November 1973 – a song popular in this month – Piano Man by Billy Joel
This was inspired by Joel’s experiences playing at The Executive Room, a piano bar in Los Angeles.
Interesting facts Piano Man & Billy Joel
Joel played under the name Bill Martin, which explains why the patrons in the song call him Bill. Martin is his middle name.
This is the first song and title track to Joel’s breakthrough album, which he released after signing with Columbia Records.
When he was 21, after his band broke up and his girlfriend left him, he tried to kill himself by drinking furniture polish (he “took the Pledge”). He learned that furniture polish doesn’t kill you, it just gets you really sick. After the incident, he checked himself into a hospital for depression, which he later said was a great experience, since he saw people who had far worse problems and learned to stop feeling sorry for himself.
Many critics trashed him in the ’70s. Joel used to tear up their reviews onstage.
This song has surprising appeal to a younger generation, something that Joel learned when he played the Bonnaroo festival in 2015 and the crowd sang along. He told Entertainment Weekly the response was unexpected, since it’s “an old, long song about a guy at a depressing piano bar.”
This information was provided by Songfacts.com
Billy Joel is one of my favorites – I have all his albums. I think I have driven more than a few people a little crazy by how much of his music I can listen to!
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This is one of my favorites of his. Thanks for stopping by Sarah. 🙂
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This brought back memories – thank you, Terry!
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You are welcome Dolly, very glad you enjoyed this post. Happy Sunday! 🙂
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Same to you, Terry!
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Ha, good old Billy 🙂 This really did bring back some memories! Great song. Thanks for sharing all that interesting info. I definitely did not know all the facts ! Hope you will have a relaxing day my friend. 🙂 x
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Glad you enjoyed the post and the music. Thanks Lynne for stopping by each day. Today is a very relaxing day, hope yours is as well. 🙂
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I love that song. I’m always visualising the scene when I listen. That’s for the write up, I didn’t know any of those facts.
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Glad you enjoyed it, hope you have a great day. 🙂
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I’ve always loved this song. His “she’s always a lady” is the song my daughters said was written for me….well…some parts I agree. LOL
Sending hugs to you and Gary. 😘😘
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Thanks Laurel, glad you enjoyed the song. And thanks for the hugs as well – Happy Sunday! 🙂
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Another great song….xx
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Yes indeed – Happy Sunday kat! 🙂
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happy warm Sunday right back at you my friend….xxx
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I have always loved this song. The younger generation might like it because it offers hope — you do something you love, you work hard, and you get noticed. Or, they might just relate because it takes place in a bar… lol.
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It has a great beat to it, one of my favorites! Thanks for stopping by today to read and comment. Happy Sunday! 🙂
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Billy Joel was my first ever live concert. 😊
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Very cool – some good memories! Happy Sunday Jodi! 🙂
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I love Elton John’s songs! I have many of his albums. I hope you had a great day!
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Elon John is a great artist with great songs. My recent days have been a little better – thank you for asking Kathryn, 🙂
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In that apartment I just left – the one with the crazy columns and vast expanse of floor I was often to be found, entirely on my own, whilst The Bean slumbered in the sun and The Brains was working on the other side of town, dancing to this very track. Thank you Terry – I smile at the memory’s 😊
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Sounds fun – dancing and listening to the Piano Man, I can visualize being there with you. Osyth, you bring a smile every time you visit, thank you! 🙂
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This brings back some great memories, Terry. Great selection of music and the artist.
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Thank you Eugenia, glad you liked it. Have a great week. 🙂
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😉
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Love this song. Crazy, when I play Celtic music this song always comes up.
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It is a great song – thanks Teri – have a wonderful day. 🙂
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One of my favourite songs. I was fortunate enough to see Billy Joel and Elton John perform together here in Toronto. They were amazing!
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I bet it was amazing, what a treat. I appreciate you stopping by. 🙂
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I attended the same high school in Hicksville, Long Island as Billy Joel but about 8 years after him. He is great.
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