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Billy Joel-isms -- A survey

Posted by Stephanie Paquette

So when I woke up this morning, I had some of the usual Facebook notifications. But today, I was tagged in a note by a friend. In this note, she answered a bunch of questions "creatively" about herself, only using the song titles from a single band.

Being the all star Billy Joel fan I am, I decided to give it a shot.

Pick a band/artist: Billy Joel

1. Are you male or female: She's Always a Woman

2. Describe yourself: I Go To Extremes

3. How do you feel about yourself: Big Man On Mulberry Street

4. Describe your ex boyfriend/girlfriend: Running on Ice

5. Describe your current boy/girl situation: I Don't Want to be Alone Anymore

6. Describe your current location: Tomorrow is Today

7. Describe where you want to be: The Great Wall of China

8. Your best friend is: An Innocent Man

9. Your favorite color is: These Rhinestone Days

10. You know that: Everybody Loves You Now

11. What’s the weather like: Storm Front

12. If your life was a television show what would it be called?: Sleeping with ... more »

Posted: March 1, 2009 8:29 am | 2 comments
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Billy Joelisms-Laura

Posted by Stephanie Paquette

Here's a little Billy Joel trivia for you. In person, Billy Joel is known for using expletives and while speaking kindly to others, he uses colorful language. However, in his lyrics you will RARELY find even one of the more PC swears and vulgarities.

There is one song where Billy uses the "F" word. It's off of the Nylon Curtain album released in 1982, with fewer hits than its predecessors (the Stranger, Glass Houses and 52nd Street), it houses such hits as "Allentown", "Pressure" and "Goodnight Saigon". This album has a noticeable Beatles feel, especially in songs like "Laura". Particularly because it is more of an album experience, with symmetry in intros and outros that echo from other songs. The songs fit together stylistically and dogmatically. Very cyclical and cohesive. I dig it.

When I first heard "Laura", I assumed it was about a torrid love affair. Welp, I was wrong. It's actually about a family member. The song sounds haunting and you almost feel like you're in the middle of ... more »

Posted: March 23, 2009 2:13 pm | 1 comment
Tags: Aerosmith, Billy Joel, classic rock, Cursing, family problems, nieces, The Beatles, The Nylon Curtain