Billy Joel’s music catalogue is phenomenal. A master musician, lyricist, composer ❤❤❤

@hibhibb5429

4 ай бұрын

FACTS!! Billy Joel "ONLY HUMAN (SECOND WIND)" and "A MATTER OF TRUST" are other great songs/videos to react to. Love me some Billy!!

@katrinawinfrey5629

4 ай бұрын

Billy Joel was married to Christie Brinkley several years ago. They also did a music video called uptown Girl. Luv you Britt 😂

@amyaeschbach3581

4 ай бұрын

You must react or watch Billy Joel sing “New York State of mind“ an absolute classic. Others, uptown girl, we didn’t start the fire, and of course, she’s always a woman! You’ll fall in love with his voice and his jazz and his writing. His wants in a generation and puts on an amazing show. Thanks so much for this reaction Britt❤

@TimothyGraff

3 ай бұрын

Saw him on this tour, and yes, he can tickle those ivories!

@Van1973Auken

3 ай бұрын

I'm so glad there are people who not only enjoy music, but let it envelope us from time to time. Thank you for being here!

This isn't a song about a piano man singing to a Saturday night crowd. It's a piano man telling us a story of what he sees while he's playing, every Saturday night.

@ricksexton8888

4 ай бұрын

Well put.

@darrinlindsey

4 ай бұрын

@@becomethestar No it's not! 1- A piano man singing a song to the crowd at the bar, on Saturday night. 2- A piano man tells a story about what he sees when he plays piano, at the bar, on Saturday nights. 3- Here's your sign.

@darrinlindsey

4 ай бұрын

@@becomethestar May you receive a brain!!! What the F don't you understand about the difference between someone singing for a crowd, and someone telling people about the experiences they have when they sing? You must live in Texas or Mississippi.

@allensaunders449

4 ай бұрын

This song is both

@randymccloud5743

4 ай бұрын

​​@@becomethestaryou obviously came on here just to be contrary...mission accomplished. May YOU receive the help YOU obviously need.

"Sharing a drink they call loneliness" is one of my all time favorite lines.

@user-sm3ii5dk1u

4 ай бұрын

It describes so many relationships people endure while their life slips past in the night.

@joeconcepts5552

4 ай бұрын

But it’s better than drinking alone. Such a brilliant line.

@jduncanandroid

4 ай бұрын

@@joeconcepts5552 - imho the full line has far more poignancy than just the half line...

@kevinmclaughlin8975

2 ай бұрын

"As a smile ran away from his face" is mine.

@rickwelch8464

2 ай бұрын

@@kevinmclaughlin8975 My all time favorite comes from The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. "Does anyone know where the love of God goes when the waves turn the minutes to hours"

It feels like Billy Joel is a forgotten legacy these days. Yet he was one of the musical geniuses of his days. I know this because this was my generation. The 70's and the 80's, it was great to live in this generation!!!

This is such a great story telling song. This was Billy's first single released in 1973. "Piano Man" is based on Billy Joel's real-life experiences as a lounge musician in Los Angeles. The song is sung from Joel's point of view as a piano player at a bar, reminiscing about his experiences there & the people he encountered.

@angelark2011

4 ай бұрын

I have been a big fan of Billy Joel since I was a kid. Can you believe it has been 50 years since Piano Man was released.

@chetstevensq

4 ай бұрын

Arguably not his first hit though as it peaked at #25. Good, but he would get much bigger in a couple more years.

@angieday5183

4 ай бұрын

Probably his best song regardless of the charts @@chetstevensq

@chetstevensq

4 ай бұрын

@@angieday5183 better storytelling in songs like Scenes FaIR or Goodnight Saigon, more emotion in songs like Downeaster Alexa or River of Dreams, better beat in songs like Matter of Trust or Didn't Start the Fire, so "best" is really hard to qualify.

@hawkuser604

4 ай бұрын

Crap, now I really feel old, I was born in 1973. Guess its time to schedule that colonoscopy.....

Billy Joel is one of the greatest lyricist out there. He paints a story when he is singing.

@rarelycares8416

4 ай бұрын

While I don't disagree with you, in his own words he is a composer first...singer/songwriter second. He always writes the music first, the words come later.

