Billy Joel tells life stories; his music takes you to times in your life that you are familiar with, that we all can relate to, I first heard Billy Joel back in the 70's, my sister listened to him every day to the point that I became familiar with the songs to the point that I was actually singing along and knew the words to every song, albums like The Stranger, Glass Houses, all of them, we all grew up with music in our blood and in our hearts, my mom could sing Opera, she had an incredible singing voice that would blow us kids away.
A landmark album and a great reaction. I can’t wait to listen to it with you guys on Patreon. This record holds lots of good memories and is one everybody should hear. A good reason to subscribe to the channel. Can’t get enough Billy Joel and NicknLex. ❤️❤️
Billy Joel has Jewish parents who were from Nuremberg Germany. His mother, Rosalind (Nyman), was born in New York, to English Jewish parents, of Ukrainian Jewish and Polish Jewish descent. Billy was raised in Hicksville, Long Island.
The 4th disc of his complete hits collection 1973-1997 is entitled "an evening of questions & answers... & a little music". Someone ask why Vienna? and Bill talks about visiting his father, who lived in Vienna. He see a very elderly woman sweeping the street and asks his dad "why is this old lady sweeping the street?" His dad tells him she's got a job, she's happy, feels useful, making the street clean, she's not being put out to pasture. Old people in the States are treated badly, put in rest homes and pretend they don't exist. While older cultures value old people and feel they can still be a part of the community. Billy liked that because he doesn't have to worry so much about getting old - because "Vienna waits for you..." Of course he tells it better then I do, it's worth a listen. Disc 4, track 5 of that collection. ✌️&🎶
To me, Billy is an artist. The music is the canvas and his lyrics are the painted images. You can close your eyes and still envisage the song. His songs are cinematic. Italian Restaurant has similar effect.
Maybe Billy’s best album from beginning to end though he has so many great albums.Billy grew up in Hicksville, Long Island, NY. Billy is of Jewish descendants though he is more agnostic than anything else .
Billy Joel tells a great story about how he used Vienna as a metaphor for the rest of your life. His father lived in Vienna and it has always been a city of crossroads. Listen to his discussion on CD4 of his Complete Hits Collection 1973-1997. Actually, he tells many anecdotes and performs live. It's great.
When he was an up and coming hotshot he was with his dad in Austria, and he saw an old lady sweeping around the front of her home. And Billy was laughing about it in a mocking way. And his dad corrected him about his arrogance. The lyrics are based on the words his dad told him.
@@seanscanlon9067 Those six albums are his peak. His albums prior to that were good as were his albums after that period but there was hardly a dud song on any of those 6.
I could be wrong , but I think that might technically be a concertina, not an accordian (i.e. those small, cylindrical accordians that don't have a keyboard).
He’s not Jewish but Italian-Americans were` one of the dominant group/cultures in the entire greater NY area, especially growing up - and “’the greasers” were a stand-out group of juvenile hell-raisers.
He SAID he was Jewish in an interview. He also said his father had had a son in Europe. Billy went to Birnna to find his brother. That’s where he got the idea to write about Vienna as a place or idea.
Billy Joel is German/English Jewish. Not Italian in any way. He was raised Catholic by his mother. He now identifies as an atheist Jew. Another great guess. Or, do 30 seconds of research? Lyrically, Joel was inspired by visiting the city of Vienna and his father, who left the family when Joel was a child and moved to Vienna. Joel has stated that "Vienna" is a metaphor for old age.
Billy was Jewish, born in the melting pot that is the NYC area. If you have ever been there, you realize that you often only have to go a couple of blocks to encounter a bit of Italy, or Afgani, followed by China or Russia.
Piano Man ha solo gioielli nel suo repertorio... Da giovane live era un vero portento ... Vedere per credere ... Scenes from an Italian .... Angry young Man ...ecc ecc ecc ecc ecc
Billy Joel tells life stories; his music takes you to times in your life that you are familiar with, that we all can relate to, I first heard Billy Joel back in the 70's, my sister listened to him every day to the point that I became familiar with the songs to the point that I was actually singing along and knew the words to every song, albums like The Stranger, Glass Houses, all of them, we all grew up with music in our blood and in our hearts, my mom could sing Opera, she had an incredible singing voice that would blow us kids away.
Possibly the BEST deep cut from an artist who could fill a double album with fantastic deep cuts!! Seriously underrated songwriter!
A landmark album and a great reaction. I can’t wait to listen to it with you guys on Patreon. This record holds lots of good memories and is one everybody should hear. A good reason to subscribe to the channel. Can’t get enough Billy Joel and NicknLex. ❤️❤️
Fantastic song from his best album. An absolute classic.
I loved this album when I was 17 in 1978 and I still have it. It still has a place in my Fave list. So good.
Billy Joel is a great Talent and Vienna a (one of many) beautiful song
Just a great song from a great album created by a great music artist. Always loved this song.
You can get what you want or you can just get old is a brilliant lyric!
Billy Joel has Jewish parents who were from Nuremberg Germany. His mother, Rosalind (Nyman), was born in New York, to English Jewish parents, of Ukrainian Jewish and Polish Jewish descent. Billy was raised in Hicksville, Long Island.
