Piano Man

Piano Man by Billy Joel

I think I'm in the minority here, and while I like this song, I don't think it's all that great. Maybe it's the uninspiring bass line.

But it's not. I'll admit it. I hate the down-on-my luck lyrics. I can't stand the people at the bar... I can't stand their defeatist bullshit. And I can't stand Joel's Piano Man... the man who makes them forget about life instead of inspiring them to do something about it all.

I know this is Joel's first big hit and it isn't a do or die song. But it sounds like a do or die song. Joel sings it as if this is his last chance in the music business. But it wasn't. And it pisses me off.

See a do or die song is Springsteen's "Born to Run". That really was Bruce's last chance. And he pours everything and then some into that song (and album). Sure it's over the top and the lyrics can be laughable at times, but it throws caution into the wind. It's about Bruce and the American Spirit.

But Piano Man? It sounds nice, it moves you, if you're drunk it's a fantastic song, but it's calculated. And Billy Joel knew it was going to be a hit. The Piano Man is a pretentious hero who helps people forget about their pathetic lives. What's the difference between the Piano Man and drugs? Should the song and the Piano Man himself, strive to be more? Should the writer and the narrator want to inspire instead of trying to tell us that he can save us for five minutes at a time? Big deal... there are so many distractions in the modern world that getting away from life isn't difficult and one should not be proud of such 'ability'.

Thirty-five years later, the sad (or ironic) part is that Billy Joel is now one of the losers he sings about in this song. He has become the drunk. On the irony scale where would Joel listening to this song at a bar rank?

Don't Ask Me Why

Don't Ask Me Why by Billy Joel
(no clue what's going on with the video here)



I've always sort of considered Billy Joel and Bon Jovi East Coast phenomenons. They always seem to be so much more East Coast than American and the success to each is sort of lost on everyone west of I-95. But apparently this theory does not hold true with Billy Joel.

It's not that I don't like Billy Joel, it's just he's so New York and so Long Island that to some kid from Chicago, he doesn't translate all that well in the 21st century. Of course this is the same man that wrote "Allentown" so who knows really. Maybe I'm the one who doesn't get it.

Anyway, this is easily my favorite Joel song. It's simple, it's catchy, it's a ditty. And I sort of like the message, take a chance, go for it, and don't ask me why. You only get one chance, so take that chance. Yet another carpe diem song, which isn't a bad thing. It's just amazing how large of a market we have as a society for these types of songs.

A song that puts me in a good mood, and I like songs like that.