My father died at 82 . He was WW2. Vet with dementia.... He would wander in the middle of the night looking for the "river of dreams" (Death)...I had this song played at his funeral....Listen to the song again with that frame of mind.......
@HarriBestReactions2 жыл бұрын
RIP to your dad
@freedomluvr51262 жыл бұрын
I agree with your reverence for this incredibly talented artist, but I do not agree that he was underappreciated. He is the 7th largest selling musical act in history behind only the Beatles, Garth Brooks, Elvis, The Eagles, Led Zepellin and Michael Jackson. Billy has sold over 85 million albums - so far. Laying out hard-earned cash shows appreciation better than any other means.
@katscully2 жыл бұрын
Agreed but in the bigger picture, Joel is underrated & sometimes disrespected.
@joemiranda73822 жыл бұрын
I call bs
@iainsmith24342 жыл бұрын
There is a graphic on KZbin that shows the top 20 album sellers every year from 69- 2010 and Billy Joel enters in 1974 and doesn’t leave the top 20 until 1994 after River of Dreams peaked. No other artist is on there continuously for that amount of time.
@KABZProductions2 жыл бұрын
Your information is incorrect. Billy is past Garth and the Eagles. And has over 150 million records sold.
@Flint922 жыл бұрын
Actually he sold more than 150 million. He decided to hang it up when he was on top. From 1994 Grammys and a little dig during the song after the People at the Grammys cut to break while Frank Sinatra was speaking. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pYGmqWOihJaZldk
@hazelmaylebrun62432 жыл бұрын
I adore this song. As a Christian woman (not the "church lady"... just a Jesus lover), when I heard this the first time, my heart leapt. I was just enamoured with it, and my all I could do was cry out to God, "He's asking for an answer from you. Please, give it to him. Thanks." This song is incredible and he obviously has deep waters in there.
@avmavm777 Жыл бұрын
Everyone has different reactions to songs and that’s fine. Billy Joel is an atheist though, so the song is more about the search for meaning everyone goes through in tough times
@jacjr61932 жыл бұрын
Billy Joel to me is like the Rocky of music. He wasn’t critically acclaimed as some of his peers. However, he was definitely beloved and held in high regard by millions of music fans. He’s a guy who didn’t seem that much different from the people sitting in audience. Didn’t matter if it was the front row or the nose bleeds. He could’ve passed for the guy sitting next to you in a dive bar after the show. That’s how much of a connection he has with fans. From the minute he became a common name on the radio with the Piano Man album until today still selling Madison Square Garden and other arenas across the US. Which is impressive considering he hasn’t released any new albums since River of Dreams. He’s an icon of music and a champion of the people especially in his hometown and state of Hicksville and New York respectively.
@JCourts2k23 Жыл бұрын
Couldnt agree more, this by far is my favorite song of his
@Bob-pw7rf Жыл бұрын
He's from my hometown..Hicksville NY
@Historian212 Жыл бұрын
You’re quite wrong about the underappreciated part. Have you even checked? He’s won 7 Grammy awards, including the Grammy Legend award, and received the Kennedy Center Honors award, to name just a few. He’s collaborated with Paul McCartney, among many others. He’s been embraced by fans from his hometown area, Long Island, since before “Piano Man.” I know, because I grew up there listening to his earlier music. He’s deeply loved, and has been since the 1970s.
@jacjr6193 Жыл бұрын
@@Historian212 so just to be clear I said wasn’t as critically acclaimed as some of his peers. Meaning despite Joel’s fantastic career he’s never held as highly by critics as say someone like Bruce Springsteen (20 Grammy Wins despite only having written one number 1 hit in his career. Which was the cover of Blinded by the Light by Manfred Manns Earth Band). As for his hometown sorry gang my bad. He was born in the Bronx but grew up on Long Island after his family moved when he was one. Out of curiosity were you listening to The Echoes/The Emeralds/The Lost Souls, The Hassles, and/or Attila when listening to his earlier material? If not then I will say I do like Cold Spring Harbor even though Billy has said in interviews he never liked the production of the record.
