Brit Reacts To BILLY JOEL - PIANO MAN!

[@medicisdad1]

Can;t go wrong with Billy Joel. Every song is great. BTW, he plays the harmonica himself on most of his songs.

[@patswanson2870]

I am glad I grew up in 60’s and 70’s when there was such a variety of music played on the radio from folk, country, rock, blues, soul, Motown, instrumentals etc.

[@mitchshelton2995]

Yes , we were very fortunate to have had such a great music of all kinds in our time. I still listen to the “ classic “ rock music. Love and respect.

[@Lakeshore14]

Agree 100%. 👍

[@Mkproduction2]

70s.. Great Music, bad clothes.. Somewhere there's a picture of all 6'5"s and 285lbs of myself at a Football awards banquet wearing a pale green Leisure Suit......... Insert joke here...

[@patswanson2870]

I think I did OK. I was into the casual side of the 70’s, Lee jeans (not Levi’s) tie dyed T shirts and Adidas.

[@dow311]

I didn’t have one type of music that I liked, I liked what I liked.

[@dagmar.6954]

This is such a great story telling song. This was Billy's first single released in 1973. "Piano Man" is based on Billy Joel's real-life experiences as a lounge musician in Los Angeles. The song is sung from Joel's point of view as a piano player at a bar, reminiscing about his experiences there & the people he encountered.

[@jaythomaso9311]

One of the greatest songs of all time..

[@lynnegulbrand2298]

WOW I can’t believe it was that long ago. I was 15 when that was made.

[@thomastimlin1724]

@@lynnegulbrand2298 17 for me.

[@killinglonliness88]

Not just LA, but all over. My gram knew him personally when he used to frequent bars on Long Island, before he got big, but he would still play just like this.

[@JaneSmith-lu8ol]

Billy Joel is brilliant and has so many great songs. You can’t go wrong.

[@TonyM1961]

HUGE repertoire of hits. This man is a legend. I think you would also like For The Longest Time, Uptown Girl, Moving Out and Big Shot. All bangers

[@SuperSailorOutlawGeorgeIshaq]

Billy Joel is a legend 😊

[@jimtatro6550]

I was born in 1967. Billy Joel, along with Bob Seger, Tom Petty, and Elton John, pretty much provided the soundtrack from my early childhood.

[@lizhasbrouck1376]

I was born in 1953..you can only imagine the changes in music I have seen...the first 45rpm I ever bought was "fingertips" by Stevie Wonder.

[@glennjones2635]

That line "They're sharing a drink called lonliness, but it's better than drinking alone" gets me every time

[@leeannmcdermott8313]

“Goodnight Saigon” is one of my favorites by Billy Joel

[@kimberlycorliss9616]

Kabir, wonderful observation about everyone having their own rich and significant story. Such a great song to sing to.

[@kabirconsiders]

It’s so true isn’t it. I think we forget that. Every person we pass on the street has their own unique story

[@yvonnewakefield7748]

@Kabir_Considers You found *the* best 'Piano Man' video ever! A 1959 baby who has followed Billy Joel for his forever career, never have I seen such a perfect visual interpretation of this classic song. Thank you! As others commented -- you will not go wrong with, h*ll won't dislike, any Billy Joel song. Thank you ❣

[@lorriredmon8212]

One of the best songs ever written. Billy Joel is a beast at storytelling songs. Loved your reaction!

[@williamjones6031]

This was his break-out hit that started his journey to stardom. The story is about the people he met working dive bars and honky tonks in New York city. My name's not Davy, but I stayed in the Navy for life. The video takes a little of my imagination. Example: A sailor in uniform doesn't need to point it out. Just a toast to his mate Paul would work. "Yes, they're sharing a drink they call loneliness, but it's better than drinking alone."

[@Pauba1946]

Kabir, I can’t believe you have never heard on of the greatest songs EVER! I am glad you did this.

[@edwardhubschman3610]

One of my all time favorites. Billy’s got at least 25 others just as brilliant, mostly all different, and all which you’ll love. One of the all time great singer/songwriter/musicians with a rabbit hole as deep and diverse as they get. Try Themes From an Italian Restaurant, Just the Way you Are, Downeaster Alexa, Always a Woman, And So it Goes, River of Dreams and Vienna just for starters. You’ll have only scratched surface but will likely want to go much deeper.

