This Is Deep!! Billy Joel - Vienna REACTION/REVIEW

[@jillk368]

Beautiful song. Billy uses 'Vienna' (a city in Austria) as a metaphor for a dignified old age. In Europe, older people are valued and appreciated in society, apparently much more than in the U.S. Nice reaction. I like your style, your passion and your insight. Good stuff. All the best.

[@snapdragon8888]

I have listened to this song since it came out, and I never really knew what Vienna was referring to. I assumed it was referring to Heaven.

[@frankcastle9991]

I think he said in a interview his father lived there.

[@felixfeichtner2613]

He probably doesnt even know what austria is. Typical american

[@jillk368]

@@felixfeichtner2613 And you probably don't even know what punctuation is. Typical troll.

[@Leticiacarazzo]

This song reminds me of my father. He used to sing and still sings to me

[@cindy2252]

By Dakotah Blanton ~ Music Grotto Joel did an interview with the New York Times in 2008 and discussed the inspiration behind the song. When asked why he chose Vienna to use as a metaphor, he simply referred to an experience he had after visiting his father there. While he hadn’t seen his father for well over a decade, he tracked him down to the capital of Austria. The two were walking on the street, and Joel spotted a very old woman sweeping up the road. When asked why she was doing that, his father-according to Joel-said that she had a job, felt useful, and was therefore happy. It was a big shock for him since in America old folks get sent away to homes and largely forgotten, while in Vienna, they’re treated more as valued members of the community. Overall, the encounter led him to the realization that growing older wouldn’t be so bad if Vienna-and the culture in the region-was what was waiting for him after all his youthful adventures. In his own words, his thoughts were: “This is a terrific idea-that old people are useful-and that means I don’t have to worry so much about getting old because I can still have a use in this world in my old age. I thought ‘Vienna waits for you…’” In the same interview, he was also quoted as remembering thinking, “You don’t have to squeeze your whole life into your 20s and 30s trying to make it, trying to achieve that American dream, getting in the rat race, and killing yourself. You have a whole life to live.”

[@HiddenCharmhome]

One of my fav Billy Joel songs. I love it! That was great thanks

[@timbalchak6912]

To me Billy Joel is the greatest story teller of all time

[@terriertz5134]

I've always loved this song & almost named my daughter Vienna.

[@melissacepeda3683]

Amen

[@willcool713]

My favorite Billy Joel song -- and I've followed him since the '70's -- is River of Dreams. It shows up, unbidden, whenever I'm getting depressed and low. That song, and a very few others, seem to rescue me from my darker ambitions.

[@itchyandred4131]

Love this song ❤️ this is off his masterpiece album " the stranger" awesome song you should check out is his song from the Same album " scenes from an Italian restaurant" his absolute masterpiece ✌️ p.s. you'll love the schlyrics 😏

[@davidbordonaro1631]

The Stranger , the song , is pretty damned good too . an earlier song of his that everybody forgets about is Captain Jack

[@MoMoMyPup10]

The schlyrics are distracting. Just listen to the song like we did. This guy is great though.

[@d.s.6268]

One of my very favorite songs by my favorite artist. More Billy please :) "Scenes from an Italian restaurant" and "Baby Grand" are two of his best.

[@Bluenosegrows]

I always took it he meant.. vienna = peace .. like its only you pushing you, some times. Many peace accords have been signed in Vienna

[@lagrangenow]

Vienna is the capital of Austria/Europe. Thus the song also aligns with "New york state of mind" in describing living here.

[@jamishops]

According to Billy, life is a marathon not a sprint. You don’t have to achieve everything by 30 years old. Vienna values its older adults. You have a lifetime to live, don’t burn out. Thanks for the great reaction. Check out Scenes from An Italian Restaurant or River of Dreams.

[@LeveyHere]

I'm glad to have The Stranger on vinyl. Definitely my favorite Billy Joel album (with The Stranger being my favorite song). Overall the album is just incredible, with a great balance of sound.

[@hongfang2348]

This is not one of his more popular songs but it's still fantastic. Billy Joel is a great singer/songwriter. We typically think of singer/songwriters as guitarists (Dylan, James Taylor, etc), but the singer/songwriter genre can include a pianist too! That said, Billy Joel is a top 10 singer/songwriter, maybe top 5.

[@johnshannon9656]

Great album.

