Billy Joel - Root Beer Rag (Live at Jazz Fest 2013)

"Root Beer Rag (Live at Jazz Fest 2013)" by Billy Joel
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#BillyJoel #RootBeerRag #Live #JazzFest2013

[@NewAgeComix]

Best thing about being in his position is any slip ups he can always fall back on "I wrote the damn thing"

[@addisonscontent2024]

True lol

[@logicape]

That's how I feel when folks line up to hate on Lars Ulrich.

[@dddlll2471]

it's all improve he would never fuk up

[@pavry]

Oh, but it’s like even the slip ups which you can hear I mean, if you know the music right but like he manages to make it sound more like he is just riffing or improvising. I can debate his live vocals but tbere is no question he is a top-tier pianist!!

[@daltysmilth]

A friend of mine was taking piano lessons and he mentioned this song to his teacher, and without saying a word, she took to the keyboard and played the whole thing from memory.

[@chimauz6223]

Oh my god what

[@petermcmurray2807]

Wow I want her as my teacher

[@bbacdok]

That’s a great teacher!

[@vomm]

I thought you'd say she took the keyboard and slap it on the student

[@bobmarchut5278]

@@chimauz6223 y😅yeah but you don’t ollii it I oooooooooooiooooiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

[@Hertog_von_Berkshire]

The band are so genuinely happy during this number. Maybe it's because Billy is doing all the hard work. 😁

[@armedkiwi6389]

Nah, their smiling because Billy is messing up big time. Not that I could do better... I would've shit myself three times in front of all these people before I could even play middle C.

[@alizahalon]

They're smiling because this is happy music that puts everyone in a good mood!

[@TedAlexandro]

That tempo is relentless. This is what being an artist is about; challenging yourself rather than phoning it in. Beautiful.

[@Diomede-Lefort]

Nice said. Once, I saw Cameron Carpenter saying the same thing, as I say always, "practicing an art with passion is a competition, a competition with oneself". I love Billy Joel's art, he's the One !

[@Prengle]

Theres a video floating around where they played this piece in double time. That was ruthless

[@helmiammari3404]

😊

[@pavry]

Yes!! But it loses everything being played so fast!! It’s not a terribly difficult piece (you just need that “basic” wrist and forearm strength that comes with being a pianist even at the level of this piece!), but playing it faster than it is played here destroys the “Ragtime” feel altogether.

[@YonOtto]

Poor Bill, that track is brutal on his fingers these days but he still takes the chance to play it for the fans! what a guy!

[@PicadorCriminal]

And what he has of poor?

[@ericsampson372]

@@PicadorCriminal He has osteoarthritis in his fingers, which make it rather sore to play songs like this one.

[@PicadorCriminal]

@@ericsampson372 no kidding?

[@ericsampson372]

@@PicadorCriminal Yep. He still plays beautifully, in spite of this. It sometimes forces him to play certain songs at a slower pace.

[@pavry]

I have had RA in my fingers since I was ~7 (I sightread through a piano level one book and one of the only great things my parents ever did for me is to get me into lessons ASAP - by the end of 4th grade I had outplayed three piano teachers!) but way back before the Internet was so omnipresent, I had a concert level adjudication and was ranked #1 in all levels in the area … including NYC (we are a suburb!). Why am I ranting on? Bc what was RA had become OA in many of my fingers as well and playing actually does my arthritisy hands a world of good!!!

[@utah133]

It's not real unless you miss a note or two! The grace of recovery is what counts. He does that well.

[@johnbishop5316]

The "mistake" is deliberate. The grace is in your apology. See the music.

[@victorramirz7208]

rationalguy what planet comes this guy from?

[@adriensvenson4548]

rationalguy absolutely !

[@kavigasper8759]

@@johnbishop5316 No he did mess up a few times.

[@johnbishop5316]

@@kavigasper8759 Please feel free to post your own version of Root Beer so we can assess your qualities as a critic.

[@TCC309]

I'm a NY native who's been to 16 Billy Joel concerts starting in 1980. the times I've seen him do "Root Beer Rag" - Zero.

[@SissyShamrock]

A whirlwind performance. He barely breaks a sweat. The PIANO MAN's still got it.

[@gutgolf74]

Check out the part around 1.40 - he DOES break a sweat and misses almost every second note!