[@leslieoneal4464]

The entire "The Stranger" album is brilliant! I noticed you listed more than a few from it. 😉👍❤ Heck, even though there are some I love more than others, there's really not a bad song in his catalog! His music was a big part of the soundtrack of my youth; always makes me nostalgic.

[@KaylaYeager-mz5sd]

More Billy ❤❤ so freaking awesome ❤❤

[@IZZY_EDIBLE]

The wife & I saw Billy Joel live a few months back, and the man is still singing every note like he did 50 years ago and playing his ass off. Consumate songwriter, singer, musician, and entertainer. His storytelling is legendary.

[@reverbscherzo7850]

Love this song. Billy Joel is such a great rabbit hole to go down. I highly recommend "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant". It's a whole movie of a story-song that seems to take place partly in that painting you have hanging above your left shoulder there. 💚

[@randellmainer]

I second this!

[@talesofcinderella]

I absolutely love this song. Always makes me happy. His song My Life changed my life. I'm glad you included the video.

[@cshubs]

His album The Stranger is one of the first three albums I ever bought, ca 1982.

[@Altessee2145]

I love that you're doing this. And I love that you did THIS song specifically. It's so iconic and brings back so much emotion and nostalgia. I remember seeing him live and starting this song as the encore and then stopping halfway through and then just letting the audience sing the rest.

[@kimsatchell4389]

Billy Joel is my favorite singer. There is nothing like singing Piano Man live with thousands of people. Chills!

[@bidwell13]

This song is amazing. It’s based on real life experience of him in a Piano Lounge. The waitress was his first wife and all the people he’s talking about were real people in the lounge. He had to play in the lounge from 72-73 cause he couldn’t get out of a contract and his agent had him hide out in Los Angeles while he worked on it. Billy Joel couldn’t sit around and do nothing and he couldn’t perform under “Billy Joel” so he got a job in the piano lounge under the name “Bill Martin”. His legal name is Willam Martin Joel so he used his middle name as his last name for this gig. Hope you check out his new song in 17 years called “Turn the Lights Back On”. It’s such a great song. Another older one to listen to that is great for mental health awareness is “ You’re Only Human(Second Wind)”. He himself struggled with mental health issues and tried ending his life once.

[@randellmainer]

Kabir! Billy Joel is one of the greatest songwriters of all time. All of his songs are great!!

[@randellmainer]

Some of my favorites are Scenes From an Italian Restaurant, Don't Ask Me Why, Vienna, The Stranger, An Innocent Man, and many more. I could go on and on. Lol

[@laurataylor8717]

When I was in college, this was one of our drinking songs when we had dorm parties. Good times. I don't know when it came out, but I know we loved the timelessness of it.

[@jessm89]

It was one of the best college songs! It came out in 1973, I was in college in the late 80s-early 90s, and we loved it.

[@carriemichelle322]

Every lyric is Bars!! Check out GOODNIGHT SIAGNON. It's about Vietnam War and every concert he has veterans on stage singing the chorus. So powerful!! ❤

[@gotham61]

Billy Joel reamins massively popular here in the US, especially in the New York area. For the last decade he has played one show per month at Madison Square garden, a 20,000 seat area, selling out almost every time. He recently announced that he will end the run this summer with his 150th show at the venue.

[@AlexHernandez-yb9rx]

Man, this is one of my favorites by Billy Joel. He’s so talented 💕

[@rebeccahanson6941]

Love this song. Such a classic. This is a song that would come on while you are sitting at the bar and everyone starts singing along and swaying to it. Billy Joel and Elton John were good friends both being great singers and pianists. They did a tour together in the 90’s that was basically dueling pianos. I heard it was amazing. They have done a lot of concerts together.

[@dionysiacosmos]

Yes! I was born in 1959 and to have two singer/composers of this quality in my lifetime is a privilege. Paul McCartney and Billy Joel brought music up so high in the 70s. As well as John Denver, Jim Croce, Dennis Wilson, John Fogerty, Randy Bachman... I could go on and on, but Paul and Billy were the consistent headliners.

