Piano Man. I play the harmonica part from the song. Not to brag but I was playing it on the phone talking to my cousin. She thought it was on the radio. Lol
I remember a coworker telling me years ago that she hated Billy Joel, adding he lacked any real talent. No matter what I said I couldn't convince her to open her mind, even a little bit. Fast forward six months and Garth Brooks' "Shameless" comes on the radio in the breakroom and she says out loud in front of me "I LOVE this song! Garth Brooks is a such an incredible song writer!!" I stood there for a full 30 seconds wondering if she was pulling my chain. She was dead serious! I stopped by her desk an hour later and said "Hey, Gina! Can you bring up Wikipedia for me, please?" The look on her face two minutes later was priceless. 😁
Professor, I've got to hand it to you. The enthusiasm you project in your videos is very contagious, especially to fellow music freaks like myself. Thanks for urging us to explore neglected musical gems.
My personal favorite Billy Joel song of all time (also firmly in my all-time top ten song list) is "Scenes from an Italian Resturaunt" . An engaging and epic story of life, love and loss told only the way Mr. Joel can. Also one of the GREATEST live entertainers of all time!! Right on par with the likes of Sir Elton John or Meatloaf when it comes to performing in concert. A TRUE AMERICAN ICON!!!!!
His version of Chuck Berry’s “You Never Can Tell.” But Billy Joel is such an over achiever that he’ll do a song in someone else’s style, and he creates a better song than the artist he’s paying homage to. It’s like he has such admiration for these other song writers that he doesn’t want to do a second rate knock off, he wants to make sure it’s a GREAT song.
Living. Legend. No one can underestimate how valuable a songwriter this man has been to the US. Just an incredible songwriter, singer, and a virtuoso pianist to boot. As a kid learning piano, he was the one I looked up to, and wanted to be like. I feel his influence on my playing and songwriting every day.
@@knockedoutloaded279 ha, well, there I am! Why yes I do wish he would write again, but hearing him talk about his own songwriting process makes me understand how grueling and truly unenjoyable of a process it was/is for him, sad to say.
My Billy Joel story... Last minute purchase of tickets for my birthday from my wife. We get there early before the doors even open. First people in the door and we took our seats. Could not get any further back in the arena. Literally our backs to the wall. Guy with a lanyard around his neck approaches us and says, "Hey guys you want to upgrade your tickets to front row?" My wife and I are very skeptical and say, "We are fine here." Thinking he is trying to rip us off. He says, "No man I am for real. Billy, keeps the front rows for his guest who have shit seats." Showed us his lanyard that he is with the band. My wife and I look at each other and say, "HELL YES!" We then proceed to the front row center of a BILLY JOEL concert! It was amazing! Been a fan of Billy Joel from day one and will always be a fan! Great Job Adam! Poll: What is your pick for Billy Joel's greatest song? Lullabye, And So It Goes & Honesty.
Hate IS too strong of a word, but.... He has some good stuff, but there is nothing that he has ever done that made me even think about going out and buying one of his albums.
As a kid listening to Billy in the late 70s and 80s, I liked him and bopped my head to the melodies. As an older man listening to Billy’s songs about life, I cry. He is a genius.
I used to watch the show Moonlighting back in the day, and one of Billy's coolest songs was featured in one of the coolest episodes: Big Man on Mulberry Street. I love Billy Joel. He's the epitome of a great singer/songwriter. The man just tells great stories.
I feel like his hit songs were like he mentored a generation on how to think about their lives with wisdom. He wasn't this fairy tale teller. He talked about ego and laziness and insecurity and I honestly tried to learn from his songs. They caused me to sit and think about my actions, my thoughts, the direction of my life. His songs were like a map for a young person.
@@nedleyolpal He is way better than most therapists. He isn't looking down on us like professionals often do. Full of wisdom. Overflowing in experience and it is easy to believe every word.
I fell in love with Billy Joel when Glass Houses came out!! I played that record over and over again!! Every song on it was great!! I also liked the album art since I was a little rebel myself when younger!! Thanks again Professor!!
@@kat021171'you may be right' was my 1st Billy Joel song I can remember too. I never had a formal wedding/reception but I always wanted 'Just the way you are' to be the song we would 1st dance to.
