Colbert asked Billy Joel what were the top 5 Billy Joel songs in his opinion
Great question to a great song writer
#5
Vienna
From Youtube: Billy Joel's parents were divorced. His dad lived in Vienna. On a visit, Billy notices an old woman sweeping the streets with a broom. He asked his father about her. His father said the government paid her to do that, mostly so she would still feel useful. "Vienna Waits for You" means that even when you get old, you can still be useful (at least, in Vienna!). Saw Billy Joel explain this in an interview, because I never would have guessed it! It's a sweet sentiment, especially in an American society where most believe old people are of no use anymore.
"Slow down you're doing fine. You can't be everything you want to be before your time"
Re: What You're Listening To Right Now
Posted: Fri Jun 14, 2019 2:45 pm
by hawkfan8812
#4
And So It Goes
Again from Youtube: This song is amazing. Billy sings it beautifully. No extremeties, no nothing. He just sings through his heart to ours. One of his best performances ever.
There's something about the tentative pacing of the chords that really speaks to the insecurity of the narrator and makes the whole piece so much more vulnerable and amazing.
I have been listening again and again to this song for several hours now. The metering is hymnal. The words: conditional and subjunctive. Transactional at the last plea. It's like an unsent love letter which was accidentally read.
The vulnerability of entering a relationship, and how profoundly we can touch one another has rarely been so poignantly expressed in a song. The tone is soft, but the message so powerful. Billy Joel is an absolute MASTER story teller.
Re: What You're Listening To Right Now
Posted: Fri Jun 14, 2019 2:49 pm
by hawkfan8812
#3
You May Be Right
This one really hits home for me, I remember buying Glass Houses on vinyl and loving every song. As a drummer I hate lyrics, but I knew most of his songs word for word.
Re: What You're Listening To Right Now
Posted: Fri Jun 14, 2019 2:53 pm
by hawkfan8812
#2
She's Right on Time
He has said more than once this is his second favorite song.