Billy Joel (1 Viewer)

[fantasycurse42]

Went to his concert tonight.. It was really good

He looked old and a little chubby, but still kicked serious ###! Garden was going bonkers!

I'd highly recommend seeing him if he has a concert scheduled in your hood!!

 

[Hastur]

I don't keep up I suppose, but I thought he retired from rock&roll stuff to concentrate on classical?

 

[Jules Winnfield]

Did he play Summer, Highland Falls?

Gosh darn I really like that song. Loved the whole Turnstiles album

 

[John Bender]

I went to his birthday show in May.

He still sounds impeccable. Great concert.

 

[NCCommish]

I haven't been but everyone I know that has says he puts on a great show. Would love to see him live.

 

[RUSF18]

I took my wife to his first show of this "once a month in perpetuity" tour back in January. He was great, but the crowd sucked. I understand it's not a traditional show where the performer/band is running all around the stage, but seemingly 95% of the non-floor crowd was sitting the whole time. Who sits at a concert? Two guys got kicked out of my section for standing too often because the people around them were complaining. I happened to see one of the guys after the show and security actually found him a place where he could stand and watch, but it was really weak.

 

[eoMMan]

Definitely better than Bruce.

 

[Yankee23Fan]

Been to roughly a dozen shows. Awesome every time. Haven't hit the Garden yet on this residency

 

[Koya]

Best songwriter of his generation. Totally underrated when discussing the all time greats, but he is the absolute best at what he does.

 

[Don Quixote]

Going to see him here at Nats Park later this month. Looking forward to it.

 

[jamny]

I'm not a big fan of Billy Joel but Howard Stern's Town Hall with Joel was really interesting. Recommended for fans even if you don't like Howard. Some interesting stories and background on him. And some tribute acts doing his songs.

 

[MattFancy]

I'm going to see him in 3 weeks at Nats Park

 

[Jaysus]

How many times did he play Piano Man?

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Went to his concert tonight.. It was really good

He looked old and a little chubby, but still kicked serious ###! Garden was going bonkers!

I'd highly recommend seeing him if he has a concert scheduled in your hood!!

Did he perform Highway to Hell? Best part of his last show.

 

[Yankee23Fan]

I'm not a big fan of Billy Joel but Howard Stern's Town Hall with Joel was really interesting. Recommended for fans even if you don't like Howard. Some interesting stories and background on him. And some tribute acts doing his songs.

I heard parts of this on XM when they had the Billy Joel channel. It was a great interview.

Which leads me to a complaint:

I am a huge Billy Joel fan. I think I even did a really really long post here once breaking down all his albums and ranking them and giving background on all of them that I have gotten over the years. He is an amazing talent without being an amazing piano player which is funny when you think about it. As a piano player he is pretty mediocre. He doesn't do anything harder than what I do playing in my house or with church or whatever. Simple piano compositions except for a few like Angry Young Man, Root Beer Rag and you could probably through most of Nylon Curtain in there which was a remarkable album from start to finish. But, I love the guy.

So, XM creates a Billy Joel channel. XM4. It replaces what XM4 was, which is music of the 40's. Now, to be honest, I like some music of the 40's. I can get into it at a cocktail party, sitting by a pool, lounging a reading a book and those type of non-eventful settings. But, driving in my car? Um, no. Things that are lighter than smooth jazz have no place in the car no matter your fuse to turn into angry driven coupled with your need to be calmed somehow. Just not the proper forum. So when they turned it into the Billy Joel channel? ****ing awesome! Listened to it almost non stop. Loved the live versions of songs, the lost master recordings, the outtakes in the studio, even some of the covers from other artists although that is not my favorite. It was everything Billy and it was all Billy which made it even awesomer (yes it's a word). Not like the Ozzy station which plays Ozzy/Black Sabbath once every 10 songs. It was all Billy. All day, and he has the music catelogue to do it and not be repetative and boring.

And then they stick to their guns and take it off the air 2 weeks ago to go back to the 40's stuff. I mean, c'mon man. You can't tell me that they make more money with the 40's over a Billy Joel station. It's just not possible. Using some kind of Congress math or something. I was so livid I was ready to cancel my XM. But thankfully logic prevailed there because free radio..... ewww. But still, 40's music..... Billy Joel...... 40's music....... Billy Joel. I just don't get it.

I still have XM4 saved in my favorites. Just in case. Because thinking about it happening finds me so excited. I can barely sit still or hold a thought in my head. I think it's the excitement only a Billy Joel fan can feel, a Billy Joel fan at the start of a journey whose conclusion is uncertain. I hope I can make it until they bring the station back. I hope to hear Billy Joel all day again and sing to his songs. I hope the station is as long lived as I envision in my dreams. I hope.