@mattiemathis9549

4 ай бұрын

I lived my life off this man’s songs, not literally (most of the time) but figuratively. Piano man and I am the entertainer are the songs that taught me never give up. She’s always a woman, honesty and just the way you are helped me learn about relationships. You may be right and captain jack were my party anthems. We didn’t start the fire and that Leningrad song taught me that war is horrible no matter who wins or what the government says. River of dreams helped me understand my own spirituality. His songs are brilliant!

@Mister_Samsonite

Ай бұрын

@@rarelycares8416 Both things can be true! He might think of himself as a composer, but he's also a master wordsmith - rarely equaled and never rivaled.

At seventy, I use his line "When I wore a younger man's clothes!" a lot, as it is true.

“Tickle those ivories.” Piano keys used to be made of ivory. You’ve never even heard of Billy Joel?!! I feel like I just hit a time warp or entered an alternate universe. Welcome to our world, where Billy Joel is a legend. For most of us back in the seventies, this was our first introduction to him and his music. We all wanted to hear more from him and he did not disappoint. He can sing any style, any genre. He’s got beautiful love songs. He’s a great storyteller and lyricist, as you’ve discovered for yourself. I’ve usually seen people react to a different video of “Piano Man”, which I think is the official video. To be honest, this one sounded kind of like he was just phoning it in. That’s not a criticism. I’m saying he usually sounds even better than this. You’re going to be inundated with suggestions for his songs. Since I’m here early for once I’ll give you two suggestions to get you started. “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant” really shows off his storytelling skills and his musical talent. “New York State of Mind”, from The Old Grey Whistle Test (a British TV show) is a moody, jazzy number that shows what an incredible performer he is, as well as showing off his talent. I look forward to watching you explore this deep, deep rabbit hole. You’re going to love it.

@stefanconradsson

4 ай бұрын

I'm a hardrock/metal head with a soft spot for this kind of music. I'm old enough to know of him, but have only recently found out about him for real. Not only that, but I think he is awesome. He's a talent if there ever was one. His songs are incredible. Love him! Cheers 🍺

@vdoggydogg3922

4 ай бұрын

@@stefanconradsson Depends where you live too. Billy does not get alot of airplay in some parts of the USA. He is very known in the Northeast obviously.

@joeconcepts5552

4 ай бұрын

Well he hasn’t really put much put recently. I could see how some young people might not know him.

@richardcurtis5281

3 ай бұрын

Two great suggestions for follow up songs.

@tnolddawg

Ай бұрын

And the black keys are ebony...Ebony and Ivory 🎵

Billy Joel is an American Icon. He's been honored at the Kennedy Center. He has many Grammy's. He has an American Song Book with some of the best music everwritten . It would do you good to explore Billy Joel.

@markh.7650

4 ай бұрын

And he has also been playing at MSG in NYC every weekend for several years, always selling out, and the crowd sings right along with him. Sadly I read his residency will be ending this summer. It helps that he grew up right next door on Long Island, so he has a huge following here as one of our greatest exports.

I was a freshman at TennnTech when this was released. I struggle very hard to like today's music but when you grow up on the brilliant songwriting and musicianship that is Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder, Carly Simon, The Beatles, John Denver and 100 more artists who sang without Auto-Tune and play their own instruments and many who wouldn't sacrifice their art for the money, it's hard to find anyone that stands up to this level for me. But I will always go back to my oldies when I want to hear the best. Like so many of today's artists I can't tell one from the other when I hear them on the radio until somebody tells me who they are. I can hear five chords of a song from the 70s and know exactly which band it is and that was true back then not just now. They didn't all sound so much alike. Of course I blame a lot of that on the producers of the past 20 years or so. This is true of not just pop and rock but country. If one singer, male or female, becomes extremely popular they look to sign a dozen more who sound just like them instead of going in search for the next unique voice. So many great artists are ignored because of greed by the record companies.

@steveullrich7737

4 ай бұрын

You nailed it exactly everything is the same no melodies or interesting lyrics.

