The more I relisten to these Billy Joel Classics from the past, the more I'm starting to think that he could really be considered the best popular music composer of the 20th century, and there's a lot of competition, but for lyrics and melodies, and live performances, he his unmatched.
He is human - he used to open his concerts with Angry Young Man, but as you can imagine, that saps a lot of energy. He doesn't open (or even play it much at all) live anymore. But he's in his 70s and while his voice is not quite the same - he still puts on incredibly fun 3 hour concerts that are giant sing-a-longs of old favorites for the tens of thousands in the stands. He is the soundtrack of my youth on Long Island and I seek out his shows whenever he is in town. Great fun to see you discover his library. Miami 2017 is worth a listen.
Sometimes I forget what a great piano player Billy Joel is. He’s such a great songwriter. He’s such a great performer… You forget what a great musician he is.
Note for note from the studio album...One of the greatest entertainers ever...I've watched your Billy Joel journey, it's good you found him...He's a lifetime of joyous music...So many profound and beautiful songs...
Thanks for the great reaction Harri. It was worth the wait. The rapid piano playing at the beginning and the end was, according to Billy, his piano version of the drum solo in Wipe Out. He does it well. Love the line “I found that just surviving was a noble fight”. He is quite the lyricist as well.
It’s hard to watch and not conclude that his piano is an extension of his body. He’s just amazing! What an amazing talent! I’ve been watching him for fifty plus years and he still dazzles me. Genius!!Thanks Jami and Harri. 🌺✌️
Dull, lifeless, and bereft of passion ... will never be used to describe Billy Joel. Gotta respect the man's music! Like many of you, I am fast approaching the 50th anniversary of my first listening to Billy Joel. The album Piano Man was released in late 1973. The songs "Piano Man" and "The Ballad Billy the Kid" struck me speechless. I've had similar experiences with an eclectic mix of artists, but never to that extent. 49 Years, 1 month, 3 weeks, and counting. Thanks, Harri!
The way TH-cam sets up viewing the comments, I was ready to yell at you for calling Billy “Dull, Lifeless, and bereft of passion” 😂 … I grew up hustling to get tickets to see Billy whole growing up, and love your comment my friend.
@poutine57 I completely missed the release of Cold Spring Harbor in 1971. I finally heard it in late 1983. The first 5 tracks are still on my playlist. Piano Man was my introduction to his music.
This was incredible, especially since my late wife and I were at Nassau Coliseum for those shows! Now, Harri, if you'd like another display of Billy Joel's consumate writing ability and performance excellence, I urge you to try "Root Beer Rag", a purely instrumental ragtime piano masterpiece! 🤗🥂🍾✌️🕊️
Oh wow! I had this show on VHS, watched it all the time, that's so cool that you were there! And Root Beer Rag is phenomenal, I think it's the performance on the Old Grey Whistle Test where Billy is playing it even faster than the original recording. I couldn't blink!
If you haven’t seen his 1978 performance of Travelin Prayer check it out. Great display of his playing ability. I wish it had over 200,000 views so I could request a reaction.
Another amazing song by Billy Joel. In an interview with Howard Stern Billy said the fast paced piano riff was homage to the drums in "Wipeout" by the Safaris. Great reaction Harri. Thanks Harri and Jami. Cheers from Canada 🇨🇦
I have really been enjoying your reactions, musical and lyrical observations and insights. Good stuff. As an aside I post this from Wikipedia: Billy Joel boxed successfully on the amateur Golden Gloves circuit for a short time, winning 22 bouts, but abandoned the sport shortly after his nose was broken in his 24th boxing match.[27]. thats awesome for us because we got to thoroughly enjoy again and again his true calling and these Great songs from the incredibly talented Billy Joel.
Agreed. Really liking your reactions a lot. And the ability to appreciate a wide range of music. Also, I think it's really cool the deep dive you've done on Billy Joel, more than any other reactors. With good reason, he never disappoints. Keep up the great work!
Thanks, Harri. I always like people, who think "Uptown Girl" is what Billy Joel's about, hear this! So many of his album cuts never made it to the radio.
I think it would be interesting to see a back to back reaction, with the first one being a younger Billy Joel performing the song, and then comparing it with him performing the song at a more recent concert. 'Miami 2017 (seen the lights go out on Broadway)' would be an interesting watch, but any of Joels hits would be interesting.
I lived in Long Island only a couple miles from where he grew up. I would buy his albums the day they came out and play them till I knew the words to all the songs. I have seen him in concert a good 50 times. He played that song live after breaking his thumb in a motorcycle accident, I may have been at that concert, they always filmed live shots at Madison Square Garden in NY?? Love you reactions.