 

[jamny]

I'm not a big fan of Billy Joel but Howard Stern's Town Hall with Joel was really interesting. Recommended for fans even if you don't like Howard. Some interesting stories and background on him. And some tribute acts doing his songs.

I heard parts of this on XM when they had the Billy Joel channel. It was a great interview.

Which leads me to a complaint:

They did the same with the David Bowie channel. A couple of weeks and it was gone.

 

[Yankee23Fan]

I'm not a big fan of Billy Joel but Howard Stern's Town Hall with Joel was really interesting. Recommended for fans even if you don't like Howard. Some interesting stories and background on him. And some tribute acts doing his songs.

I heard parts of this on XM when they had the Billy Joel channel. It was a great interview.

Which leads me to a complaint:

They did the same with the David Bowie channel. A couple of weeks and it was gone.

All I'm saying is, if I pick up a pitchfork.... it's not going to be for the rich guys that don't work at XM. If you know what I mean.

 

[fantasycurse42]

Went to his concert tonight.. It was really good

He looked old and a little chubby, but still kicked serious ###! Garden was going bonkers!

I'd highly recommend seeing him if he has a concert scheduled in your hood!!

Did he perform Highway to Hell? Best part of his last show.

Piano Man and in the Garden obviously NY State of Mind were my favorite... No expense on lighting and effects were spared. I was also hammered

For the people who mentioned they're going to see him in 3 weeks, it is a phenomenal show and you should be excited.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Went to his concert tonight.. It was really good

He looked old and a little chubby, but still kicked serious ###! Garden was going bonkers!

I'd highly recommend seeing him if he has a concert scheduled in your hood!!

Did he perform Highway to Hell? Best part of his last show.

Piano Man and in the Garden obviously NY State of Mind were my favorite... No expense on lighting and effects were spared. I was also hammered

For the people who mentioned they're going to see him in 3 weeks, it is a phenomenal show and you should be excited.

His stuff was great. It was the unexpectedness of it more than anything. You were kind of sitting there going, "Wait, did I just hear Billy Joel perform AC/DC?"

 

[DiStefano]

I'm not a big fan of Billy Joel but Howard Stern's Town Hall with Joel was really interesting. Recommended for fans even if you don't like Howard. Some interesting stories and background on him. And some tribute acts doing his songs.

I heard parts of this on XM when they had the Billy Joel channel. It was a great interview.

Which leads me to a complaint:

They did the same with the David Bowie channel. A couple of weeks and it was gone.

One of the basic rules of showbiz:

"Always leave them wanting more."

 

[RUSF18]

Any chance there's some sort of licensing issue, where if they want it for more than two weeks, they'd have to come to some kind of agreement with the artist? Does Bruce/Pearl Jam get paid for having their own stations?

 

[fourd]

Went to his concert tonight.. It was really good

He looked old and a little chubby, but still kicked serious ###! Garden was going bonkers!

I'd highly recommend seeing him if he has a concert scheduled in your hood!!

Did he perform Highway to Hell? Best part of his last show.

Saw him in Vegas at the beginning of June. He did Highway to Hell and it was great. The entire show was better than I expected, and that included Gavin Degraw who opened for him.

 

[John Bender]

Couple extra notes

I (like Yankee fan) idolize Joel, I'll attest to his work being relatively easy. Most of his best known songs are in C (NY State of Mind), F (Scenes From...), G or E flat major which is very nice and easy on piano players (although the 2nd movement of Scenes is actually not so easy timing wise to get down).

If you play any piano at all, pick up a song book of his and you'll be surprised at how easy most is to play.

I did notice something during his Stern town hall and concert. He doesn't seem to be that friendly a guy. Just a random observation really that he seems a bit curt in his old age. Not that he has to be gregarious and over the top friendly

And not that it bothers me at all, was just wondering if anyone picked up the same vibe.

 

[The General]

Saw him when he toured years ago with Elton John. Elton opened and played a bunch if crap from The Lion King or something. Put everyone to sleep.

Billy then rolled out looking very puffy and stiff, think William Shatner after a late night. He proceeded to knock it out of the park, was really impressive. Sounded great, told stories, was a fun show.

 

[Yankee23Fan]

Couple extra notes

I (like Yankee fan) idolize Joel, I'll attest to his work being relatively easy. Most of his best known songs are in C (NY State of Mind), F (Scenes From...), G or E flat major which is very nice and easy on piano players (although the 2nd movement of Scenes is actually not so easy timing wise to get down).

