Every Billy Joel Song, Ranked

Cold Spring Harbor (1971)

She's Got A Way

This song was the only song from Cold Spring Harbor that I had heard before undertaking this project. While the arrangement is mainly a relatively simple piano part, the overall mood of this song is very pleasant. I don't really have strong feelings about this song, I think it is a good song, but that is the extent of my review.

You Can Make Me Free

Having only known "She's Got A Way" from this album, I was surprised to hear a song that rocked as hard as this song. From the way this album is remembered, I expected this song to suck. The first half of the song does kind of suck, as I think Joel was still trying to find his signature sound when this album came out. But halfway through the song, the drums kick in and suddenly you've got a very Paul McCartney-esque rock song. The second half of this song is so good, but the lame first part is going to tank my ranking of it.

Don't know why I said that this song rocks before as it doesn't really. But still a decent song.

Everybody Loves You Now

This is a fun song. The first time I heard it though I was taken a little aback by the emphasis placed on "your white body." After listening to it a couple times I still think there could have been several better one-syllable adjectives there that maybe aren't racial, but I'm not sure what Joel is going for here. Maybe he was just going for a symbolic innocence, but I don't know. Either way, I do really like this song.

Why Judy Why

Not gonna lie, this song sucks. Rumor has it this song was sped up after recording, and that makes sense to me. The pacing is all wrong and does not match the mood at all. A lot of things just don't work for this song, but some do. The second half is considerably better than the first, but it's still not a great song. Joel's voice works with the song, but it's just not a song I would choose to listen to after having to listen to multiple times.

Falling of the Rain

I'm a big fan of the brief opening piano part of this song. I'm actually a fan of this song in general. Now, a few delusional people in the YouTube comments say this song is better than "Piano Man," which is an objectively false statement. However, it is a very solid song for sure. The fast-paced melody actually pairs with the lyrics well, unlike "Why Judy Why." The chorus is nice, and the "without you lying next to me" part is great. While this isn't my favorite song on the album, I do like it.

Turn Around

This song is not to be confused with Bonnie Tyler's "Total Eclipse of the Heart." That song is a masterpiece, but this song is just pretty good. The piano is fluid and the vocals are equally soothing, but the song just really doesn't do anything. Don't get me wrong, I like this song, I just don't see anything about it that screams "I'm a hidden gem of Billy Joel's." It's certainly better than I was expecting, as I'm halfway through listening to Cold Spring Harbor and it's been a pretty good album. I would expect the songs to become bad as everyone hates this album, but so far, they're not regressing towards bad at all.

You Look So Good to Me

This song does not sound like any other Billy Joel song, as it is surprisingly much more reliant on synth than the rest of this album. This is an okay song, but the vocals are actually low key bad. The synth is interesting, but does not pair particularly well with the piano and drums. The harmonica doesn't really add anything to this song either. But to be fair to Billy Joel, I don't know if my problem is with the composition of this song or with the mixing of it.

Tomorrow is Today

This is a beautiful song. The melody, the tangible emotion, everything. The first time I heard this song, I had no idea of the story behind it, but once I learned it, the song became even more powerful. The vocal and piano changeup in the middle of the song came as quite the surprise to me the first time I heard it, but I like it. While this may not be the best song to play in a group setting, it definitely is one I will keep on tap for the next time I'm feeling down, or just want to listen to an emotional masterpiece.

Nocturne

I was not expecting an instrumental on this album. It's a nice, peaceful song that sounds like it could be ambient Skyrim exploring music. It's good for an instrumental but not my favorite Billy Joel song by any means.

Got to Begin Again

I went into this project knowing one song from Cold Spring Harbor. I had always heard that this was Billy Joel's worst album, and like a fool, I ignorantly parroted this falsehood back to several of my casual Billy Joel fan friends. To quote wasteddreamer112 (some random guy in the YouTube comments section), "this is a criminally underappreciated album." And this song is another good song. The lyrics are meaningful and deep, the song has flows melodically, and the piano is strong.

Piano Man (1973)

Travelin' Prayer

Let me start this off by saying I am not a big country music fan. I really have deep, unaddressed issues with banjos that are preventing me from liking this song. I have no problem with the fiddle or piano but I do not like this song. The banjo, the fast singing, it just really rubs me the wrong way. This isn't the Billy Joel that I know, and in this case that is a very bad thing. As for my ranking of this song, I was faced with a hard choice- do I hate country music or classical music (i.e. Fantasies and Delusions) more? I concluded that while I probably do hate country music more, this song is under 4.5 minutes of suffering while most of the classical pieces were much more prolonged.

Piano Man

I don't think my review of this song will come as a shock to anyone. This is one of Billy Joel's top songs by every metric. The relatable lyrics, the rousing chorus, and the iconic harmonica—this song has it all. To elaborate more on the relatable lyrics: while the vast majority of this song's listeners, myself included, are not piano players in a bar, there is a patron that relates to everyone. Whether you are an old man yearning for glory days, someone trying to change careers, someone who has deferred their dreams, etc., we all can relate to the sharing of a drink called loneliness. Even if the lyrics were taken away from this song, the flow of the music is apparent. The calm start builds into an epic climax and then a relieving conclusion, all with a dramatic ebb and flow throughout. While its length may make it not great for FM radio, "Piano Man" will forever be an aux cord hit among any crowd.

