Let’s go back to January 25th of 1994… I had recently procured a couple tickets to see Billy Joel at the old Richfield Coliseum! Remember that place?
Oh man I miss it!
Anyway, I made my girlfriend go to the show with me even though she didn’t like The Piano Man. See, a couple years before she made me go to a Springsteen concert that I did not enjoy because, well, I don’t like him. So this was my payback to her.
Unfortunately, we never made it there. Just as we were heading out a pretty nasty snow storm blew in. I-77 turned into a parking lot because of multiple wrecks and we just sat there for a couple hours. By the time traffic started moving we woulda missed most of the show, so I turned around at the next exit.
I’ve been pissed about that for 20 years.
Mr. Joel was in Cleveland this past Tuesday. I prolly shoulda made plans to go, in an effort to make that memory less painful, but I didn’t!
One of my friends from work DID go and I got to hear from her how awesome it was, so I’ll continue to keep kickin’ myself in the ass until next time he comes to town.
I’ve been a Billy Joel fan for a long time…
….long before his daughter, Alexa Ray, was born!
Billy Joel’s material spans 22 years… ’71 through ’93. It sorta sucks that he hasn’t released any new material in almost that same span. He’s got A LOT of good music out there, though. So much that I really can’t just pick a few songs and wrap this thing up.
Instead, I’m gonna try to feature a favorite tune from each album… so here goes!
From ’71s Cold Spring Harbor…
~ She’s Got a Way ~
… that one’s for reader Elaine!
From ’73s Piano Man…
~ Piano Man ~
… DUH! How could I NOT post that tune?
From ’74s Streetlife Serenade…
~ The Entertainer ~
… A nice little rip on the recording industry…
From ’76s Turnstiles…
~ Angry Young Man ~
… That one is for this sexy author!
Oh shit… ’77s The Stranger… decisions, decisions… I’m gonna go with…
~ Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song) ~
… Love the energy in that tune!
’78s 52nd Street…
~ Honesty ~
…Beautiful song… and so true!
’80s Glass Houses…
~ It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me ~
… This was his first tune to hit #1… obviously, because it’s awesome! Not that it’s any less awesomer than some of the other songs, just that he’s gaining some good momentum here…
’82s The Nylon Curtain… Without a doubt…
~ Goodnight Saigon ~
… Every time I listen to that tune I get chills and ultimately tear up. I’m such a pussy sometimes!
’83s An Innocent Man…
~ Uptown Girl ~
… That one’s for my friend from work! Nice excerpt here:
And when she’s walking She’s looking so fine And when she’s talking She’ll say that she’s mine
Ha ha! Right?
Did you guys know that tune came out when Billy was dating Elle Macpherson…
… and not long before he married a woman named Christie Brinkley?
Damn! Dude was on a ROLL!!!
From ’86s The Bridge…
~ This Is The Time ~
… Another one sorta for reader Elaine!
From ’89s Storm Front…
~ The Downeaster ‘Alexa’ ~
… Beautiful, sad song. Most people only know this song because it was in The Hangover II. It was popular long before then…
And from ’93s River of Dreams…
~ All About Soul ~
… Perfect description there of a significant other… See if you agree!
She waits for me at night, she waits for me in silence
She gives me all her tenderness and takes away my pain
And so far she hasn’t run, though I swear she’s had her moments
She still believes in miracles while others cry in vain
It’s all about soul
It’s all about faith and a deeper devotion
It’s all about soul
‘Cause under the love is a stronger emotion
She’s got to be strong
‘Cause so many things getting out of control
Should drive her away
So why does she stay?
It’s all about soul
She turns to me sometimes and she asks me what I’m dreaming
And I realize I must have gone a million miles away
And I ask her how she knew to reach out for me at that moment
And she smiles because it’s understood there are no words to say
It’s all about soul
It’s all about knowing what someone is feeling
The woman’s got soul
The power of love and the power of healing
This life isn’t fair
It’s gonna get dark, it’s gonna get cold
You’ve got to get tough, but that ain’t enough
It’s all about soul
There are people who have lost every trace of human kindness
There are many who have fallen, there are some who still survive
She comes to me at night and she tells me her desires
And she gives me all the love I need to keep my faith alive
It’s all about soul
It’s all about joy that comes out of sorrow
It’s all about soul
Who’s standing now and who’s standing tomorrow
You’ve got to be hard
Hard as the rock in that old rock ‘n roll
But that’s only part, you know in your heart
It’s all about soul
Enjoy your Friday, folks!
For Shiggles 