@nickavenoso78515 ай бұрын
I think the thing I appreciate about Billy is that he cares about his fans and he tries his best to put on a good show rather than do it for the money. As someone who grew up in New York, I have a deep connection with Billy’s music.
@CB-gr1uk2 жыл бұрын
This guy is one of the best in music that there ever was! His talent is immense. I agree with you totally!
@NathanVeenstra2 жыл бұрын
And the versatility he displays!
@debbiechang57812 жыл бұрын
Every now and then I forget how many wonderful songs Billy Joel has created and how diverse his music is. Thanks to Jami and Harri for reminding me 🌺✌️
@NathanVeenstra2 жыл бұрын
Same!
@debbers3 ай бұрын
This is my favorite song by Billy Joel!
@IrishKack2 жыл бұрын
Your face says it all! Isn’t Billy Joel just phenomenal?! Saw him around 1990 in concert with Elton John. Greatest show ever!
@denisepaul72742 жыл бұрын
I bartended though the 80’s and in the right place with the right crowd there were two songs that if someone started singing the whole bar would join in - Don McLean’s American Pie and Billy Joel’s Piano Man. Singer/Songwriters are a special breed and Billy Joel is one of the very best. An American treasure
@flanflinger372 жыл бұрын
BJ is without doubt one of the best songwriters in the last 50 years. Every track I’ve heard of his is quality with great lyrics and melodies.
@therese4963 Жыл бұрын
Harri your face was pure joy. I loved your reaction. This is one my favourite Billy Joel songs.
@waltw45372 жыл бұрын
Did you hear Billy sing "Gloria" at the very end of the fade? That's an old classic doo-wop song, by the Savoys and many others. So he's paying homage to the good old days... Thanks for the back story of the tune.
@katherinebosse57062 жыл бұрын
This song makes me have an almost soul-shattering experience, the lyrics, his voice and the doo-wop beat combine into a gospel hymn. It gives me goosebumps every time. To hear him LIVE is on my bucket list for sure!! Thanks Harri…have been waiting for this a long time! ❤️🔥❤️🔥
@marybaillie89072 жыл бұрын
Loved how your face lit up Harri, from the first bongo beat. Billy Joel and the choir were so entertaining. His song writing is above and beyond. Not to mention his musical talents. Thanks Harri. Cheers from Canada 🇨🇦
@HarriBestReactions2 жыл бұрын
It was joyful!
@marybaillie89072 жыл бұрын
@@HarriBestReactions Perfect definition. 👍✌🇨🇦
@girlfromthebronxbywayofelb72882 жыл бұрын
Crystal owning the percussion!!
@dedehe7582 Жыл бұрын
@@HarriBestReactions I could tell you really got into this song HARRI, I love watching you react
@surlechapeau2 жыл бұрын
Harri, I'd recommend his "All About Soul' next for you!
@kmach10002 жыл бұрын
Yeah! Beautiful!
@Spinspiel2 жыл бұрын
I can't help thinking I hear a definite "Paul Simon" influence from Paul's "Graceland" period.
@SpotWorksLNC2 жыл бұрын
From the same album do “It’s All About Soul”. Very powerful song.
@Beaver12242 жыл бұрын
To give you a little more insight into who Billy Joel is: in '94, he performed this song live at the Grammys. Frank Sinatra had received a "Grammy Legend" award earlier, but got played off while still giving his thank you speech. So, a little later, when Billy is performing (and can't be cut), he intentionally, and overtly, extended the pause before the last verse (and threw in a little commentary). Check it out: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pYGmqWOihJaZldk
@wvman23742 жыл бұрын
Billy Joel has always been my favorite artist; I taught myself to play piano from his music when I was younger. Also was a huge Frank Sinatra fan, my Italian grandparents played him all the time. I remember watching the Grammy's that year and I about lost it when Billy did that for Frank!
@HarriBestReactions2 жыл бұрын
😀😀
@eddiemoney10938 ай бұрын
I know in my heart that billy joel has wtitten at least thirty absolute bangers since river of dreams and he's just been sitting on them.