Now in his 70s, still has a sold out residency at Madison Square Garden in NYC. One of the best ever singer-songwriter and performers. If you haven't watch his documentary of his trip to the USSR in the 80s. First rock performer allowed to perform there under Gorbachev's glasnost.
This song is best enjoyed live. I’ve been a fan since the early ‘80s, but only got to see him live once. He opened the show with this song and between the energy of his performance and the light show, the tone was set.
Yes, he opened with it when I saw him on the Storm Front tour back in 1990. I told those who were going to the show with me that he would open with it. I was right!
@@Prof_Jeff It starts the show with a bang and gets the crowd on a high straight away. First time I saw him was in 1984 when he opened with it, me and my brother just looked at each other and said wow !
This song feels like it could be about every young radical on social media. Everyone thinks the things they think are revolutionary but it's all been done.
Billy has been playing Madison Square Garden every month for the last 8 years or so not counting a shutdown during Covid. I'm going to see him on February 14th. This is one of my favorite songs and for some reason he has stopped playing it in concert. I have seen him over 40 times and I keep hoping it will be played the next time I see him.
Jami - This was another great submission by you. Billy J shows his chops on this, one of my favorite performances. Harri, your review and appreciation of Billy Joel's virtually endless contributions to genuinely great music was most enjoyable.
How lucky was Billy to have drummer Liberty DeVitto lacing songs like this with his deliciously ferocious machine-gun percussion? I've seen Joel in concert for decades, and he's always terrific... but without DeVitto, the sound is just not the same.
Love watching the piano on this one. If you can find the full episode look for “Inside the actors studio” season 6 episode 1. He is on it with his piano and discusses his life and how he composed many of his songs.
THIS DVD CONCERT IS HARD TO FIND ANYMORE HARRI, I BOUGHT THIS THING LIKE 25 YEARS BACK SO 😊IT'S A 2 HOUR SHOW FROM 85 ( LIVE FROM LONG ISLAND ) 😊GREAT GREAT STUFF
They toured together twice. i think they alternated who went first, and they would play on some of each other’s songs. The night I saw them, which was on their second tour, Elton went first. I’ve played piano for 50 years (used to be better than I am now), and while both are great, Billy seems to me the more adaptable player. He can play in any style - jazz, ragtime, classical, blues, whatever. Elton has some classical chops and excels at Jerry Lee Lewis style rockabilly piano, but he can’t do everything Billy can. Of course, as songwriters, Elton needed Bernie Taupin for the lyrics, whereas Billy was his own Bernie Taupin (and, in my opinion, better).
Thank you, enjoyed what you have to share. I think of how cool it must have been to attend such an event. They both are phenomenal, but I agree regarding what Billy has is extra special.
@@markvanderstelt8999 I am a long time Billy Joel fan and will always take him over Elton, but I am sure Elton can play both the Prelude here and Root Beer Rag too. Perhaps he has never previously done so but that is not the same as suggesting that he is unable to, when you consider there are TH-camrs on here who can and whilst that is not meant disrespectfully, if they can then I am sure Elton can too.
@@MM-xz5ig No problem and now reading back my message, it looks a bit curt without tones like you can hear when spoken, but it was genuinely not meant that way and only as in saying that he has. He has reacted to quite a few Billy Joel songs but The Entertainer only recently.
Blackbriar has created a unique symphonic metal sound Centered on the unique vocal agility and style of Zora Cock. Zora takes the beautiful Symphonic Aria to new surprisingly spooky and haunting levels, without losing of the beauty. Arms of the Ocean or Walking over my grave. Please
For all the appeal of the rapid two-fingered piano riff and the placement of the synth/harmonica, I used to hate this song - and I still have problems with it. I used to think it was completely sincere in its complacent/arrogant dismissal of activism-of-any-kind - and now, I still have a problem with it - I know it's meant to be satirical/sarcastic but it doesn't come across that way lyrically or musically. Further proof that "subversive" intentions are undone/annulled by conventional sounds, and raise questions about the sincerity and/or mental propriety of the perpetrator.
Many songs are written with specifics rather than generics and this one was about an individual personally related to Billy, rather than a collective sweeping generalisation.
I don’t know the source, but the vocals, and particularly Joel’s, are very poorly recorded. Peculiar, since it’s obviously an otherwise professional production.
Maybe you had a bad connection on your phone or rig...I'm a musician, sounded okay to me...Of course it's a recording 50 times removed from source...That's the give and take...