If you play any piano at all, pick up a song book of his and you'll be surprised at how easy most is to play.

I did notice something during his Stern town hall and concert. He doesn't seem to be that friendly a guy. Just a random observation really that he seems a bit curt in his old age. Not that he has to be gregarious and over the top friendly

And not that it bothers me at all, was just wondering if anyone picked up the same vibe.

I find him to be just one of those I really just don't care anymore type guys at this point. He's been through a lot. His brother in law stole like 90 million, Christy left him for a fly by night, literally, relationship that ended quickly regardless, he has had drinking problems since and he's just old. He's still pretty cool to me though.

 

[NCCommish]

Couple extra notes

I (like Yankee fan) idolize Joel, I'll attest to his work being relatively easy. Most of his best known songs are in C (NY State of Mind), F (Scenes From...), G or E flat major which is very nice and easy on piano players (although the 2nd movement of Scenes is actually not so easy timing wise to get down).

If you play any piano at all, pick up a song book of his and you'll be surprised at how easy most is to play.

I did notice something during his Stern town hall and concert. He doesn't seem to be that friendly a guy. Just a random observation really that he seems a bit curt in his old age. Not that he has to be gregarious and over the top friendly

And not that it bothers me at all, was just wondering if anyone picked up the same vibe.

Joel is not known for his warmth in general. He can be a bit of a doosh with people at times.

 

[Lehigh98]

Went to his concert tonight.. It was really good

He looked old and a little chubby, but still kicked serious ###! Garden was going bonkers!

I'd highly recommend seeing him if he has a concert scheduled in your hood!!

New Yorkers like Billy Joel?... Inconceivable!

 

[Yankee23Fan]

Saw him when he toured years ago with Elton John. Elton opened and played a bunch if crap from The Lion King or something. Put everyone to sleep.

Billy then rolled out looking very puffy and stiff, think William Shatner after a late night. He proceeded to knock it out of the park, was really impressive. Sounded great, told stories, was a fun show.

That was a great show. 9th row center on the field at Giants Stadium. I would agree with the perception that John didn't get the love right away that Joel did - which is understandable. John is a different type of cat. Granted they are both piano players, but they are very different. I've been a ton of John shows too. Now Elton John can play the hell out of a piano. As a piano player, Joel can't touch John. And as a writer they are pretty even in that the compositions are both really good and in their heart usually fairly simple - John just does more with them. Where Billy takes Elton though is of course lyrics because Elton doesn't write his. And that shows a lot. You feel Billy's writing because it's him. You don't get that with all of Elton's songs.

But they were really good together. The best was the end of the night. Billy does Goodbye Yellow Brick Road and brought the place to its knees. He leaves, Elton comes back and does New York STate of Mind and it was awesome and then they closed the night playing, literally, the first 5 stanzas of Piano Man and then just let the crowd sing the song out. Perfect show really.

 

[Wrigley]

Glass Houses is still a great album

 

[The Noid]

Who sits at a concert?

The majority of the Billy Joel fanbase. 40-70 is his demo, now. That's a lot of people who can't stand for 2+ hours.

I'm in my late 30's, and a big fan, but probably at the point where the age of his fans starts to long tail. I'm already at the age where I expect them to start the show on-time. I have to get to bed

 

[Yankee23Fan]

Glass Houses is still a great album

Another solid effort by Joel. After the popular success of Stranger and 52nd Street, the critics still didn’t give him his due and the result was this fairly angry album with some great great music.

Top 3

1. You May be Right

2. It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me

3. Don’t Ask Me Why

Sleeping With the Television On and All for Leyna are personal favorites that don’t get any popular play. Sometimes a Fantasy should be a greatest hits entry but it isn’t for some reason.

 

[The Noid]

Couple extra notes

I (like Yankee fan) idolize Joel, I'll attest to his work being relatively easy. Most of his best known songs are in C (NY State of Mind), F (Scenes From...), G or E flat major which is very nice and easy on piano players (although the 2nd movement of Scenes is actually not so easy timing wise to get down).

If you play any piano at all, pick up a song book of his and you'll be surprised at how easy most is to play.

I can buy this. My 5 year-old got a harmonica for his birthday and whenver he randomly starts blowing into it, it always sounds very close to the beginning of "Piano Man."

 

[fantasycurse42]

Who sits at a concert?

The majority of the Billy Joel fanbase. 40-70 is his demo, now. That's a lot of people who can't stand for 2+ hours.

