The sins of Amsterdam Were still a recent surprise And we were flying over Scandinavian Skies We climbed towards the sun We turned and cursed as one We pulled the shades And closed our eyes The Stockholm city lights Were slowly starting to rise And we were strapped against Those Scandinavian skies The landing gear came down And touched the Swedish ground And we were all so paralyzed On the plane We were mainly sound and lights In the veins We could play the blues all night The tour of Germany Was bleeding into our eyes And we were sailing over Scandinavian skies We had the Midas touch Until we met the Dutch And they exhausted our supplies Who's to pay? For this international flight Who could stay We were only there for the night We watched the power fall Inside the Olso hall While all the cold Norweigians cried Who could say What was left and where was right? By the way I could play the blues all night
Probably one of the best Billy Joel songs in terms of sound design and arrangement. The little hammond crunch-glide at 1:05, flangered/delayed drums, dissonant staccato string licks as well as swells, pedal bass/piano octave, mellotron flute and choir...
The soft chords in the opening reprise the coda of "Sometimes a Fantasy." Billy said that every time you listen to this record, you can discover something new. 39 Years; better late than never.
The middle section with the strings and harsh drumming is so similar to strawberry fields forever, and there’s a few lyrics Joel sings in this song that sound eerily similar to Lennon. Awesome song
There was a lot of retro psychedelia running through the music scene in the early '80's and a lot of terribly cheesy attempts (and a few very successful ones) at recreating that sound in a contemporary context. Joel nails it so well with this album and this song particularly. Love the little martial drumming in the background. Actually all the little sonic details are lovely.
personally another one I think that really got nailed to beatle sound too in my opinion was Kurt and Roland of tears for fears. not just the radio stuff but the deeper cuts from their albums they came really close sowing the seeds of Love is almost straight out of a magical mystery tour kind of thing to me... another reason I think amongst all the pop of the Duran Duran he kind of stuff in the mainstream 80s pop tears for fears kind of stood out to me and I still enjoy songs from the big chair and sowing the seeds album
Every note and phrase in this song is purposely placed where it is. This is a masterpiece. I can see why it may not be a top 40 hit, but this is definitely one of my favorites. The orchestration is insane and the way he is "channeling John Lennon" (my recollection of his words) seems to capture it perfectly. This sounds to me like it could have been on Magical Mystery Tour. I saw him in Pittsburgh the last time in August of 2022 and he asked at the beginning, same old stuff or obscure things? The crowd seemed to want the same old stuff. I would have loved to hear him play this one and Laura. I love Close To The Borderline from Glass Houses, too. Don't get me wrong, I do love the other songs. I think the hardest one for him to do would probably be Angry Young Man and I Go To Extremes because of how fast and accurate his arms move in Angry Young Man and the hard pounding on the piano in I Go To Extremes. Thank you Billy Joel for all the wonderful music.
@@goodester6924 people still always forget about it. Most people will credit the stranger or glass houses as his best album but this one doesn't get as much praise nowadays as it should.
Stunning. Based on a trip he made to Amsterdam when he tried a certain drug for the first time this is surreal and masterfully produced. The Nylon Curtain is an underrated masterpiece, sadly in a time when MTV was coming into its prime. Genius.
@@ChiSportsNut18 Although I don't advocate that drug, never tried it myself, a great tune was written from the experience. Music comes from strange, darker places sometimes
@@decacards5250 Interesting, didn't know that. The concept album seemed to be diminishing what with MTV coming into it's own is what I meant. Billy one of the last great singer-songwriters I reckon ☯️
This is my favorite Billy Joel album because unlike most other of his albums like Innocent Man & Glass Houses, I've never heard any of its songs played on corporate radio. I've always wondered why. This album has some of the best songs he's written.
Beatle-esque for sure. Echoes of "I Am The Walrus." Lyrical phrasing is very close to John and Paul. Strings and shifts in tempo call Beatles to mind also.
Lol Not really, i think it sounds neither like john and paul. Its more george, the beginning has a blue jay way sound its very george rather than the other two
Ron: Yes sir & I can hear what brownstone said about Blue Jay Way as well! A lot people don't know this but John was a HUGE Billy fan!!! They had houses near each other in Cove Neck & John would drive by Billy's house & yell "where are you billly Joel I love & have all your albums" & tell Sean to "say hi to billy Joel" when on the boat passing his house. He wanted to go to Billy's house & introduce himself but didn't wanna bother him! Billy wanted to go introduce himself but didn't wanna bother John. How crazy! I love hearing that John loved & had all his albums
I am flying back home to the US after just over two weeks traveling around Europe. This song immediate comes to mind when I think of flying in and out of European cities period, and always will. The anticipation, excitement of traveling, but also a little trepidation that things have a very small chance go bad when traveling internationally - the tune seems to capture that.
