It was inspired by Joel after reading a review about an unnamed band, and realising that he had no idea what their music sounded like. From the album An Innocent Man, this track follows the theme of the album in paying tribute to Joel's influences, and is sung in the style of Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers. It only reached number 25 in the UK, but it has gone on to become one of Billy Joel's most popular songs.
Billy has said that the song was written about his brief relationship with supermodel Elle Macpherson, who he dated song before his second wife Christie Brinkley. This song describes Billy's annoyance with the aspirations of working and lower-middle-class New Yorkers who take pride in working long hours to afford the appearances signs of having "made it".
In , a stage musical based on the song and other Billy Joel tracks opened in New York and played over 1, performances before closing three years later. Billy Joel wrote this song after talking to some friends who fought in the Vietnam War. Having not fought in the war himself, rather than pursuing an anti-war song he chose talk about the experience of soldiers.
I disagreed with the political reasons for that war. While Billy Joel is one of the most famous Long Islanders of all time, in the mids he spent three years in Los Angeles. However, he never truly felt at home while living on the West Coast. He wrote this song on a bus back to New York, as he was travelling along the Hudson River line, and it later became an unofficial anthem for the city.
Unsurprisingly, some radio stations banned the song back in This is a Peter Pan kinda job. You become a little myopic about how old you actually are. I was never a matinee idol to begin with, and there I am onstage still doing the same job I was doing when I was So many of your peers dye their hair and do anything they can to look young. Have you ever been tempted to do the same? For me to try and look like a movie star would be ridiculous.
It has nothing to do with music. I am 70 years old. Your two youngest daughters are three and one. Is fatherhood different for you now than it was in the old days? I still love being a dad. They keep you young. So, a lot of estrogen in my life. How has that molded you? I think I had a very fortunate upbringing. My mom encouraged me to be a musician. I know a lot of guys who were my age whose fathers intimidated them into not being musicians. So I had a very gentle upbringing.
It was very loving, very warm, and I appreciate that about women. I see that in my daughters too. How do you pick your setlist at Madison Square Garden each month?
And I had never counted up that I had that many hits. It was kinda different for us. But I kinda like just going bang, bang, bang, bang, hit, hit, hit, hit. He lives this dull suburban existence until he gets high. We did it so often for so long as an opening song. You gotta wanna do it. Why not do a Stranger night or a Nylon Curtain night?
My Life Artist Playlists See All. Billy Joel Essentials Understand both sides of the pugnacious piano man. Billy Joel: Next Steps His hits burn on and on.
Inspired by Billy Joel The pop genius shaped piano pounders and charismatic crooners. Live Albums See All. Live Through the Years Live at Shea Stadium: The Concert Kohuept Live Songs In the Attic Live Compilations See All. She's Got a Way: Love Songs Collected Additional Masters The Hits My Lives The Essential Billy Joel Greatest Hits, Vol.
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