@SueProst2 жыл бұрын
You should do the lullaby he wrote for his oldest daughter. Goodnight my Angel. Sweet song.
@nickavenoso78515 ай бұрын
Billy said that he didn’t even want to write this song. He woke up with the hook in his head and tried to shake it off, but it stayed with him even in the shower. He ultimately knew that he would have to write this song or it wouldn’t leave him alone. The story with the $30 million goes that in August 1989, Billy figured out from an audit that Frank Weber, his manager and former brother-in-law, was siphoning money and undermining him. He fired Weber after learning about this and after River of Dreams he was ultimately unable to release a lot of music due to a severe recording contract he signed.
@dalemurray13184 ай бұрын
It's a Gospel song. His wife Christie Brinkley left him shortly after this song came out. She was the inspiration for "Uptown Girl"
@chetstevens45832 жыл бұрын
He performed this songs at the Grammys(?) and they wanted him to shorten the pauses between the verses, so he ended up chanting "valuable ad space here" or something to that effect instead of having the silence.
@pattytyndall10212 жыл бұрын
Oh Harri, you gotta watch the music video of this song…it’s fabulous!
@ROCCOA652 ай бұрын
This is the BEST BILLY JOEL reaction video I’ve seen! I truly adore your review. Watching you experience this song for the first time is absolutely PRICELESS!!
@emmafarr7702 жыл бұрын
Billy Joel has the Midas touch with that voice of gold if you want to rock out of your chair listen to darling I don't know why I go to extremes love you Harry be safe be well you and yours
@debbiemickelson54482 жыл бұрын
You might want to listen to Italian Restaurant by Billy
@surlechapeau2 жыл бұрын
he did kzbin.info/www/bejne/kJaqkmaAq62BqtU
@seanscanlon90672 жыл бұрын
Harri has reacted to that already. What amuses me about his reactions to Billy Joel songs is how he will suggest Piano Man has to be his best song and then he later reacts to Goodnight Saigon and describes it as incredible, then does Scenes From an Italian Restaurant that he labels a masterpiece and I just kept thinking, wait until you hear (insert song title) by Billy. Billy's body of work is outstanding.
@matt75hooper Жыл бұрын
All his songs have very clever lines.......perhaps his best song.
@dedehe7582 Жыл бұрын
Something I’d never lose, it’s something somebody stole!!!!.... I love it!!!!
@danielfardella1622 Жыл бұрын
Billy was introduced when he was with the "Hassles" and wrote their songs. We played covers of "Givin Up" and noticed his talent then, when he was unknown. Later I was introduced to him at his home in Oyster Bay by a friend who went to HS with him! Very cool.
@WBCRO10 ай бұрын
Billy is at the pinnacle of my fav songwriters and singers. I love how your face instantly lit up when you began listening! ☀️ I’m accustomed to hearing a longer version of this song; it seems like the version you listened to was faded out too soon. 🤷♀️
@alecboyce1998 Жыл бұрын
In the early '90s, my grandpa visits a friend's farm (Horton's farm) in Glastonbury Connecticut. He hears they're filming parts of the River of Dreams music video inside the barn and goes over there for a visit. He proceeds to chat up Billy Joel and Christie Brinkley. Keep in mind, my grandpa has no idea who they are. He calls my mom, living in New Hampshire at the time, and tells her about the experience. She is understandably livid and asks him, "Dad, don't YOU KNOW who BILLY JOEL is? He says, "No, but his wife was awfully nice!" My mom tells me this story years later, and is shocked at how clueless he is about the cultural zeitgeist. Some people are just in the right place at the right time, I guess.
@chrscmo2 жыл бұрын
Brother, you really need to come to America and go see Billy. He has a residency at Madison Square Garden and plays there regularly. He also still does concerts all over the country but it's not a tour...just one here and there every now and again. That's true about his brother in law but this song seems to be more about searching for spiritually that he once had. Perhaps it's both. Thanks for another good one!
@nedleyolpal Жыл бұрын
Harri you have barely scratched the surface of Billy’s catalogue, if you want to hear great vocals please listen to, Careless Talk, Leave A Tender Moment Alone, The longest Time, This Night, All About Soul, A Minor Variation, oh and Shameless.