[@stevedahlberg8680]

This album came out when I was in 9th grade so I'm biased but this whole album is fire. It is by far my favorite Billy Joel album. Everything on it is incredible. You could do a deep-dive just on this album. Check out one of the up-tempo bangers on this album, Only the Good Die Young. And pay attention to that bass line in the chorus; he had some of the best musicians at that time.

[@NancyMoran-r3b]

In an interview, Billy said his dad had a son from WW two who lived in Vienna. He looked him up.

[@snapdragon8888]

Totally separate comment from my other one. The line "You can get what you want, or you can just get old" hits home for me too, but for me it's because I feel life has passed me by. I'm 60 years old and I have had so many responsibilities and obligations that I have never had the chance to figure out who I was or what I wanted.

[@watchbizmatik]

That’s deep

[@snapdragon8888]

Love your reactions, as always. You really should check out The Stranger, the title track from the album of the same name.

[@CodyWorkshops]

My opinion is Vienna = Love (interchangeable word)...Beautiful song and lyrics...

[@riccardoangeli802]

Piano Man unico artista che ha solo gioielli nel suo repertorio..... 🎹👏

[@ManifestYourBestNow]

Vienna waits for You!

[@frankcastle9991]

Go see him bro at MSG in NYC I’ve seen him 4 times.

[@horstschafer1839]

More or less, Vienna is the capital of Austria, for some decades seen as the center of the earth for lots of Europians. When America was still a bunch of countries in the 1800th. But if you have no clue about Vienna by the name, it makes probably no clue to declare a kingdom to a clerque.We messed up a litlle after WW2 and Hitler and shit that belongs to that history, but NOWADAY'S VIENNA IS THE MOST SAFE AND ADORABLE CITY IN THE WORLD, CLOSE UP, I THINK, OSLO AND STOCKHOLM. ( NORWAYS AND SWEDISH CAPITALS), btw...

[@spaceghost27]

Ariana Grande actually sings her version of this song and it's pretty good too.

[@RadCenter]

Try Billy Joel's "Travelin' Prayer."

[@chris...9497]

The story is that Billy Joel got a mental reset when he was touring Europe early in his career. His father had left early in his life and returned to Europe, where he was born. He seemed to have disappeared, and Billy didn't know he was still alive until he got to Austria. He looked up his father and they were strolling the streets, getting reacquainted, when Billy saw an old woman sweeping the streets. Billy commented on how sad for her to have to work at her age, and Billy's father corrected him, saying the old woman was happy; she had a job and purpose, she contributed to things instead of being old and useless. Billy realized it was a European viewpoint, that in America old people become invisible and useless, but in Europe they are valued and provided respect for their years. Up to then, Billy was working hard on his career, meeting that expectation to hurry while he's young, in his 20s and 30s, to make his mark. But in Europe, life is slower and people live for the long haul. Billy's father had left to live in Vienna, to return to that slower, more-valued pace and existence. For Billy's father, it was coming home, like going to heaven. So, "Vienna" is a 'stop-and-smell-the-roses' song, a reminder that heaven isn't later when you die; it can be now. You don't have to work hard to earn heaven or home, just open your eyes and live in it. "When will you realize Vienna waits for you". It's waiting. For YOU. You can have it when you're ready to see it. You don't have to put it off and you don't have to earn it. We're all going to age and we're all going to fall short of out ambitions and dreams, and it's okay, it's fine. Relax and just be where you are instead of being on your way.

[@jamesvomsaal3814]

Vienna is in. Austria

[@dr.winstonoboogie7302]

Vienna is the capital city of Austria, Europe.

[@mrod7692]

Vienna Italy

[@david.j9.rabbithole808]

Vienna is the largest city and the capital of Austria. It's not in Italy.

[@mrod7692]

​@@david.j9.rabbithole808 Right, Venice is in Italy.

[@randyhall5165]

Talking about getting older

[@horstschafer1839]

Btw... Vienna is the Capital of Austria, by aproxy 2 Mio. from all countries living here, more or less, for centuries. Existing as first known as " Vindobona" in the Roman Empire 2000 years ago. Would have been a small kind of fault on the first place. But you asked once again asked what is vienna as a grown man. Maybe it sounds rude. But your continent was discovered after 1492. This time the stupid Italian with his Portuguise crew still thought, they reached India. "I am, by far, not a brilliant guy by acknowledge. Austria was founded in 996 BC, Vienna is, so to say 1000 years older than Austria and f*#*€g 1900 years older than any american city. But come on., who cares children... 😉😘

[@felixfeichtner2613]

Typical american, doesnt know what vienna is😭😭😭