Saw him for the first time finally this past November at MSG. He played this song. What an amazing show.
Break out the Smokey night club Billy is performing. Got to see him 4 times wonderful live ✨️🍸✨️
One of my absolute favorite Billy Joel songs.
The 4th disc of his complete hits collection 1973-1997 is entitled "an evening of questions & answers... & a little music". Someone ask why Vienna? and Bill talks about visiting his father, who lived in Vienna. He see a very elderly woman sweeping the street and asks his dad "why is this old lady sweeping the street?" His dad tells him she's got a job, she's happy, feels useful, making the street clean, she's not being put out to pasture. Old people in the States are treated badly, put in rest homes and pretend they don't exist. While older cultures value old people and feel they can still be a part of the community. Billy liked that because he doesn't have to worry so much about getting old - because "Vienna waits for you..."
Of course he tells it better then I do, it's worth a listen. Disc 4, track 5 of that collection.
✌️&🎶
Just said the same thing BEFORE I saw your post. Yeah, great CD set.
To me, Billy is an artist. The music is the canvas and his lyrics are the painted images. You can close your eyes and still envisage the song. His songs are cinematic. Italian Restaurant has similar effect.
Have you heard River of Dreams? Entirely different. Great song and video if you are so inclined.
Love, love, love your reactions!!!!!
A fantastic song from a great Billy Joel álbum.
That accordion always gives me goosebumps.
He is "The Entertainer"!!! 😎😎😎
Maybe Billy’s best album from beginning to end though he has so many great albums.Billy grew up in Hicksville, Long Island, NY. Billy is of Jewish descendants though he is more agnostic than anything else .
Billy Joel tells a great story about how he used Vienna as a metaphor for the rest of your life. His father lived in Vienna and it has always been a city of crossroads. Listen to his discussion on CD4 of his Complete Hits Collection 1973-1997. Actually, he tells many anecdotes and performs live. It's great.
My favorite from him, by far.
When he was an up and coming hotshot he was with his dad in Austria, and he saw an old lady sweeping around the front of her home. And Billy was laughing about it in a mocking way. And his dad corrected him about his arrogance. The lyrics are based on the words his dad told him.
To me, the only Billy Joel album better than The Stranger is 52nd Street. 52nd Street is chock full of great songs.
Turnstiles.
His 'core 5' albums, as I call them - _Turnstiles,_ _The Stranger,_ _52nd Street,_ _Glass Houses,_ and _The Nylon Curtain_ - are all brilliant.
@@ComeOnIsSuchAJoy I would say an Innocent Man is too, but I suppose that is essentially a concept album.
@@seanscanlon9067 Those six albums are his peak. His albums prior to that were good as were his albums after that period but there was hardly a dud song on any of those 6.
Love love love The Stranger! But 52nd Street is my fave!!!
F1rst!!!🎉🎉🎉
Love me some early Billy Joel
Billy Joel grew up in Hicksville, Long Island, New York. He was born in the Bronx. His family moved to Long Island.
The Accordian was invented in Austria Great reaction to my favorite Billy album
Ótimo react
Great song, and in contention for his best album ever.
I could be wrong , but I think that might technically be a concertina, not an accordian (i.e. those small, cylindrical accordians that don't have a keyboard).
Wonnnnnnnnnderful song.
Parabéns
Gostei muito
Great reactions to "Vienna". Try "And So It Goes" bring Kleenex.
It just came up in my playlist today, and it's absolutely stunning.
He’s not Jewish but Italian-Americans were` one of the dominant group/cultures in the entire greater NY area, especially growing up - and “’the greasers” were a stand-out group of juvenile hell-raisers.
Whoops, I mean he’s Jewish, not Italian (damn ‘Edit” doesn’t work on my iPad)
He SAID he was Jewish in an interview. He also said his father had had a son in Europe. Billy went to Birnna to find his brother. That’s where he got the idea to write about Vienna as a place or idea.
❤Billy❤
Billy Joel is German/English Jewish. Not Italian in any way. He was raised Catholic by his mother. He now identifies as an atheist Jew. Another great guess. Or, do 30 seconds of research?
Lyrically, Joel was inspired by visiting the city of Vienna and his father, who left the family when Joel was a child and moved to Vienna. Joel has stated that "Vienna" is a metaphor for old age.
Billy was Jewish, born in the melting pot that is the NYC area. If you have ever been there, you realize that you often only have to go a couple of blocks to encounter a bit of Italy, or Afgani, followed by China or Russia.
He grew up on Long Island NY.
His father was from Austria.
I seem to recall that he personally considers this his best song.
Mr Cacciatore down on sullivan street!
Piano Man ha solo gioielli nel suo repertorio... Da giovane live era un vero portento ... Vedere per credere ... Scenes from an Italian .... Angry young Man ...ecc ecc ecc ecc ecc
And you haven't gotten to "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant" yet? 😁
You crazy child. 😉
Billy is Jewish by heritage but doesn’t practice the religion. His father was born in Germany and came to the US is the 1930s to escape the Nazis.
Never heard this one, he sounds like Elton a little bit on this.... Or they sound similar...
This meaaans nothing to meeeeee ohhhh viennaaaaaa….! Whoops, wrong song. 😅