Billy Joel - Goodnight Saigon ( REACTION )

[@rrfsee]

As a 22 year vet (British Army) I have always thought if we put politician's sons on the front line that would be the end of wars.

[@robertasirgutz8800]

These veterans came home to contempt and rage. They didn't know why they were there, as few of us did. Thank God, that the years would bring perspective. An American tragedy. Most are homeless.

[@debbiechang5781]

“They left their childhood on every acre”. This song brings tears every time even after all those years! If you’re not moved by this song, there’s something missing from your soul. Yes, those are all Vietnam vets. They helped him write the song. Great reaction. 🌺✌️

[@cargosquid]

He didn't go. His friends did and they said, "We'll tell you about it....and you write it." And he did.

[@ColdWarVet-qe5pt]

Great song. Those were actual vets singing the chorus. I agree with your sentiments. Avoiding war is the better path. "We are fools to make war on our brothers in arms" (Dire Straits)

[@jameswalling8395]

Best song I ever heard about Vietnam. I was in the Air Force from 1965-1969.

[@sexy_rat7205]

Thank you for your service❤

[@theresagallagher9161]

Thank you dear sir for your time and service.💖✈️🚁🌟👍

[@myristicanz]

Thank you for your service ❤️❤️❤️

[@181baddog]

Those were bad times, thanks for your service & welcome home

[@stevedavis5704]

The song “I Was Only 19 (A Walk In the Light Green) by Red Gum is a very close second. If it wasn’t about the ANZAC it might pass it up. But as an American I have to back up Billy Joel singing the american experience.

[@mollykeefe2870]

the line.. "and who was wrong?? and who was right? it didn't matter in the thick of the fight.." is soooo powerful.. soldiers are the pawns in the war...

[@grandmarshal7539]

Much respect brother...A very powerful song that can be applied to any war. Strength and prayers to the Ukrainians!!

[@abovetheinfluence9361]

Appreciate that my friend! Truly powerful indeed and much prayers to them!

[@goldenageofdinosaurs7192]

Slava Ukraini🌻🇺🇦🌻 Heroyam Slava🇺🇸❤️🇺🇦🫡

[@vintagebrew1057]

"They waited for us to arrive" thats so chilling. Joel is a genius.....

[@jamishops]

Thanks for the reaction. He does bring veterans on stage to sing the chorus. It’s very moving. Would love to hear more Billy Joel from you. “Leningrad” would also be a relevant song as it’s about Billy having met a Russian man and seeing that the people are just like us. It’s the governments that are at odds.

[@abovetheinfluence9361]

Oh wow! That's powerful having them on the stage like that. Adding "Leningrad" to the list now. Thanks for watching Jami!

[@I_like2rubikscube]

I had no idea that those were vets on the stage!!!! Makes it so more emotional/powerful to watch.

[@np-undervisning5644]

Yes, 'Leningrad' is excellent!

[@darrenhackett1654]

'We came in spastic, like tameless horses, we left in plastic as numbered corpses' - all of this song is macabre poetry. Just a genius song from start to finish, and his performance is sublime, fury, anger, terror, bravery. What a song.

[@realestateTCPro]

One of the MOST underrated BJ songs..the rise and fall of his voice and the melody-haunting

[@MelissaDalehite-ey4bu]

They were so young. Great song. They were truly heroes. Shout out to all of our veterans and active military. Thank you will never be enough. 😊😊😊😊😊😊😊

[@randygabbert7831]

Thanks for the reaction. I'm a Vietnam vet and I can't get through this song without a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes! It manages to capture the atmosphere in country at the time so powerfully well, the little details that every vet can relate to while touching raw emotions.

[@robertusa1234]

I had a co worker that was a gulfwar vet. He never listened to bill joel.. we where driving to a job and this song came up. When the we all go down together part came i look over to him and saw hev was full blow crying ... after he calmed down he said that was the first song that ever did that to him. It was dead on for all his experiences going to war...... it.was our secret at the time.

[@fay-amieaspen6046]

Billy has said that he feels he owes the Vets this song because He was a draft dodger. Yes everytime this is performed live there's always Vets onstage with the Band. Please watch Billy's song Leningrad.

