Rapper FIRST time REACTION to Billy Joel - New York State Of Mind! Did this INSPIRE Nas?

[@TruckerMike_FL]

My favorite Billy Joel is "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant"

[@floyd2222]

Me too!!! Oh, and also Vienna Waits For You.... ;-)

[@Ontheroxxwithsalt]

I also love that song. Why he didn't do that one with the amazing storytelling is beyond me.

[@ordinaryvalley]

Thats Billy Joel’s favorite song too:)

[@riccardoangeli802]

Live

[@karenkat1111]

​@@floyd2222 Definitely Vienna!

[@mandarinlearner]

When Billy performed this at the Concert for 9/11 with a fireman's helmet on his piano....absolutely moving and priceless

[@ninstone3457]

I read you comment and had to go back and watch it - amazing...

[@TheDivayenta]

The perfect song on that night.

[@anastasiabeaverhausen2647]

YES

[@lilamuzik3385]

I keep saying and saying until you hear me... ." Goodnight Saigon".

[@tamtam7546]

YES!

[@etc7070]

Yes! This will definitely show them another different side to Billy. Bonus is that the official video is also a live performance.

[@cerisewilson4088]

YES!!!!

[@sharonfleshman6961]

Yep, Goodnight, Saigon. Especially with your contact with the military.

[@jacqueline4514]

Omg yes; cannot hear it and not tear up 😢

[@stuBdoc]

In this performance, he's channeling Ray Charles, his singing style and mannerisms, as a tribute. If you didn't catch it, go back and watch it again.

[@justkaron]

I was coming here to say that about him channeling Ray Charles in this. Ray was one of his BIG influences

[@sabrinapittsley2304]

His oldest daughter is named Alexa Ray Joel after RAY Charles.

[@maryt2290]

And he got to duet with Ray on his song Baby Grand

[@personalcheeses8073]

@@sabrinapittsley2304She is a wonderful musician too

[@TampaCEO]

100%. Imitation is the best form of flattery.

[@stacyvanvranken5934]

Now you need to do "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant" Billy Joel seriously crazy song but SOOOO awesome. Also great workout song and video is his song "Pressure".

[@JamesJohnson-ig6of]

"JUST THE WAY YOU ARE", one of Billy Joel's finest!

[@nygener]

My Wife a Broadway actress says: Billy Joel is show tunes for people that don't like to admit that they like show tunes

[@maybedrinkin3241]

There are people who don't like show tunes? The world is a strange place.🤔

[@eloisecarlin8695]

He’s a national treasure ,, thank you for this great song and reaction. I think, deep down, every American wants NYC to be a great city again. God willing, it will be.

[@katscully]

We need another Guiliani. 👍🙏

[@thestonedgeek8928]

​@@katscully f that noise.

[@katscully]

@@thestonedgeek8928 try again in straight English.

[@thestonedgeek8928]

@@katscully which word are you confused about? The letter f which is being shorthanded for a four letter word that KZbin won't let me post? Or it is the word "that", that is tripping you up? Maybe you are confused by what "noise" is?

[@reneadinaro8183]

Giuliani was a scum bag of a mayor and I hope katscully doesn't live in my great town.

[@cheriemelissa]

Billy is the goat!! He is so talented, song writing , musicianship and performance. Unbeatable!

[@yankee04]

You forgot story telling….he’s brilliant.

[@garybradford8332]

No two songs from Billy are the same and regardless of how many times you hear one, it doesn't get old. I was a NYC actor in 1977 when my girlfriend's brother came in all excited to play an album of this"new guy" he discovered playing a club downtown. We were hooked. "For the Longest Time" is full on doo-wop and "River of Dreams" will take you to church. A true artist, Billy Joel's music will live forever.

[@angelado3]

They don't make music like this anymore. So beautiful !!

[@iceman10129]

They do. You just dont listen to it. Lawrence is a great example. Allan Stone, Leon Bridges, Mayer Hawthorne.

