Billy Joel "Movin' Out"

Following a summer of firsts (first date, first heartache), Sophomore year of high school kicked off on Friday, August 21, 1992 with an unexpected request. My Dad asked my brother and I to be home immediately after our first day of school. Why? He needed our help moving his stuff to his new apartment because my parents were getting divorced. No matter how aware one is of their parents failing marriage, nothing prepares you for those words.

Billy Joel "Honesty"

"You ain't old. That song might be old, but you ain't old."

-Tamika (the security guard in my office building)

Billy Joel "My Life"

Listen closely to Billy Joel's little ditty "My Life" and you'll hear the vocals of Peter Cetera and Donnie Dacus singing "Keep it to yourself it's my life". Both were members of Chicago in 1978 when "My Life" went to #2 on the Adult Contemporary Chart.

Billy Joel "Piano Man"

After slipping into a taxi outside of an all-inclusive resort in Cancun, the cab driver peered into his rear view mirror and noticed me and the handful of fellow Americans. He quickly grabbed a compact disc and slid it into his player. Moments later, the Eagles "Hotel California" came blaring out of his crackly speakers. With Don Henley and company introducing us to the place you can check out but never leave, the driver continued his drive into the bustling downtown area. Similar to cabs in America, he didn't run the air conditioning during this hot and humid March night -- is this some sort of universal rule among cab drivers? Other songs we heard on his CD included "Brown Eyed Girl" and "Piano Man". My guess is the driver had a special "gringo mix" of popular sing-along tunes for whenever he chauffeurs American tourists. I could also be wrong, but I don't think I am...

Billy Joel "You're Only Human (Second Wind)"

This is Suicide Prevention Week. If you think you're alone, you're not. Depression affects all of us. Even Billy Joel is a suicide survivor. About 15 years before he wrote "You're Only Human" as a message of hope to those struggling with depression and/or thoughts of suicide, Joel himself penned a suicide note. It happened in 1970 when his personal and professional life fanned the flames of his depression. Joel survived and spoke about it in 1985 when his song "You're Only Human" climbed to #2 on the Adult Contemporary Chart. He claimed he revised the song's tempo to be more upbeat than his original version. If you need someone to talk to, call 1-800-273-8255. Be well.

Billy Joel - "I Go to Extremes"

Why do musicians get the ladies? Well, they're able to write and perform songs about their significant others. But what happens when those relationships end? In the case of Billy Joel, he's still out touring and performing songs about his now ex-wife of nearly 25 years, Christie Brinkley. but not all of those songs are love songs. Billy has also written songs to say he's sorry. His 1990 hit "I Go to Extremes" is an audio apology to Christie for his unpredictable personality.

Don Henley "The Boys of Summer"

Imagine a super-group that consisted of Don Henley, Sting and Billy Joel. Actually, it's not so far-fetched. The trio floated the idea of creating a band together. Imagine that text conversation:

Billy Joel "The River of Dreams"

Turn on a Top 40 radio station today, and you'll hear Childish Gambino, Drake and Camila Cabello. Turn on a Top 40 radio station in 1993, and you would've heard UB40, Mariah Carey and "The River of Dreams" from Billy Joel.

Billy Joel "A Matter of Trust"

"A Matter of Trust" is the Billy Joel song that opens with Billy singing "1-2-uh-1-2-3-4". The song is also notable as it features Joel on the electric guitar as compared to playing the piano (he is the Piano Man, after all). Not only did the song chart on the Adult Contemporary and Top 40 Charts in 1986, but also on the Rock Chart (peaking at #14). By my tally, that's one, two, uh, one, two, three charts.

Bread - "The Guitar Man"

If Billy Joel is known as "the piano man", does that make David Gates (of the soft rock band Bread) "the guitar man"?

Billy Joel - "Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)"

It's time for another installment of Nails on the Chalkboard Music (also known as Songs I Don't Particularly Like).  Today, we introduce you to Anthony who's "Movin' Out" in the pop rock song from Billy Joel.  The angry New Yorker tune even featured the sound effect of a car's tires squealing as Anthony presumably moves out of the Big Apple.  

Richard Marx - "Nothing Left Behind Us"

Richard Marx writes love letters through his music -- in the case of Marx's Paid Vacation album, it was dedicated to his wife, Cynthia Rhodes, and his three sons.  As with the case of Billy Joel, it can't be easy to perform these songs today knowing that your muse....divorced you.  In the case of Marx's new wife, Daisy Fuentes, it can't be easy to see your husband sing these songs inspired by his ex-wife.

Billy Joel - "All Shook Up"

When auditioning for shows at Second City, chances are I would be asked to sing.  While everyone says, "I can't sing!" but secretly practice every week doing karaoke...I actually mean it when it.  I can't sing!  In order to work around this requisite at auditions, I would simply sing an Elvis song because doing a caricature of Elvis was the only chance I had versus standing there and attempting to belt out "My Heart Will Go On".  Do you know how many shows I was cast in that required singing?  Zero.

Billy Joel - "Hey Girl"

"Hey Girl" was one of the few '90s songs from Billy Joel that didn't make me reach to change the radio station.  Originally written by Carole King, Freddie Scott made the song a hit in 1963 and Donny Osmond did the same in 1972.  The Righteous Brothers, The Temptations, and George Benson are just a few of the others to also record the tune.

Billy Joel - "Just The Way You Are"

When you write a song about your wife and then later get divorced, how difficult is it to perform said song?  In the case of Billy Joel, he penned the 1977 ballad "Just The Way You Are" as an ode to his first wife, Elizabeth Weber.  The two divorced a few years later.  Then came numerous songs written in the 1980s and 90s about his second wife, Christie Brinkley....before those two also split.  How this man can effortlessly sing these hymns to his ex-wives night after night is truly remarkable...and it also could be why he had problems with booze.    

Dionne Farris - "I Know"

Adult Contemporary radio started turning in 1995.  Artists such as Alanis Morissette and Hootie & The Blowfish started turning up on AC radio stations.  Known particularly for ballads and "safe" music, AC radio started to get more contemporary.  Dionne Farris' "I Know" was one such song that AC radio played to death during the latter part of 1995.  Before long, core artists such as Amy Grant, Lionel Richie, and Billy Joel would soon fall off stations' playlists.

Billy Joel - "Big Shot"

Lyrics to Billy Joel's "Big Shot' include the word bitchin' and no one seems to care.  On the other hand, Britney Spears sings "It's Britney, bitch" and the angry emails come pouring in.

Billy Joel - Lullabye (Good Night My Angel)

Not only was "Lullabye (Good Night My Angel)" a song from Billy Joel, but it also was the name of a children's picture book that Joel christened in 2004.

Billy Joel - "Leave a Tender Moment Alone"

What Billy Joel song sounds like the hooves of horses clapping while Toots Thielemans plays the harmonica?  "Leave a Tender Moment Alone" (duh!)

Billy Joel - "Tell Her About It"

Have we figured out what Billy Joel wants to tell her?