There were some albums, particularly in '77 and '78, that just landed like nuclear weapons. Billy's "The Stranger", Foreigner's "Foreigner", The Eagles' "Hotel California", Boston's "Boston", The Cars' "The Cars"... virtually every cut on these disks was released as a single, and every one a massive hit. Great time to be a fan of excellent music.
I always think of them reconnecting at a class reunion or running into each other on the street during the holidays. The live one has a great section of Billy standing up pounding the keys in the best way as well as the sax player doing some remarkable work. He is super young in that one!
Was lucky enough to see Billy Joel and Stevie Nicks this last summer in Chicago and for people in their seventies those two put one one helluva show. ❤
This is one that really needs to be seen live. Long Island 1982 is my personal fav. The whole band, & Billy. Took this song to new levels in that performance. They were on fire.
Bill said in an interview he was inspired by the Beatles Abbey Road album medley of short tunes for putting this together 3 different tunes. if you want to hear perfection listen to Billy Joel's Lullaby [Goodnight My Angel]. it will tear your heart out.
My very favorite of Billy's songs, for all the reasons you say. The story telling, the instumentation, the progginess of the change-ups, what an amazing song.
I have always interpreted it as Brenda and Eddie are the couple meeting at the Italian Restaurant. Please check out "New York State of Mind" LIVE from the Old Grey Whistle Test, it is one of his best songs/performances ever!
"New York State of Mind" is what you need to hear next!! This one is so close to perfection.. but that one IS. All his stuff is exceptional. Fr. What a legacy.
"Live from Long Island". is by far the best live version of this sond. He had been in a motorcycle accident and played with a broken thumb. If you liked this, try The Downeadter Alexa. His boat named after his oldest daughter. Live from Boston will floor you. For bangers "All for Leyna", "Big Shot" and You May Be Right". "She's got a way" from the album"Songs from the Attic cannot be beat for beauty, with the exception of "And so it goes". Billy is at his best live. He and the audience feed one another in the best way. During live shows he doesn't sing the chorus of Piano Man the final time. The audience sings to him. I finally saw him in 22 at Notre Dame. At 75, he rocked a 3 hr show. As a fan for 40 yrs, I assure you, this is a phenomenal rabbit hole to go down As a writer, you are in a unique position to really appreciate his genius. BTW.....Billy writes the 🎵 first, lyrics 2nd. Obviously I adore Billy. His music is literally (and corney sounding), the soundtrack of my life from 16 to 50+. Love your reactions. 🤗❤️
Another great storytelling song from "The Stranger" album. Billy said in an interview that this song was written about the "Fontana di Trevi" restaurant across from Carnegie Hall which he frequented during a series of June 1977 concerts.
It feels like the “couple” were a high school couple, like Brenda and Eddie, and were in the same group of friends. They seem to be reminiscing of those days and what happened after high school. So many amazing relatable nuances from someone who graduated high school in 1976. Amazing times. Life moves on and catching up with high school romances and friends at a restaurant is a nostalgic moment of reflection. Billy Joel is brilliant. And… I just saw him in an interview where he revealed to have stopped writing because he wasn’t as good as Beethoven or Mozart. Even the best of artists have their insecurities. Crazy. He’s soooo talented.
And if they could switch when they were born Beethoven and Mozart might be saying the same about Billy. All musical geniuses reflecting the times they lived in.
I heard Billy give an interview about this song. He says that he was inspired by the long medley on side two of Abbey Road where the Beatles stiched song fragments to create an almost symphony. Billy decided he wanted to give that a try and this is the result
@@SaeedReacts. Maybe try Big Man on Mulberry Street, being that you mentioned it during your review. They also used it for a dance scene by Bruce Willis in an episode of Moonlighting, so either that one or for a live performance, maybe search on here for the title: Billy Joel - Big Man on Mulberry Street (from A Matter of Trust - The Bridge to Russia) It is from 1987 when he did a few concerts in the old Soviet Union as the Cold War was coming to an end and I was at one of his concerts here in London, UK when he announced that he would be doing that and some in the audience booed.