This was the first album he released after Lennon's murder in '80. It explains a lot, but in particular it makes me think of how this album channels a lot more of the "cynical" side of the Beatles, especially late-Beatles Lennon, as opposed to his McCartney-esque earlier work. It's a darker reflection of his work, but in that sense it's very _real_ . You can feel his emotions through every single composition.
🤔 trying heroin yes I agree. as far as being strung out on heroin I have to give that to Lou Reed and The Velvet underground of their song of the name heroin... that is a harrowing song sounds like a junkie on a run
I can’t explain what it is but the song always gives me a really strange feeling. I have no idea how to explain it. I wonder how or what Billy felt while writing the song…
Soooo Beatles. Or should I say: John Lennon-ish. Ohhh.. let me take you down, to the scandinavian skayayayiiissssss.. and finish it off with a walrushhh-ish. But he's right though. About the light scandinavian summer nights. About Amsterdam too
Really? Interesting. I can definitely see it in this specific song, but please spit your theory about the albumas a whole. Not that I agree or disagree, it's just that as a long time fan of The Beatles and Billy Joel (and esp of this album), I've never heard that comparison!
He's right and Billy Joel himself has said as much and if you search for "Billy Joel on The NYLON CURTAIN" on here he talks of The Nylon Curtain and references Sgt Pepper, although in fairness I think only a handful of tracks on the album are a nod to The Beatles. He's also touched on how he was influenced by them since first seeing them on television as a kid too.
The drum at 0:36 sounds just like the drum in Paul Simon's "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover." The rest of the song sounds like a perfect Beatles impersonation.
I'm listening to this album with the Beatles in mind. "Allentown" would be for Ringo. "Laura" would be for John with Paul repeating "Laura." "A Room of Our Own" would be for John. "Surprises" would be for Paul. "Scandinavian Skies" would be for George.
Brandon Chabner They’re announcing a flight to Stockholm (the capital of Sweden) and Copenhagen (the capital of Denmark) if you want to know what they’re actually saying
I heard Sade's 'Soldier of Love' marching into some 'Norwegian Wood', with the 'Pepper's Marching Band', and a dash of Frank Zappa in the meowing of violins. Wow!
The problem was not so much the Heroin as being without the Heroin!! Not to mention exploding abscesses resembling gunshot wounds !!! Be advised!!!! Truth!!!!!!
Ross Parlette Sorry but six months later the informations seem to have been erased from the japanese newspaper. That being said, you can find the same datas here: www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/music-news/10794914/Billy-Joel-speaks-of-heroin-use.html
Ierathel John Thanks for the update, I posted w/o looking to see how old this was. After I saw the "6 months ago" I didn't really expect to get a reply.
This entire album is a masterwork
The sins of Amsterdam
Were still a recent surprise
And we were flying over
Scandinavian Skies
We climbed towards the sun
We turned and cursed as one
We pulled the shades
And closed our eyes
The Stockholm city lights
Were slowly starting to rise
And we were strapped against
Those Scandinavian skies
The landing gear came down
And touched the Swedish ground
And we were all so paralyzed
On the plane
We were mainly sound and lights
In the veins
We could play the blues all night
The tour of Germany
Was bleeding into our eyes
And we were sailing over
Scandinavian skies
We had the Midas touch
Until we met the Dutch
And they exhausted our supplies
Who's to pay?
For this international flight
Who could stay
We were only there for the night
We watched the power fall
Inside the Olso hall
While all the cold Norweigians cried
Who could say
What was left and where was right?
By the way
I could play the blues all night
Thanks for giving me the lyrics.
Very beatles
Probably one of the best Billy Joel songs in terms of sound design and arrangement. The little hammond crunch-glide at 1:05, flangered/delayed drums, dissonant staccato string licks as well as swells, pedal bass/piano octave, mellotron flute and choir...
+Ø I agree. Brilliantly written, perfectly produced...
Ikr i honestly like it because of the John Lennon impression he sings the song with
He claimed in 2014 that this was written during a heroin trip in Amsterdam. (And that it was his only time trying it)
IS THAT YOU JAY LENO???
PS LIKE YOUR INSANE VIDEOS
Very Beatle-esk
Just a brilliant, forgotten Billy Joel gem
Love the drumming and percussion in this song.
was trying to figure it out, in the beginning, the drums very reminiscent of 50 Ways To Leave Your Lover, which was also produced by Phil Ramone
Reminded me of I Am The Walrus.
