Billy Joel - The Entertainer (from Old Grey Whistle Test)

[@RafeIngramMusic]

This song still slaps SO HARD. The year is 2024.

[@TimEric4d3d3d3]

Spoiler Alert: He did stay on the charts

[@MCGenesis1984]

😅😂😂

[@SmolNoodles]

For 53 years too

[@billyjimbob8048]

Best spoiler ever

[@guaporeturns9472]

Another Spoiler Alert: He didn’t die young even though he is definitely good.

[@mercedespernas]

And?

[@CruceEntertainment]

It’s not a narcissistic song. It’s a song about the business. You either make it or you don’t. And even if you do, you’re only as good as your last show, or last accomplishment. And the business will do with you as it pleases. That is the message.

[@thejimbruce]

For sure. It's a dope song. This particular version is quite good. I often don't enjoy live versions because they expose the limitations of a given artist, with this, it just shows you a super professional delivering the goods. No slam on anyone, just an observation.

[@jeannineasselin2804]

Totally agree. Not about narcissism at all.

[@benedettomansueto4016]

Very true

[@forbrich2290]

I agree, and I think it applies to most any business. You have to produce.

[@Out_of_My_Head]

So true.

[@Junius]

No autotune. He's so pitch perfect. So good. And he still sounds just at good today. Legendary.

[@connorcrabb2811]

Funny thing is Billy doesn't even think he is that great a singer

[@fk2106]

Billy is the greatest...He can compose, sing and play real music with complex musical arrangements and melodies...a true talent. Compared to Phil Collins, Billy is the real deal. Take away Phil's "gated reverb vocal tricks" and he sounds like your average Joe singing in the shower....Phil is all gimmick...

[@narrabeenstudent7027]

@@fk2106 jeez, you don’t have to prove Billy’s ability by shitting on another great singers ability

[@fk2106]

@@narrabeenstudent7027 Not "shitting" on anyone. The truth is the truth. Get over it.

[@jimchu6647]

@@narrabeenstudent7027 agreed,,, huge fan of both

[@jtal19]

One of the most underrated songs of BJ. Love his growling, gutteral accents. He is simply the best and no one can copy him. He is his own genre of music.

[@magicmike6961]

don't forget the seventie's synth tp remind you what decade you are in

[@wayneking9997]

It's Billy Joel not bj

[@ShedeasVideos]

@@wayneking9997 It's William Martin Joel not Billy Joel

[@DansMesCordes]

Some might say he's an entertainer

[@jahjahflash]

Elton has copied many of his riffs... many many many many -- but still Billy is the best

[@jenniferlapidus2229]

I believe the “beautiful song that ran too long” was “Piano Man.” Love this song-lyrics are spot on!

[@TheLarrypep]

The best years of his life

[@GregJamesMusic]

It was "Piano Man." Even now, 50 years later, most radio stations play a rather clumsily edited version (and the hatchet job they did on "My Life" is even worse). It's kind of ironic that Billy calls "Piano Man" a "beautiful song," since he's said in later years that he doesn't think it's that good and only plays it live because people expect to hear it.

[@ivanb8126]

Now tell me this is not the best musical act of the 20th century. Billy Joel is the one.

[@Cooker224]

No computers for my fellow Long Islander. No auto tune, pure live. And, good Lord Liberty on the drums...

[@island.of.reality6462]

Who these days can write lyrical poetry like this man. This song flows and rhymes amazingly, yet still tells a story and makes complete sense.

[@jtal19]

What I love about BJ is that his lyrics are clear and coherent and applicable to everyone in one way or another and it tells something about his life too

[@KarenLeos91]

I love him but his lyrics are not hard at all. It’s basic rhyme structure, he has said so himself. I think he mentioned how a lot of his songs are basic limericks. That said, it’s doesn’t take away from how great he makes what he makes but let’s not also pretend like he is unique and what he does is very hard. These things can all be true at the same time.

[@steviebrown7544]

Gilbert o sullivan

[@hatefullll]

No one. No one writes like this anymore.

[@kareninalabama]

I love his lyrics and he's definitely iconic. But I also love Sara Bareilles for her lyrical prowess as an example of a next generation artist. "Saint Honesty" and "Fire" are two examples that come to mind.