@ebenclukey72932 жыл бұрын
Those high parts are not sung in falsetto. That's the proper technique of less pressure and full voice.
@blueplanet7278 Жыл бұрын
This is my son's favorite song he sings it all the time. He passed away aged 32 on the 3rd of June 2022.
@jmartinez93322 жыл бұрын
Billy Joel actually went out of his way to avoid award shows TV shows and interviews you would see him here and there but that was his style he was not ever really looking for the extra attention. By the way he was married to the biggest model in the world and Christie Brinkley and they said when they got married it wasn't a marriage it was a merger. I was considered myself the biggest Billy Joel fan in the world and I was always disappointed that he was never on the award shows even though he was nominated very often and won a lot but that's just the way he was he wasn't seeking attention kind of reminds me of Elvis who was kind of a mystery guy he did his shows sold out stadiums but you never saw him on TV those days. You rarely saw Billy Joel on The midnight special and you never saw Elvis on any of those shows which as a kid always kind of disappointed me. In those days you didn't have KZbin or the internet or 500 channels to look for the content you wanted you had to go through the newspaper and things like that just to find out who's playing where so it was very difficult.
@trevorholden74232 жыл бұрын
Perfect Harri, I'm right with you at every step brother, cannot even fathom how you would recover from such a betrayal.. But Billy did and that is so honorable and so much beyond the the call of duty!
@ym612 жыл бұрын
From the same album, “The Great Wall of China” is specifically about his brother in law ripping him off. It’s a great, Beatles- Lennon-type song
@cindyphifer9705 ай бұрын
My favorite song by him
@kimking60362 жыл бұрын
This is one of those songs you don't want to end. Sometimes I just put it on repeat ♥️
@MAGIKMARTIAN9526 Жыл бұрын
IT CAN ONLY BE SEEN BY THE EYES OF THE BLIND- WHAT A LINE
@gerdier862 жыл бұрын
Listen billy joel cold spring harbor. His first album that is incredeaple.
@reneerocha17962 жыл бұрын
Genius songwriter. I hope he knows how special he is
@fluffylobster29162 жыл бұрын
The music video was filmed in my home state on the Connecticut River, it's right by the highway, and everytime I pass it I think of this tune.
@sherrybrown6136 Жыл бұрын
Only of my all time favorites from him!
@willcool7132 жыл бұрын
In an interview, he said he wrote the song, because he thought of the beat in the shower and it got stuck in his head as an earworm. Writing it out was the only way to make it go away. He said he still doesn't know where it came from, because it didn't connect to anything in his life, it just sort of showed up and wrote itself. It was Colbert, I think. At least, I watched it about the same time I watched the Colbert interview where he ranks his top five songs (he put Scenes from an Italian Restaurant at number 1). It might have been the same interview, or another that KZbin suggested. Maybe he said something different in another interview, but, whatever, still one of my favorite songs of his.
@isebmazo21402 жыл бұрын
Until the Night by Billy will blow you away as well
@judgildea2 жыл бұрын
New York State of Mind Old Grey Whistle Test...my..God..lol
@patrickwellington4214 Жыл бұрын
Bill Joel was a singer I always enjoyed listening to, he was just so versatile.Note the vocal agility ,the man goes from baritone right up to falsetto so effortlessly. The backing vocals are lovely and the song just makes you tap your feet.
@honestabe19402 жыл бұрын
Check out the Kennedy Center Honor to Billy and the praise from Tony Bennett of Billy as a great American Songwriter.
@samfusco81582 жыл бұрын
This song explains my belief in religion perfectly. My favorite song, its just perfect.
@RadCenter2 жыл бұрын
One of my favorite Billy Joel songs! I wish more reactors would listen to some of Billy's less-famous songs. IMO they're better than the famous ones.
@RadCenter2 жыл бұрын
I think "Travelin' Prayer" would blow you away.
@johnpalmer5367 Жыл бұрын
Harri it is so wonderful to see you reacting to this song the same way I did when I first heard it. It always brings tears of joy to me.