The soft chords in the opening reprise the coda of "Sometimes a Fantasy."
Billy said that every time you listen to this record, you can discover something new. 39 Years; better late than never.
The middle section with the strings and harsh drumming is so similar to strawberry fields forever, and there’s a few lyrics Joel sings in this song that sound eerily similar to Lennon. Awesome song
He was going for a psychedelic sound
Love this song. At his best Billy Joel was just stunningly talented.
There was a lot of retro psychedelia running through the music scene in the early '80's and a lot of terribly cheesy attempts (and a few very successful ones) at recreating that sound in a contemporary context. Joel nails it so well with this album and this song particularly. Love the little martial drumming in the background. Actually all the little sonic details are lovely.
personally another one I think that really got nailed to beatle sound too in my opinion was Kurt and Roland of tears for fears.
not just the radio stuff but the deeper cuts from their albums they came really close sowing the seeds of Love is almost straight out of a magical mystery tour kind of thing to me...
another reason I think amongst all the pop of the Duran Duran he kind of stuff in the mainstream 80s pop tears for fears kind of stood out to me and I still enjoy songs from the big chair and sowing the seeds album
Exactly - brilliant remark, Madame!
Rgds from Germany
Holy sh!t, this along with Laura could be easily snuck into the White Album!! The orchestral sections gave chills down my spine... This is glorious..
That's exactly what I was thinking
Shut up k?
That's right, this sounds so Sargent Peppers to me...
Exactly, sounds even like a typical 80's George Harrison-Jeff Lynn-collaboration.
Rgds from Germany
Every note and phrase in this song is purposely placed where it is. This is a masterpiece. I can see why it may not be a top 40 hit, but this is definitely one of my favorites. The orchestration is insane and the way he is "channeling John Lennon" (my recollection of his words) seems to capture it perfectly. This sounds to me like it could have been on Magical Mystery Tour. I saw him in Pittsburgh the last time in August of 2022 and he asked at the beginning, same old stuff or obscure things? The crowd seemed to want the same old stuff. I would have loved to hear him play this one and Laura. I love Close To The Borderline from Glass Houses, too. Don't get me wrong, I do love the other songs. I think the hardest one for him to do would probably be Angry Young Man and I Go To Extremes because of how fast and accurate his arms move in Angry Young Man and the hard pounding on the piano in I Go To Extremes. Thank you Billy Joel for all the wonderful music.
This is Billy’s most underrated album.
He stated this was his favorite album.
the album literally won a grammy but ok
My favorite album
@@goodester6924 people still always forget about it. Most people will credit the stranger or glass houses as his best album but this one doesn't get as much praise nowadays as it should.
Nah I'd say Streetlife serenade is the most underrated
Scandinavian skies still over my head, I live in Sweden. And what a great song!
Always loved the creepiness on this one when my pops put this on.
Stunning. Based on a trip he made to Amsterdam when he tried a certain drug for the first time this is surreal and masterfully produced. The Nylon Curtain is an underrated masterpiece, sadly in a time when MTV was coming into its prime. Genius.
He tried heroin.
@@ChiSportsNut18 Although I don't advocate that drug, never tried it myself, a great tune was written from the experience. Music comes from strange, darker places sometimes
@@mrdaynes1 This is actually one of my least favorites of his but to each his own.
Pressure was his first video aired on MTV.
@@decacards5250 Interesting, didn't know that. The concept album seemed to be diminishing what with MTV coming into it's own is what I meant. Billy one of the last great singer-songwriters I reckon ☯️
This song is one of the best trips ever.
A heroin trip.
@@decacards5250 someone gets it
Igitt-igitt, Tante@@decacards5250 !
I think it was a one-off - it scared him so much he never did it again. Totally get that and I'm very glad he stepped back.
Great track off my favorite Billy Joel's album!
Genius and God given talent
It's a so nice tribute, respect.
Pure genius! That intro synth melody is amazing and difficult to play. The synth arrangement in this song is fantastic!
It's reminiscent of the opening Mellotron flute sound that opens "Strawberry Fields Forever."
This is my favorite Billy Joel album because unlike most other of his albums like Innocent Man & Glass Houses, I've never heard any of its songs played on corporate radio. I've always wondered why. This album has some of the best songs he's written.
Beatle-esque for sure. Echoes of "I Am The Walrus."
Lyrical phrasing is very close to John and Paul. Strings
and shifts in tempo call Beatles to mind also.