Great video. Even when I don't comment, I am always watching and giving thumbs up Professor. I even give thumbs up to bands I don't like or opinions I disagree with. The thumbs up are for your video presentation, passion for the subject, and the hours you spend researching and writing for each video. Even when it's Yacht Rock, which I have largely despised for decades! Keep on doing what you do. PS Billy Joel is awesome. Been a fan since the 70s!
And he sang all those great songs long before Protools, auto tune, or a bunch of digital effects. Back then you actually had to be able to play and sing. Billy is one of the greats.
One of the greatest song writers of all time! His songs are nuanced and layered with depth but also light and catchy with the lightest being some of the deepest at the same time. Truly genius.
We always appreciate your takes on Billy Joel. I mean we're totally biased as we do an entire podcast dedicated to the man but that's our mission as well to bring these songs and stories to more light. There's so much interesting things to talk about in Billy's career between business, touring, albums, band members.. so much to really tap into. Thanks for sharing the love!
My daughter used "Vienna" as our daddy / daughter dance at her wedding in 2015. Brings tears to my eyes when it plays now. I'm a long islander by birth and love Billy Joel. Thanks for this podcast.
As I said before on your channel, Billy Joel was able to seamlessly embrace the MTV era with the Nylon Curtain and then his retro phase killing the charts. From his ode to Aaron Copeland " Balad of Billy the Kid". To the cerebral " the Night is Still Young". An Amazing Artist.
Every Billy Joel album is worth listening to completely. There are so many songs that could have been released as singles on every album. Here are some of my favorites. "Captain Jack" and "The Ballad of Billy the Kid" from Piano Man. "And So It Goes" from Storm Front. Thanks for highlighting another one of the greatest songwriters.
Billy Joel's Glass Houses was the first album (8 track to be exact) I ever bought in my life. I was in the 6th grade and my teacher had the record and played it in the classroom a lot which motivated me to buy it myself.
This might be my favorite video of yours that you have ever done. Your love and enthusiasm for the music while I was watching this video made me remember why I love the music and always want to hear an album front to back. I don't want to stream a playlist Of different artists on Pandora. I want to listen to an entire album! Kids nowadays will never know what it feels like. And I felt like you were reading my mind. Billy Joel is completely under appreciated as a lyricist and a vocalist.
The Stranger was one of, if not my favorite album as a pre-teen/teenager in the mid to late late seventies. His comeback during my high school years in the early 80's surprised me, but quickly reminded me why he impressed me so much. It would not be until years later that I delved deeper into his music and discovered songs like Goodnight Saigon, New York State of Mind, Allentown, and Leningrad, that really showed the full depth of his talent.
Billy Joel is so gifted, and such a gift! Allentown, This is The Time, Pressure, Honesty. How can anyone choose a favorite? I had no idea that Laura was about his mother! Love this, thank you!
My favorite song by him is "don't ask me why"! Don't ask me why (lol) I guess it reminds me of a very fun and memorable time in my life! I'm sure other Billy fans have a similar story! He is a great artist!
So glad you did this. Billy Joel is one of my all time faves, and probably my favorite songwriter. These are some good choices. I’ve never heard anyone else mention Until The Night. I’d have to pick I’ve Loved These Days and pretty much any track from the River of Dreams album, particularly Two Thousand Years. Any of the non singles from Glass Houses and The Nylon Curtain are great as well (Scandinavian Skies, hello!). I’d also throw in Running on Ice from The Bridge album. He has so many good songs, it would take me too long to choose just five.
My top five non-single releases from Billy Joel 5. Laura - The Nylon Curtain (it was the B-Side of "Pressure" but that doesn't count) 4. Miami 2017 - Songs in the Attic (much better than the studio recording from Turnstiles) 3. I've Loved These Days - Songs in the Attic (again, much better than the studio recording from Turnstiles) 2. Prelude/Angry Young Man - KOHUEPT (once again, much better than the studio recording from Turnstiles) 1. Scenes from an Italian Restaurant - The Stranger (This is arguably the best Billy Joel song out there) I would've included "The Night Is Still Young" and "Until the Night" but I steered clear from any single releases.