I'm in my late 30's, and a big fan, but probably at the point where the age of his fans starts to long tail. I'm already at the age where I expect them to start the show on-time. I have to get to bed

Majority stood for the whole/almost whole time.

I'd say the average age was late 30's / early 40's last night without a lot of early 20 somethings but a handful of elders.

 

[The General]

Saw him when he toured years ago with Elton John. Elton opened and played a bunch if crap from The Lion King or something. Put everyone to sleep.

Billy then rolled out looking very puffy and stiff, think William Shatner after a late night. He proceeded to knock it out of the park, was really impressive. Sounded great, told stories, was a fun show.

That was a great show. 9th row center on the field at Giants Stadium. I would agree with the perception that John didn't get the love right away that Joel did - which is understandable. John is a different type of cat. Granted they are both piano players, but they are very different. I've been a ton of John shows too. Now Elton John can play the hell out of a piano. As a piano player, Joel can't touch John. And as a writer they are pretty even in that the compositions are both really good and in their heart usually fairly simple - John just does more with them. Where Billy takes Elton though is of course lyrics because Elton doesn't write his. And that shows a lot. You feel Billy's writing because it's him. You don't get that with all of Elton's songs. But they were really good together. The best was the end of the night. Billy does Goodbye Yellow Brick Road and brought the place to its knees. He leaves, Elton comes back and does New York STate of Mind and it was awesome and then they closed the night playing, literally, the first 5 stanzas of Piano Man and then just let the crowd sing the song out. Perfect show really.

I saw this show in my first year of college and wasn't really a huge of either guy, knew them of course and knew their big songs. I bought some Billy Joel tapes, yup cassette tapes, after that concert. I had forgotten the end until you wrote that and I do remember now them coming out together each playing a song then playing together.

Agreed it was a great show.

 

[Yankee23Fan]

Couple extra notes

I (like Yankee fan) idolize Joel, I'll attest to his work being relatively easy. Most of his best known songs are in C (NY State of Mind), F (Scenes From...), G or E flat major which is very nice and easy on piano players (although the 2nd movement of Scenes is actually not so easy timing wise to get down).

If you play any piano at all, pick up a song book of his and you'll be surprised at how easy most is to play.

I can buy this. My 5 year-old got a harmonica for his birthday and whenver he randomly starts blowing into it, it always sounds very close to the beginning of "Piano Man."

Piano Man is a waltz in C. C-G-F-C with a little A-minor and a few C2nd's in the form of D6 or 7 thrown in when he does the march down the board. On the harmonica I'm pretty sure it's like the same 4 positions between 5 and 9 over and over and over again.

I always hated playing Piano Man. If you could play the piano in middle school/high school/college and you did it in front of people, mostly girls, you were always asked to play it. Always. It got tedious and boring. Same thing at a lesser degree with My Life. Meanwhile, Captian Jack, Billy the Kid, and Angry Young Man should be the sit down and play staples and then make everyone sing Scenes from an Italian Restaurant which is a blast to play on the piano - it's 3 different songs that he couldn't ever finish on their own. The only hiccup there is the sax solo - it just never sound right on the piano.

 

[John Bender]

Can't replicate that Sax solo on the piano either and I have a fancy Roland with every sound under the sun it it.

My favorite to play is NY State of Mind... Especially the opening solo. It's so easy but makes you sound like such a great piano player once you nail it.

 

[Yankee23Fan]

Can't replicate that Sax solo on the piano either and I have a fancy Roland with every sound under the sun it it.

My favorite to play is NY State of Mind... Especially the opening solo. It's so easy but makes you sound like such a great piano player once you nail it.

I find that my favorite to play, sing and listen to is still Until the Night. Such a great song. And its' an easy composition to play around in without thinking.

 

[John Bender]

What else do you play? Got any pdf sheet music for trade Yankee? I have tons and tons of stuff. Tons of fake books (the classic rock fake book on pdf which is really good). Not sure if you play off fake books or not.

Really would like to find sheet music for Vienna. Love that song.

 

[Whitetail Hunter]

Couple extra notes

I (like Yankee fan) idolize Joel, I'll attest to his work being relatively easy. Most of his best known songs are in C (NY State of Mind), F (Scenes From...), G or E flat major which is very nice and easy on piano players (although the 2nd movement of Scenes is actually not so easy timing wise to get down).

If you play any piano at all, pick up a song book of his and you'll be surprised at how easy most is to play.