[@chrissscottt]

This is the professional musician's anthem. Such a good song.

[@garytschosik2263]

Hands down my favorite Billy Joel song. One of the most cleverly written of all time, and not many can rhyme their lyrics like that.

[@floydpink37]

Tie for me between The Stranger and The Entertainer, both great.

[@mattgelfer]

“It was a beautiful song but it ran too long- if you’re gonna have a hit, ya gotta make it fit, so they cut it down to 3:05.” Gets me every time 👏

[@fanaticaldueling6337]

A great performance by a wonderful musician.

[@italianstallion9148]

A great performance by a wonderful band*. Everyone played an instrument here, not only one person was playing. I don't understand your logic.

[@AES1928]

Talk about a self fulfilling prophecy, what an entertainer he has been since my youth. I'm 64

[@SuperCaitlink]

Meeting him is on my bucket list

[@kirklyles1705]

Russell Javors KILLIN" that G chord!

[@TheKingRobot]

So true the lyrics in this song, "the things I did not know at first, I learned by doing twice" such prolific poetry

[@Out_of_My_Head]

So much of his material is underrated.

[@learyd1]

He is SUCH a king 😍

[@TAMINDCONTROL]

本日2024/1/24の東京ドーム公演の3曲目でしたね！生で観覧させてもらいました、ありがとうビリー✨

[@alanmilligan1218]

I finished work that night and raced home to see this guy, Billy Joel in The Old Grey Whistle Test. His hit, Just the Way you are had just charted in the UK, so I liked the look and sound of him. He knocked me out completely, I was 21 years old, played guitar/vocals, but Billy was light years ahead of me, and most others on the musical scene. This was just the start of his world ascent, all my friends and family ended up loving his repertoire, and so did most of the World. Have saw him 5 times, including London and Madison Square Gardens New York. Incredible .

[@PsalmsWest]

A lyrical genius, and master of composition. Timeless Art.

[@dianastark1951]

Love you Billy, great music still enjoying your music in my 73rd year. 2024 love love ❤️

[@amyalexander8256]

my guy is playin piano keyboard and singin at the same time and hear i can barely play guitar and sing the chorus of a song that i know by heart. dude is EXTREMLY talented.

[@davidheilman1928]

I've heard this song hundreds of times. Each time feels like the first! Amazing.

[@jenRWfan]

The words to this song relate to many singers . They come, they go ...!

[@stefe7579]

Yes, but I hope this isn't about Billy Joel! Btw nice pic (^_-)

[@jenRWfan]

No definitively not Billy 😊

[@junebermingham9300]

Saw a documentary on Billys life.,,long time ago,,when he was younger he had a lot of struggles,,he had to work really hard to get where he is today,,He deserves all the good luck and love he gets,,

[@ClassicTVMan1981X]

@@stefe7579 It was about him in his struggling early days ("Today, I am your champion, I may have won your hearts/But I know the game, you'll forget my name/And I won't be here in another year/If I don't stay on the charts")... the fifth verse was about the unexpected chart success of his 1973 single "Piano Man" from the album of the same name, and how some radio stations had to play the edited version ("It was a beautiful song, but it ran too long/If you're gonna have a hit, you gotta make it fit/So they cut it down to 3:05").

[@pcb415]

Liberty was one of the greatest drummers ever!

[@srtjhsrzdfhkgdf9961]

観られてよかったです！ありがとうございます！

[@victormirabelli5895]

The Entertainer, which was from 1974's Streetlife Serenader, only reached the top 40, and didn't reach the success of The Piano Man#25 in early 1974. I really enjoy Billy Joel's earlier material then his 80s-90s output. I wish he would play this song in concert. Ive seen him perform a dozen times since, 1984, and he never played it.

[@charleskelly6327]

he just did last Friday 4/26 at MSG

[@BrendanMahoney-jk7nu]

I really liked how he made a song about being "pissed off" in the record industry.Very creative !!!!

[@williampasternak1623]

The idol of our age ❤

[@robindew9072]

There will never be another like Billy Joel. He is spectacular

[@JB19504]

Great lyrics!