[@assmane999]

@@gutgolf74still sounds pretty damn good

[@pavry]

I love the improvs! The band can stay with it bc they are all on the same chord progressions, but that improvisation is mind blowing to a classically trained pianist like me!!

[@Th3rtySe7en]

It's times at 2:33 that still makes my realize why I love this dudes piano playing so much. Now yes, as you might of seen from all the comments, he's not in his prime anymore, and his fingers aren't as fast or flexible as they used to be, and it was incredibly brave of him to play this piece live in-front of thousands of people, from a LONG time without doin the root beer rag. And his genius brain thought, "Since I'm messin' up a-lot, at sliding down the scales (2:26) I could just play them In chords". And while, yes, that was the "easy" way out, he really had no other choice, but by God he can still do it, it might have just been a little "oh I'm old moment now" part, but It's actually such a genius way to think about it like that, he wrote the song, he can play it as he wants, so he make it incredibly catching and lovable, and a cool new twist on the song we haven't heard from in such a long time. I feel like simple things like this he's capable of doing, gets unnoticed a-lot, and he deserves to be reminded he's still a great pianist. Even though he may not be in his prime anymore. You're incredibly talented Bill, and you've earned even more of my respect!

[@snorefest1621]

genius indeed

[@bullridermusic2054]

Yep guy is incredible

[@zacharymordente]

I’m not reading that.

[@cjadventures8840]

@@zacharymordente tldr; he’s a really good pianist

[@zacharymordente]

@@cjadventures8840 I know he is

[@guitarhead14]

I've recently become obsessed with this piece of music, and today i found the sheet music and started learning it. It's fucking crazy hard the fact he can still play this song as well as this at his age is a miracle haha

[@lucyfoster4082]

guitarhead14 Is it an accurate edition? I want to get some sheet music for it too.

[@gateg1092]

I have a piano teacher who can play this

[@mattiadellamico888]

It’s very hard to find an accurate transcription of this. I’ve never seen two identical performances of the piece.

[@mdb4879]

And with arthritis no less.

[@ofkhod3638]

Do you know where I can find chords for this? I've been going at it by ear and it's kinda brutal😂

[@coldacre]

as a guitar player - Billy is my piano hero. he plays with the same passion as Jimmy Page or Eddie Van Halen. just goes for it and gives it everything he has! love him to death

[@Vikingraider10]

For an old bloke with stiff fingers (stiffer than when he wrote it at least) this is a wonderful attempt at a very hard to play piece. I've been a fan of Billy Joel since I bought "The Stranger" all those years ago, and then went on to buy pretty much all his albums, but I've always resisted the urge to watch a live rendition of this song as I didn't think it would be anything like the studio performance. Until now that is. And I'm right. It's not in the same league as the studio track, but the honesty of this version makes it a pleasure to listen too. Thanks for uploading it, and thanks Billy, for playing it. Took a chance, and it paid off for me.

[@panzerking1218]

You have had good taste ever since day one. I congratulate you.

[@chrisr2198]

Why, thank you!

[@lizjoe21750]

I noticed the (many) mistakes, too... He wrote the song, though, and can do whatever he wants, LOL. Still a great song, but woah - I lost count of the flubs pretty quick :O

[@brendalg4]

Still better than any cover on youtube. they are full of mistakes

[@fay-amieaspen6046]

Vikingraider10. However the studio recording is awful in the sense that in Mr Joel's own words it sounds like the Moog Synthesiser is pissing all over it going wah wah wah all over it. It was something he wanted to experiment with and I don't think he went near the Synthesiser again as a result ha ha ! Root Beer Rag is therefore much better live!

[@CrystalTwinStar]

There is something very distinct about his piano sound... ...so "Billy Joel"

[@rolandrd7001]

The best rock pianist and never will pass this way again. Rock on Billy!!!!!!!!!!

[@boxingfan2233]

brent mydland was the best pianist

[@anonymusum]

What about Keith Emerson? They are worlds apart from each other.

[@colinmcphan]

+Boxing Fan No...Billy Joel is simply the best. Phenomenal and gracious musician and guy!

[@fanaticaldueling6337]

Elton John exists and is just better than Billy Joel all around

[@danielmarra1555]

Elton has a lazy left hand

[@LordQueezle]

I love how the piece sounds like it is miss counted in sections. Gotta love the syncopation of good rag-time!

