Billy Joel-isms -- Oyster Bay
Posted by Stephanie Paquette
So this week marked the beginning of my latest employment adventure... except this time, so far so great. I'm working at the new House of Blues on Landsowne Street in the music hall as a cocktail waitress. Not only have I seen four sold out shows (J Geils, Gipsy Kings, Blues Brothers and BB King & Buddy Guy), but I've made some money and I met Carly Simon (although I sounded like a total idiot). For the first time in a while, I'm excited to go to work.
How does this bring us back to Billy?
Well, as much as I listen to music, I sometimes forget how easily the right song can change your entire mood. This weekend I was in a rank mood, so I pulled up my iTunes and I randomly came to the song "Oyster Bay". Oyster Bay is an older Billy Joel song, but it was released last year in the "My Lives" disc set.
Billy grew up in Oyster Bay, and the song is about coming to grips with being in the limelight and at the same time wishing to be "back in Oyster Bay, taking it easy". Ok, so I'm certainly not in the limelight. No freaking brainer. But, I do get what Billy's saying on a larger level. Sometimes I wish I could just abandon school, work and the other trivialities of life and be back in Assonet, laying in bed with my aunt sitting at the foot of it with my dogs, Rudy and Calvin.
Back to Billy. When Billy was getting started he had some serious problems with his record deal. He left the East Coast to get out of it and played in some piano bars on the West Coast as Bill Martin. Once the contract lapsed, Billy signed on the West Coast and began his music career.
Lyrically, I love how Billy Joel explains in the verses what he would rather be doing or what's happening physically, then in the lyrics he says, "I never thought that things would go this far, I never thought that life would be this way. I never thought I'd be a superstar. Oh and Jesus Christ, I wish that I was back in Oyster Bay, taking it easy."
They did go that far, Billy. = )
P.S. Sadly this song has not made it to youtube
Posted: February 23, 2009 2:29 pm | 1 comment
Tags: Billy Joel, Carly Simon, House of Blues, loneliness, Long Island, nostalgia, Oyster Bay, stardom
Comments
That's so exciting about your new job! I'm going to a concert in a couple Saturday's there! I love love love Carly Simon, she's one of my all time favorites. Have fun!
I like this post- I had actually never heard of this song by him before. It sounds like a good song, lyrically.
said Caley Lynch
Would you like to comment?
If you are part of the Simmons College community, sign in!