He uses the different styles of music almost like one would change the scenery in a play. The "Italian restaurant" scene has appropriate music. The "reminiscing about high school" scene has music (with the tuba) that sounds like a boardwalk or carnival. The scene changes again for Brenda and Eddie, and that section ends with the swelling orchestra of a movie ending. Then back to similar music and the italian restaurant to complete the framing (with a nice solo to liven it ip).
Interesting. I never saw it that way. To me, it's young lovers meet up years later (at "their" Italian restaurant). At first, they catch up with each other (I got a new job, you look great). "Brender & Eddie" is them gossiping about the popular people from the old days. Billy's band was excellent. The tempo changes kind of reflect the way a real conversation would ebb and flow over the course of the evening. Billy's greatest song!
@@SaeedReacts.I thought initially they were the objects not the subjects of the song but upon listening many times it seems to be it was Brenda and Eddie who were meeting up years later. The fast tempo in the song is their younger life passing by fast and the slower and more lamentful music at the end was the mature Brenda and Eddie who had in a way had had their prime of life years ago. Such great songwriting.
@@steveullrich7737 I tend to prefer dbass’s interpretation based on the lines, “That’s all I heard about Brenda and Eddie. I can’t tell you no more ‘cause I told you already.”
@@The_Maeus Thanks, that's a good arguement to support dbass' interpretation. The alternative explanation would be they refer to themselves in the third person but don't know what Billy might have actually had in mind.
I don't know the official story of who Brenda & Eddie are but I always interpreted it as the backstory of the two old friends meeting in the Italian Restaurant. I recommend watching this played live just to watch Billy Joel's brilliant piano playing. Great reaction!
Hello, Just found your channel through YT's recommendations. Billy's a tie for my favorite artist (and this is my favorite song of his). I watched all of your BJ reactions and I just want to say thank you for giving the man and his work so much respect. As fellow lover of storytelling, I very much appreciate the thought and analysis you give to lyrics. His work has such depth and layers to the meaning. It's one of the things that makes him such an amazing storyteller. The man really is a modern day poet and philosopher. Also as a lover of storytelling, I'd *highly* recommend you give "The Stranger" and "Stiletto" by him a listen. They're my other favorite songs of his, but they're such good stories, and ones I can relate to (unfortunately).
I think your life just changed. I love this song and brenda and Eddie have always been my sister and brother-in-law. Ann and Mike. Complete with waterbed!
❣️ Love this !! This song is such a journey on many levels. Billy really is a genius. Nice one Saeed. I am hoping you do "And So It Goes" by Billy Joel. Bravo 👏👏🔥👏👏
Incredible song. I recorded a reaction to "And So It Goes", but its blocked. When that gets resolved, it will be posted on the channel 😀 Thanks for watching.
Thank you Saeed, id requested in comments, a few months back ( im sure I wasn't only one) but so freaking stoked , you hit this one. ,! And lyrics , yes! ...❤ Great job my man.
I am glad that you are enjoying billy joel. Here are a few more good ones. Movin out New york state of mind Pressure Dont ask me why You may be right A matter of trust.
Because the title says these are multiple "scenes", I have always interpreted this as three different conversations at three different tables. That is why each section has a different pace and feel.
Billy does so many types of music in his catelog. The live version from Long Island and the one at Madison Square Garden is both great! Thanks for all your reactions, much appreciated
I always assumed from the title Scenes from an Italian Restaurant, that it was several different conversations, a couple with the wine, two friends catching up, and two gossips discussing what happened to Brenda and Eddie 🤷♀️
FYI, Billy Joel is the epitome of a rabbit hole, the man has THREE greatest hits albums. My favorite of his prolly isn't on any of them, though. When Bill was asked to list his five favorite songs, He included "And So It Goes". It's quiet, and almost entirely just Billy and his piano. But it's an achingly-poignant song about the risks of falling in love. Because sometimes..... The official video is fine, but it's a live cut. I'd recommend the cut off the studio album. It's sung in a more (!!!) intimate tone, with a little orchestration in the back that the live cut doesn't have. It's a small difference, but in case it matters....