[@nim4464]

@@iceman10129 thank you, its getting tiring hearing people say this, its definitely out there but you just gotta search for it a little harder now

[@redzwestisbest]

cuz not enough people will listen to it

[@roberormonde]

I guess you prefer crap wrap

[@karinlindae-fregoso802]

I would also recommend "Vienna" and "Only the Good Die Young. "

[@PJAC1]

Yes!!! 2 of my favourites!!!

[@FinallyTuned]

Billy Joel’s song “It’s Still Rock N Roll To Me” is about all the influences you talked about.

[@goosebump801]

“Next phase, new wave, dance craze, anyways…” 👍💐

[@jimmysidebottom4744]

Hot punk, cool funk even though it's old junk

[@VicEclectica]

A love letter to New York City - yes, that's exactly what it is. :) BTW, I'm a soon-to-be 63 year old white woman and I think Nas is an incredible talent. Have a good one.

[@tictocbang7443]

Same. Love love love Nas.

[@marypittman5821]

Billy Joel has some great songs, you haven't heard those yet, The Stranger album holds many of his greatest.

[@DaveIdiens]

I was lucky enough to see Billy live in Toronto, Ontario, Canada twice. Words cannot express how fabulous his shows 😮 were. I think he plays the sax as well. Too much. Thanks for reacting to him 🙏

[@DrewNMass]

Billy Joel holds the record for the most performances by any artist at Madison Square Garden.According to MSG, Billy Joel has sold out the arena over 100 times, solidifying his status as a musical legend. The record-breaking residency began in January 2014 with Joel playing one show every month at the Manhattan venue for, as he said at the time, “as long as the demand continues.” Every show has sold out since he began. his residency for 10 year coming to an end this July

[@marigoldenergy8512]

The last MSG show was tonight. The demand is still there, but I think the band is needing a change.

[@BB-yh5rd]

Billy Joel had 100 great songs by the time I was in 4th grade in 1980. This channel part of my daily routine, it reminds me of really cool stuff I haven't thought about for decades.

[@anastasiabeaverhausen2647]

that is exactly how I feel

[@jacqueline4514]

Having grown up in the Bronx in the 70’s, Brooklyn in the 80’s, and now living just across the water in NJ (can see the skyline just around the corner and down the street) I can say that native New Yorker Billy Joel’s “New York State Of Mind”, with his jazzy, bluesy, dramatic delivery is simply THE perfect NYC song. 🗽🗽🗽❤

[@TheDivayenta]

Much better than that Empire State of Mind knock- off.

[@tonyberezowski7859]

Billy Joel was my first concert, in 1989. No opening act, just Billy and his band for 3 and a half hours!!!!!!!! Amazing, simply amazing.

[@MadDuckofAus]

That tour was my first concert too. When He came to Melbourne Aus

[@hollymaxim4955]

Paris had been the art capitol of the world, but after WWII, it moved to NYC. You might say Billy is a member first generation of artists in the new capitol. NYC had a strong post-war zietgeist then, and his father being a German Jew escaping the Nazis, came to NYC as a classical pianist. He was born for this music.

[@user-or1ye3iz6d]

Billy Joel "SCENES FROM AN ITALIAN RESTAURANT" ❤❤❤

[@headache1959]

If you want to check out how good a whistler he is, check out "The Stranger." It will amaze you. I,m pretty sure you'll like the message of the song too.

[@Unitopia117]

I heard in an interview that Billy doesn't consider himself a singer but a player. I certainly get that. Man, that voice, though. ❤

[@jbach4311]

Obviously, this is a Tribute to his home town N.Y. But he always said Ray Charles had a HUGE influence on him. I saw Ray Charles in this one.

