I realized last night that my parents did me a huge disservice while I was growing up – they deprived me of Billy Joel. No Billy Joel music. I’m not quite sure how I got through my childhood without ever hearing “The Pianoman.” Although, this now explains why when “We Didn’t Start the Fire” came on at high school dances, everyone else acted as though they knew the song and loved it – like they had grown up listening to this stuff, and I was stuck dancing to the song, trying to understand what the big deal was. But last night…there was redemption.
Last night, Sarah and I went to hear a 57-year old Billy Joel at Philips Arena down here in Atlanta – and it was an amazing concert. I spent all day at work listening to Billy Joel’s Greatest Hits albums to try and “catch up” and become familiar with his music. I’ve been to a lot of concerts in big arenas (mainly bands like Jimmy Eat World, Incubus, Green Day), but never a sit down show like this. It was phenomenal – and our seats, while in the nosebleed section, were very good. The lights and everything were amazing. And Billy…
He is absolutely hilarious. If you’ve ever seen him perform, he puts on a great show. His voice, his body-language, the way he “acts out” the lyrics to his songs, the way he gets energized by the crowd. He loved the crowd and really knew how to have fun with us. Everything from his dancing on the piano stool to dressing and acting like a rapper during “Big Shot.” And his band is out of this world – some amazing musicians.
But his music…his music is amazing. He played most of his greatest hits (”The Entertainer,” “Moving Out”, “New York State of Mind”, “She’s Always a Woman”, “Keeping the Faith”, “River of Dreams”, “We Didn’t Start the Fire”, “Big Shot”, “It’s Still Rock-n-Roll To Me”, “Only the Good Die Young”, “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant”, and, of course, “The Pianoman”) as well as some local Georgia favorites (”Good Golly Miss Molly,” Otis Redding’s “Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay” and “Georgia on My Mind”) – for the full set list go here. His repertoire is huge and he can go from some great ballads like “She’s Always a Woman” and “Vienna” to rock classics like “We Didn’t Start the Fire,” “Big Shot” and “Movin’ Out.” The music really was phenomenal.
And Billy Joel interacts with the crowd so well. He joked with us at the beginning by saying “I’m actually Billy’s dad…Billy’s back there now getting ready, I’m just supposed to entertain you while you wait” and made numerous jokes about his (lack of) hair. Definitely a crowd-pleaser, Billy Joel rocked out a packed Philips Arena. Although, one of the highlights of the evening had nothing to do with Billy Joel. One of his roadies, Chainsaw, came out and belted out AC/DC’s “Highway to Hell” – it was amazing. I think the crowd was probably the loudest during this part of the show – Billy Joel played the guitar while “Chainsaw” ran around the stage singing this AC/DC classic.
And then…then there was “The Pianoman.” Great song, and everyone holding their cell phones up (the 21st c. version of the lighter at concerts) singing along was a great way to end my first (but hopefully not last) Billy Joel experience. If you want to see more pictures from the evening, go here.
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- Dana Decker – When We Sing: Music for Liberal Worship
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After rading your blog I had to turn on the itunes and listen to my fav’s of Billy Joel – “All About Soul,” “River of Dreams,” and “She Always A Woman to me.”
Although I had the privilege of growing up listening to the pianoman, you’re right, it’s good stuff!
I came to appreciate Billy Joel’s music late too. In the summer of 2003 I only really knew his UK hits. Then James Fox, a life long BJ fan, walked on to my TV screen in a reality TV Pop Idol type show and began to educate me in the music of his ‘pop idol’. James went on to play the ‘Pianoman’ in Movin’ Out, on Broadway, London’s West End, and has just returned home to the UK from the US tour. I got to see the show home and away many times, mainly with James, but I loved Darren Holden too, the music is timeless. I now have all BJ’s albums and got to see him live in London last summer, he’s a musical and lyrical genius and a born entertainer. You describe my experience of his show perfectly and bring back some great memories, thank you. If you get time, please check out James Fox and Darren Holden, as they turn the focus back to their own music, on my myspace page.
You are SO Right!
And I am sorry that you were deprived of his music through the years.
His many songs have meant many things to me- he’s been “with me” through good times and bad.
I was at the concert with some friends last night and we were all positively KNOCKED OUT!
Billy was in great voice, the band was tight, the sound was fabulous, the lighting exciting – it was just about the BEST Billy Joel concert I have seen- and I’ve seen a few!
I, too, paid tribute to Bill Joel and his band on my blog this morning too!
Keep the Faith
I love Billy Joel.
I’m just feeling a little depressed and terribly old because you think he’s someone your parents should have introduced you to.
How ironic — I think “Piano Man” was actually the first album my parents ever bought me. Of course, it was to play on my new Care Bears tape player [looks around in nervous embarrassment]…
Best Billy Joel song of all time (imho): Uptown Girl. Although the Ballad of Billy the Kid and For the Longest Time are a close second and third.
Oh, and I think my parents were even more embarrassed than I was when I found out what Captain Jack was REALLY about!
“And the piano sounds like a carnival, and the microphone smells like a beer” is a classic line.
I saw Billy Joel in concert 27 years ago. I still remember it as one of the best concerts I’ve ever been to.
I was at this concert too. I was so impressed. I’ve been a Billy fan all my life and have never seen him in concert. What a show what a show. I love to hear people talk about their fave Billy Joel song. I think I know every work to every song he has written. My fave changes from time to time- lately my fave is “Shades of Grey” which he didn’t do at the concert- but I can’t complain as the show was so good. Mr. Joel sure does understand the concept of “The Entertainer”.
I’m so looking forward to seeing Billy Joel play this next weekend in Edmonton, Alberta… started getting ‘primed’ by watching You-tube videos and searching the web … after reading your blog post I’m thinking I’m very very glad hubbys sis suggested we should go to this concert!