his (came much later) is "Leningrad". You should also check out "I go to Extremes."

Can never hold back the tears when this song is played

I think it Means, at the end, that there were boys that lost their lives, and boys that lost their minds. And they all went down together.

For a similar story listen to the ANZAC experience in a song called I Was Only 19 by Redgum. Mind boggling song. When he talks about the ability of the enemy forces I feel that’s important because one thing that pushed at least back where I lived in the sixties was that victory would be easy because we were fighting a bunch of idiot farmers. What Billy is saying is that the opposition was smart and well trained from fighting that started in WWII against the Japanese then the French and the United States. We were usually better equipped but not necessarily better trained.

My uncle was an influential person in the Vietnam War. He was 19 and even recruited by the CIA. Most of his time was spent in France, but he also had to gain intel from the front line. Still to this day though he only speaks briefly about it and our family barely knows the experiences he had. It was great you guys had chosen this song to listen to. Today is Veteran’s Day and I hope everyone remembers what all our vets had done for our country.