[@BadgerBJJ]

100%

[@LadyIarConnacht]

Billy Joel is a bona fide hit machine - Scenes from an Italian Restaurant, Piano Man, Only the Good Die Young, Still Rock and Roll, Just the Way You Are, Movin' Out, Always a Woman, Goodnight Saigon, Captain Jack - he'll amaze you with his diversity.

[@Renkk17]

Billy Joel - Pressure - Only the Good Die Young - Moving Out - My Life

[@mikecarew8329]

To see his range of styles: “Goodnight Saigon,” “Secens from an Italian Restaurant,” “Miami 2017 (The Lights Went Out on Broadway,” “Allentown,” “She’s Always a Woman,” many others but that’s a great start. To connect this to Piano Man - which you also reacted to: Billy lived in LA for years trying to make it (working gigs in piano bars in the meantime) and this song is in part about his desire to be out of the LA scene and back home in NY. He’s also said the style is very much his tribute to Ray Charles’ music - which really comes through in this performance.

[@NoAnimalLeftUnfedInc2015]

My man was scatting (improvising) musically on that sax.... Killed it

[@PurpleIris034]

Billy Joel is from Long Island NY. No matter what part of New York one is from it’s a vibe. I myself was born and raised in NYC. Thank you for reacting to this one and would love to see react to Frank Sinatra’s New York song.❤️🗽

[@cerisewilson4088]

Right after September 11th, there was a national televised fundraiser and Billy sang this. It was so beautiful and emotional. You should check it out. Also check out Billy’s song Goodnight Saigon.

[@Joepacalypse1107]

Billy is from Long Island. Truly a NY guy. He professed his love for his spot in this song.

[@amyaeschbach3581]

BP moved to NYC at 18 from FL. Sis made mixtape all NYC songs. This was 1st. Always in my heart. Became home! City was awesome early 90’s. Spent few nights per week at jazz clubs! FYI treat- Billy does once a month MSGs concert. Last month was 100th consecutive month. Aired live on TV. You want to see this song with NYers going crazy, you must check it out!!!!

[@lorigirard7239]

Now to understand his new song "Turn the lights back on " you'll understand why all of us die hard Billy fans get so emotional. .... waiting for over 20 years for a new song ! And no he didn't wait to long it was perfect time.....the world needed it ❤

[@LillyLillyLillyLillyLillyLilly]

Billy had a Broadway show done about his music and it was combined with a rock ballet choreographed by Twila Tharp. I’ve seen the thing three times live. It’s not on Broadway anymore, but you oughta at least see if you can find it and watch it because it intertwines Billy songs and attaches them to three couples as they’re living their lives, it’s absolutely phenomenal. I know you wouldn’t react to it because you’re not like a movie reaction channel or Broadway reaction channel but off the show is called movin’ out! And it’s out of this world.

[@Lisa-dn2gx]

I been to over 200 concerts throughout my life & I have a lot of great memories, great times & have seen some great performances. But I have to say that seeing Billy Joel was absolutely AMAZING!! Definitely 1 of the top 5 & would DEFINITELY go see him again!!

[@ContentHouseFilms]

I’m a 52 year old white boy and even I know that Sleep is the cousin of death 😝 I bought Illmatic when it first came out. Nas is a top 3 rapper no question! But if you grew up in NY in 70’s, 80’s or 90’s you were required by law to own Billy Joel’s Greatest Hits.

[@beverlybrown2673]

This is why at 75 he still sells out MSG (more than 100 times over the last 10 years!) just doing his hits from the 70s, 80s, and 90s. Just released his first new song in more than 20 years.

[@sandralybrand9425]

Billy Joel has always kept his home in NY his whole career!❤️

[@daniellegill7582]

Another amazing one from him is River of dreams. A complete shift in style again 😊

[@tamifaulkner4103]

He is an amazing and very sophisticated musician. I was able to go to a concert he did with Elton John and I was so blown away by how jazzy and sophisticated his music was. Just amazing.