@dpoyner711

Ай бұрын

I went to school at Tech in 1975 and brought the album from home in NJ after the Christmas break and was playing the album in my room when 3 or 4 guys came in and yelled 'who is this?'. They loved it as much as me.

My two 'absolutely must hear' Billy Joel favorites, "She's Always a Woman," and "Just the Way You Are." I guarantee they'll touch your heart.

@kimshaky

4 ай бұрын

and i bet she's alreade heard "just the way you are" but in barry white's coverversion

The one song everyone ALWAYS forgets by Billy Joel is actually my favorite... "You May Be Right"... Brilliant 🤘

@greendragonpublishing

4 ай бұрын

i may be crazy :)

@daletolmich6459

4 ай бұрын

"But it just may be a lunatic you're looking for"...

@Abri412

4 ай бұрын

It's my favorite too!

@CarlosRomero-uz4yk

3 ай бұрын

It is one of my favorites billy joel's library. It is just a fun song. ❤ it.

@diannestucki5732

3 ай бұрын

You May Be Right makes me think of how my marriage began. I was so sad and lonely, and this man who showed up who made me laugh,

Billy Joel is a National Treasure. His catal0og is very very deep. You're gonna love this trip.

Nobody paints a picture through their lyrics like Billy Joel. He has you in the story with him!

I was a struggling musician when this came out & it got me big! The line, "...man, what are YOU doing here?" -- best line in the song! They knew he belonged in the Big Leagues, selling out concerts, platinum albums, not playing for down & outer for free drinks & tips. Thank you for a great reaction! ❤❤❤❤

@nelsonhemstreet3568

4 ай бұрын

Billy tells the story that he had signed a bad record deal, and to wait them out, he took a gig playing in a bar. The waitress practicing politics was his first ex-wife, and the other people mentioned were those he met at the bar.

Well, Billy Joel certainly got out of that place and made it BIG!! 😊 Wonderful artist! Did a broadway musical too. I started listening to him when l met my husband, well ex husband, in about 1977! 😊

Such a relatable song. Probably why it's his signature song. My fav of his is Scenes From An Italian Restaurant. Brilliant song.

@NafthaliHananja

4 ай бұрын

Agreed !

@oldmanballer5088

3 ай бұрын

Agree

Billy Joel is a hell of a poet, and this song is an excellent example.

Enjoy you take. I'm a great grandma who grew up in this era...his music is the voice of my generation. He is a balladeer for the American masses.

Oh My! You have found an amazing rabbit hole 🕳 of musical poetry if you've never heard of Billy Joel! 💖

Billy Joel the greatest not just the lyrics, but the stories, the instruments, the voice, and the various ways over the years from the early 70s and he is apparently doing his final performance this month, same age as me 74! So much pleasure to so many generations!

I didn't know you hadn't reacted to Billy Joel before! It seems that he is right up your alley with his musicianship and songwriting. If you do continue to check out songs by him, I would recommend Scenes From an Italian Restaurant. Storytelling at its finest!

@mattiemathis9549

4 ай бұрын

I would recommend “I Am The Entertainer”. Part of me wants to recommend “We didn’t Start the Fire”, but if she delves in historically, I would feel bad. 😂

@etc7070

4 ай бұрын

@@mattiemathis9549 Entertainer is such a great song! Very meaty commentary about the music industry, if Britt is going to be thorough about it. Maybe she should be warned about the expansive history lesson of WDStF before she picks it 😊

@mattiemathis9549

4 ай бұрын

@@etc7070 good point! I heard the song as a teen and after a country stint I came back to him. By then the internet was invented and I was able to look up all the different things. Kinda like we didn’t light the fire, but many of those things impacted my life directly, I just didn’t know why things were the way they were until I started looking up history. But I’m getting way deeper than a YT comment should go so: Great advice! That is a rabbit hole and a half! 😂😂😂

@etc7070

4 ай бұрын

@@mattiemathis9549 I mean it's no wonder that teachers actually used this song in their classes to get kids to do research!

Billy Joel has an amazing catalog of music. He really paints a picture with his lyrics.