@TracyfromNC2 жыл бұрын
My fave Billy Joel song!
@alexakl6445 Жыл бұрын
I never knew that about his ex-brother-in-law and the song coming from that experience. It's got to hurt deeply to be betrayed like that from someone you thought cared about you. Thanks for sharing that and thank you for reacting to one of my favorite songs of his!
@paulm.59792 жыл бұрын
This album is great, every song is good. All About Soul s the same so catchy and you just want to move. I saw him on this tour, was great!
@Lakeshore142 жыл бұрын
The super multi-talented Billy Joel. Thank you for your reaction Harri. 😊
@richardconnolly48352 жыл бұрын
I think you would enjoy New York State of Mind - a tribute to a state that Billy clearly loves.
@lynnie66332 жыл бұрын
And that is the reason he wrote "Angry Young Man". He wrote it about himself.
@kellygirl923 Жыл бұрын
The most underrated musician of our time. Billy is a musical genius. He wrote all the words and music to all his songs.
@bigjay1232 жыл бұрын
I thought it was 'I go walking'(in the middle of the night). 'For the Longest Time' is a good one too.
@HarriBestReactions2 жыл бұрын
😀😀
@marybolletta1106 Жыл бұрын
Wow. Never heard the story. Thank you for the insight. Love watching your reactions. They’re spot on!
@barbarjinx38022 жыл бұрын
Billy Joel’s most amazing and highly unlikely accomplishment is bedding Christie Brinkley, the most beautiful woman in the world for a few years (after Bo Derek and before the 90s supermodels).
@ericksoderquist8612 Жыл бұрын
This is in my top 5. I don’t know how many times I’ve been there.
@alanw7376 ай бұрын
I am about to go see my 5th Billy Joel concert. This won't be enough. What a showman.
@godbluffvdgg Жыл бұрын
The video for this is very touching...It touches the soul...
@gerdier862 жыл бұрын
Next cold spring harpor. One of his best.
@vandoraginther64212 жыл бұрын
Love this song. Billy Joel a very talented singer. The lyrics, the sound and rhythm are great. Love your reaction Harri!!!
@djdelugach2402 Жыл бұрын
Out of Billy Joel's multiple classics, this is my all-time favorite. It hits all the right notes and the lyrics are so deep.
@Darmesis2 жыл бұрын
Booyah! Billy is DEFINITELY an ALL-TIME GREAT! 👍
@classicrocklady62882 жыл бұрын
Oh, how I wish you had done the video. It's epic! What an amazing song!
@Cindrbell2 жыл бұрын
There are so many Billy Joel hits, masterpieces. Brilliance. This is only one of them, but not the best of the best! If u limit this to his only talents... U r most definitely missing out.
@kathydennison18012 жыл бұрын
He’s a stars star!
@lisahaverluk4037 Жыл бұрын
Just so good..no words 😅😊😮😊😊😊
@suzie44172 жыл бұрын
Love your reaction Harri 💎💎💎☮️💜😻🇨🇦
@HarriBestReactions2 жыл бұрын
Thanx Suzie
@Jaysun12 жыл бұрын
I've been going down the Billy Joel rabbit hole with your videos the last few days. I honestly forgot how many great songs this man has in his catalog. He must have at least 25-30 hit songs. Billy Joel just might be the greatest songwriter that's ever lived.
@Straydogger2 жыл бұрын
Check out "Light As the Breeze". The amazing version he did.
@ToABrighterFuture2 жыл бұрын
And just think: you've still got a few more of the deeper tracks on "An Innocent Man" to discover. And "A Matter of Trust." And "Goodnight, My Angel."
@jdubsk8r2 жыл бұрын
My first time watching your channel -great reaction! I will be back sir!
@mclizzard29282 жыл бұрын
It's an incredibly beautiful song, and his vocals are pristine. I highly recommend his live performance at the 1994 Grammys. It's even better.
@davidmaholchic61462 жыл бұрын
Infectious love you
@cathyhetzel59442 жыл бұрын
The best concert I have ever seen! GREATEST!