[@shanegooding4839]

Keep the Billy Joel reactions coming BP.😊

[@cmilligan1970]

"She's got a way" is a great Billy Joel song. He has so many it us amazing.

[@deborahpaley21]

As a native New Yorker, this is so precious.

[@adamreed6336]

Another good one is Scenes from an Italian restaurant or his duet with Ray Charles Baby Grand

[@ASalvaro]

you guys have no idea how excited i get when i see a new Billy Joel reaction come up on my feed! lol

[@elizabethsantersero9597]

Love Billy Joel! His 52nd Street was the first and last album I ever heard that I still listen to every single song.

[@seanscanlon9067]

You should give Turnstiles and The Stranger a listen, if you have not already.

[@elizabethsantersero9597]

@@seanscanlon9067 Yup!! Been a fan for 40 years! The Stranger is my husband's favorite

[@Muongoing.97c]

The Downeaster Alexa is an overlooked masterpiece. You likely wont see someone else recommending it, but it’s an unmissable song.

[@conniedean1977]

I agree. Have to say, though, that “And So It Goes” is my absolute favorite!

[@Kikatebnpagan]

Just noticed up in the back ground !! OLD GREY WHISTLE TEST…With the whispering legend of Bob Harris.. oh what a joy… that is from the U.K. ! That must have been filmed here in the U.K.!

[@willcityaway7971]

Wrote the song in 10 minutes. Inspiration on the exact bus trip to his home. My favorite version of this song. It's the same band members today. Think his drummer retired after 35 years.

[@seanscanlon9067]

Not trying to be a dick here but none of the band members here are in Billy's band today, although most did stay for several years starting from around 1976. His bass player here Doug Stegmeyer sadly committed suicide in 1995 having no longer been in Billy's band since 1989, guitarist Russell Javors was no longer part of the band from that same year, saxophonist Richie Canata left in the early 80s and drummer Liberty DeVitto has not been part of Billy's band since 2006. The last three currently play in a band called The Lords of 52nd Street performing Billy's music, with 52nd Street being the name of one of Billy's albums that they all played on. 52nd Street was incidently the very first commercially mass-produced CD.

[@barryshapiro3315]

He came up with the idea for the song while he was on the Hudson River line and was coming home. He basically wrote this song in an hour and a half. He ran home and wrote the entire song

[@2tfts]

AND Billy wrote this, and most of his songs. Something so much better in the performance when they are singing their own words

[@gerardmorris5473]

If you really want to see Billy go crazy on the piano you need to listen to his song Angry Young Man!

[@markvanderstelt8999]

Root Beer Rag

[@tombanaski3251]

He has a great song he wrote for his daughter titled "Lullabye" that you might like for your new little one. In it he talks about how his song is a part of him, and how if his daughter sings it to her kids a little piece of him will never die but be carried on forever. Great song by a great artist--it's hard to say which is his best quality--his piano playing, song writing or singing/performing.

[@deborahcurry1014]

And of course Downeaster Alexa. His boat was named Alexa after his daughter with Christie Brinkley.

[@kristahartmann6712]

I was born in Brooklyn. Billy Joel so nailed it. For the Ages.

[@gmconklin4496]

This song always brings me home. No matter where you go, home is always home.

[@jagermeister330]

Would love to see a reaction to Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway) - one of my personal favorites of Billy Joel's

[@carriemichelle322]

Absolute GREATNESS! Please react to GOODNIGHT SIAGNON. Lyrics are Bars and its about Vietnam. He always has disabled vets on stage singing the chorus. Billy is so humble, down to earth and real!!

[@NativeNYerChicHK]

This is my fav Billy Joel song, but I’m definitely biased because NYC is my hometown ♥️

[@TonyCallaway]

Dude! You see he is paying tribute to Ray Charles, that’s why he uses that big dark glasses . Do “ Baby Grand” a duet with Ray. You’ll love it .