Lol Not really, i think it sounds neither like john and paul. Its more george, the beginning has a blue jay way sound its very george rather than the other two
Ron: Yes sir & I can hear what brownstone said about Blue Jay Way as well! A lot people don't know this but John was a HUGE Billy fan!!! They had houses near each other in Cove Neck & John would drive by Billy's house & yell "where are you billly Joel I love & have all your albums" & tell Sean to "say hi to billy Joel" when on the boat passing his house. He wanted to go to Billy's house & introduce himself but didn't wanna bother him! Billy wanted to go introduce himself but didn't wanna bother John. How crazy! I love hearing that John loved & had all his albums
@@MrBrownstone1994 you don’t think the “bridge” section of the song (I don’t know what else to call it) isn’t very similar to strawberry fields?
My first listen, I thought immediately of I Am The Walrus
I love how they put reverb on his voice at the end. This makes it sound like he's flying off to the Scandinavian skys!
I am flying back home to the US after just over two weeks traveling around Europe. This song immediate comes to mind when I think of flying in and out of European cities period, and always will.
The anticipation, excitement of traveling, but also a little trepidation that things have a very small chance go bad when traveling internationally - the tune seems to capture that.
This was the first album he released after Lennon's murder in '80. It explains a lot, but in particular it makes me think of how this album channels a lot more of the "cynical" side of the Beatles, especially late-Beatles Lennon, as opposed to his McCartney-esque earlier work. It's a darker reflection of his work, but in that sense it's very _real_ . You can feel his emotions through every single composition.
vintage Billy Joel ... from the 80's...
Great song from a very good album!
I find this song very Beatles'esque in parts when I listen to it, reminds me of "A day in the life"/"Strawberry fields". Nice
Love this track - just brilliant.
Underrated songs all over the place! And under played
BJ said on Howard Stern that this song specifically was about trying Heroin while he was in Europe. He absolutely nailed it.
🤔 trying heroin yes I agree.
as far as being strung out on heroin I have to give that to Lou Reed and The Velvet underground of their song of the name heroin... that is a harrowing song sounds like a junkie on a run
My favorite song off a GREAT album!!!
I love how chilling this song is, especially when you find out it's about a Heroin trip.
I always listen to this song when I'm taking off.
Another great song by the man...
I can’t explain what it is but the song always gives me a really strange feeling. I have no idea how to explain it. I wonder how or what Billy felt while writing the song…
This song was about him trying drugs on a plane. He didn't have a good time
Oh, my. Rob Sheffield's "Dreaming the Beatles" brought me here. Beatles influence, indeed.
Beatles-spiced and related composition, very recognizable but still specifically a legendary Billy Joel track, I get the chilzzzz….
Brilliant album!
”There's a fog upon LA and my friends have lost their way...”
Rgds from Germany
U got that right
Takes me back
Figures this song has that odd late Beatles feel, it's about a Heroin trip.
Soooo Beatles. Or should I say: John Lennon-ish.
Ohhh.. let me take you down, to the scandinavian skayayayiiissssss.. and finish it off with a walrushhh-ish.
But he's right though. About the light scandinavian summer nights. About Amsterdam too
Great breakdown!!!!!
Remind me of contemporaneous ELO tracks trying to channel Beatles psychedelia through 80s production.
The whole album was a Beatle homage, if you ask me.
Really? Interesting. I can definitely see it in this specific song, but please spit your theory about the albumas a whole. Not that I agree or disagree, it's just that as a long time fan of The Beatles and Billy Joel (and esp of this album), I've never heard that comparison!
He's right and Billy Joel himself has said as much and if you search for "Billy Joel on The NYLON CURTAIN" on here he talks of The Nylon Curtain and references Sgt Pepper, although in fairness I think only a handful of tracks on the album are a nod to The Beatles.
He's also touched on how he was influenced by them since first seeing them on television as a kid too.
Actually reminds me of Klaatu.. honest. ;)
I sure as hell thought so when I first heard it. 25 years later I still think so. :-)
This song and Laura really stuck on me has being being very Beatles. Pressure and Allentown just real deal billy Joel.
WOW!
Love this song. Was this the first time he worked with an orchestra?
Amazing song!
That airplane sound effect in stereo while taking off is sick
All good fanvortie billy Joel songs are great
woher weißt du denn das ?
聴けてよかったです！ありがとうございます
billy joel en mode beatles , trés bon comme d'habitude
The drum at 0:36 sounds just like the drum in Paul Simon's "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover." The rest of the song sounds like a perfect Beatles impersonation.
the descending swirling strings reminds me of several songs in the Beatles White Album. George Martins string arrangements
I always thought this was a beatles parody. A great one!