[@tecnica-de-voz]

PRO, PERIOD.

[@krisbuhl950]

With another period after 😂

[@theeradic5629]

Love that he says to the crowd “I might mess up a couple times I haven’t done this in a while” That means this song truly is the death of some people to learn if the man who wrote it can’t play it perfectly every time hahaha DAMN BILLY

[@virginiajackowski5164]

❤You make my day!

[@davidcooke8005]

I'm always amazed by the talent Billy pulls for his band. That drummer is on another planet.

[@filsgreen]

Seriously guys, you never expected Billy to nail this? Seriously?? He's a piano vitruoso wirh forty odd years of experience; I know it's difficult, but he could do it in his sleep.

[@gutgolf74]

He didn't nail it, he struggled mightily as you can see in his face. I still love him, very human performance!

[@ems4687]

Your joints are stiffer when you get older. It's amazing how well he did this though!

[@gutgolf74]

Nothing "amazing" about it, he used to be an extremely accomplished piano player, after all! I was surprised he messed it up that bad but found it very sympathetic how he handled it - very likable!

[@filsgreen]

@@gutgolf74 Sorry guys, I didn't think you would expect a note for note recorded version. Yes I'm sure all of you "expert"piano players could pick holes in it, but I thought he nailed it, bum notes and all. Because I never heard them.

[@gutgolf74]

@@filsgreen So YOU are such an "expert" that you didn't hear (or see) the bum notes?? Well, HE certainly did, that's why he looked that way... But, in contrast to Keith Emerson, who tragically couldn't stand the fear of losing his abilities and disappointing the fans, Billy just smiles and jokes about it. He's old and not as fast as he used to be, and he knows it.

[@valentinovalentini9710]

The best piano Man of the world... Happy birthday Billy!

[@georgesotiroff5080]

Back in 1981 when I was playing at roughly a grade 6 conservatory level I decided to tackle the sheet music of this composition. I was convinced that the attempt to play this piece would improve my reading skills and my playing skills. I was right. I estimated back then that it only took me about 150 hours to be able to play something that my friends might possibly guess was “The Root Beer Rag”. Anyway, years later I still derive tremendous pleasure from trying to play it. Thank you, Billy, for a wonderful composition and thank you for playing it here in this concert!

[@jamesnoble8205]

I find it mind boggling anyone can play piano this fast lol

[@willthethrill129]

Billy is such a wonderful player I hate it when he down plays himself! By far my favorite piano work that he's done. Inspiring.

[@howtodoitdude1662]

Will McDougal , I agree. He always compliments other pianists and puts himself down as a pianist.

[@ronatopaz1]

A sign of the times-BJ wringing out his painful hands after Root Beer Rag... After all his accidents it's a miracle he can play it at all...!

[@incrediblesulk555]

Go check out how fast he does it as a young man . Phenominal.

[@ashtontheperson7871]

Neil Ballantyne in 78 his hands are so fast they are a blur.

[@drchrisdavies2941]

Totally agree, the live version on the old grey whistle test is spot on, no mistakes and really fast

[@reinerbaumwoll]

This feels like coming home. And I don't even have a home. Thank you so much Billy!

[@hekkoCZ]

0:20 song starts 0:43 Mark Rivera - sorry guys, this phone call can't wait (what a Sticky Situation) 1:47 Andy Cichon - I'm going to support your effort with this supportive, ah, face 3:11 Mark Rivera standing in the background - you guys still playing that? This sure used to be shorter!

[@A1phaSpartanA]

I'm tellin' ya, that man's still got it. He'll have it until the day he dies! Keep it up Billy!

[@blozmo]

That piano on Travelin’ Prayer is not possible. And yet he makes it look easy. But more importantly, he also plays it with inimitable and - again, apparently throwaway - musicality. His voice on Piano Man is in beautiful condition, and the piano is full of flourishes I’ve never heard before. Height of his powers, God love him. Thankyou so much for posting this. I wouldn’t have missed it for anything. I saw him - now 74 - at Hyde Park on Sunday. The voice is deeper, the piano is maybe sometimes a bit less flashy - but by heavens, it was an extraordinary experience. He seriously still has it.

[@phillscarr401]

When Billy Joel was at the peak of his powers there was no one better in his music genre

[@daltysmilth]

Even past his peak he's still a force to be reckoned with.