Let’s not overlook the fantastic drumming by Liberty DeVitto here. Perfect.
He beats the everliving shit out of those things.
Bring back Liberty!
He beats those drums like they owe him money!
Very underrated talent.
Gotta love a man with the first name of Liberty
The more I relisten to these Billy Joel Classics from the past, the more I'm starting to think that he could really be considered the best popular music composer of the 20th century, and there's a lot of competition, but for lyrics and melodies, and live performances, he his unmatched.
Angry young drummer was killin it!
He is human - he used to open his concerts with Angry Young Man, but as you can imagine, that saps a lot of energy. He doesn't open (or even play it much at all) live anymore. But he's in his 70s and while his voice is not quite the same - he still puts on incredibly fun 3 hour concerts that are giant sing-a-longs of old favorites for the tens of thousands in the stands. He is the soundtrack of my youth on Long Island and I seek out his shows whenever he is in town. Great fun to see you discover his library. Miami 2017 is worth a listen.
Sometimes I forget what a great piano player Billy Joel is. He’s such a great songwriter. He’s such a great performer… You forget what a great musician he is.
One of Billy’s all time best tunes, especially done live in concert!
Incredible drumming by the ferocious Liberty DeVitto. Mesmerizing!
Note for note from the studio album...One of the greatest entertainers ever...I've watched your Billy Joel journey, it's good you found him...He's a lifetime of joyous music...So many profound and beautiful songs...
Thanks for the great reaction Harri. It was worth the wait. The rapid piano playing at the beginning and the end was, according to Billy, his piano version of the drum solo in Wipe Out. He does it well. Love the line “I found that just surviving was a noble fight”. He is quite the lyricist as well.
It’s hard to watch and not conclude that his piano is an extension of his body. He’s just amazing! What an amazing talent! I’ve been watching him for fifty plus years and he still dazzles me. Genius!!Thanks Jami and Harri. 🌺✌️
I swear, Billy heard Kansas or Supertramp and said to himself: " I can do that style too "...His proggiest song, excellence
Dull, lifeless, and bereft of passion ... will never be used to describe Billy Joel. Gotta respect the man's music!
Like many of you, I am fast approaching the 50th anniversary of my first listening to Billy Joel. The album Piano Man was released in late 1973. The songs "Piano Man" and "The Ballad Billy the Kid" struck me speechless. I've had similar experiences with an eclectic mix of artists, but never to that extent. 49 Years, 1 month, 3 weeks, and counting.
Thanks, Harri!
I'm just past the 50th anniversary! Peace and Love from Canada. I wore that album out.
The way TH-cam sets up viewing the comments, I was ready to yell at you for calling Billy “Dull, Lifeless, and bereft of passion” 😂 … I grew up hustling to get tickets to see Billy whole growing up, and love your comment my friend.
@poutine57 I completely missed the release of Cold Spring Harbor in 1971. I finally heard it in late 1983. The first 5 tracks are still on my playlist. Piano Man was my introduction to his music.
@user-gx2uu7jd3v the man is a musical genius and an entertainer extraordinaire. You could still yell at me, if you think it would help...
Man, if I pounded on the keyboard like that, It sure wouldn't make that beautiful sound! Billy Joel is an incredible talent!!
This was incredible, especially since my late wife and I were at Nassau Coliseum for those shows! Now, Harri, if you'd like another display of Billy Joel's consumate writing ability and performance excellence, I urge you to try "Root Beer Rag", a purely instrumental ragtime piano masterpiece! 🤗🥂🍾✌️🕊️
Yes, Root Beer Rag is fantastic!
What about the Coca-Cola rag?😀
Oh wow! I had this show on VHS, watched it all the time, that's so cool that you were there! And Root Beer Rag is phenomenal, I think it's the performance on the Old Grey Whistle Test where Billy is playing it even faster than the original recording. I couldn't blink!
Root beer Rag is my ring tone. Hear it everyday and never get tired of it.
When I saw Billy in concert many decades ago, just prior to Root Beer Rag, he stated .... this song is for my piano teacher who doubted me. hahaha
The performance of Angry Young Man is one of the best songs to convince people that Billy Joel was and is a master piano player!
If you haven’t seen his 1978 performance of Travelin Prayer check it out. Great display of his playing ability. I wish it had over 200,000 views so I could request a reaction.
And Root Beer Rag.
Another amazing song by Billy Joel. In an interview with Howard Stern Billy said the fast paced piano riff was homage to the drums in "Wipeout" by the Safaris.
