Most American cities have some form of a "Miracle Mile." In Chicago, it's Michigan Avenue. In Detroit, it's Woodward. On any given Saturday night, it's a place to show off your ride--to be seen, and to have your (often muscular) car stereo heard. With your choice of music (which, no matter what, is still R & R to Billy).
In the 60s it was NOT about stereos. It was Cruising the Main Drag and it meant driving slowly along the Main Street downtown from one end to the other. We never called it the miracle Mile but maybe they did so later. You greeted friends passing you going the other way. You showed off your ride. You showed off your Saturday night date. You did this for a while then moved on to other activities - like that date. In my town it was movies or roller skating for the most part with everyone I knew. It is exemplified in the movie American Graffiti which is set in 1963.
While most of us love Billy Joel, those who list their profession as Rock Critic didn’t like him and this song is sort of his answer to them. It was his first number one song!
@@Memorylanemodelcars2 No, "Piano Man" was not a number one hit, but peaked at number 25 on the Billboard Hot 100 - 1974. He has produced 33 self-written Top 40 hits in the U.S., three of which ("It's Still Rock and Roll to Me", "Tell Her About It", and "We Didn't Start the Fire") topped the Billboard Hot 100.
This is from his concert tour in the USSR, the first western rock act allowed under Gorbachev's glasnost initiative. If you ever get the chance, watch the documentary of the trip, it amazing.
Fun and clever song! Billy grew up on Long Island in Nassau County, New York as did I and the Miracle Mile is a prominent shopping district in the town of Manhasset, Nassau County. A tab collar is one that has a tab that runs across the collar closure just below the top collar button it is useful when wearing a tie. It pushes the bottom of the tie knot away from the body.
Tab collars had a bar connection that kept the collars in place and looking crisp. The bar was always worn under a tie, when men dressed in suits and took pride in looking sharp. A man in great suit ,Italian Leather shoes, a well crafted gold pinky ring & watch worn with confidence and grace never failed to turn the ladies heads . Man I’m old 😊
"Miracle Mile," as mentioned in the line "Should I get a set of white wall tires? Are you gonna cruise a miracle mile?" is a stretch of road (about a mile long) full of various stores in Manhasset, Long Island near where Joel grew up. 😏
Joel’s previous album 52nd street was pretty much a keyboard driven album. And even though it had some rockers. Critics were calling it a pop album. And so on his next album. Billy wanted to show those critics he can make music make hits without relying on the piano. And “It’s Still Rock & Roll to Me” is him telling the critics what he thinks of their critiques of his music
I tried to stay objective when coming to this conclusion, but Billy has done many different genres and he nailed them all! I never listened to one of his songs of a different kind and thought, "Oh, that wasn't that good." I'm going to buymeacoffee right now to request what may be my favorite song of his. (I know you haven't done it.) Cheers
Yes, they changed “think” to “drink” in this performance. Such a fun song! I remember when there used to be all sorts of music-focused magazines (most with a key reader demographic of teenagers), they never really made much sense.
The line, "Should I try to be a straight A student? If you are then you drink too much!", doesn't make any sense and the performance suffered from the silly change from "think too much".
I think this was a concert he gave in Russia in the eighties. He took his wife and daughter . It was like a goodwill American entertaining Russians who seemed to be starved for American Rock and Roll.
@@SaeedReacts.a lot of cities have streets named miracle mile. In this instance it refers to a road to a host to many stores in Manhasset and Great Neck Long Island where he grew up.
In many cases, yes, but not always. I enjoyed this live version. Also, I absolutely love (and highly recommend) “Ballad of Billy the Kid” live from the River of Dreams tour.
@@scottNNJ yeah but many times all the subtle background sounds that were meticulously crafted in the studio unfortunately get lost. Thanks for the recommendation.
Tab collars were big in the 1920s and 30s, and briefly in the 60s. Too formal for the casual styles that have been popular since then. Fashions come and go. Chill out!
A legend in his own time. A decent human being to boot! Long Live Billy Joel!!!
Most American cities have some form of a "Miracle Mile." In Chicago, it's Michigan Avenue. In Detroit, it's Woodward. On any given Saturday night, it's a place to show off your ride--to be seen, and to have your (often muscular) car stereo heard. With your choice of music (which, no matter what, is still R & R to Billy).
In the 60s it was NOT about stereos.
It was Cruising the Main Drag and it meant driving slowly along the Main Street downtown from one end to the other. We never called it the miracle Mile but maybe they did so later.
You greeted friends passing you going the other way.
You showed off your ride.
You showed off your Saturday night date.
You did this for a while then moved on to other activities - like that date.
In my town it was movies or roller skating for the most part with everyone I knew.
It is exemplified in the movie American Graffiti which is set in 1963.
Billy Joel had so many Great Hits, What a great Talent
While most of us love Billy Joel, those who list their profession as Rock Critic didn’t like him and this song is sort of his answer to them. It was his first number one song!
BS Piano Man in 73 Was First #1 Hit😢😢😢
@ no, Piano Man was not a Billboard number one. It should have been, but it wasn’t.
@@Memorylanemodelcars2
No, "Piano Man" was not a number one hit, but peaked at number 25 on the Billboard Hot 100 - 1974.
He has produced 33 self-written Top 40 hits in the U.S., three of which ("It's Still Rock and Roll to Me", "Tell Her About It", and "We Didn't Start the Fire") topped the Billboard Hot 100.