[@siblis20]

He's singing about the Vietnam war, my dad being a Korean war vet loved this song

[@carlosvasquezvasquez2845]

MASTER GUNNERY SGT USMC RET BLESS YOU STAY WELL AND HEALTHY ENJOY LIFE FRIEND 🙏💯

[@user-gx2uu7jd3v]

When Billy plays this live, he ALWAYS has actual Vets up on stage with him. I have seen him live on many a Veterans Day.. and ALWAYS. After 9/11, he had NYPD and FDNY sing.

[@AdamLeone-tt8cf]

Thank you for letting me express my comment, I am from a small town in Connecticut during the Vietnam war I was too young to go but my older brother went in our small town two people never came back it affected our town deeply when my brother came back he was not the same man. I love our military but please let’s make sure They’re being wisely and with the best opportunity to come back safe thank you

[@myrevival4325]

He met with Vietnam vets to get their perspective before writing a song about it because it was such a political war and such. What he heard them say, he turned into this song. That is why it is so good. You mentioned they were all young. The average age of a soldier in Vietnam was, I believe, 21. That meant many younger…I think this is his best song. Nice to see it reacted to.

[@Gkprjustme]

In WWII, the average age of a soldier was 25 in Vietnam, it was 18.

[@EastPeakSlim]

I'm a member of the Vietnam Generation. I did not serve. I protested and did all that I could to get the war to end. I have UNDYING RESPECT for those who did serve. I honor them, as this song does. I'm in my 70s, but this song always brings on the tears. Peace, Bro's.

[@brentchapman1958]

You cried. I cried with you. Bless you for sharing.

[@frederickferris1176]

Not sure about these folks but when he does this song live now they do have actual vets on stage

[@realbser1956]

This is a tough song to get through in peacetime, and even more difficult in times like these. Beautiful reaction and kind words.

[@abovetheinfluence9361]

You're 100% right on it being even more difficult in times like these! Hope we see peace again very soon. Thank you so much for watching!

[@ROCCOA65]

💯💯💯💯💯💯MASTERPIECE

[@apamay]

Billy Joel is not only my idol, but he’s so talented. He has that type of talent you can’t teach a teen. This song was about his friends he lost in Vietnam. Which is beautifully written from a place of pain. Today, people are too worried about labels, and social media, and people trying to kill themselves, and we don’t look at the little things anymore. If I had one wish, I’d live in the past. If I could change one thing, I’d take away social media, because it’s targeted towards keeping teens interested. There’s a lot wrong with the what the world has come to.

[@MosEisleySpacePort1138]

“I wish I had better words for you guys.” You got all the right ones. Beautiful video. Thanks for posting this. Best to you.

[@celestelittek7360]

Yes they were Vietnam vets singing the chorus, he wrote the song after interviewing vets to get their story and many of the lines were quotes from vets❤

[@markcauley5797]

oh man, the right response, dude. Heavy song. Like Tom Waite's once said, "I like beautiful melodies telling you bad things."

[@asherleviwoods6051]

Cool video brother Jay- watching from Belarus 🙏🏻 these people are so united against the war and governments 😞 there's lots of hope for peace! I don't plan on leaving the country.

[@abovetheinfluence9361]

Hey Asher! You're in Belarus now? I gotta travel more like you this year! And I'm definitely hoping for peace right along with them. Be safe and well my friend.

[@asherleviwoods6051]

@@abovetheinfluence9361 yessir, I've been mainly in Belarus since last year, such soft hearted people contrasted by the way they are in public. I encourage travel for sure - lots of joys. Be blessed Jay 🙌🏻

[@ROCCOA65]

Billy will DEFINITELY cherish this reaction video….as we all will🤎💔🤎

[@Prozak63]

So glad you reacted to this. Not many have. 💞🍻

[@dougbodenhamer9391]

This song gets to me every time I hear it, or even think about it. The line that hits the hardest is remember charlie, remember baker.....they left their childhood on every acre. Young men giving up their lives in a war we had no business in, coming home to a country that mostly didn't want them. Breaks my heart.

[@jakeclark66]

It’s okay brother. Thank you for being their enlightened witness.

[@georgebradley5033]

Thank you for doing this song. When it first came out on MTV I remember like it was yesterday I was sitting on the floor with my younger brother. and our father walked in he stood behind and started to watch the video. He then slumped into the sofa put his head in his hands and began to cry. He had fought not in Vietnam but Korea, I remember my mom telling us when they where first married he would wake up with night tremors. Never once did he ever talk about his time there I learned far more about it from my mom.

[@rebeccajohnson8769]

My dad used to do the same, having nightmares about radar lock-on alarms because he was a carrier-based light attack fighter pilot. He never talked about it until he took me & my older brother to see Platoon when I was 13.