[@janethernandez724]

Oh, how I love this song when it came out, you are correct it is a relatable song to many people. The story telling is from his point of view as the piano man and it is amazing the way he captured the experiences of those people he sings about. I'm so glad I grew up listening to many different genres of music, my earliest memory for me begins in 1970 when I was little, I have an older brother so music is what we would enjoy listening to either on the record player or the radio. We grew up listening to what our parents enjoyed and the music we enjoyed. I hope you continue to broaden your horizon concerning music, there's a lot of wonderful storytelling songs out there for you to discover and enjoy! Peace. ☮

[@markmurphy558]

IMO, his best song is Scenes From An Italian Restaurant, structurally similar to Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody.

[@janettebolin2991]

One of my all-time favorite songs and Billy Joel one of my favorite artist! Saw him and Elton John together in concert. Grew up in the 60’s and 70’s. Best music ever!

[@genny5309]

I saw them together in 1994 in Atlanta… one of my top 5 favorite concerts ever.

[@TheNotedHero]

"Yes they're sharing a drink they call Loneliness but it's better than drinking alone". One of the best lines ever written. Dude, you need to go down a Billy Joel rabbit hole. He's legit one of the greatest musical storytellers. Once you've listened to a few, check out the Kennedy Center Honors 2013 video where he was honoured. A bunch of artists performed his songs for him in front of a massive audience. And you get to hear about his back story.

[@xenotbbbeats7209]

"Vienna," "Italian Restaurant," "New York State of Mind." Paul McCartney wishes he was half the musician Joel is. His father was a concert pianist, and Billy taught classical music composition courses in college. He was one of those child prodegies.He is in the class with classical musicians but admittedly soldout to make the big bucks. You ought to listen to the album "Turnstyles." His genius shows through more obviously. Prelude to "Angry Young Man" used to bruise my little hands when I played it by ear as a young teen. In order to play "Rootbeer Rag," I had to use a melted taperecorder that sat at the back of a pickup truck in the hot sun for too long to slow it way down, then transposed it to the right key and slowly built up to the correct speed. He made Scott Joplin sound asleep.

[@seanscanlon9067]

".......and Billy taught classical music composition courses in college". I am not sure that part is actually the case, but he did do a series of audience Q&As over several years and at times they would be held at colleges, but as far as I know he did not do any teaching per se and just answered questions on his career from the audience, which will have been music students when the venues were colleges. I am not sure about the "sold out to make big bucks" part either, but still.

[@bugvswindshield]

Billy's got Bars! great reaction to a great song!

[@adideles7977]

A very powerful song!! It's great watching reactors open to different styles of music! 💝💞

[@jamestripp239]

Definitely one of the top 10 greatest American singer song writers

[@reneerocha1796]

Can’t believe you haven’t heard this one yet…..I know you enjoyed it…don’t even have to wonder. He writes phenomenal songs--a genius lyricist and an incredible singer and musician!! His catalogue covers decades and all genres. 😊❤

[@sandrahutto]

Billy Joel has such a long and amazing career. I love his songwriting skills, he really is a great storyteller.

[@LizJasonHEA]

Definitely run down the Billy Joel rabbit hole as fast as you can. You won't regret it. Try Yellow Brick Road, River of Dreams, Crocodile Rock, Italian Restaurant and We Didn't Start the Fire for a cross section of his music. Billy is the Elton John of the US. Lucky for my gen, we got to hear them first! I don't know that there will ever be another time when the music is as great as it was in the 60s & 70s.. It was raw, pure, from the heart, not just written to get played on the radio and not just commercialized. They didn't all try to sound like each other because music executives weren't looking for the next Elvis or the next Aretha. They were just looking for the best. I'm so glad I have memories of seeing Billy Joel and Sir Elton John in concert more than once in their primes.

[@lornadoone65]

I wore out my Billy Joel records playing them so much. 😊❤️😊❤️🙁❤️😊❤️

[@drewcliff82]

Definitely one of the best songs ever. I would recommend doing his song "Shameless" next.

[@sandygrunwaldt1780]

Thanks for reacting to this song. One that can still be enjoyed in 2024. Love From Michigan and again it's a rather warm Evening temp is 32 degrees.