@riccardoangeli802 Жыл бұрын
Leave a tender moment alone... Live con Tootsie Tielemans 👏👏👏👏👏
@mannyjacobowitz55712 жыл бұрын
I love your Billy Joel reactions, and it's sad that you've come to the chronological end of the journey, his final album. Still, there are LOTS of great songs in Billy's catalogue to go back and review. If you want to hear him really stretch his voice, have you heard "Innocent Man" or "The Longest Time" yet?
@seanscanlon90672 жыл бұрын
Harri has reacted to An Innocent Man already and made the Ben E. King and The Drifters connection, but I do not think that he has done The Longest Time yet.
@The_Maeus2 жыл бұрын
“Until the Night”
@HarriBestReactions2 жыл бұрын
The longest time? I dont think so..Sounds familiar though
@seanscanlon90672 жыл бұрын
@@HarriBestReactions It is an acappella/doo-wop song where Billy sings all of the parts himself, then they overlay his various voices all at once on the recording.
@NathanVeenstra2 жыл бұрын
I LOVE “For The Longest Time” @@seanscanlon9067, as well as “Uptown Girl”, which Westlife didn’t really do any right IMO.
@brianorzel18732 жыл бұрын
You want soul? On the same album (The Bridge), Billy does a duet with Ray Charles, "Baby Grand". Billy can do it all!
@kmach10002 жыл бұрын
Speaking of soul, "All about soul" is great too!
@seanscanlon90672 жыл бұрын
+Brian Orzel - Not trying to be a dick here but that is a different album to the one this song is on.
@brianorzel18732 жыл бұрын
@@seanscanlon9067 My bad. I thought they were both on The Bridge.
@seanscanlon90672 жыл бұрын
@@brianorzel1873 No problem and I did not want to reply flippantly, but the single The River of Dreams is from the album River of Dreams.
@Vennegoor10 Жыл бұрын
Was a big Joel fan in the 80s when a teen, and didn't know how to react to this when it came out in 90s, was so different from what had come before. Now I'm much older I completely get how good it is. He is an immensely talented man.
@nickperkins84772 жыл бұрын
This is a pop spiritual. Tremendous song by Billy Joel!!
@michaelc8111 Жыл бұрын
His lyrics are amazingly written.
@angelarasmussen18002 жыл бұрын
I agree with you. Billy Joel doesn't get enough credit. He is one of my top 10 for sure... Maybe top 5. He blends so many styles so well ❣️🎶
@HarriBestReactions2 жыл бұрын
He doesnt at all Angela
@riccardoangeli8022 жыл бұрын
Piano Man unico artista che ha solo gioielli nel suo repertorio... E dal vivo sempre meglio ....
@jamishops2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the great reaction Harri.
@davidbentley1452 жыл бұрын
A nice one here...How are you brother Harri....I see you boppin along to this....it is kinda infectious for sure...
@kearnsey642 жыл бұрын
Amen brother!!
@syx3s2 жыл бұрын
i'd look like an idiot if i wore that shirt but this good man turns it into one of the coolest shirts i've ever seen.
@HarriBestReactions2 жыл бұрын
Hahahaha..dont be hard on yaself!
@howtodoitdude1662 Жыл бұрын
A simple progression and yet so much creativity to make this song unique! Appreciate the details like how the pauses increase before each chorus. His vocals were top notch on this song. He should have won Grammy for best song and album!
@CharleneRoozRE2 жыл бұрын
You just never know what you get with Billy Joel! I saw him live twice (once with Elton John)... he is just as amazing in person!! One of my favourite artists of all time. ❤
@johndavidson52282 жыл бұрын
I enjoy listening to this on one of my CDs every once in a while. Live it. Thanks for your nice reaction.
@jjflash16452 жыл бұрын
I’ve seen him in concert a number of times and am proud that we both live on Long Island. All of his songs are GREAT.
@angelarasmussen18002 жыл бұрын
I never knew that back story. Thank you. That makes it so much more poignant. I had forgotten how many Billy Joel songs were master pieces.