[@plernhaddock9588]

can we also recognise that guitarist at the beginning wOw

[@darren.plateroti]

That's Mr. Russell Javors for ya. Was a fantastic rhythm player for most of his time with Billy (though he is lead on this one), and unfairly got the boot with bassist Doug Stegmeyer after The Bridge tour so new musicians could come in.

[@italianstallion9148]

Recognize* & Russell Javors.

[@eddyvideostar]

@@darren.plateroti Was this the reason? What year was this, was this 1977?

[@connorcrabb2811]

@@darren.plateroti I think he was amazing like the rest of you but I think he got replaced because he wasn't doing as much anymore while they were playing. It was sad when they all got let go but I guess that's the music business for you. At least they are all still jamming together with lords of 52nd street, they are pretty good. Loved all the original band members.

[@connorcrabb2811]

@@eddyvideostar Billy said that they isolated his guitar one time and it was just pluck.......pluck.......pluck but who knows I think they all kind of knew while on the bridge to Russia tour it was all kinda coming to an end. Sad but times change and the original band members still play in a group called lords of 52nd street.

[@GeorgeRuth7]

Genius at work

[@fetijajasari6624]

He hits the nail! Soooo true!

[@martintheresume8054]

Good music

[@DanielTarbox]

FUN FACT: The verse "It was a beautiful song / But it ran too long / If you're gonna have a hit / You gotta make it fit / So they cut it down to three-o-five" is a reference to shortening the length of "Piano Man" while its full length is 5:38.

[@thaithommy]

Whow, the Entertainer ❤

[@aneeksaha7068]

Billy Joel sings with so much passion

[@thomaspirozzi6797]

I’ll always love how perfectly passive aggressive the line “if you wanna have a hit you gotta make it quick, so they cut it down to 3:05” I can feel the anger from billy at the studio

[@robertobravo7714]

Such a tight performance!

[@leojbramble]

just a masterpiece

[@silversliver1592]

HOLY CRAP ... WHAT A PERFORMANCE AND VOICE

[@colincostello1630]

The lyrical intro is one of the best ive ever heard

[@paulbradbury2613]

Was there and it was amazing , goosebumps . So lucky to have seen Billy Mike and all the talented people perform in the UK and the holy grail MSG

[@marymazzanti2073]

Billy Joel is the entertainer

[@markjamesmeli2520]

So much adrenaline. They have the tempo flying.

[@GaryGoldbaugh]

Billy has awesome piano chops...he studied for years with famed classical concert pianist Morton Estrich....🎹

[@dannytyrant]

This chord structure is straight out of Newfoundland. Love it! Nobody else pulls this off

[@glennknauer2696]

the drummer kicks ass!

[@matthewdrabczyk9040]

ok, so, i don't know when someone last commented on this, but my goodness you cannot get more close to perfection playing this song live! Just in my opinion, Billy Joel at his most awesome and his most creative and real!

[@aauaustralia4619]

Was so stoked to hear him play this live at the garden in may. Great live or off the album.

[@AudioFileZ]

I love Doug's bass playing on this track so much. Gone way too soon he was great and is missed. I saw BJ on this tour and he was really engaged and full of energy. This was a band as much as most bands ever achieve, not just the singer and his rotating cast. The best years were anchored with these guys.

[@AudioFileZ]

@Sam Hill ABSOLUTELY RIGHT! No matter how quality the musicians that later toured with Billy it never got nearly as good.

[@kapwapoedolomitetalabritne8841]

Russel Javors guitar intro

[@dreamspinner3mn]

Nobody does it better than Billy.

[@thefool2007]

Damn BJ is so amazing. I'd pay to go back in time and see an early concert like this. Such talent, such raw energy, such a performer and this band behind him is stellar. I've been fan since I was a child in the 80's and never get tired of Billy or his amazing music. Thanks Billy for making my life bearable and enjoyable with this awesome music.

[@kapparomeo]

Fun fact: go to 3:05 and the line is "like another can of beans". With the complaint of the 3:05 verse being how pop music can be a production-line, that feels serendipitious and poetic.

[@Eddie-j3s6e]

I always thought he said like another can of beer! Oh well!

[@dansaucier6539]

The single greatest musician of my lifetime.

[@leojbramble]

props to Alexa for becoming a musician; if he were my dad, I'd have become an architect or a cobbler, or a teacher... ANYTHING but a musician! Too much shadow...