[@MrWoofie62]

I remember this was the opening music for a UK radio comedy show called "Hold Your Plumbs", hosted by Billy Butler & Wally Scott on BBC Radio Merseyside. As soon as we heard this on a Sunday morning two hours of laughter ensued.😂😂🤣🤣

[@athecheat]

even the CAMERAMAN is grinning from ear to ear, you billy joel are THE ENTERTAINER, you have magical gifts that bring us all joy

[@Tanmag11]

My mother-in-law(RIP) who was a child piano prodigy and church organist. loved this song.

[@robinforster2718]

Cool guy and all his music stuff is mega good...Rock on Billy! :)

[@chrismc8000]

Remember Billy Joel’s performance at the JazzFest during a torrential thunderstorm? I was there too! Fantastic!

[@glo8899]

😂yes, I remember this day! Worth every sopping minute of it. I was there also. We could have been standing in the same puddle!😂 Good thing I was wearing my waterproof motorcycle boots that day!😂

[@justinmaccallum5482]

My father and mother were at jazz fest and they said that this was the best thing they ever heard

[@virginiajackowski5164]

I play this recording at least once a day! It is SUPER! MAKES MY DAY!❤😂

[@johnmazza5918]

I saw Billy do this song once in a concert in Buffalo, NY, and he even played some of the high notes by standing up and sitting on the keyboard. Yeah, he played the song out of his ass, literally and not figuratively, but physically - and rocked it! The man is a musical legend.

[@brucep9729]

Smokin' Billy! The man for all seasons

[@tecnica-de-voz]

Badass PRO, PERIOD.

[@johnthrelfall5]

That 's good piano playing! Good band too.

[@GrantAugustus1]

SO GLAD I HAVE PLAYED (PIANO)!!!! NOT THIS FAST BUT IF I PRACTICE AGAIN I BET I COULD GET AS GOOD AS THIS GUY!!!!

[@musicfun2606]

Please excuse my language, but holy crap! That thing is very difficult. Extremely extremely difficult. My respect for Billy Joel has skyrocketed

[@tylerjones7806]

Crap isn't a curse word, sir

[@Jesse11P]

I love the composition as well as the whole album it is from. I played the arrangement on piano and it is a terrible arrangement whoever transcribed it, but Joel had a strike of genius with this song as well as most of his others

[@musicfun2606]

Tyler Jones Yes, it is.

[@bherber]

Not difficult at all. It's in C Major. All white notes.

[@nicklee6721]

+Bryan Herber not all of it is white notes but most of it is, and the hard part is speeding it up and jumping around

[@user-bw2wg9lu1o]

So happy to realize, Billy is human being having some issues playing this stuff. Besides that comment, Billy Joel is my hero as myself playing the piano as well.

[@alteredvisual]

The fact that he's been around since late 60s, drive some fast riff over his songs, and still playing this rag when he was 64 is amazing.

[@craigr.celendar2069]

Awesome Material!!!!!!!

[@Josie5100]

Rock on Billy!! Sensational!!

[@machiwoomiapoo]

Excellent job Billy! I've always enjoyed your music! My brother introduced me to you back in the early 80's. I remember driving all the way from Boise, Idaho to Salt Lake City, Utah for your River of Dreams concert! What an amazing show! Keep up the great work and keep those fingers going. Horowitz made it to his 80's playing Chopin, Liszt, and Scarlatti. Music like this will keep those fingers worked out so you too can play this tune for us in your 80's as well. :) Take care, Sam.

[@patmcn]

seen him many times and he has never played it. you lucky dogs :)

[@Fifty50.]

Billy Joel just performed it at his April concert at MSG in NYC kzbin.info/www/bejne/gYLIiH1uit6ja80

[@CairnTerrier69]

Saw him play it at Fenway Park accompanied by a twelve year old boy on a second keyboard. It was incredible!!!!

[@alanw64]

Dude is a genius 🤩🥳

[@mrAJB125]

My favorite piano player and singer

[@fay-amieaspen6046]

Still sounds as awesome as ever Mr Joel Sir! Absolutely love your Root Beer Rag!

[@IpCrackle]

Man, he's great. A man from a time in popular music where its performers didn't slouch! they knew their shit!!!

[@T1mWe5t]

What an amazing performer! This is one of those songs I can remember exactly what I was doing hearing it for the first time, wearing those big radio headphones as a teenager while cutting brush at my boss's house. Man this guy can entertain!