[@johntarleton6330]

Yes Billy is a big Beatles fan and channels McCartney in his vocals. Bless you Billy

[@hopeklemann1]

so happy to see you're starting to do more music reactions!😊

[@philburton2223]

I 've heard this song all my life & never 🤔 considered your 1st observation that it could be a Beatles Paul McCartney song. Very observant on your part. I was 3 when this song came out but Billy was still banging out hits when I was a teen & well into the 90' s. Billy is like Elton; cross generational & decades. Keep reacting to music from previous decades 👍

[@ellenstrack6274]

Billy Joel was great at writing story songs based on things and feeling friends told him about. "Goodnight Saigon" is one and "The Downeaster Alexia" is anothrr. And seeing Billy Joel in person many times over the years, you are never disappointed by the show.

[@ThatShyGuyMatt]

My fav song of his really. Good lyrics, beat, emotions....etc. Perfect. One of the few songs I can play on the piano. I think it was the song that even got me into piano.

[@BrianAbbot-pk5mf]

This is a total bar tune. I remember being in bars bake in the day when the entire bar would belt out this tune.

[@jamesalexander5623]

Billy Joel's Songs ARE Life Stories!

[@dranet47]

You experienced "sonder." It's the realization that everyone around you has their own lives and ambitions. This song perfectly describes that.

[@circemuller1933]

Thanks for the old Music,perfect

[@jonpoetzl126]

You need to learn the back story to this song, it will add a new layer of appreciation to the song

[@ellen6638]

You're absolutely right the record company did him dirty.

[@baskervillebee6097]

51 years and as good as the first time.😊

[@chrisfuller2069]

You are spot on with your Paul McCartney comment. Brilliant observation.

[@debbiewashabaugh9891]

He actually wrote this song because he had signed a bad recording contract and refused to record for them so he sang in bars and small clubs until the contract expired. This song was based on a compilation of people he got to know during that time. It’s such a wonderful story of somebody’s regular bar that they would go to a couple of times a week and see the same friends.

[@janeknisely4383]

Ballads never die.

[@simmerra]

More Billy Joel please. I really like, We Didn't Start the Fire, New York State of Mind, or The Downeaster Alexa. His stories set a mood.

[@lynnie6633]

He's one of the GOATs, his catalog is HUGE, 13 albums to date!!

[@benrast1755]

In my opinion, one of the most compelling lines in the song is "they're sharing a drink they call loneliness, but it's better than drinking alone."

[@reneehomen2226]

Billy Joel is a good story telling songwriter. So good.

[@Elevatedzebra96]

Oh god!! Cap uni (capital university Columbus Ohio) had a local bar (lots of universities did this song in dive bars but I’d meet friends at this one) and this song would play and everyone would drunk sing the shit out of piano man.. Lipzig Haus was the dive bar..

[@BirchLeafPhotography]

When I was in the Navy, this was one of our anthems. They'd usually close down the military bar at the end of the night with this song, and when it got to the part where it talked about the Davy in the Navy, the entire bar sang that line, LOUD! "...and he's talkin to Davy, who's still in the Navy, and probably will be for life!"

[@karensamuelson8746]

Do a stevie ray Vaughan reaction. Blues

[@nelsonhemstreet3568]

My favorite song of his "And So It Goes". Billy has stated that the Beatles were one of his majority influences.

[@Olivia-fm2gw]

Billy Joel's biggest hit, but try New York State of Mind, Goodnight Saigon, Scenes from an Italian Restaurant, Downeaster Alexa, Allentown-- so many great songs. He's brilliant, a great storyteller.

[@mitzaz8812]

Goosebumps!!!! ❤

[@What_Makes_Climate_Tick]

Billy's early period had some of his best epic ballads. Scenes from an Italian Restaurant and Miami 2017 (sometimes considered a foretelling of the 9/11 disaster) are also recommended. I've also watched some YT videos comparing different accents of English, and one mentioned Scenes From... as an example of an American with a New York accent using an "intrusive r" more typical of British. The protagonists of that story are named Brenda and Eddie, but he always sings "Brender and Eddie".

[@PromLesbian]

I could see this in a British Pub.

[@jasonlengyel1104]

Good choice. The official video really helps tell the story.

[@garnet0101]

Hello. I saw Billy Joel/Elton John in 1995. SIX ROW. Best time of my life. Billy plays the harmonica attached to his shoulders. Can you believe he said he does not like his voice?