I remember an interview where Billy said this was inspired by one of the Beatle's albums, where one side of the album blends several different songs. Billy took pieces of songs he was working on and turned them into a kind of medley.
The piano at ~3:40 is NOT two parts. That's Billy, playing DIFFERENT PARTS WITH EACH HAND. There IS an accordion in the song, but the part at the end is Richie Cannata on a saxophone. (Opening sax part is tenor, ending sax part is soprano.) The restaurant wasn't actually on Mulberry Street; it was Fontana di Trevi, across the street from Carnegie Hall. The song started as "The Ballad of Brenda & Eddie," which he'd been doing for years. But...he didn't think it was complete. The "Bottle of red/Bottle of white/whatever kind of mood you're in tonight" line was verbatim from a waiter at Fontana di Trevi.
I always saw it as an adult man and woman who as kids went to the same school as Brenda and Eddie, or at the very least knew them from their high school days and from when they all used to gather around or meet up at the village green.The man and woman might have been romantically linked themselves when they were younger or might just have been friends from a group of high school kids and years later in "our" Italian restaurant (which is why I think they might previously have been romantically linked) they get back in touch and are reminiscing about the old days and sharing any news that they know about others from their group, such as Brenda and Eddie. Billy himself has described it as being about the types of people who peaked early in life and in this example became the king and queen of the prom, but it is interesting that Saeed mentions Mulberry Street during his reaction, as Billy also has a song called Big Man on Mulberry Street too.
@@SaeedReacts. No problem and I post the comment below elsewhere but not sure if you saw it: Maybe try Big Man on Mulberry Street, being that you mentioned it during your review. They also used it for a dance scene by Bruce Willis in an episode of Moonlighting, so either that one or for a live performance, maybe search on here for the title: Billy Joel - Big Man on Mulberry Street (from A Matter of Trust - The Bridge to Russia) It is from 1987 when he did a few concerts in the old Soviet Union as the Cold War was coming to an end and I was at one of his concerts here in London, UK when he announced that he would be doing that and some in the audience booed.
You might also like 'Vienna' from the same album, which Billy has called one his personal favorites, and the title track ('The Stranger') -- there's a great live version available from 1977.
I know officially Billy Joel didn't mean this but i still say it works really well with Brenda and Eddy being the restaurant couple, and the disconnect of starting in 1st person then singing about their own story in 3rd person is like an observation into just how much we change into someone else after love ends and the years race by. Suddenly the outro verse carries so much history. Anyhow.
Hey Saeed, I stayed friends with the father of my children, why be vindictive and hate on him, when my sons grew up they found out what kind of an a-hole he was all on their own, they thanked me many times for not dissing on him and letting them find on on their own! Why so many women try to turn their children against their father is beyond me, I think children deserve all the love they can get! FABULOUS reaction to this wonderful song! Thank you for listening to it!
love your reaction but i would totally recommend you do a reaction to the live version in concert..seeing it really takes the song to a whole new level
I love this story. And meanwhile, Billy is going crazy on the piano in the background...
a true legend in his own time
Decades later im still trying to figure this one out and loving every minute of it. A good story has a way of doing that. 😊
The Stranger album is one of those records without a bad song. So good, every song.
Amazing how Vienna just took off. My daughter doesn't believe me when I say it was once a deep cut!
There were some albums, particularly in '77 and '78, that just landed like nuclear weapons. Billy's "The Stranger", Foreigner's "Foreigner", The Eagles' "Hotel California", Boston's "Boston", The Cars' "The Cars"... virtually every cut on these disks was released as a single, and every one a massive hit. Great time to be a fan of excellent music.