Billy is a master storyteller musician! His catalog is DEEP! Goodnight Saigon,Downeaster Alexa,and Allentown for relating to the common man....Movin Out,Scenes From An Italian Restaurant are both musts! For sweet songs,listen to You're My Home,Lullabye,and I Love You Just The Way You Are! Everything Billy touches is GOLD!🎹🎙🎶💛

This is an amazing song to hear when a stadium full of people are singing the chorus. Billy Joel is one of the great songwriters. Definitely listen to more. Scenes from an Italian Restaurant is a great song to go to next

Billy is 1of the greatest songwriters/lyricists.

TV shows huh.... It makes me think: Cheers! Great show. Billy Joel, a real minstrel.

Epic song by the real piano man,a song of life, struggle and dreams and drowning of sorrows .

Britt, I love your thoughtful reactions. Yes, Billy Joel creates a familiar “atmosphere” in the first 40 seconds of this song. I loved how you articulated this. Many people consider this a sad song; however, I think Billy Joel is taking an objective look at hope here, and he brilliantly recognizes that without struggle and regret, hope cannot exist.

All the lyrics in this song are incredibly written.

Great comments Britt. You say it has a walking down the road kicking rocks feel to it. Perfect way to say it! The song has a 3/4 time signature--a waltz, one of the few top pop songs I know that is a waltz, it has that swaying movement. I always also liked the line "He said 'Son, can you play me a memory'" -- because we typically would say "son, can you play me a melody," but the "melody" itself is a memory. Really nice song-writing, both music and words.

Billy Joel is a modern old school crooner a word smith an artist a treasure.

One of the best songwriters of all time. So many great songs. I would suggest Goodnight Saigon live.

@greendragonpublishing

4 ай бұрын

I've seen him do it live, with a chorus of Vietnam vets in uniform. I absolutely cried.

@dominicschiro9939

4 ай бұрын

Definitely needs to be next on the list

This song reminds me of Sammy Davis Jr's Mr. Bojangles another story telling song.✌️❤️

Having spent many Saturday nights in a small piano bar with my girl friend this song has always made for happy memories. It really brings the bar and its atmosphere into focus. I was in the navy and all the other people were there.

Just to me this is one of the greatest songs every written and preformed.

I got to hear this live in 1978 because my Dad believed I had to hear it first person, "not that radio crap". I didn't realize at that time, it was decades later, how cultured my Dad was.

I love the great piano players, Billy Joel, Elton John, Ray Charles and so many more❤

Billy Joel went on to have countless hit songs and albums thru the 70’s,80’s and 90’s!

My favorite is "Only the Good Die Young". Great lyrics and great music. Watch the live version-Billy Joe really rips it up in that performance. You get to see what a great performer he is.

@EP-cg4fs

4 ай бұрын

Only the good die young would be a great choice!

Britt Thank you for your marvellous reaction. (you're always fun! This man is SO talented and yet although recognised NOWHERE near as big as he should have been with his amazing Greatest Hits album starting with this song and every song a winner till the end of 1985. Then of course in 1987 another amazing song that matches everything for brilliance that's on the Greatest hits album, 'We didn't start the fire.' He's probably done some great stuff since but i'm hooked enough on these early classics AND he was always such a great singer, songwriter, and piano player. I rest my case. (!) 😀

My favorite song by Billy Joel is for the longest time. A great acupella.

1st concert I ever went to in 1985 - and he’s still playing MSG right now!

Wow, a first timer with Billy Joel. He is one of the best song writers of the last 25 years. You can’t go wrong and he has a huge catalog of original material. From “Tell her about it” to “New York state of mind” or “Good night Saigon “ you are in for a treat. And I’m going to enjoy your journey 😀

@michaelmccombs2959

4 ай бұрын

25 years?!?

@spikespa5208

3 ай бұрын

50. Starting with "Travelin' Prayer" .

@davidspalten1304

3 ай бұрын

Make that the last 50 years.

@florianfussl3769

2 ай бұрын

Dont forget "leningrad" it has me always in tears

Billy Joel and Elton John are equals when it comes to playing pianos, and Goodbye Yellow Brick Road by E J was and still is a work of art .