Billy’s concert performances are amazing, in part because he puts twists into his songs. One time, he started with the “Matter of Trust” intro (1,2,1,2,3,4) and then went into playing “Movin’ Out”. Another time, during the pause in “River of Dreams”, he and his band played ZZ Top’s “Tush” (the entire song), then finished the rest of ROD.
Prof, the entire program was a great tribute to Billy Joel, but the best part was you paying the homage due for his vocals. He can stand with a crooner, a baladeer, a rocker, a metal head, and a Beatle...and bring tears to your eyes.
The Nylon Curtain’s release happened at the beginning of my Freshman year of High School. It formed so much of my musical DNA. The raw emotion pouring out of that album is unbelievable. To this day I get cold chills hearing the chorus to Goodnight Saigon. Billy and his music will always be timeless perfection!
My absolute favorite artist of all time. I love the fact that my kids love him too and their first concerts were Billy Joel shows. I think Stiletto should have been on this list, however.
I lived most of my life on Long Island New York and had every Billy Joel album, including the original recorded at the wrong speed Cold Spring Harbor album.He is by far one of the greatest songwriters ever. And it’s not just because I lived 2 towns away from him… it’s because he just is.
Growing up on Long Island, Billy Joel was more of a religion than a musical act. I’ve been to the Village Green, Gardiner’s Bay, and pretty much every other place he mentioned just in the course of my own life - so they all resonate so closely for Long Islanders. But once you get beyond the hometown references, his prowess as a lyricist - you’re right there - with the symbolism, raw exploration of emotion, and uncompromising embrace of truth - set him apart from so many of the rock era. If I had to pick a hidden gem not already mentioned, it would probably be And So It Goes - which is really more an incredible and melancholy poem set to music than a song, if you will. “And so it goes, and so it goes; and so will you soon, I suppose..”. Thanks for this one, Prof. It’s almost like you paid tribute to my life.
Co-incidentally, I was listening to him yesterday afternoon. He persevered in his career in the early days, overcoming rejection to become a star. So many hits, where to begin? I loved the An Innocent Man album when I bought it in 1984 (released 1983, I think) and even had the sheet music book for piano, one of the few mementos I still have from growing up. Needless to say, my playing was nowhere near as good as his even though I did pass exams. Just shows how intricate his arrangements were. Favourite songs include 'My Life', 'Piano Man', 'Uptown Girl', 'All About Soul', 'Leningrad', 'We Didn't Start The Fire', 'An Innocent Man' and 'Allentown'. Not only a great musician but a storyteller and social chronicler of his times. 'Allentown' was about the decline of industry and the end of the post war promise of the American dream, while 'Leningrad' is a moving reflection on the pain of the Cold War on a human level. I recall an interview about the song where he said that when his family met Victor the circus clown who features in the song and video, that was the moment when the Cold War was over for him after all the antagonism that had occurred between both sides since 1945. Such a heartfelt and moving sentiment. One of the all-time musical and American greats.
After thinking of him for years as Mr. Christie Brinkley, I've really gained a huge respect for Billy Joel. One of the best lyricists in rock history. Thanks, Adam, great video!
Thank you for this! I put Billy’s rock cred up against ANYONE! As a fellow “Billy” I thank you for this video, Professor! Joel is one of the greatest songwriters of ALL time! Go listen to the lyrics of “And So It Goes” and get back to me!
Heard him for the first time on our old Chevy Malibu radio back in the late 70s, Just the Way You Are, and he hooked me right away with the beautiful honesty tone of his tenor and the sheer truth and realness of the poetry. I was a constant fan from then on to this day. The whole Stranger album holds a special emotional place in my heart and many of the lyrics are forever branded into in my memory. Saw him in concert in the later 80s, was close to the stage and could see the sweat on his forehead and the veins in his neck as he belted out A Matter of Trust and crooned For the Longest Time. Thank God for Billy Joel - and for the encouragement of his teacher Mr. Arnold, who told him he should be a professional musician.
I went thru Billy’s four albums from the ‘76-‘82, ditching all overexposed and/or overly dated stuff . It left an album worth (58 min) of absolutely stunning music and performances, like his finest ever album had just been uncovered for the first time. On constant rotation. Great advice Prof. !!