I did notice something during his Stern town hall and concert. He doesn't seem to be that friendly a guy. Just a random observation really that he seems a bit curt in his old age. Not that he has to be gregarious and over the top friendly

And not that it bothers me at all, was just wondering if anyone picked up the same vibe.

I listened to the Stern special and didn't get that vibe. The guy is 70ish though--that might explain some of it.

 

[John Bender]

Couple extra notes

I (like Yankee fan) idolize Joel, I'll attest to his work being relatively easy. Most of his best known songs are in C (NY State of Mind), F (Scenes From...), G or E flat major which is very nice and easy on piano players (although the 2nd movement of Scenes is actually not so easy timing wise to get down).

If you play any piano at all, pick up a song book of his and you'll be surprised at how easy most is to play.

I did notice something during his Stern town hall and concert. He doesn't seem to be that friendly a guy. Just a random observation really that he seems a bit curt in his old age. Not that he has to be gregarious and over the top friendly

And not that it bothers me at all, was just wondering if anyone picked up the same vibe.

I listened to the Stern special and didn't get that vibe. The guy is 70ish though--that might explain some of it.

He's always seemed somewhat crabby to me. But I'm not saying he's a bad guy. The concert I attended, he donated all the proceeds to the North Shore Animal League. There are few people in the world that are that generous.

 

[Yankee23Fan]

What else do you play? Got any pdf sheet music for trade Yankee? I have tons and tons of stuff. Tons of fake books (the classic rock fake book on pdf which is really good). Not sure if you play off fake books or not.

Really would like to find sheet music for Vienna. Love that song.

I have every one of his songs in sheet music. I can scan Vienna into my system and get it to you somehow probably. I don't use fake books. Frankly I haven't bought a book or sheet music in forever. I play on a worship team now so everything I have written in the past 15 years is chord charts for christian music.

 

[General Malaise]

Cadilac ACK ACK ACK ACK ACK

ugh. ear poison.

 

[Yankee23Fan]

Cadilac ACK ACK ACK ACK ACK

ugh. ear poison.

Everyone likes different things. That vocal is there for a specific reason though in the story the song tells.

 

[Gr00vus]

I'm not a fan, but I we went to see him as my Dad's b-day present at the Hollywood Bowl a little over a month ago. Really good show. His voice is holding up well.

 

[General Malaise]

Cadilac ACK ACK ACK ACK ACK

ugh. ear poison.

Everyone likes different things. That vocal is there for a specific reason though in the story the song tells.

I like some of his songs, but there's a lot of vomit too. To each their own. "Big Shot" makes me stabby. The theme to Bosom Buddies is decent.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Cadilac ACK ACK ACK ACK ACK

ugh. ear poison.

Everyone likes different things. That vocal is there for a specific reason though in the story the song tells.

I like some of his songs, but there's a lot of vomit too. To each their own. "Big Shot" makes me stabby. The theme to Bosom Buddies is decent.

You just like seeing Tom Hanks in a dress.

 

[Yankee23Fan]

I'm not a fan, but I we went to see him as my Dad's b-day present at the Hollywood Bowl a little over a month ago. Really good show. His voice is holding up well.

It's funny you say that because to me his voice is beyond shot. He can barely sing most of his upper end songs and he has no stamina in his voice compared to the late 80's early 90's. I guess that just comes from listening so much for so long.

 

[fatguyinalittlecoat]

Went to his concert tonight.. It was really good

He looked old and a little chubby, but still kicked serious ###! Garden was going bonkers!

I'd highly recommend seeing him if he has a concert scheduled in your hood!!

Did he perform Highway to Hell? Best part of his last show.

Piano Man and in the Garden obviously NY State of Mind were my favorite... No expense on lighting and effects were spared. I was also hammered For the people who mentioned they're going to see him in 3 weeks, it is a phenomenal show and you should be excited.

His stuff was great. It was the unexpectedness of it more than anything. You were kind of sitting there going, "Wait, did I just hear Billy Joel perform AC/DC?"

He should learn For Those About to Rock (We Salute You). I've heard it's the perfect song to close a show.

 

[Yankee23Fan]

Cadilac ACK ACK ACK ACK ACK

ugh. ear poison.

Everyone likes different things. That vocal is there for a specific reason though in the story the song tells.

I like some of his songs, but there's a lot of vomit too. To each their own. "Big Shot" makes me stabby. The theme to Bosom Buddies is decent.

My Life. If you like that song listen to I Don't Want to be Alone Anymore

 

[Whitetail Hunter]

Cadilac ACK ACK ACK ACK ACK

ugh. ear poison.

Each to his own.