@greendragonpublishing

4 ай бұрын

I saw them when they did a concert tour together. Amazing show!

Billy Joel's song Just the way you are is definitely a song you'll love infact it's quite sweet.❤👍

SO great watching you hear these iconic lines for the first time. It's only one of the greatest songs ever written for piano by an American. Welcome to Billy Joel, the ICON. Wish I could hear these songs for the first time again. Enjoy!

He paints a very vivid picture of life as a piano bar player and the view of others lives through the lens of the bottom of the glass.

All I will say is that Billy has dozens of masterpieces that you will enjoy as you did this one. Few rabbit holes deeper and of better and diverse than his. You MUST explore it. Check out Always a Woman, Vienna, We Didn’t Start the Fire, New York State of Mind, Downeaster Alexa, Themes from an Italian Restaurant and The Stranger to just scratch the surface of this man’s amazing catalogue. Billy is with out a doubt among the top few singer/songwriter/musicians of the past 50 years.

@edwardhubschman3610

4 ай бұрын

Sure. How do we do that?

@greendragonpublishing

4 ай бұрын

Vienna is one of my all-time favorites :)

@chetstevensq

4 ай бұрын

Goodnight Saigon, Matter of Trust and River of Dreams for total diversity.

It's so cool to see someone who has never heard of Billy Joel find this talent. This rabbit hole goes very very deep.

Another timeless song from the best ear of music I’m so glad I grew up in this time in history

Masterpiece of a song! Both musically and lyrically.

more Billy please ! His vocals and lyrics can't be matched !

You need to review Scenes from an Italian Restaurant, which is Billy's favorite song of his.

Billy Joel is a Legend. Piano Man was released in 1973 and became his huge 1974 breakthrough hit. Billy Joel is one of the most successful singer/songwriters of all time. •4th best selling solo artist of All time accordintld to RIAA •Songwriters Hall of Fame •Rock n Roll Hall of Fame •23 Grammy Award nominations, 6 wins •Sold over 160 million records •33 Top 40 hits, 13 top 10s, 3 #1 hits •Released 12 Studio Albums from 1971 to 1993. 11 have been certified platinum and/or multi-platinum •Wrote and arranged all his own music •40+ Hit singles

One of the all time great storytellers....A true legend.

I seen a lot of reactions to this song and yours is the most intelligent, deep and beautiful!! thanks!

I have been listening to this song since its release in 1973 and I never grow tired of it, a musical and lyrical MASTERPEICE! BTW, tickling the ivory is the phrase you were trying to recall. Great reaction, TY.

This song is single handledly responsible for me being a Billy Joel fan. Awesome songwriter and a bona fide hit maker.

So much to say about your thoughtful reaction to this classic Billy Joel song, but I I’m just fan girling on you at this point 😃! Keep ‘em rolling 🎶

Billy wrote this during his time playing for a LA bar. He wrote about exactly what was happening, and the people were real. Even Davy who's still in the Navy. He said he really didn't think the song was good, but he was happy people liked it.

This was a great sing along song in the bars back then, the whole bar would sing along to it!!!!

Billy Joel is argueably my favorite musician to this day and I'm willing to call him the greatest song writer of all time. He once said in an interview (on the Late show I think) that in order to write good music you must have a life, and I think this song highlights yhat immensly

I've watched a ton of reactions to this song..I mean a ton..and this one is by far my favorite. So glad you didn't do the music video version and you did such a great job of hitting on all the things that make this song a classic. Thank you!

This song is in my Top 5 of all time. Billy is a masterful pianist. It’s a wonderful story about how the setting of a bar are all there to see the “Piano Man” but they all aren’t where or what they dream to be.

Billy Joel writes some of the best love songs you've ever heard, he tells the tale! "Just The Way You Are" would be a great place to start. Also, anything Billy does live from the "Old Grey Whistle Test", which this video was from, is always a great source for the best Billy Joel live performances. I love the way you react to not only the music but what is said in the music. It's like hearing it from new ears all over again.

Billy Joel is a wonderful storyteller.

You are amazing in your reviews. The things you point out just give me even more respect for the artists.

This song is so well crafted, I've loved it since I was a kid!