Please don't forget the awesome song And So It Goes. It is such a beautiful song with so much vulnerability. This man is one of the best to ever do it dating all the way back to the classical composers. I could talk for hours about this man's music.
Frankly, whether it's a hit is on the public who buy it, the artist just does his thing - people who attack hits are just insecure about their own taste. They need to relax and enjoy what they enjoy - it's just sounds, after all, why judge people for what sounds they like 😂
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 Why? By definition the hits are his most popular songs and often are his best songs. That doesn't mean his non-hits aren't great, but rather they don't "click" with as many people as his hits do. Again that doesn't make the non-hits bad.
WTF Doc. I don't understand the confusion. Not recognizing Billy Joel as a legend from the beginning is like Getting punched in the face by Mike Tyson, waking out of your coma a week later, go through physical therapy for a month and then tell him " Lucky Punch". Judge Judy says " If It Doesn't Make Sense It's A LIE!!". Maybe these critics were hired to say bad stuff to boost sales. Being of Hard Rock genres I never noticed how great his vocals really are. Holy Smokes I would have to make him a contender for the GOAT male rock singers. Peace 🕊️☮️
The Stranger album is a top 5 all time freaking masterpiece! A true classic that’s woefully overlooked. I bought the stranger and Warren Zevon excitable boy and would listen to these two albums over and over and over. Wow what a youth!!!
Finally Billy Joel! I was totally mesmerized with the "The Stranger" when it came out and "Vienna" is a song with so many memories attached to I can only listen to it alone, and I weep. Still. Thank you Professor for this one! Excellent and so well deserved. This one is the best episode in quite some time!
IMHO, Billy Joel is The Great American Songwriter. I’ve NEVER understood the critics pillorying him, bc people, real people, LOVE his music. And if they don’t like “Just the Way You Are,” they might be interested to know that when John Lennon met Billy, he told him that that song was was his and Yoko’s song! I disagree with you about his greatest bridge: I think it was “I Go to Extremes.” And I agree his greatest album is The Nylon Curtain, but to me, the most McCartneyesque song on it is “Surprises.” It sounds like Paul’s Magical Mystery Tour period. Another very McCartney-sounding song is “Through the Dark Night” from Glass Houses.
my five: Summer Highland Falls, Downeaster Alexa, Miami 2017, New York State of Mind and Until the Night/the longest time (dead heat lol). But ask me tomorrow and I'll probably give five others - talk about spoiled for choice! I can't think of a single bad song he ever wrote (well, maybe some of the Atilla stuff lol) but there are songs of his which have suffered by over-exposure, especially here in the UK so thanks for reminding us all just how much talent the man actually has, Prof!!
I am so grateful you are a Billy Joel Fan. He is my favorite behind the Beatles. I am a working musician and we cover a number of his tunes. So here we go on a list of some of my favorites: His Rolling Stones Tribute- "You May be Right" The song he re-recorded live- "You're My Home. The Entertainer-his statement about the music biz. Summer Highland Falls & I've Loved these Days-just two of my favorites. Scandinavian Skies-his Beatlesque I am the Walrus/Strawberry Fields. This is the Time- A Love not to take for granted. And the Song that is my wife & my song-All about Soul. That's my song to her.
Summer of Highland Falls. The greatest manic depression song. They say that these are not the best of times But they're the only times I've ever known And I believe there is a time for meditation In cathedrals of our own Now I have seen that sad surrender in my lover's eyes And I can only stand apart and sympathize For we are always what our situations hand us It's either sadness or euphoria So we'll argue and we'll compromise And realize that nothing's ever changed For all our mutual experience Our separate conclusions are the same Now we are forced to recognize our inhumanity A reason coexists with our insanity Though we choose between reality and madness It's either sadness or euphoria How thoughtlessly we dissipate our energies Perhaps we'll help fulfill each other's fantasies And as we stand upon the ledges of our lives with our respective similarities It's either sadness or euphoria
Cold Spring Harbor is one of the most complete albums ever made. Every track is solid and several are spectacular. The album weaves a tale such that when you get to the final track you feel like you've been through a lifetime of love and loss. This album is a gem from an age when an album was made to be listened to beginning to end and every song had to matter.