[@cards0486]

Gosh!! I love this song!! He took the crummy things he went through, dishonest managing, all his hard work, and not getting what he deserved, and just how hard that kind of life is, and composed one of the best songs he ever did. I never get tired of it.

[@Eddie-j3s6e]

This song should be released! So damn underrated!

[@cupsizematters21]

Brilliant song writer 🙏

[@alexrader3647]

Lord how we need this now...

[@brianparks9968]

You will always be on the charts

[@mattrobledo4871]

He just says it how it is, love this song

[@andygandromeda392]

One of my favorite songs. When I first heard it, many years ago, the sound of the Moog captivated me. Hearing it live today makes me relive that experience. Thanks for uploading it.

[@juliegibson8536]

I’ve seen Billy live many times and he’s as good today as he sounded in the 70s. He’s a legend.

[@girlfromthebronxbywayofelb7288]

The organ!!! Delicious!🗽 🎶🎵🎶🗽

[@hatefullll]

How do i love Billy Joel......let me count the ways....nope. that would take too long. 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜

[@jarretgrathwol4790]

Ripping that MiniMoog

[@danielhkhk7283]

This is so difficult to sing and play, but he makes it look so easy. Wonderful.

[@ricstormwolf]

My favorite song by Billy Joel

[@rwbpiano]

Very true about the music business, then and now

[@robindew9072]

Such talent. Another amazing song.

[@chrsmi14]

One of the best songs ever...and a great version right here...

[@uncletiggermclaren7592]

Congratulations on your new release. Song track of my life, you , Bowie, Beatles, Joan Armatrading, Marley, Scratch Perry.

[@florancerudi]

The stranger and 52nd Street were albums I got when I was about 10 or 12 years old.... My love for music began thanks to this man This is some really cool excellent footage of a very young Billy Joel........ Bravo

[@kylekerwin4993]

The purity of the instrumental sound, lyrics, genuine vocals and throwback video is epic. What a great song. Love the lyrical mention “if your gonna have a hit, you got to make it fit, so they cut down to 3:05”. Radio wanting shorter songs for air play time. I love the dig to Radio on calling them out. Shame even today you’ll never here a 10-12 minute song play. A generation in the dark by Radio not honoring so much talent is a crime in itself.

[@jonpayne4931]

Absolutely outstanding.

[@fernandogarcia-dx5fh]

Muy entretenida es está cancion

[@pamalford8319]

One of many reasons why he is a Gershwin Prize winner. One of the greatest songwriters ever.

[@ricofama1785]

I remember this song impressed me when it first came out and it still holds up...great musicians, great song

[@ostermanumbrellaco.7445]

I discovered while having a Billy Joel hits on auto play while I was asleep and I awoke to the synth playing and WOW was I mesmerised by thinking off nothing and hearing this song. One my of favourites

[@Atleastihavemydog]

I’m so glad he put words to this song. It’s great!

[@khurramakhteronline]

Aaahhh wow what a memories!

[@jeffreywright2294]

Good old days Awesome song 🎵

[@JFinSD2]

You just don't hear this song enough. It was a moderate hit that should have been more popular

[@christopherback2103]

He's a really good singer

[@datweirdhomeschoolgirl1150]

It is so crazy that music used to be this good

[@xbocax16]

One of my favorites from Billy

[@davidferrier8659]

Great song

[@thaithommy]

Ooold stuff, but true.. ❤I love his Songs... Lyrics.. And still he is a Jesús to me

[@lunamai5668]

Hes very ambidextrous (Billy)

[@ShedeasVideos]

Love the way you get that portamento and sustain happening in a matter of seconds!

[@donaldmatthew4980]

A 100 years ago, and still here, go on Billy. X

[@thethomasnatproject725]

Excellent song It basically says it all…

[@thethomasnatproject725]

And the best band performance

[@williampasternak1623]

Billy Joel a national treasure.

[@STarWalker8]

This is for you Benny xx

[@spinipsFI]

Epic!

[@lisalee2885]

What a great time there...he was on fire 😎👍💜👍😎

[@NorthofYou1]

He should never have given up on his band.

[@kapwapoedolomitetalabritne8841]

Russel Javors strumming style made some magic to Gmajor chord