Yes! Back in the day when an album was a work of art, like any of the master painters and poets of ages past!
With Billy Joel there's no need for a music video with his songs, he paints such a clear picture.
I always think of them reconnecting at a class reunion or running into each other on the street during the holidays. The live one has a great section of Billy standing up pounding the keys in the best way as well as the sax player doing some remarkable work. He is super young in that one!
Please give a listen to Billy Joel's An Innocent Man, absolutely fabulous.
I am just amazed by his incredible song writing ability. Epic is correct.
Incredible songwriter!
Hope you go back and view his live version. The energy in the performance, the set, the electricity among the band members... all unbelieveable.
This is quite possibly Billy Joel's masterpiece.....and THAT'S saying something. Modern day master.
I like how you decided to listen to the studio cut and concentrate on listening, without distration from a video.
Thanks! Sometimes a video will give you an interpretation and i always like to try to come up with my own, even if i later find out it's wrong 😄
❤love Billy Joel…. The live is also fantastic!!! I hope you do it too😀
Was lucky enough to see Billy Joel and Stevie Nicks this last summer in Chicago and for people in their seventies those two put one one helluva show. ❤
@@suemiller2522 I was there too!
This is one that really needs to be seen live. Long Island 1982 is my personal fav. The whole band, & Billy. Took this song to new levels in that performance. They were on fire.
Bill said in an interview he was inspired by the Beatles Abbey Road album medley of short tunes for putting this together 3 different tunes. if you want to hear perfection listen to Billy Joel's Lullaby [Goodnight My Angel]. it will tear your heart out.
I grew up on Billy Joel & this song. Ultra-Classic
When he slows it back down at the end, it’s amazing
My very favorite of Billy's songs, for all the reasons you say. The story telling, the instumentation, the progginess of the change-ups, what an amazing song.
Magnificent song! Thanks for watching.
I have always interpreted it as Brenda and Eddie are the couple meeting at the Italian Restaurant. Please check out "New York State of Mind" LIVE from the Old Grey Whistle Test, it is one of his best songs/performances ever!
Thanks for sharing your interpretation and the recommendation.
Billy Joel's favorite Billy Joel song.
"New York State of Mind" is what you need to hear next!!
This one is so close to perfection.. but that one IS. All his stuff is exceptional. Fr. What a legacy.
The live version from The Old Grey Whistle Test (a British TV music show) is top tier. Real talent from real musicians. Great performance. 👍🏻🔥🔥🔥
Will check it out. Have a few others recorded, but all are blocked
From my hometown of Hicksville Long Island New York
"Live from Long Island". is by far the best live version of this sond. He had been in a motorcycle accident and played with a broken thumb. If you liked this, try The Downeadter Alexa. His boat named after his oldest daughter. Live from Boston will floor you. For bangers "All for Leyna", "Big Shot" and You May Be Right". "She's got a way" from the album"Songs from the Attic cannot be beat for beauty, with the exception of "And so it goes". Billy is at his best live. He and the audience feed one another in the best way. During live shows he doesn't sing the chorus of Piano Man the final time. The audience sings to him. I finally saw him in 22 at Notre Dame. At 75, he rocked a 3 hr show. As a fan for 40 yrs, I assure you, this is a phenomenal rabbit hole to go down As a writer, you are in a unique position to really appreciate his genius. BTW.....Billy writes the 🎵 first, lyrics 2nd. Obviously I adore Billy. His music is literally (and corney sounding), the soundtrack of my life from 16 to 50+. Love your reactions. 🤗❤️
Thanks for sharing these recommendations. And for letting me know about his writing process. Very interesting!
I grew up singing Billy Joel’s songs, and they still bring me joy to this day.