@@scottmiller1300 The remaster was from 1983, but they did not keep the original backing tracks from the 1971 original. BUT. He has a huge following and....there is a community project that fixed it here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-EOfLhkHMfwE.html They did an amazing job.
To answer your question ProRo My favorite Billy Joel song is For the Longest Time! That's Billy's voice throughout the whole song and there wasn't any instruments 🌈🌈🌈🌠 The More You Know!
I completely agree! There is probably a given Billy Joel song, that you can be used for any part of your life. The problem is with his songs is that he is so talented in performing and writing, so the lyrics gets neglected. I'm a musician and i always get distracted whenever i hear his albums through. His voice, playing and techniques, at least from his early days, are simply superb.
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 We are all different from one another, and thank God for that! Always and deep?? Does it mean you remember the lyrics every time and also understand weird poetic word constellations every time on the first listen through?? Maybe you are not a musician. What i mean is that, most of the time when i hear a song1-3 times, i can write it out. When it comes to music where i deem it intriguing(often when it is complex enough), i will use more attention to the details, hence in this case i prefer to listen to his voice technique, articulation, rather than the words. It's just how i learned to study music. Without offending any1, it is like comparing Britney Spears singing to Sia, or Adele. No offense to Britney, she makes great music.
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 Yea i do that too. Tbh, he is so good at writing i think most people do. But the thing that is mentioned in the video is the playing with words and craftsmanship details Billy Joel puts in his songs. For my part, i'm often just stuck in the musical part more than going straight to the lyrics when it comes to Billy Joel.(weird how when i write these messages i have to stop myself from writing short for Billy Joel, BJ .. i can't do it.).
@@Ianthe22 This reminds me of a reality show I watch called 90 Day Fiance where there was one older woman dating a young Nigerian scammer who admits he “did the BJ, for real”. I won’t discuss the meaning here due to family values, but I really thank Adam for doing the actual BJ, for real. That is, honoring Billy Joel, one of the greatest legends ever.
Joel is a bit like ABBA, as far as the vast number of great songs is concerned you could pick just about any track off their albums too and they'd made big single hits too because it's such high quality writing.
Much respect of course for the theatrical piano antics, and the clever pop hits for sure. but I know we all can appreciate what a complete rock ‘n’ roll animal Billy Joel can be on stage, but he can also shrink the size of that piano and tell a story and fiddle around like some Mystic troubadour strumming a lute or an acoustic guitar. Pretty amazing!
"Downeaster" 'Alexa' "and "Movin' Out" are my favorites among my many favorites by him. As a person with family and family roots on Long Island, Long Islanders absolutely love Billy Joel. Thanks for heaping praise on such an iconic and timeless artist. One of your best episodes yet. I always look forward to breaking up my work day by watching your enlightening shows.
Dude is originally from the town over from me. Most people that have met him have nothing but good things to say. My favorite song from Billy Joel is definitely “Pressure”.
He has got to be in my top 5 if not number 1 singer, songwriter, of all time. I can't stop watching his live concerts and listen to his music. He definitely has one of the most versatile voices.
Just to add I really really love I don’t want to be alone anymore, but All for Layna Is Kickin and also somewhat relatable in my opinion depending on if you’ve ever had that type of dysfunctional relationship. I know I can relate.
I've seen Billy live five times, twice at MSG, and twice this year at Allegiant Stadium in Vegas and PNC Park in Pittsburgh. Always huge crowds that adore him and he never disappoints. One of the things I love about him is that he made albums that have an arc from the first song to the last, not just a bunch of songs slapped together. One of my favorite lyrics is from This Is The Time, "This beach is cold on winter afternoons, But holding you close is like holding the summer sun, I'm warm from the memory of days to come"
For me my first hearing of Billy was on BJ and The Bear and they used MY LFE many times..The i got my first cassette player and the first tape i got was Glass Houses for Christmas always loved how the album started with the sound of glass shattering i would rewind and play that over and over ....If he was to do a new song i would love for him to do a add on to We Didn't Start the fire and add the modern day crap that has been added to the Fire
Turnstiles, The Stranger, 52nd Street...I NEVER GET TIRED OF THESE ALBUMS(going on 47 years listening to them), and the deep cuts from these albums are even better than the " hits "
I always took a new release from Billy on the radio as an invitation to buy the album and experience the mastery that is Billy Joel. Suddenly taking a walk down a Brooklyn Road.