Great reaction Harri. Thanks Harri and Jami. Cheers from Canada 🇨🇦
Smart connection since the piano and drums are in the same instrument family
I have really been enjoying your reactions, musical and lyrical observations and insights. Good stuff. As an aside I post this from Wikipedia: Billy Joel boxed successfully on the amateur Golden Gloves circuit for a short time, winning 22 bouts, but abandoned the sport shortly after his nose was broken in his 24th boxing match.[27]. thats awesome for us because we got to thoroughly enjoy again and again his true calling and these Great songs from the incredibly talented Billy Joel.
Agreed. Really liking your reactions a lot. And the ability to appreciate a wide range of music. Also, I think it's really cool the deep dive you've done on Billy Joel, more than any other reactors. With good reason, he never disappoints.
Keep up the great work!
Oh I could do that.....HA HA.. Billy and Elton JOHN SET OFF A PIANO RACE ALL thru THE SUPER 70S!!
Thanks, Harri. I always like people, who think "Uptown Girl" is what Billy Joel's about, hear this! So many of his album cuts never made it to the radio.
I think it would be interesting to see a back to back reaction, with the first one being a younger Billy Joel performing the song, and then comparing it with him performing the song at a more recent concert. 'Miami 2017 (seen the lights go out on Broadway)' would be an interesting watch, but any of Joels hits would be interesting.
Cannot wait to watch another Billy show masterpiece I know how you love this love you
I lived in Long Island only a couple miles from where he grew up. I would buy his albums the day they came out and play them till I knew the words to all the songs. I have seen him in concert a good 50 times. He played that song live after breaking his thumb in a motorcycle accident, I may have been at that concert, they always filmed live shots at Madison Square Garden in NY?? Love you reactions.
I've never seen a standing ovation on a reaction vid before. Very well deserved!
Devito is a MONSTER.
Liberty F’in Devitto on the drums man!!!!!!!!!!!!! ❤❤❤❤❤❤
Liberty DeVitto was Billy’s drummer… one of the best drummers in the world!!!!! This was before they added Crystal as a percussionist. She ROCKS!
Now in his 70s, still has a sold out residency at Madison Square Garden in NYC. One of the best ever singer-songwriter and performers. If you haven't watch his documentary of his trip to the USSR in the 80s. First rock performer allowed to perform there under Gorbachev's glasnost.
Indeed, the lyrics in this song - make it one of the most important
Absolutely brilliant!
Grazie ... Piano Man da giovane era un portento ... Consiglio Leave a tender moment alone duet con Tootsie Thielemans live in Wembley
A modern day master.
Liberty DeVitto killing it on drums!
Oh my word! Such an energetic and wonderful performance by everyone in the band!
This is amazing live, and he can still do it!
🎶 ... with a lock on the door; and his maps and his medals, laid out on the floor; and he'll go to the grave as an angry old man ... 🎶
This song is best enjoyed live. I’ve been a fan since the early ‘80s, but only got to see him live once. He opened the show with this song and between the energy of his performance and the light show, the tone was set.
You should listen to Matter Of Trust - by Billy Joel - fantastic song and especially the video !!!
This was often the opening number for his concerts, a great way to start a show.
Yes, he opened with it when I saw him on the Storm Front tour back in 1990. I told those who were going to the show with me that he would open with it. I was right!
@@Prof_Jeff It starts the show with a bang and gets the crowd on a high straight away. First time I saw him was in 1984 when he opened with it, me and my brother just looked at each other and said wow !
Congratulations on reaching 100000 on TH-cam!!
Rick Beato placed this in his Top 20 Piano intros. Made me proud to be a Billy Joel fan.
Billy was rapping before rapping was even a thing.
And he is arguably even faster too on his bluegrass song Travelin' Prayer.
Hey hari.
I like the fut of your jib, man. You're a stand up guy.
😃 🎶 I once believed in Causes, too ~ I had my pointless point of view ... but Life went on, no matter who was wrong or right ...
Always one of my favs.
piano player (Joel) and drummer played with that "anger". What a performance!
This song feels like it could be about every young radical on social media. Everyone thinks the things they think are revolutionary but it's all been done.
My favorite Billy Joel video of all time. He's one of the best of all time!!!
Billy studied piano under noted classical concert pianist Morton Estrich
His hands are literally a blur and yet he doesnt hit any bum notes
Billy has been playing Madison Square Garden every month for the last 8 years or so not counting a shutdown during Covid. I'm going to see him on February 14th. This is one of my favorite songs and for some reason he has stopped playing it in concert. I have seen him over 40 times and I keep hoping it will be played the next time I see him.