[@CPACK1]

One year they had a draft on TV. If your Birthday was called. You were gone the next day.

[@judgildea]

Yes..actual vets..deep shit! I love Billy..

[@abovetheinfluence9361]

Super deep indeed!

[@babsywoman4212]

I am a mother of a 15 year old boy. I keep thinking what if my son had to leave for war. This song really hits hard. They promised their mothers they would write.I wonder how many mothers waited for a letter that would never come. And now allnthe men fighting in the Ucraine. So sad.

[@mrshaun8812]

Absolutely heartbreaking. I wish society would treat MEN as human beings instead of being disposable. I have watched the news and they always talk about women and children suffering but nobody talks about the young men who suffers the most in every war. I believe unless humanity start to acknowledge this sobering fact, then there will always be war. War is wrong and is based on only one gender doing 99% of the fight

[@Spooky505]

Those people he had on stage are in facts my brothers and sisters , vets. You did good on this. Many thanks. 9th Infantry 7th SF Grp RVN 1972-1975 US Army

[@beckeydupras2572]

His best by far.....I cry every time. Watch Kennedy centers honors where Garth Brooks does this song.....you cannot hold back tears

[@paulmazan4909]

We went there to try to bring freedom and self determination to a people that didn't know or care what either was. The lesson we should have learned from Vietnam is that you cannot give people freedom if they are not willing to fight for it themselves. Afganistan is proof we didn't learn that lesson and Ukrain is proof that a people that are willing to fight for it are worth supportingt.

[@goldenageofdinosaurs7192]

Amen!

[@jilliansmaniotto2326]

you’re reaction is so real and beautiful. this song always makes me so emotional. billy joel is in his own stratosphere when it comes to songwriting. just magnificent. he can tell a story like no other, move in and out of so many genres and styles. it’s like every song is a mini rock opera… each one is such a poignant journey.

[@ROCCOA65]

You have yet ANOTHER #1 Billy Joel fan subscription (we’re all #1)! You’re one of the best!!! I’m thoroughly enjoying reliving the pain of this masterpiece for the first time through you…. you had me at “the way he’s able to paint that picture is ummm…..I don’t know what to say it’s wow”

[@airbourne2]

Yes a masterpiece

[@SRS13Rastus]

Along with Brothers in Arms, this is possibly the most powerful songs in honour of those who served.. To all who do, or have served.... THANK YOU is NEVER enough... I had a friend who DID serve, after leaving the service He once said. "I don't know what's wrong with me. I don't trust people, I can't settle ANYWHERE. WHAT DID I DO WORNG????." This broke my heart and I replied saying this... "You were a kind, gentle, intelligent and thoughtful person as a kid, The Army took you in and broke you down bit by bit, to create a warrior to defend us civvies. They made you part of a brotherhood I'll never understand, where even the comaptriots you HATE you absolutely KNOW will stand back to back with you and fight off oppresssion. You were a completely different person when you were on leave compared to who you were as a kid, but that's what they NEEDED you to be! When you left they just cut you loose, alone into civilian life. So you went from that world where you could trust EVERYONE around you with your life and were dumped into a world where everyone is trying to f**k everyone else over for almost nothing. How can you expect to trust ANYONE in civvie street after that? I can see it! You're around for 3-6 months, then you disappear for 3-6 months, same as your average posting in the military. Let me tell you something.... THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH YOU! NEVER say that to me again! You served with honour, You gave your blood, sweat and tears so we that have the freedoms we have right now. You will ALWAYS have my admiration, respect and friendship till my dying day! Anything you need just ask, even just someone to talk to, you don't need to relive what you went through, just show up and we'll sit quietly or shoot the breeze, I'll be right here." He broke down and wept... This warrior fell apart in front of me and said "How did YOU know?" "Because I watched, because I saw the transitions you went through, most importantly, because I was and always will be your friend, friends, TRUE friends become Family, just like those you served with are, You are the Brother I never had and I couldn't be more PROUD to have known you and counted you as my brother!"

[@brigidbrown6881]

I will never forget seeing him preform this live for the 1st time. It was beyond powerful and when the vets came out onto the stage, i cried

[@whocaresboutdat3972]

Right on Bro, brings a tear to many a man's eyes....

[@theConquerersMama]

Always makes me cry.