Here's another great example of "The Many Sounds of Billy Joel" because there are so many. He's a great songwriter and storyteller.
New York State of Mind is one of Billy Joe's best songs, either studio or live
Will check it out.
You should definitely watch a live version. That’s when you really see Billy’s genius.
Will do!
Billy Joel is touring this Spring and performing at a venue just 30 minutes away! Can't wait!😄
Awesome! I wish you a great time!
And thats why he's the piano man!
I still get chills! ❤
Another great storytelling song from "The Stranger" album. Billy said in an interview that this song was written about the "Fontana di Trevi" restaurant across from Carnegie Hall which he frequented during a series of June 1977 concerts.
Amazing song. Thanks for sharing some info!
You should check out the live version.
To me, one of Billy’s greatest songs….3 incomplete songs, turned into one great story!
A Must Watch LIVE!
I was working as a radio DJ at an album rock station when this was released. So many great hits came from this record. Phenomenal album.
Yep! The stranger, Los Angelinos, Italian restaurant and on and on. It’s first class.
A masterpiece.
Nothing today comes close.
It feels like the “couple” were a high school couple, like Brenda and Eddie, and were in the same group of friends. They seem to be reminiscing of those days and what happened after high school. So many amazing relatable nuances from someone who graduated high school in 1976. Amazing times. Life moves on and catching up with high school romances and friends at a restaurant is a nostalgic moment of reflection. Billy Joel is brilliant. And… I just saw him in an interview where he revealed to have stopped writing because he wasn’t as good as Beethoven or Mozart. Even the best of artists have their insecurities. Crazy. He’s soooo talented.
And if they could switch when they were born Beethoven and Mozart might be saying the same about Billy. All musical geniuses reflecting the times they lived in.
The couple is...Brenda and Eddie.
I heard Billy give an interview about this song. He says that he was inspired by the long medley on side two of Abbey Road where the Beatles stiched song fragments to create an almost symphony. Billy decided he wanted to give that a try and this is the result
You can't go wrong with Billy Joel if it's story telling you love and when it comes to instrumentation - well it's just inspired.
You cannot go wrong with any Billy Joel song you select to react to. "And So It Goes" is beautiful.
I recorded a reaction to And So it Goes, but its currently blocked. Hopefully that will get resolved soon.
It's on patreon in the meantime.
Yes, pure poetry!
I suggested that with this animated and lullaby...
You can’t go wrong with Billy Joel. He’s fantastic in concert. Thanks for the reaction.
Looking forward to more of his music. Thank you for watching.
@@SaeedReacts. Maybe try Big Man on Mulberry Street, being that you mentioned it during your review.
They also used it for a dance scene by Bruce Willis in an episode of Moonlighting, so either that one or for a live performance, maybe search on here for the title: Billy Joel - Big Man on Mulberry Street (from A Matter of Trust - The Bridge to Russia)
It is from 1987 when he did a few concerts in the old Soviet Union as the Cold War was coming to an end and I was at one of his concerts here in London, UK when he announced that he would be doing that and some in the audience booed.
He uses the different styles of music almost like one would change the scenery in a play. The "Italian restaurant" scene has appropriate music. The "reminiscing about high school" scene has music (with the tuba) that sounds like a boardwalk or carnival. The scene changes again for Brenda and Eddie, and that section ends with the swelling orchestra of a movie ending. Then back to similar music and the italian restaurant to complete the framing (with a nice solo to liven it ip).
Interesting. I never saw it that way. To me, it's young lovers meet up years later (at "their" Italian restaurant). At first, they catch up with each other (I got a new job, you look great). "Brender & Eddie" is them gossiping about the popular people from the old days. Billy's band was excellent. The tempo changes kind of reflect the way a real conversation would ebb and flow over the course of the evening. Billy's greatest song!
