"If cool was a color, it'd be black-- and Billy Joel would be burnt orange...Yet Billy Joel is great." -Chuck Klosterman in Sex, Drugs and Cocoa Puffs
When deciding what immortal Billy Joelism to share with you all, I figured I should take a step back and reread my favorite chapter in Klosterman's book entitled, "Every Drunk Must Have His Drink". For those of you not in the "Billy" know, Klosterman is not only playing on the lyrics in one of his popular songs, "Don't Ask Me Why" (from the very same album as "All For Leyna"), but also to his battle with alcohol. How clever, Chuck.
In particular, Klosterman chooses to highlight the album Glass Houses, released in 1980. If someone were to forcibly make me choose my favorite album, this would surely be a contender and “All For Leyna” is a large part of that reasoning.
“All For Leyna” tells the story of a man who after one encounter with Leyna is mesmerized and can’t sustain any other parts of his life. We’ve all been there. It ... more »
Posted: February 4, 2009 2:58 pm | 3 comments
Tags: 80's, awesomeness, Billy Joel, classic rock, loneliness, music
"The miracle of modern chemistry killed them if Vietnam didn't." -Billy Joel
The above quote is a comment Billy Joel made in the liner notes of the lyrics to Captain Jack. The quote directly references the traumatic affects of drug culture and the Vietnam War on the men of his time.
Captain Jack is one of Billy Joel's earlier songs, released in 1973 on the Piano Man album. The song depicts a young man of 21 and his searching for solace in drugs, masturbation and basically living a grimy life, despite being from the typical family. Billy was inspired to write the song after looking out the window and watching teenagers buy heroin from the local drug dealer in Oyster Bay-- no one else, but Captain Jack.
The song has been criticized as glorifying drugs, which is absolutely absurd. The message is powerful and still applicable today, minus the tie dye jeans (Although tie dye is making a comeback!). The song relays the universality of young adults delving into drugs and sex to alleviate teen ... more »
Posted: February 9, 2009 10:18 pm | 3 comments
Tags: Billy Joel, classic rock, drugs, losers, music
Oftentimes when I talk to males about my obsession with Billy, they mention the sheer inspiration he shares. It's not his piano skills, his lyrics or his melodious voice...it's the fact that he gave hope to mediocre men everywhere.
That's right, the rise and fall of Christie Brinkley and Billy Joel isn't just celebrity gossip, but is also found in his music. I'm sure there are countless songs that were inspired by the nine-year romance, but there are two songs that directly reference her. Those songs are Christie Lee and Uptown Girl.
Uptown Girl, it's an ok song, but it's pretty catchy. Karaoke enthusiasts and piano bar aficionados alike belt out the tune. Personally, not my favorite...but the music video is so 80's inspired that you can't help but crack a smile. From Brinkley's classic uptown girl turned supermodel look and Billy Joel dressed as a mechanic from a bad part of town, you can't help but sing "Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh, oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh ... more »
Posted: February 11, 2009 3:29 pm | 1 comment
Tags: Billy Joel, Christie Brinkley, classic rock, divorce, fashion, marriage, music
"Slow down you crazy child, and take the phone off the hook and disappear for a while. It's alright, you can afford to lose a day or two. When will you realize, Vienna waits for you?"
When I was a junior in high school, I was pretty deep into my Billy Joelism. I even went as far as to create a philosophy called Billy Joelism with a few obliging girlfriends, because not only would a religion be absurdly creepy, but it'd conflict with my own religion. That's besides the point. A freshman walked into school on one of the few days us Catholic school kids could wear our own clothes, and her tee shirt said "Vienna Waits For You". I was amazed that someone else not only knew this Billy Joel song, which I would classify as just below a greatest hit, but made a tee shirt. The girl explained her dad had been really into Billy and that was her favorite song. Interestingly enough, I find a lot of younger Billy fans like this song. When I searched youtube.com for a live version of the song, I found ... more »
Posted: February 18, 2009 10:40 am | 1 comment
Tags: Austria, Billy Joel, classic rock, fathers, piano, Vienna
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