[@riccardoangeli802]

PianoMan unico artista che ha solo gioielli nel suo repertorio 🎹👏🎹👏

[@abovetheinfluence9361]

Ha davvero dei gioielli! Non vedo l'ora di ascoltare di più! Grazie per la visione!

[@JVTrickypants]

A couple of years late - but man this is the reaction of all reactions to this song.

[@petepotaczek2534]

I subscribed cause I saw you cry! Im 55 and I cry everything I hear this. Billy captured every thought and emotion of the solders in Vietnam. Their sacrifices were great. Yet, they were spit on!! God bless you Vietnam vets!! Many who fought for America were just kids, scared of thedark. They died crying for their mommas!!

[@thomasbeauchemin1298]

I remember reading that the average age of a soldier in Vietnam was 19!! Yours was a great reaction brother and I appreciate you!!😊

[@inekebaalman3320]

There is a song called “19” by Paul Hardcastle about that very subject…..

[@TheBoondoggler]

Great poetry and music by the great Billy Joel. Love this reaction vid, I always tear up listening to this one. Respect to all out veterans.

[@dawnhaggard2787]

The average age of the kids in Vietnam was 18. 18. Thank you for your passion and brutally honest reaction.

[@kathywilmesherr2281]

Thank you for this.

[@maryannturton9830]

This is the first time I have encountered your channel,and I happily subscribed! I am quite familiar with Billy Joel,as well as this song,and you are 100% correct! It is a masterpiece! What a beautiful man you are to shed those tears,showing a compassionate soul! Billy Joel is a top notch musician,but he is so much more.He is a poet,a storyteller,a brother to all.Give a listen to his song,DOWNEASTER ALEXA,about the ny fisherman losing their livelihood, and Allentown,about Allentown Pa steel workers losing their way of life.Of course,Piano Man,and Scenes from an Italian Restaurant are classics. Two lesser known songs that are my favorite are Lullaby,and a remake of Bob Dylan's song,To Make You Feel My Love...Happy listening!

[@jamielandis4308]

This song always tears me up-and I’ve been listening to it for over 30 years. I can’t imagine hearing this if I had been there.

[@martinl8574]

I saw him at Giants stadium, this song filled the air as we all sang. Most incredible moment in a life of concerts from Queen to the Beach Boys

[@thetruth72667]

Billy Joel is the greatest modern songwriter to ever step foot on this Earth! Every song sticks to one theme & never strays from it, it all makes sense. That's not easy to do. The music can stand on its own without lyrics. A song like pressure gives you the feeling of pressure before he says a word. Every song he hits it on the head & he wrote it all by himself. The best ever!

[@sweettea527]

This song is amazing but meant a whole lot more when I went to friend's boot camp graduation ceremony at Parris Island.

[@jkfecke]

What makes this transcendent is the late chorus, in which the narrative focuses on the Viet Cong, bringing them into the we of "we would all go down together." Perfectly captures the fact that most soldiers on both sides were just scared kids fighting not to die.

[@thomasgriffiths6758]

Saw Billy Joel in the mid-80s in New Haven Connecticut, he played this song and the helicopter noise was shaking the building, it was incredible.

[@kathleenhayes9320]

Brings me to tears each time I hear it. brilliant song

[@michaeltorre8170]

No one better then Billy

[@Straydogger]

We need a little more volume on our end. Great song.

[@cityhonors1]

🤯 Wow, this brings back memories. Billy was so talented! 🥰 A pure 🎹 Piano man ala Elton or Freddie Mercury. Freddie & a piano could break your heart in 4 chords. Billy still has MSG Residency shows. That said... 🤗 Billy Joel use to do Bar/Bat Mitzvahs on "The Island" and I was at a few. 😒 My 1st time having Gefilte Fish & Lox on Bagels. 😂 I know about those "Catholic Girls" he sings about in 'Only the Good Die Young', which I think you'll also dig. 😁🐰

[@abovetheinfluence9361]

Oh wow he's still performing? I gotta go one day soon to see in person! Adding "Only The Good Die Young" to the list now! Thanks!

[@cityhonors1]

@@abovetheinfluence9361 🤷🏿‍♀️ "Sooner or later, it comes down to Fate." 😉🐰

[@josephklimchock5412]

Joel about the best story telling musician in my lifetime.......very sad to look out my towns FB memorial page and how many kids that graduated, went right to Viet Nam and never came back. hit me hard because they were kids like me, from my town, we all went to the same schools........