[@biueshound]

Wore this track out on the album when I first found in in the 70's! Infectious as hell.

[@trashpanda9615]

I love the effortlessness of his piano skills

[@toddwestin3219]

Absolutely one of my favorites and compared to when he was young and in a hurry to play, I like it much better now.

[@polkmusic]

What a fun piece. I have to learn that one.

[@stewboy1001]

Always loved this and he can still play it to perfection. Serious respect Billy Joel!!!

[@meganbeyers9318]

I’m sure he misses a few notes here and there, but that’s a given!

[@Trujano007]

Que gran musico tiene muchísimo talento! La forma de sentir la musica!

[@valentinovalentini3675]

Billy, you are the greatest!

[@CameronCuevaClarke]

He played this at MSG a couple of years ago! Probably about 5 years after this particular performance. And he still crushed it. Love Billy.

[@johnslovacek6492]

Awesome performance, Billy!

[@lenasayers7086]

my arthritic fingers wouldn't be able to 'tickle the ivories' like that anymore... awesome!

[@WillieWagglestick]

What a talented musician he is. Must have been nerve-wracking playing that live in front of so many people!

[@federicolegrand863]

He's amazing! 😍

[@lauramalek3128]

Annnnnd I am again a teenager hearing this GEM for the first time. LOVE me some William Martin Joel ohhh yes.

[@eyeruhl74]

Ahhhhhmazing.... you put your spin on everything xoxo

[@robbiepoulin920]

Son of a b, this is amazing I love Billy Joel and this amazing song.

[@rolfdolder8693]

Billy Joel! Einfach genial, wie schon in früheren Jahren!

[@chefjdog]

Our band teacher had us do this song in high school. When this popped up in my feed I was excited to hear it. We killed it, minus the awesomeness of Billy’s talent. Good times.

[@oblobboblob6461]

Amazing, this guy is great!

[@ccth22]

Magnificent...now I’m in the mood for some jambalaya.

[@JKSCN]

BRAVO!!!!!!!!! Billy I love this song!!!!!

[@BlueByTheMuffin]

One of my all time favorites! Love this so much

[@radioengineering8247]

The thing about music is it is fluid - it can be embellished, altered, augmented and changed but still carry the same essential message. You can listen to the original studio recording that Billy laid down or you can listen to this 'live' version and still be impressed!

[@sjtom57]

Outstanding, never sounded better.

[@rocknrollcomedyguy]

amazing that he's still got it :D he always impresses me with his music :)

[@hahgarcia]

You play amazing! You amaze me!

[@dddlll2471]

I love ragtime piano... it seems like so much fun

[@hungarianguy]

Being from Chicago I must point out this was the theme song of Siskel and Ebert's first show on WTTW :)

[@AbyssGP]

My buddy’s 12 year old son played this at his piano recital the other day. Kid played Carnegie hall at 6.

[@KarenDawkins]

PLEASE, play this next month in Tampa!!!!!

[@buckdabull]

Awesome. The memories.

[@oleg6320]

I ordered a piano today. I'm gonna learn to play by myself, and this is what I want to work up to.

[@andrewgreener]

The master at work.

[@wokeupandsmellthecoffee214]

Brilliant stuff and the theme tune for ‘Hold your plums’ BBC Radio Merseyside with Billy Butler & Wally Scott.

[@camotophat]

Its taken almost 20 years, but I can finally listen to this song again. My old man played it again and again and again until we could have killed him.

[@markjackson6642]

I love it!!!

[@louswire]

Turned this up to 11...

[@louswire]

Peter Darbyshire FML mine only goes to 11...

[@janlichtenfeldmusic]

Love this Song so much

[@rootbear2958]

I love root beer and rag time so I love this rag ,great one!

[@micromono4085]

Love him

[@thefool2007]

Just wow.

[@c5d53g2e]

GOAT

[@susanalford2326]

awesome, inspiring!!!

[@isaaclim4021]

Oh my goodness!

[@afzalhoeseinnirhoe4604]

man has magical fingers........unbelievable !

[@LSommer]

Nice! Without a Net! Groovy Gumbo indeed. 💪❤️💪

[@ronneylopez4950]

simply terrific billy joel to live !!!!!!!!!!

[@danger2374]

He's still got it!