A true Billy Joel classic 👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻
Billy Joel and Freddie Mercury will always live in my heart ..... never get bored of listening to them
This song is so very awesome! Billy Joel is an Icon! Love your reaction!
This is from his concert tour in the USSR, the first western rock act allowed under Gorbachev's glasnost initiative. If you ever get the chance, watch the documentary of the trip, it amazing.
It’s still Billy Joel, a legend!!❤❤
Fun and clever song! Billy grew up on Long Island in Nassau County, New York as did I and the Miracle Mile is a prominent shopping district in the town of Manhasset, Nassau County. A tab collar is one that has a tab that runs across the collar closure just below the top collar button it is useful when wearing a tie. It pushes the bottom of the tie knot away from the body.
Tab collars had a bar connection that kept the collars in place and looking crisp. The bar was always worn under a tie, when men dressed in suits and took pride in looking sharp. A man in great suit ,Italian Leather shoes, a well crafted gold pinky ring & watch worn with confidence and grace never failed to turn the ladies heads . Man I’m old 😊
Yes, you(we) are!
Oh you gotta check out his banger a matter of trust official video next please, thanks!
We actually had a 'Miracle Mile' shopping center in the city where I grew up. It was all the rage. For a few years, lol.
The saxophone player has been with him pretty much his entire career, and is with him still. :)
Hi love Billy Saeed! Hugs and love!❤😊❤
He has alot of great songs
Looking forward to more! I have really enjoyed all the songs i have reacted to so far.
He is truly magical…his catalog of magnificent songs is so deep…they touch everyone! ❤
Great song and great reaction. You will love "Big Shot" and "You May Be Right" by Billy Joel. His catalog of great music is extensive!
Gotta love Marc Rivera on the Sax!! He played for Hall and Oates, Foreigner just to name a few! ❤
2:49 - He said "white wall tires". Tires with a white stripe around the sides. They were popular for a while :)
Thanks for letting me know about that!
Have you yet heard Scenes from an Italian Restaurant, New York State of Mind, Vienna, or Captain Jack?
Good evening from 🇨🇦 again! You are my new fave channel! Thanks again Saeed!
Great reaction. Thanks! A Matter of Trust is an amazing song to react to. There are some great words of wisdom in that one
"Miracle Mile," as mentioned in the line "Should I get a set of white wall tires? Are you gonna cruise a miracle mile?" is a stretch of road (about a mile long) full of various stores in Manhasset, Long Island near where Joel grew up. 😏
Wow, what an intense live performance, I never saw that before, thanks for the reaction. Billy goes full Tom Jones here as it seems!
You maybe right is an actual rock song of his. I love the video when he was young singing/dancing. He still does it at his concerts w/o the dancing
I heard drink and NEVER heard that in the hundreds of times I have heard this song. I had the album and played it a LOT.
The studio version is a bit faster
Saaed, you have the coolest shirts and sweaters!!! Exactly like what I wear here in the US.
Piano Man eccelle in ogni tipo di musica ... Talento Totale
Piano Man is amazing!
Joel’s previous album 52nd street was pretty much a keyboard driven album. And even though it had some rockers. Critics were calling it a pop album. And so on his next album. Billy wanted to show those critics he can make music make hits without relying on the piano. And “It’s Still Rock & Roll to Me” is him telling the critics what he thinks of their critiques of his music
The miracle mile I know is an antique car show on a mile of Woodward Avenue in Detroit Michigan, home of the assembly line.
I tried to stay objective when coming to this conclusion, but Billy has done many different genres and he nailed them all! I never listened to one of his songs of a different kind and thought, "Oh, that wasn't that good."
I'm going to buymeacoffee right now to request what may be my favorite song of his. (I know you haven't done it.)
Cheers
Yes, they changed “think” to “drink” in this performance. Such a fun song! I remember when there used to be all sorts of music-focused magazines (most with a key reader demographic of teenagers), they never really made much sense.
The line, "Should I try to be a straight A student? If you are then you drink too much!", doesn't make any sense and the performance suffered from the silly change from "think too much".
I think this was a concert he gave in Russia in the eighties. He took his wife and daughter . It was like a goodwill American entertaining Russians who seemed to be starved for American
Rock and Roll.
❤❤❤
🌸 good evening, saeed! (did I get the time frame right this time??lol)
Miracle Mile is a street in Los Angeles California.
Ooh! Thanks for letting me know about that!
@@SaeedReacts.a lot of cities have streets named miracle mile. In this instance it refers to a road to a host to many stores in Manhasset and Great Neck Long Island where he grew up.
'Miracle Mile' was a street or shopping center in hundreds of US cities, back in the day.
Studio versions are much better suited for reactions imho A lot of the sound is lost in live shows.
In many cases, yes, but not always. I enjoyed this live version. Also, I absolutely love (and highly recommend) “Ballad of Billy the Kid” live from the River of Dreams tour.
@@scottNNJ yeah but many times all the subtle background sounds that were meticulously crafted in the studio unfortunately get lost. Thanks for the recommendation.
Love Joel and this song, but this is probably the worst version of it. Sad that was your first exposure to it.
I agree. The video is so much better.
Tab collars were big in the 1920s and 30s, and briefly in the 60s. Too formal for the casual styles that have been popular since then.
Fashions come and go. Chill out!
Have to say the studio version was better than this particular version.
They did change it to drink, it makes less sense.