[@FritzforSheriff]

I’m a NYer who first saw Billy Joel in 1976. His music was the soundtrack of our college years. Listen to You’re My Home to hear his romantic side

[@Jerry-p3h]

Was born in Nyack right outside the city. Love that he also mentions the greyhound up the Hudson River Line, ton of recording studios, performing art centers, Woodstock... music everywhere 😈🤘

[@jdbroders64]

Summer Highland Falls live. There's a live performance of him on KZbin in Germany (quite a while ago) where he interacts with the audience and someone asks him about the origin of the beautiful lyrics. He explains then plays it for them. Summer Highland Falls is one of my favorites of his that almost no one has heard or knows. His explanation of the meaning of the lyrics and his performance are definitely worth a look. Amazing.

[@Pat3101]

I love it , too!

[@Tessie46255]

He is truly the Piano Man. Loved your reaction! ❤❤❤

[@angelb-oo7ob]

He’s a musical thesaurus…sprinkled with magic 🤍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@MagooTheHappyHustler]

One of Richie Canata's best sax solos. In his 70's and still plays like that. He's been unwell and would prob love the italian food reference!

[@HugoGindraux]

Great reaction love your channel. You may want to try listening to Stiletto by Billy Joel. This song was sampled by rappers so you may enjoy.

[@susancosnick3852]

He sang this at the 911 fundraising concert. We were all a mess.

[@personalcheeses8073]

Very much so.

[@ga_patriot279]

All Time Bad Boy of Piano. Thanks for this. As a performer @Black Pegasus I think you would love Billy Joel’s “The Entertainer”

[@Lightsaber007]

I agree with the poster who suggests Good Night Saigon; for another song in the vein on New York State of Mind, try Summer, Highland Falls.

[@patrickwilder6492]

I saw this exact concert in Houston after recently moving from NY... a friend of a friend invited me to go when her date fell through. She surprised me with front row center tickets, the first and only time I’ve ever had seats anywhere close to the stage. This video brings back all the chills of that evening. Cheers !!

[@reneeparker7475]

Jim Morrison was one of the best poets of rock 'n' roll in the late 1960s, so I can relate to what you're saying. Poetry and music, together, is where we get some of the best music.

[@jamesjohnston1935]

My favorite Billy Joel moment happened the last time (that Im aware of) he performed at the Grammy's. An artist was going a bit long on a lifetime achievement acceptance speech, so the network went to commercial in the middle of the speech. Mr. Joel was up to perform when they came back from commercial, and he dead stopped in the middle of the song. He sat in silence for minute before saying into the mic "You are wasting valuable advertising time now.". For that Billy Joel will always have my respect.

[@JerseyBA62]

favorite billy joel song.did a great performance of it at the concert for new york after the 9/11 attacks

[@chrism8013]

Billy Joel "Miami 2017", "Goodnight Saigon", great songs. He is so popular, he sold out the most consecutive concerts of all time at Madison Square Garden, and still counting.

[@alexharbison4411]

Nice reaction. This song shows off his playing skills but it also shows off his song writing skill. It's really nice to hear him say he is writing again, can't wait till that first album drops.

[@bibliophileforever3128]

A classically trained pianist who one day decided to do his own thing and we love him for it! My personal favorites: Allentown and We didn't start the fire.

[@ritar6997]

YES !!! Music in perfection ❤! I would love Vienna, not only because I am from Austria 😊

[@norme10]

Hearing you guys talk about the musical styles in New York just goes right to another Billy Joel song. "...Hot funk, cool punk, even if it's old junk, It's still Rock & Roll to me."

[@tracybrown1942]

Listen to Scenes of an Italian Restaurant.

[@actuariallurker9650]

Out of this world charisma and piano playing and Superior Sax work with 2 solos

[@pamelav4628]

The Hudson River Line goes along the Hudson River. It's beautiful, country, trees, ocean, lakes, etc.