[@davidbordonaro1631]

Just came upon this reaction - thank you

[@wallflowerj6013]

Beautiful reaction ty. You have a beautiful soul!!!

[@davidvornsand9551]

Your reaction didn’t need words, brilliant!☮️❤️

[@mclovin7375]

The average age of US soldiers in the Vietnam war was 19! There is a highly recomended song about this fact by Paul Hardcastle "Nineteen". War should be forbidden.

[@kathyborthwick6738LakotaEmoji]

No more war!

[@reneeromeo4922]

beautiful reaction..

[@Ozarkprepper643]

Well I'm totally shot as memories come flowing back. Vietnam was an unpopular War fought by the poor. And unlike the wars before or after when we got home we were spit on and called baby killers. But unless someone was there they could never understand. Stranger yet it's not like there was much of a choice as there was a draft. Something no one in the United States has had to worry about since 1973.

[@Peter-oh3hc]

Great review. Great song. Thank you

[@ColdWarVet-qe5pt]

Yes, those were vets singing the chorus on stage at his concerts. That is one of the aspects of this song that makes it so impactful. You should check out Edwin Starr - War.

[@jupin1960]

I dont care how many times ive heard this song. It still makes me cry. We had no business being there. I watched a young man from church leave for Nam when i was a kid. He was sent off as a conquering hero. He came back with his head caved in from a bullet or something. He was just a broken shell. He died of an overdose shortly after. It left an impression that has lasted over 50 years.

[@ROCCOA65]

“All I know is that, you know….Every man and woman has a mother. Every man and woman has a family and people who care about them and, it’s just sad that….that war is even still a thing” Cornucopia of emotions.

[@michellep9999]

I love your reaction because I cry every time I hear this song. 🥺 You’re a beautiful person. 💗

[@Play2Win1958]

Well said and well done Billy Joel master piece n very nice narration prayers for The Viet Nam vets love and light !

[@amandastanley2781]

Billy Joel is an absolute legend. I appreciate the total variety of reactions you do. However please can you react to Adele. You won’t be disappointed I’m sure. God bless you xx💖

[@carolcarol3938]

One of my favourite Billy songs❤

[@DarrellFanning-bx7xz]

Bless you my brother

[@Merri1961]

He is a wizard

[@warrenbutson349]

wow that reaction got me going as well I saw you feel it and isn't music amazing to be able to capture the truth of feeling that no speech or film can do

[@cherylalexander1948]

Masterpiece...the most emotional description of the horrors of war.

[@ROCCOA65]

Watching your Billy Joel - Goodnight Saigon reaction video: free because KZbin is free to watch 👍🏼👍🏾👍👍🏿👍🏻👍🏽 Seeing your honest, heartfelt reaction on KZbin (because it’s free) PRICELESS Being able to rewatch it as many times as I want to, because, who wouldn’t want to? PRICELESS X INFINITY!!

[@ROCCOA65]

I’m on my 12th “pause and/or rewind” and I’m only 2:01 in. Do i need to plan on investing a few hours into tonight? Because if i do, I’m ok with it 😊🤎♥️

[@ROCCOA65]

Sorry….my bad. I was 5:24 in. I know this because when i heard you say “Masterpiece”, my heart swelled to double its size. ♥️

[@bourbongeek]

As someone whose father had his life wrecked by the Vietnam war, this song hits extra hard!

[@wwk68tig]

Very powerful........video and your reaction. Thanks for posting.

[@wilfredolopez8600]

I feel you brother Vietnam was catastrophic lost of life on both ends. More than 58 thousand American soldiers and millions of Vietnamese casualties. 😢❤

[@marthaw7664]

You hit it right on the head!🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇦🇺🇦

[@ROCCOA65]

I had to watch this several times in order to get through it all in one night!!☮️💟💯

[@mljrotag6343]

One of many great Billy Joel songs.

[@Jessedog11]

Billy Joel always invites vets to come up and sing along during his show.

[@constantina7396]

Makes me cry every time. Masterpiece

[@coolworx]

Powerful reaction

[@williamwassing6007]

Great reaction. Yes those are Viet Nam vets on stage

[@rebeccabrewer6259]

Thank you, so moving. You added to it!

[@1Adam20]

@6:35 Remember the lasting thing the wars over their taught us...farmers in Vietnam and even Korea will have family members (mostly daughters) scout the fields for planting before they allow the ox's to graze. If that isn't the most f'd up thing about war, then I don't know what is right.