[@michellemcdowell8570]

Billy is my FAVORITE, but Chicago is probably a close second

[@lukewalters2457]

If you like harmonica, check out Ozark Mountain Daredevils, the song, If you want to get to heaven!😀

[@nascarmama123]

Billy Joel was married to model Christy Brinkley. She’s in his Uptown Girl video… another you should check out!

[@PattiB333]

You might want to check out Billy’s performance of “New York State of Mind” on The Old Grey Whistle Test. 👍👍

[@Allwayspsychic]

If u haven't already listened to them, check out Chicago. I think u'd like them. Especially their 1970 Tanglewood live performance (it's the best). I suggest starting w 25 or 6 to 4. Then Beginnings. I'm a Man is incredible also. It's the original lineup & they r still touring & recording after 57 years 😱 W only 3 original members. They're one of my fave bands Love ur videos Hi from South Florida in the US btw 😊

[@user-mu9wt5yu4d]

You might want to listen to " We Didn't Start The Fire" by Joel. It's the best history lesson of the big events from the 40's to the 90's. A wonderful song.

[@matthewjund3355]

Lawn Guyland’s own! Raised on this man

[@mellycook]

Billy is way better than the Beatles. Love all his songs “We didn’t start the Fire” is really good

[@user-po3ev7is5w]

That's life

[@chrscmo]

Always love your reactions but I'm shocked that you just got to this song. Billy is a national treasure!! Hope you catch a live version to experience the sing- a-long. Yankee stadium is probably the best one on KZbin

[@TheAes86]

He Just came out with a new song Yesterday. After 31 years. Really good.He and Elton John were probably the top 2 solo artists of the 70's. At least in adult contemporary.

[@tandaknights9047]

In this venue, “Cats in the Cradle” or “Those were the days” artist elude me now I think first is Cat Stevens and the second is female, older song

[@liztipps8919]

Those Were The Days is Mary Hopkin. She recorded on the Beatles label. Awesome song. Love you doing these reactions. Try Lynard Skynard

[@brianwalker5937]

Everybody has their own story and is rich and significant and when you're walking down the street you don't really consider that. Or something to that effect. My friend, those words are so true. And I would add, that so many people don't realize that about themselves, that they are significant. I struggle with it myself, but what helps lift me is to remember everybody is significant. This is one of those songs that is somewhat thought provoking, kinda sad, but kinda says you're not alone.

[@brina4058]

I am loving your music journey. One song you should check out at some point is "For What it's Worth" by Buffalo Springfield. It's amazing how something from the past can still be relevant decades later.

[@macyjensen3390]

He was great at the Grammys! You should look it up if you didn’t catch it!

[@pamelahoracek]