[@JoyL-ep3vt]

The Entertainer & Scenes from an Italian Restaurant are my faves

[@elocke2424]

Billy Joel is the GOAT!

[@GLAlex9470]

He grew up in Hicksville, NY (Long Island) a suburb 30 miles from NYC , I grew up on Long Island too and my father grew up in Hicksville. He loved his hometown and never left until recently. He had other homes in other states, but always came back.

[@chrisalldis3375]

A true genius, as i have said many times you could tell Billy what you had for dinner & he will write an epic about it, up there with Lennon & Mc Cartney Pul Simon as one of the best songwriters of all time. Another Great song is Innocent Man.

[@aaroncote6750]

Most you’ve responded too happen to be his piano and 50’s sounding songs. There’s still several that are rock based like “It’s still rock & roll to me” You May be right” & “Only the good die young”… As a side note, Billy Joel has also traveled the globe from the 90’s on between his last albums touring and playing concerts around the world at US military bases. I was fortunate to meet him in 90’ in the airman’s club dining hall before one of his USO tour concerts. They were open to all military and local employees who worked on the base and made for one awesome live concert at the end of a tarmac in the Pacific. Talked for a minute and always appreciated him doing these as well as visiting where we lived while being so far from home.

[@sherry640]

River of Dreams is an absolute must. It is another whole vibe of its own!

[@stuBdoc]

You mentioned his different styles. Many of Billy Joel's songs were tributes to other artists or styles. Uptown Girl was a tribute to Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. The couple of do-wop songs, For the Longest Time (all of the voices were his) and Tell Her About It, were a tribute to that time and style. Throughout his career, he has honored other musicians with original songs written and performed in their styles. Can't say enough about his musical genius - writer, singer, arranger, pianist.

[@lesblatnyak5947]

Saw Billy 4 times in the 70s. Saw YES 36 times in FORTY years. Roundabout off the Fragile album

[@susanworkman529]

BP, you've made my day. Been waiting for you to do this Billy Joel song. One of my favs. Give it up for Joey from "THE BRONX" for getting you to play this. I'm Susie from Jersey and also suggested this. I might be a Jersey Girl @ heart but I have a love for N.Y. too. I'm just 8 miles from the Jersey/ N.Y state line ( and mountains) and a short ride into the city and an hours drive to the Jersey shore. I've got it all, don't need more, except Billy Joel and Sinatra singing about it. The sax player kills it! Joel is great on the keys. Love this song too because Billy channels his inner Ray Charles. Now that's some Billy Joel!!! He has so many versions of himself......What a talent. Great reaction BP and Don.

[@tracybrown1942]

New York is wonderful.

[@iamsquatty]

Even though i didnt grow up in new york, this song always makes me nostalgic for when i was growing up in new hampshire. Its just the feeling of it. One of my fav songs from billy joel 🥹💜

[@grateful1609]

The Band and The Staples, The Weight, (The Last Waltz).🙏🏼❤

[@stevehamilton8824]

Incredible song! Billy has a ton of huge hits and albums with music that may not have hit big but still are incredible.

[@Sheliahhh69]

Billy Joel is so smooth he married 5'9 multiple Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover model, Christy Brinkley. He's amazing! Love your channel, love your reaction! Keep em' coming, I'm here for it. ❤❤

[@TYinNH]

River of Dreams

[@llschnitz]

Billy has also said that musically its a tribute to Ray Charles.

[@ricksurratt9034]

I’ve been waiting for this. Thank you for doing it.

[@rosemariediamond5948]

He grew up in the same town as I did. His song Scenes From an Italian Restaurant talks about a lot of things in the area. The has the most amazing songbook. He’s a musical treasure.

[@karensilvera6694]

Wow! Thank you for this one. Brought me back to the days of jumping over to THE city. Don is right about the scene back then. There was everything from piano to punk bars. Goodness it was fun. Billy Joel is great in concert. I saw him with Elton John.