And So It Goes
I recently attended a Billy Joel concert in Chicago. I have been a fan of the Piano Man for The Longest Time and have seen him about a dozen times. Joel has been The Entertainer of choice for me since his music entered My Life while I was still in grade school. This Night was awesome, but I admit being biased.
Okay, enough cheesy Joel song references, although my friends know I can go on and on (although that would be a cheesy Stephen Bishop reference).
Joel’s music grabbed hold of me while all of my friends were listening to higher testerone bands like Kiss. While I like Kiss and other musicians, Joel would become the centerpiece of my record collection. As that collection begrudgingly moved from vinyl to cassettes to cds, my passion for Joel’s music never wavered.
I am sure everyone has their own favorite musician, one who really gets to them. At least I hope so. Music is such an important part of my life, although I have absolutely no musical ability.
Back in 1986, I bought tickets to my first Joel concert at a record store two days after they went on sale (long before ticket brokers would eliminate this possibility). Since then, Joel has released only two albums of original music. Yet, his concerts are always new and exciting. He has such a volume of work that choosing 20 or so songs for any given concert is easy without worry of repetition. He isn’t like some dinosaur band trudging out the same tired routine.
A while ago, at a former job, I joked with our account temp, Bob, that all of life’s answers could be found within the lyrics of Billy Joel songs. Bob was always armed with a 64-ounce coffee jug and ready for any conversation (preferring that to any real accounting work), so he often tested my theory. I could usually come up with some words of wisdom, compliments of Joel, because his music did cover a lot of territory.
This concert was no different. Joel regaled the fans with everything from his oldest stuff to a brand new song dedicated to the troops. He even mixed in a few Christmas carols.
“Hot funk, cool punk, even if it’s old junk. It’s still rock and roll to me!”
-John Wroblewski, distribution specialist
December 12th, 2007 at 5:58 pm
I love Billy Joel. I was at the concert at the Sears Center. It was a horrible night outside, but a fun night in there. I don’t go as far back with him as you do, but I enjoy his music a lot.
December 12th, 2007 at 10:09 pm
It is great to be able to see someone in concert again after 20 years have passed. I wish I was
able to go. Sounds like it was fun.
December 13th, 2007 at 8:45 am
His new song “Christmas in Fallujah” was very well done by Cass Dillon, a young NY musician. Billy always seems to do something different. At his last show here, he let one of his roadies perform a heavy metal tune.
December 13th, 2007 at 2:43 pm
I just saw Billy in Kansas City. His shows aren’t as physically energetic as they were 20 years ago, but I think Billy gives more of himself today. I’d love to see him do a crooning album of old covers.
Oh and I just love reading GT.
Happy holidays to all.
December 13th, 2007 at 2:49 pm
Hey Guy!
Good stuff John, your passion for Billy Joel has been well known amongst our circles, but I implore you to feel the heart-pounding rhythm and soul that great guitar work brings to the world.
December 14th, 2007 at 8:07 am
I have three songs of Joel in my mp3 collection, Only the good die young, Piano man and Scenes from an Italian Restarant. I really like those 3 but not much else. Hey and your headline “And so it
goes” Isn’t that the famous signoff of uber anchorwoman Linda Ellerbee from the 80’s?
December 14th, 2007 at 9:16 am
A good story on a classic and underrated performer.
December 14th, 2007 at 4:06 pm
This is the summer for old rockers tour. I saw Genesis, Paul simon, and the police this last year. I couldn’t afford to see Willaim Joel. All the tickets were a fortune! I guess they have to work through their retirement, they didn’t get enough of my money when they were popular. Other big old bands were traveling too. I guess the word got out, their old fans have some cash, and will pay to see them.
I’ve seen Billy Joel 3 times, always puts on a great show. Just quoted one his his lines to my boss last week; “Don’t take sh$t from anyone”. He didn’t enjoy it, but I wasn’t going to take anything from him….
December 15th, 2007 at 11:56 am
Funny, I was talking about Joel last night. Christy Brinkley used to call him “Joe” as she thought he looked like a regular Joe. How did this come up in conversation—my name, Fran…some people just want to call me Joe! So I told the Joel story last night to my seat mate who wanted to call me Joe.
December 19th, 2007 at 11:05 am
[…] The day of the journey, I would get an early start, packing my car with maps, luggage, cassettes (pre-cd’s) and a large fountain Coke. I would have to manually change the cassettes every 20 minutes or so (but they would all probably be Billy Joel). […]