Ten Favorite Songs by Billy Joel

Billy Joel is a New York born composer of many Top Forty popular music songs. Billy has won six Grammy awards, been nominated over twenty times, and has sold over one hundred million records worldwide. He 'retired' from pop music in 1993, yet occasionally tours with friend and fellow pianist, Elton John.

Here is a look at ten favorite Billy Joel songs with sample lyrics and commentary.

Captain Jack

From Billy's second album, Piano Man, Captain Jack was a frequently played song on rock radio in the 1970's. The lyrics, from a teenager's point of view, contain the narcissism and contemporary nonchalance that exist in the mind of the youth in America .
Lyric: 'and Captain Jack will get you high tonight, and take you to your special island...'

Say Goodbye to Hollywood

From the album, Turnstiles, Billy wrote this one of leaving California and heading back to his home, New York City .
Lyric: '...life is a series of hellos and goodbyes, I'm afraid it's time for goodbye again...'

James

One of my personal favorites. This is another gem from the album Turnstiles. Billy seems to be singing to a very good friend, pondering the future, and giving out good advices.
Lyric: '...do you like your life, will you ever change, when will you write your masterpiece?...'

Just the Way You Are

One of Billy's biggest hits ever. From the album, The Stranger, Just The Way... captures the true spirit of friendship. The saxophone solo is brilliant. When this song first came out, I loved to hear it on the radio, and the sax bit was perfect to hear on a warm and starry night.
Lyric: '...I said I love you and that's forever, and this I promise from the heart...'

New YorkState of Mind

This song is slow, bluesy, and features an excellent saxophone solo. Kind of makes you want to go back to New York City . The song is from the album, Turnstiles.
Lyric: '...I'm taking a Greyhound on the Hudson River Line, I'm in a New York state of mind...'

She's Always A Woman

Nice song. I always got to wondering that Billy must have been happy with his girl always being a woman. I mean, what if half the time she acted like a man? You know, staying up late playing cards with the boys, going to the track and betting fifty on number 4 in the 3^rd race, drinking all the beer in the house, etc.
Lyric: '...oh, she takes care of herself, she can wait if she wants, she's ahead of her time...'

Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)

Another song (like the previous one) from The Stranger album. When you're young, you work hard, move out, then get a broken back or have a heart attack. You ought to know by now.
Lyric: '...never can drive with a broken back, at least you can polish the fenders...'

My Life

One of Billy's 'don't tell me what to do, I'm able to choose my own happiness' song. From the album52^nd St , his first album since his chart topping The Stranger release.
Lyric: '...I don't care what you say anymore this is my life, go ahead with your own life, leave me alone...'

It's Still Rock and Roll to Me

From the album, Glass Houses. Billy finds himself at the end of the 1970's and disco music is pitifully dominating the charts. Out of the depths of new trends, comes punk music and the beginning of new wave. Billy finds himself between rock and a hard place and throws some stones at the glass houses of cultural reform, what's safe, and what's the norm.
Lyric: '...hot funk, cool punk, even if it's old junk, it's still rock and roll to me...'

Pressure

From the album, The Nylon Curtain, Billy sings about what it's like to live in modern society and the daily pressures that tear apart the soul.
Lyric: '...all your life is channel 13, Sesame Street , what does it mean?...'

Keeping The Faith

From the Billy Joel album, An Innocent Man. Keeping the Faith is about holding true to your values while staying cool and making the most of what you have and have not.
Lyric: '... Cause the good ole days weren't always good, and tomorrow ain't as bad as it seems...'

Billy Joel has many good songs to listen to from a long career as a New York pop idol. His songs can be found on iTunes for download or as collections on www.billyjoel.com

Happy listening!