Born and raised in NYC and the suburbs in the 1970s and 1980s, it was in my DNA to love Billy Joel. And being from that area, we loved the deeper tracks more than anything. I could talk for hours about the songs you chose and add to it. 1) All For Leyna - Great song of heartbreak with a catchy and memorable piano intro that I always felt the Cutting Crew "stole" for the intro for "I Just Died In Your Arms Tonight" 2) Scenes From An Italian Restaurant - Such a New York song with mood changes throughout. Billy Joel is very underrated in terms of being a story-teller. 3) Maimi 2017 (Seeen The Lights Go Out On Broadway) - A favorite of those who grew up in the NYC metro-area. I was surprised when I went off to college in the Midwest how many casual fans of Billy had never hear of this song. 4) Zanzibar - I came to love this song in my 20s. It is kind of like "Piano Man" meets "New York State of Mind". Great story-telling. It just feels NYC in the late 1970s. 5) Angry Young Man - Killer piano intro that is still hard as hell to play. Changes mood several times and represents the angst of youth. 6) Sleeping With The Television On - I love songs about feeling like the "outcast" and being filled with self-doubt. This is the song for you. Once again, listen to the lyrics and if you ever felt Holden Caulfield-esque, you'll relate. "I really wish I was less of a thinking man, and not a fool who's not afraid of rejection." Freaking story of my life when I was a younger, shy guy. 7) Close To The Borderline - Line I quote a lot: "I don't know why I'm such a nice guy, but I'm getting close to the borderline." 8) She's Right On Time - Not sure why I always enjoyed this song. Another story about love...or about two people that aren't perfect...but are perfect for each other.
Billy Joel. What a Legend. Shame how bad he got ripped off. “Stiletto,” “She’s Right On Time,” “Scandinavian Skies,” “Goodnight, Saigon.” Classics. He truly is the Streetlife Serenader. He sang about life. I always wondered why he lost the sax though. Loved the sax in his music.
Billy Joel has created the most constantly interesting Pop music. He can do piano balladry and hard rock tunes like “a matter of trust”. Such an overwhelming talent, and I’m proud to call him a fellow Long Islander!
While there are so many artists that I love from the 50's, 60's, 70's, and 80's, If I was given the difficult task of listing my top 10 music artists of all-time, Billy Joel would definitely be on my list. I've always been a major Billy Joel fan since I was a kid in the 1970's. I bought and still have every album he ever recorded. My personal favorites of his are The Stranger, An Innocent Man, 52nd Street, and Glass Houses. It's always a pleasure watching an episode diving into the great Piano Man's music catalog and talking about his wonderful songs. Without question, one of the greatest of all-time. Love his music. He currently has a concert residency at Madison Square Garden and always has to add more concert dates because he consistently sells out every show. He now holds the record for performing more concerts at MSG than any other artist.
Billy Joel is an artist for whom sits on my shelf collecting dust, which is really too bad because he was an artist for whom you can put any album of his collection on and hit play and have great songs After great song After great song. Thank you for this video, it reminded me of just how solid every song was. A real testimony for the depth of talent Billy has. It’s really too bad that he hit a plateau and decided to stop writing new songs.
Great segment- thank you for the amazing tour through an opus of work showing amazing creativity which I never realized contained so many homages to other artists. Keep’em coming!
While I'm not president of the Billy Joel fan club (too bad too, since I'm a pianist), I am a fan of several of his songs, particularly Just the Way You Are, Vienna, For the Longest Time, Uptown Girl, River of Dreams, and My Life. But one thing that many people don't know is he also composed some classical piano pieces. When I was a senior music major in college, my fellow piano performance major performed one of his Fantasies and Delusions on his senior recital. He's definitely a versatile and talented artist. Thanks, Professor 🙏 Incidentally, the piano piece whose melody is featured in the Diana Ross/Supremes song is Bach's Minuet in G Major, not Beethoven.