I started my life in the 1961 and as I got older (listening to the radio back then), I liked more of the folk, slower songs of the time, Burt Bacharach, Dionne Warwick, the Carpenters, and even Glenn Miller's band music of the 1940's and even older songs. My mom called me as a child, an old lady because she was into Elvis, the Jackson 5, Michael Jackson, John Travolta (I do not know how many times she went to the theater to watch Grease and Saturday Night Fever because Travolta was in it and she was the fan of Welcome Back Kotter on TV), etc... also the older songs of her youth and young adult years. I hate to say, maybe I did not appreciate those singers because my mom like it and that turned me off to listening to them. The only one I think we both like was Johnny Mathis. I really respect more of the writers/words of the song, and it will be great if they would be the singers too. Which Billy Joel is one of them. The only live concert of my choice was in the 1990's was Burt Bacharach with Dionne Warwick. I would have loved to see the Carpenter's, but sadly Karen of the group had passed away. Before You Tube watching, I quit listening to the Carpenter's because of Karen's death and how hard it was to listen to her voice and the reason she had passed away, but now I am back enjoying listening and watching the Carpenter's videos (roughly 40 years after her death). Through the years and through the boyfriends, I heard the hard rock music of the 1970-80's and the only one I had a liking to was Pink Floyd. I think it was because of the words. All of the other rock songs/groups were just a lot of noise to me. Then my husband a country music fan and 1950's rock n roll I was introduced to. It's okay the story telling of the country music. I did favor Garth Brooks and the younger, sweeter, innocence of Taylor Swift. My husband did not feel Garth Brooks was his kind of country and he did not care for the theatrics of his stage performance. Through him, I went to concerts of Tammy Wynette and Merle Haggard (I hate to say, I slept through part of it, maybe I was tired since it was after work). I have been slow with getting up to technology. I got my first computer and cell phone almost four years ago because of my husband's illness (he passed away in 2020 of covid). I am still not good on using the new technology, but I found You Tube last year. I quit watching TV and spend my extra free time watching You Tube. I enjoy watching these reaction videos of the young listening to songs from decades ago (and most before they were born) that I remembered. I am pleased many of you KZbinrs enjoy these songs and have an appreciation of them and willing to listen and be open minded when this might be new to you with the type of songs you prefer. When I was younger and even before You Tube, I was not that adventurous to be open to listen to different music of then and now. It does bring back memories of the songs of my past. And it has opened me up to the songs back in those days I would not take the time to listen to and I too are listening to it the first time with you. I found a new love for Queen, Weird Al Yankovic, Johnny Cash, Kenny Rogers, the Beetles and even Elvis (I do prefer the slower songs with some meaning behind it to learn from and I always like his gospel singing, the only 8 track tape of Elvis I did not mind listening when my mom was driving the car), the Bee Gees (I always like their 1960 early 70's songs, but now I found a new ear for the Disco stuff). My nights now are filled with listening over and over again the old songs and the reactions of the You Tubers and also your other car chase videos and the Brits reactions of America's things. I hope you had a nice vacation in the U.S., and I hope you continue to visit here. There is so much to see and maybe see again. This particular song of Billy Joel reminds me of (and maybe it is only my imagination or stereotyping I have seen from movies) a pub someplace in Ireland. Of what I remembered about going to bars, I do not think everyone is as friendly and joining in singing with the piano man. Of course, now, smoking is not allowed, spanking a waitress is out and obviously no staring down the shirts of the staff. How times have changed from the 70/80's.

[@margaretwaters7961]

Kabir , I have a request , one of my favorite Billy Joel songs of all time...New York State of Mind . When 911 occured new York gave people free movies etc. To lift our spirits and moral. This was a free concert for NY PD , NY fire fighters , First Responders Long story short Billie Joel plays this NYC iconic song for them and all New Yorkers . It was sad and so special at the same time . Which makes it more personal to me now . If you will , can you do it in honor of the service they gave us that day , that we can never repay . From a Native New Yorker . Ms. Waters This footage of the concert is available . You'll see them all wearing their uniforms . Thank you Kabir .

[@corkyduke8673]

You've got to do a reaction video to the Billy Joel video, You're Only Human (Don't Forget Your Second Wind) that video saved my life.

[@barrellracer]

You might enjoy Billy Joel singing in the animated movie Oliver & Company (1998) He's portraying a dog named Artful Dodger ...

[@scrambler69-xk3kv]

Kabir there is a band that you truly need to hear. They are (KC And The Sunshine Band) And they have a number of realy great songs and I suggesst the first one you listen to is (Boogie shoes.)

[@janetmoreno8909]

You should listen to "We didn't start the fire". Great artist.

[@Wellch]

The piano man on a cruise ship usually are fun.

[@Mkproduction2]

Billy Joel was married to Christy Brinkley the Sports Illustrated Sports Cover Girl. Rick Charleston SC

[@WorldwideWyatt]

It’s funny that you said he gives you Beatles vibes, I don’t really hear it myself but Billy has said many many times that the Beatles were a huge influence on him. Billy Joel is one of Americas greatest songwriters, plenty of tunes to choose from. I recommend Only The Good Die Young.

[@MatthewC137]

Can't believe the song is 50 years old.

[@cynthiahaun9269]

I would really love to see you react to the artist Enya ...she does all the vocals and all the instrumental

[@ericturner7824]

There is another video of him at the piano, he is actually playing the harmonica and the piano at the same time....kind of like Bob Dylan did...He and Elton John were contemporaries....found next to each other in the record aisles....Storytellling at its best!...I would also suggest the late artist Harry Chapin and Gordon Lightfoot...Paul Simon as well....>^^

[@catw6998]

Wow, a really young Billy Joel 🫶🏼.