Jami - This was another great submission by you. Billy J shows his chops on this, one of my favorite performances. Harri, your review and appreciation of Billy Joel's virtually endless contributions to genuinely great music was most enjoyable.
Great song
Best Billy song the Stranger
It's simply a matter of professionalism and a hell of an entertainer!! In my opinion that is 😎🤘🎶🎶 loved it Harri. Thanks my friend 👍
The piano is a percussion instrument. Exhibit A.
How lucky was Billy to have drummer Liberty DeVitto lacing songs like this with his deliciously ferocious machine-gun percussion? I've seen Joel in concert for decades, and he's always terrific... but without DeVitto, the sound is just not the same.
Nice!
Check out his live version of Goodnight Saigon. Have tissues nearby.
He has reacted to the studio version but not live.
Hes a Lightworker.
Love watching the piano on this one. If you can find the full episode look for “Inside the actors studio” season 6 episode 1. He is on it with his piano and discusses his life and how he composed many of his songs.
THIS DVD CONCERT IS HARD TO FIND ANYMORE HARRI, I BOUGHT THIS THING LIKE 25 YEARS BACK SO 😊IT'S A 2 HOUR SHOW FROM 85 ( LIVE FROM LONG ISLAND ) 😊GREAT GREAT STUFF
Want a great song - the only song
That Joel plays guitar on:
“Matter of Trust” live official video.
Wouldn't it be something to have seen Billy and Elton have a piano playoff, it's hard to say which is better. Thanks Harri
They toured together twice. i think they alternated who went first, and they would play on some of each other’s songs.
The night I saw them, which was on their second tour, Elton went first. I’ve played piano for 50 years (used to be better than I am now), and while both are great, Billy seems to me the more adaptable player. He can play in any style - jazz, ragtime, classical, blues, whatever. Elton has some classical chops and excels at Jerry Lee Lewis style rockabilly piano, but he can’t do everything Billy can.
Of course, as songwriters, Elton needed Bernie Taupin for the lyrics, whereas Billy was his own Bernie Taupin (and, in my opinion, better).
billy can play any Elton song can not say the same for Elton lets see him play this or a song like Root beer Rag no way.
Thank you, enjoyed what you have to share. I think of how cool it must have been to attend such an event. They both are phenomenal, but I agree regarding what Billy has is extra special.
@@markvanderstelt8999 I am a long time Billy Joel fan and will always take him over Elton, but I am sure Elton can play both the Prelude here and Root Beer Rag too.
Perhaps he has never previously done so but that is not the same as suggesting that he is unable to, when you consider there are TH-camrs on here who can and whilst that is not meant disrespectfully, if they can then I am sure Elton can too.
_”Banjo Hands”_
It seems that some people are not happy unless their angry.
Unless their angry what?
Please react to his song, The Entertainer. Great lyrics!
He already has.
@@seanscanlon9067 oh, sorry! I should have checked before posting. But thanks for letting me know, I’ll search it.
@@MM-xz5ig No problem and now reading back my message, it looks a bit curt without tones like you can hear when spoken, but it was genuinely not meant that way and only as in saying that he has.
He has reacted to quite a few Billy Joel songs but The Entertainer only recently.
@@seanscanlon9067 Thanks again. 🙂 Funny thing is I’m set up with alerts but that one isn’t there. Cant rely on alerts, I guess.
Blackbriar has created a unique symphonic metal sound Centered on the unique vocal agility and style of Zora Cock.
Zora takes the beautiful Symphonic Aria to new surprisingly spooky and haunting levels, without losing of the beauty.
Arms of the Ocean or
Walking over my grave.
Please
The band was much better when Liberty was playing drums.
it is night and day.
If you need me by Gordon lightfoot
For all the appeal of the rapid two-fingered piano riff and the placement of the synth/harmonica, I used to hate this song - and I still have problems with it. I used to think it was completely sincere in its complacent/arrogant dismissal of activism-of-any-kind - and now, I still have a problem with it - I know it's meant to be satirical/sarcastic but it doesn't come across that way lyrically or musically. Further proof that "subversive" intentions are undone/annulled by conventional sounds, and raise questions about the sincerity and/or mental propriety of the perpetrator.
Many songs are written with specifics rather than generics and this one was about an individual personally related to Billy, rather than a collective sweeping generalisation.
I don’t know the source, but the vocals, and particularly Joel’s, are very poorly recorded. Peculiar, since it’s obviously an otherwise professional production.
Maybe you had a bad connection on your phone or rig...I'm a musician, sounded okay to me...Of course it's a recording 50 times removed from source...That's the give and take...
@@godbluffvdgg yup