I will defend "Just The Way You Are" to the death as one of the great love songs! On the other hand, I still don't like "Piano Man." So many great Billy Joel tracks to list: "New York State of Mind," "Scenes From an Italian Restaurant," "She's Always a Woman," "The Longest Time," "Leave A Tender Moment Alone," "Keeping The Faith," "I Go To Extremes," "Lullabye." And I love his cover of "Hey Girl" (play it for anyone who says he isn't a great singer!)
It needs to be said also how wonderfully entertaining Billy is in concert. He is one of those rare artists that really connect with the audience in a personal way. I saw him just a few years ago and you might expect someone getting on in years like that would lose some energy or his voice might not be quite as great as it was, but if anything, his voice has aged like fine wine. Until you hear that voice live coming loud through the PA at a concert, you have no idea. The richness, the color, the textures, the clarity, the STRENGTH - it's all there. And it is magnificent. My faves would be "Vienna", "Leningrad", (how was there not a LOT more representation from his last 2 albums here?? "Storm Front" is my favorite BJ album.) "Scenes From an Italian Restaurant", "New York State of Mind" (How on earth did THAT not make the list??), "Innocent Man" and the incomparable "Goodnight Saigon". If Prof here had ever seen that in concert, it would have been on the list. It is a magic moment like none other in music. He brings some Veterans up on stage to sing along and it is so moving, it brings the whole crowd to tears. Last note: his guitarist Mike DelGuidice has a moment in Billy's shows where he sings the stunningly beautiful opera aria "Nessun Dorma". Opera? In a rock concert? Yeah. Let me tell you. If someone can steal the show from Billy f-in' Joel, that is some serious sh-t right there. You may be skeptical. Fine. Go watch it here on RU-vid and get back to me. It is so beautiful. You'll be weeping.
Great job. These songs are overlooked by all but the serious fans. I like nearly everything he’s ever recorded and it’s hard to pick just 5 deep cuts. As I look through his catalog, I realize that my favorite track from each album is generally a deep cut. The hits are fine, but it’s nice to like the songs no one else knows about. I like a bunch from Streetlife Serenade that most people don’t know past The Entertainer and Los Angelenos. Really enjoying the Billy Joel channel on SXM as they play everything, as well as commentary from Billy himself. My attempt at narrowing to 5: Weekend Song Summer, Highland Falls Stiletto That’s Not Her Style No Man’s Land Not sure if that last one was actually released as a single or not though I did see him perform it on Letterman. But that list doesn’t do his deep-cuts justice as I didn’t even get to use anything from many of his albums. I could make a 50 song Spotify playlist of just deep cuts and still not hit them all. And although I really like Vienna, Sleepin’ With the Television On, and Until The Night, I decided to avoid the songs you used.
The Stranger from start to finish. Not a bad song on the whole album. Piano Man… Glass Houses… Billy Joel put out albums full of great songs. Some songs that didn’t get on the radio but should have. Love Billy Joel!
One thing I admire about Billy Joel's work is that each album documents exactly where he is in his life at the moment. Struggling but immensely gifted artist on Long Island? Piano Man. Then Piano Man hits and he barely recognizes himself so The Stranger. And now he's writing about the price of fame and Halston dresses and Studio 54 in Glass Houses. His star continues to rise and hey, here's a love letter to Christie Brinkley. No contrived sentimentality. He lets you know where he's at. And where he's at is a better song writer than just about anybody. Recognize.
"We Didn't Start the Fire" is the absolute worst song ever recorded. I get irrationally angry every time I hear it. "Captain Jack," on the other hand, is a great song.
He could, and has written, just about every twist of a genre that there is! Just amazing creativity. Having read "The Definitive Biography Billy Joel" by Fred Schruers, all of the songs take a deeper meaning...and it explains where they came from in his past. Billy Joel is a magician of a musician. Most people can weave his songs into the story of their lives...he touches every aspect. And...from what everything I have read/heard...he is as humble as they come. Legend. The one thing that I loved reading was that "We Didn't Start The Fire" was a result of an argument he had with Julian Lennon. Awesome!