+David Lane More a homage than a parody.
noticed that too, same producer Phil Ramone
What a powerful tune. Reminds me of Until the Night.
James Caserta the two of them deserve more praise on compilation albums. At least both were released as singles.
I'm listening to this album with the Beatles in mind. "Allentown" would be for Ringo. "Laura" would be for John with Paul repeating "Laura." "A Room of Our Own" would be for John. "Surprises" would be for Paul. "Scandinavian Skies" would be for George.
😄😄😄😄2036 under the radar
Also reminds me of XTC who are (IMO) a Direct Descendant of The Beatles!
I always thought the melodies @0:45, @2:32 @3:54, and @5:17 were from some other famous song.
I second your motion Tim
Has a beatles vibe :)
what language is that in the airport loudspeaker?
my language, dutch
Brandon Chabner They’re announcing a flight to Stockholm (the capital of Sweden) and Copenhagen (the capital of Denmark) if you want to know what they’re actually saying
The drumming reminds me of Paul Simon's '50 Ways to Leave Your Lover'.
The Swedish ground was shocked that Billy landed here. And pleased.
Listen to the beginning of The Beatles "Blue Jay Way" and you can hear the influence here!
Billy joel en mode beatles trop fort
2:23 is my favorite part. It sounds evil and demonic kind of. Amazing part of the song.
I heard Sade's 'Soldier of Love' marching into some 'Norwegian Wood', with the 'Pepper's Marching Band', and a dash of Frank Zappa in the meowing of violins. Wow!
So... Is it just me or the song ends in a more upbeat tempo than when it started? 🤔🤔🤔
Nobody:
this song: *warble*
Absolutely. If I didn't know it was Billy J. they would be my second guess.
Tyler Wash who?
this is Joel's song that sounds the most Beatles-like.
People say the nylon curtain is underrated. No it is not. It is underexposed
Paul McCartney singing this would be amazing..
This Song was the "seed" for "Die Hard" Everything has to stop when there's a cutie on the plane🤔
Wow Billy, listen to Beatles much?
Anyone else think of this as Billy's "Beatles" album?
Die Mutter von meiner Oma
This song was about Billy’s one and only experience with heroin.
I play this song live w Liberty…
Beatles can't get close to this song lol. It's a masterpiece on its own, just wish it had a music video.
Yeah, ok. Not that Joel isn’t imitating ELO....who imitated the Beatles.
@@gretschviking If theres anything he was inspired by, it's mainly classical music
Dude, The Beatles created the musical universe for Billy Joel to play in.
When I listen to this song, I feel like I’m on an airplane. ✈️
sound so much ELO song
It's his Revolver...
"Hello George"....:)
'Tour of germany' he hits that off note on purpose I think to sound like john lennon
I’m getting Phillip Glass vibes from this
That was Definitely "HIM"
If I'm not mistaken, I think I read that he wrote this while trying heroin for the first time.
john b. I just read the same thing recently
he confirmed this on a Sirius XM interview with Howard Stern. he said it was his one and only time trying heroin.
also wrote It's Still Rock and Roll To Me high on junk too
@@tomb6167 really? Makes some sense considering my dad loved that song and was a Vietnam veteran who loved The Doors
Heroin WILL do that. But the fact was Reagan opened a little airspace on top of the world...
Very Beatlesque...
This is great when you watch "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet" js
The problem was not so much the Heroin as being without the Heroin!! Not to mention exploding abscesses resembling gunshot wounds !!! Be advised!!!! Truth!!!!!!
Why does no one know of this song!?
I do
When an artist creates so many masterpieces, some are bound to fall through the cracks.
Even sounds like Lennon
This reminds me of ELO.
26th viewer on a vevo? Wat.
Sounds more ELO than Beatles.
only uploaded one month ago .....
Yeah like 7 years ago..
@@NTMComics song was over 30 years old by then Sherlock.
@@NTMComics Ah yes I understand now, you are right! My bad, don't know what I was thinking, take care.
2023- Ah, Crap We Lost
What is this song about?
Heroin!
Explaination here: mainichi.jp/english/english/features/news/20140429p2g00m0et068000c.html
Ierathel John 404 there.
Ross Parlette Sorry but six months later the informations seem to have been erased from the japanese newspaper. That being said, you can find the same datas here: www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/music-news/10794914/Billy-Joel-speaks-of-heroin-use.html
Ierathel John Thanks for the update, I posted w/o looking to see how old this was. After I saw the "6 months ago" I didn't really expect to get a reply.
Very Beatles like.