That could definitely be it. I might interpret it different when listening to it again. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
@@SaeedReacts.I thought initially they were the objects not the subjects of the song but upon listening many times it seems to be it was Brenda and Eddie who were meeting up years later. The fast tempo in the song is their younger life passing by fast and the slower and more lamentful music at the end was the mature Brenda and Eddie who had in a way had had their prime of life years ago. Such great songwriting.
@@steveullrich7737 I tend to prefer dbass’s interpretation based on the lines, “That’s all I heard about Brenda and Eddie. I can’t tell you no more ‘cause I told you already.”
@@The_Maeus Thanks, that's a good arguement to support dbass' interpretation. The alternative explanation would be they refer to themselves in the third person but don't know what Billy might have actually had in mind.
Yeah, Brenda and Eddie were the IT couple from their youth, and they are reminiscing about "Hey, what ever happened with Breda and Eddie?"
I don't know the official story of who Brenda & Eddie are but I always interpreted it as the backstory of the two old friends meeting in the Italian Restaurant. I recommend watching this played live just to watch Billy Joel's brilliant piano playing. Great reaction!
YESSSSS to this 👆!
3 act play...
Thanks for that recommendation! And for watching ofcourse!
He is a fantastic singer/songwriter, one of the best. In the conversation with the best of this genre.
One interpretation I have read is that the couple meeting at the beginning of the song are Brenda and Eddie, catching up after a number of years
That could definitely be the right interpretation. Thanks for sharing it.
Hello,
Just found your channel through YT's recommendations. Billy's a tie for my favorite artist (and this is my favorite song of his). I watched all of your BJ reactions and I just want to say thank you for giving the man and his work so much respect. As fellow lover of storytelling, I very much appreciate the thought and analysis you give to lyrics. His work has such depth and layers to the meaning. It's one of the things that makes him such an amazing storyteller. The man really is a modern day poet and philosopher. Also as a lover of storytelling, I'd *highly* recommend you give "The Stranger" and "Stiletto" by him a listen. They're my other favorite songs of his, but they're such good stories, and ones I can relate to (unfortunately).
Thanks for being here! Really been enjoying his music. Amazing storyteller. Definitely will be exploring more.
This song is like a three act play! It also goes full circle (listen closely and you'll understand)!
I think your life just changed.
I love this song and brenda and Eddie have always been my sister and brother-in-law. Ann and Mike. Complete with waterbed!
❣️ Love this !! This song is such a journey on many levels. Billy really is a genius. Nice one Saeed. I am hoping you do "And So It Goes" by Billy Joel. Bravo 👏👏🔥👏👏
Incredible song. I recorded a reaction to "And So It Goes", but its blocked. When that gets resolved, it will be posted on the channel 😀
Thanks for watching.
A fantastic album and I’m sure someone mentioned to watch the live performance, it’s really great
Top shelf Billy Joel...😎😎
Joel is maybe one of the most talented creators we have ever had. I still go back to his music after many decades.
One of his very best is just the way you are
Thanks for the recommendation!
Nice reaction this album was one of the best driving cruising albums ever written. Everybody knew all the words Made driving a lot of fun
I will keep that in mind for my next road trip 😃
Thanks for watching.
Three different songs woven together in a masterful way, then layer the fantastic lyrics and this is his masterpiece imo.
THIS SONG IS A COMPILATION OF THREE SONGS BILLY MASHED TOGETHER FROM SONGS HE NEVER FINISHED,BILLY IS A NATIONAL TREASER!
This and New York State of Mind are my two favorites.
Thank you Saeed, id requested in comments, a few months back ( im sure I wasn't only one) but so freaking stoked , you hit this one. ,! And lyrics , yes! ...❤
Great job my man.
Such a great song! Thanks for recommending it and for watching!
Those first 6 albums. He didn't go a step wrong.
According to Billy Joel, this is his favourite song of his catalogue. I agree.
Awesome! Thanks for sharing that.
There is a very good live version of this on YT, from one of his arena tours when he was at his peak in the 80s.
