Posts by Tag

Tag: loneliness

Billy Joel-isms -- All For Leyna

Posted by Stephanie Paquette

"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

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 certain ... more »

Posted: February 23, 2009 2:29 pm | 1 comment
Tags: Billy Joel, Carly Simon, House of Blues, loneliness, Long Island, nostalgia, Oyster Bay, stardom