"tickling the ivories" To hear Billy really "rock out", try his "A Matter of Trust" ( original video version, for an added good laugh).

This is my favorite song about being a musician. The piano sounds like a carnival; the microphone smells like a beer. We've all played that gig.

Billy Joel is one of the singers that you never recognized in the USA for Africa video! He is amazing!

You mentioned how much breath control he must have. Heres a fun fact; some notes on the harmonica are played by drawing air IN thru the instrument. And, I'm going to echo many of the other comments here and say, "Scenes From An Italian Restaurant " is a MUST HEAR. Also "Root Beer Rag" if you like piano. He lights it up!!

This is in top ten songs of all time. I think so anyway.

You are a beautiful soul and I enjoy your reactions

Simile, metaphor, analogy... these are the tools of master poets and lyricists! They paint a picture. If you (the listener) can SEE the movie in your head with your eyes closed... it's a masterful piece of storytelling. If you add being an outstanding composition and arranger, and THEN add being a great instrumentalist, and THEN add being a great vocalist... you get a very rare animal. Billy Joel is part of that elite group. I am glad you enjoyed this! You said it's a dreamer's song. It's autobiographical. He dreamed... and he achieved. There are several live and studio versions of this out there. Billy Joel is one of my favorite artists ever.

"Just The Way You Are"-Billy Joel 1978- The Italian Alps at night in a cafe surrounded by snow peaked mountains in Northern Italy in Piancovallo and this song came on and will, for me, be ever synonymous with that moment in my life 45 years ago/

Billy Joel's musicianship and songwriting chops are top tier. Check out "Scenes From An Italian Restaurant "for another storytelling treat.

Billy Joel is the best musical storyteller of my lifetime.

Billy Joel has always been one of my favorites. I think he and James Taylor are the greatest singer/songwriters of my generation. I remember once I heard Billy Joel being interviewed and when asked about the popularity of "Piano Man", he said the lyrics were about his time working in piano bars and the melody was just a limerick. Now I can't unhear that.

If story telling is what you enjoy, you should watch his live version of "Scenes from an Italian restaurant". Fantastic song and even better performance.

Oh girl you picked the wrong video!! If you did the one with Joel playing inside the bar you would get it some much better. Re-do your reaction , with the video at the bar RIGHT NOW !! One of my favorite songs. One Point You interrupt the song and talk too much. LESS TALKING , MORE LISTENING

I’ve listened to this song for years but this is the 1st time I’ve ever heard it. Thanks for the reaction!

Billy Joel is a master storyteller with his music.

This one is timeless..... perfect picture painted here

Nice react Britt. Billy's music is a deep dive. Lots of great music. Oh and the expression is "tickling the ivories". ; ))

One of the highest selling solo artists of all time, his legacy is amazing. This is my second favourite song from him, "an Innocent man" being my first

Billy Joel is just amazing. He was my first concert with my friend. I was 16 My real 1st concert was Tom Jones at age 5. 😂 I went with my mother, grandmother, & 2 aunts. Tom Jones was my grandmother’s favorite.

Billy seems to carry NYC in his heart - born in the Bronx & grew up on Long Island. I've heard he was a tough, young guy who dropped out of HS yet made it work, eventually. The only thing we need from a Billy Joel song is Honesty... it's mostly what we all need.

Honesty is my all time favorite Billy Joel song. Love to see you react to that

@billy joel one of the greatest singer songwriters ever

Britt, loved your reaction. Billy Joel is an amazing performer, a "True Piano Man"!!

One of the best storytelling songs ever written!

One of the greatest songs IMO in a class with a few others. Billy Joel is the shit. Go deep!

Yep, it’s a full circle, even the piano man’s dreams aren’t realized. Great bit of song writing.

I love singing this song at the top of my lungs when it comes on as the last call song in the pub.

Top five best songs ever. The ultimate sing-along song.

The phrase you were looking for is “tickle the ivories”. I love your videos. You are so genuine with your reactions and thoughtful in your comments.

He can certainly "tickle" those ivories. Soulful, heart string pulling, sad song.

He packs so much into one lyric in this song. An entire story visualized in a few lines.