I am glad that you are enjoying billy joel. Here are a few more good ones.
Movin out
New york state of mind
Pressure
Dont ask me why
You may be right
A matter of trust.
Because the title says these are multiple "scenes", I have always interpreted this as three different conversations at three different tables. That is why each section has a different pace and feel.
That is great! Thanks for sharing!
Exactly right.
Nice, you must watch this in a live version!
Billy does so many types of music in his catelog. The live version from Long Island and the one at Madison Square Garden is both great! Thanks for all your reactions, much appreciated
Must check that one out. Thanks for watching.
Billy Joel said he had three songs that were not completed that he didn’t know what to do with. He end up putting them all into this one single.
100% correct. Abbey Road inspired!! I’m the biggest Billy fan ever so I love seeing him get the praise he deserves so very much.
YES!! Billy Joel.....love it!!
Great story teller, keep digging here for sure.😘
Incredible storyteller! Enjoyed the songs i have checked out so far. Great writing.
I always assumed from the title Scenes from an Italian Restaurant, that it was several different conversations, a couple with the wine, two friends catching up, and two gossips discussing what happened to Brenda and Eddie 🤷♀️
FYI, Billy Joel is the epitome of a rabbit hole, the man has THREE greatest hits albums. My favorite of his prolly isn't on any of them, though. When Bill was asked to list his five favorite songs, He included "And So It Goes". It's quiet, and almost entirely just Billy and his piano. But it's an achingly-poignant song about the risks of falling in love. Because sometimes.....
The official video is fine, but it's a live cut. I'd recommend the cut off the studio album. It's sung in a more (!!!) intimate tone, with a little orchestration in the back that the live cut doesn't have. It's a small difference, but in case it matters....
Billy has said in interview, this song was inspired by the medley of songs on The Beatles "Abbey Road" - short songs put together.
Thanks for letting me know about that!
This isn't a song ... it's five songs all smashed into an epic story.
It's a suite.
Billy’s catelog of hits will blow you away. Thank you
Enjoyed the songs i have heard so far. I will keep exploriing. Thanks for watching!
this song is the gateway drug to prog rock😃
The Piano Man. ❤
Moraš si ogledati video s koncerta; ponuja še veliko več dodatne energije. 🥰
Great review! I also recommend Billy's "Rosalinda's Eyes."
Thanks for watching and the recommendation!
You should react to the live version, anything live from Billy is so good
I hear great things about the live version. Definitely want to check out some live performances.
@@SaeedReacts. His band in the 70s and 80s was nuts, his band these days is also fantastic but back then you could not beat them
I love his song Noreaster Alexa
I remember an interview where Billy said this was inspired by one of the Beatle's albums, where one side of the album blends several different songs. Billy took pieces of songs he was working on and turned them into a kind of medley.
Great artist and song too ! I enjoyed listening to it again .
Thank you Saeed, for sharing this one.
Amazing storytelling. Thanks for watching, Orly!
The piano at ~3:40 is NOT two parts. That's Billy, playing DIFFERENT PARTS WITH EACH HAND. There IS an accordion in the song, but the part at the end is Richie Cannata on a saxophone. (Opening sax part is tenor, ending sax part is soprano.)
The restaurant wasn't actually on Mulberry Street; it was Fontana di Trevi, across the street from Carnegie Hall. The song started as "The Ballad of Brenda & Eddie," which he'd been doing for years. But...he didn't think it was complete. The "Bottle of red/Bottle of white/whatever kind of mood you're in tonight" line was verbatim from a waiter at Fontana di Trevi.
I always saw it as an adult man and woman who as kids went to the same school as Brenda and Eddie, or at the very least knew them from their high school days and from when they all used to gather around or meet up at the village green.The man and woman might have been romantically linked themselves when they were younger or might just have been friends from a group of high school kids and years later in "our" Italian restaurant (which is why I think they might previously have been romantically linked) they get back in touch and are reminiscing about the old days and sharing any news that they know about others from their group, such as Brenda and Eddie.
Billy himself has described it as being about the types of people who peaked early in life and in this example became the king and queen of the prom, but it is interesting that Saeed mentions Mulberry Street during his reaction, as Billy also has a song called Big Man on Mulberry Street too.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and interpretation. Much appreciated! Definitely makes a lot of sense.
Must check out that song as well.
@@SaeedReacts. No problem and I post the comment below elsewhere but not sure if you saw it:
Maybe try Big Man on Mulberry Street, being that you mentioned it during your review.
They also used it for a dance scene by Bruce Willis in an episode of Moonlighting, so either that one or for a live performance, maybe search on here for the title: Billy Joel - Big Man on Mulberry Street (from A Matter of Trust - The Bridge to Russia)
It is from 1987 when he did a few concerts in the old Soviet Union as the Cold War was coming to an end and I was at one of his concerts here in London, UK when he announced that he would be doing that and some in the audience booed.
I was in college when this came out. I remember spending hours sitting around with friends discussing each song.
College yes me too, this reminds so much of college.
"A triple entendre." I would never had thought of that one. Well...yeah...
I could never! Or maybe i already have!
PLEASE check the live video from Long Island. You will be blown away!
Must add it to my list. Thanks for watching.
You really need to react to the title cut. The Stranger!!! Those are some killer lyrics ❣️❣️❣️🥰❤️🔥
Will add it to the list. Thanks !
Two high school friends meet for dinner-long time no see- start talking about most popular couple (Brenda & Eddie).
You might also like 'Vienna' from the same album, which Billy has called one his personal favorites, and the title track ('The Stranger') -- there's a great live version available from 1977.
I reacted to it, but its currently blocked.
@@SaeedReacts. That must be so frustrating. I'll keep an eye out for it -- I really enjoy your reactions!
Say, as i always said, in rock fits very well!
The live version from 1982 on Long Island is excellent.
Thanks for sharing that recommendation!
@@SaeedReacts. you're welcome.
Excellent insight! I heard this song a million times and never considered that the guy in the restaurant might be Eddie
Incredible song writing.
I might be off on the interpretation, but i did think it was interesting idea to explore.
you should do the live version of his Angry Young Man! you'll really enjoy his piano there!
Thanks for the recommendation! Interesting title too.
I know officially Billy Joel didn't mean this but i still say it works really well with Brenda and Eddy being the restaurant couple, and the disconnect of starting in 1st person then singing about their own story in 3rd person is like an observation into just how much we change into someone else after love ends and the years race by. Suddenly the outro verse carries so much history. Anyhow.
Must do the live version....
This is one of the first albums I bought with my own money. And, just to date myself, I bought it in 8 track tape.
Hey Saeed, I stayed friends with the father of my children, why be vindictive and hate on him, when my sons grew up they found out what kind of an a-hole he was all on their own, they thanked me many times for not dissing on him and letting them find on on their own! Why so many women try to turn their children against their father is beyond me, I think children deserve all the love they can get! FABULOUS reaction to this wonderful song! Thank you for listening to it!
That is great! And fully agree.
Thanks for watching and have a great day, Deb!
@@SaeedReacts. You will have a happy life because you are a thinking person! Thank you for your reply!
Thank you for the heart, as always I appreciate it very much!
Thank you for taking the time to leave me a heart! I appreciate it!
just a great love song
Big Man on Mulberry St is a great song for you to react to!
I thought in the first change, I actually heard a clarinet
Sounded like a Dixieland band
Hi Saeed! I remember getting this album for Christmas the year it came out... not a bad song on either side of the vinyl!
That is a great gift!
love your reaction but i would totally recommend you do a reaction to the live version in concert..seeing it really takes the song to a whole new level
Definitely interested in seeing/hearing a live version. Thanks for watching.