Ain't No Crime

This song is an example of how a different sounding Billy Joel isn't necessarily a bad thing. As soon as I heard this song, my first thought was "I thought Billy Joel was white!" He completely transforms his voice and even the way he plays the piano to fit the gospel music sound he's going for. This is certainly a weird song compared to the rest of this album, but it is definitely a good weird.

You're My Home

This song was one of the more popular ones from this album, but I had not heard it going into this project. After listening to it once, I could instantly see why it was a fan favorite. The mellow guitar vibes just make the listener feel happy. While I would not say I have felt this way about one person in particular, I can definitely relate to the sentiment behind this song in regards to my family. I lived in multiple states growing up, some better than others, but they were always "home," because that's where my family was. Also, at one point in the lyrics, two places/experiences are described— "the Pennsylvania turnpike" and "Indiana's morning dew," which I think are great examples as they're about as close to opposites as you can get. The Pennsylvania turnpike sucks and the Midwest's morning dew is good. Just great lyricism here, and a great song overall.

The Ballad of Billy the Kid

When I first heard this song about a year ago, I was surprised at how good it was. I don't know what I expected, but what I didn't expect was a masterfully crafted song (a ballad, if you will) that told an epic tale. While the narrative is the main focus of this song, the piano and other instruments greatly add to the immersion. Perhaps this is a weird bias, but one part of this song that I absolutely love is when both Utah and Oklahoma are mentioned by name. Billy Joel primarily references coastal states and cities in his songs, so I am a big fan of this representation of the geographic middle of the country. The drums and guitar leading into the piano solos create a scene that listeners can truly see themselves in. Unfortunately, I showed this song to my history buff friend who promptly dismantled any thoughts of historical accuracy. While Joel does sing this ballad as though it were the true history, it is completely fictionalized. Perhaps this is a good thing, as I do not really think we as a society should idolize the historical Billy the Kid. Regardless, this is an immensely underrated song.

Worst Comes to Worst

The unique sound of this song came as a shock to me the first time I heard it. After listening several more times, I grew to like the groovy guitar and drums. And of course, there is some great piano present. I don't know what the lyrics mean, but I like them. Also, as I listen to this album, I'm really liking the emotion Joel is clearing putting into his singing. I like this song; I think it's incredibly solid.

Stop in Nevada

This song starts deceptively slow. Considering how the rest of the album sounds, I expected this to be a slow song for sure, but those are not the vibes of this song at all. After several times of listening to this song, I concluded that this is a good song. The verdict is still out on the lyrics, but the "Ballad of Billy the Kid" sound definitely works.

If I Only Had the Words (To Tell You)

Upon hearing this song for the first time, I immediately downloaded it as there was no doubt in my mind that this is a great song. The piano sets a strange and magical tone to the song—almost like something you'd hear at Christmas time. Although the lyrics and beat are relatively simple, Joel brings so much emotion in his vocals. This is one of the best Billy Joel songs in terms of showcasing his vocal talent for sure, which is an absolute treat to the listener.

Somewhere Along the Line

I must say, I went into this project knowing three songs from Piano Man. And, like an ignorant buffoon, I believed those songs were the only three good songs on this album. Boy oh boy was I wrong—almost this entire album is solid, including this song. This song is a good song until it reaches the 2:30 mark, then it becomes a great song. The piano, the drums, the vocals, everything is great. What are the lyrics talking about? After listening many times, I have concluded that Joel is clearly referring to Taco Bell. It's great satisfaction as you eat it, but you'll pay somewhere along the line.

Captain Jack

I don't know how to feel about this song. On one hand, it is a thematically consistent song that has a lot of the same qualities instrumentally as "Piano Man." Of course, the main focus of the song being drug-related is not exactly a great message. But with other Billy Joel songs that also have less than wholesome meanings I do not feel uncomfortable playing the songs in public or in my car with others. But "Captain Jack" just has to place extra stress on the word "masturbate." Therefore, despite the awesome last part of the song, I will never feel comfortable playing this when my parents or acquaintances are around.

Streetlife Serenade (1974)

Streetlife Serenader

Apparently "serenader" isn't a word, and that bothers me, as it should be a word. Regardless, the first time I heard this song I honestly had no clue how to feel about it. I like the piano here, and the sudden upticks in fervor of which it's played are awesome. I like the lyrics and all the possibly made up words. But after listening to this song multiple times, I wasn't particularly enthralled with it. I definitely didn't dislike it, but it just never clicked. This song feels as though it was incredibly close to being an all-time great song, but fell just short. I don't know what it's missing, but something's just a little off.

Los Angelenos

I really dig the funky sound of this song. The guitar makes this a very unique sounding Billy Joel song. The lyrics are fairly standard, but the beat is what makes this song. The accompaniment is great with the occasional drums and I don't even know what the other instruments are, but I like it. I'm surprised I never heard this song before; it's definitely underrated.

The Great Suburban Showdown

When I picture "suburban showdown," I picture the unspoken standoffs between neighbors of who's going to mow their lawn first. The first time I listened to this song, I was shocked at how well it captured life in suburbia. But at the same time, I like living in the suburbs way more than the country or city. Aside from my personal biases, I like this song a little bit. It's got decent lyrics, and a decent melody. However, it lacks a wow factor or the certain beauty that other Billy Joel songs have. I'm partial to more upbeat songs, but if a song is slow it needs to have something about it that makes me want to listen to it, and this song just lacks that.

Root Beer Rag

I honestly don't know how I stumbled upon this song, but a couple years ago I heard it and was instantly in love. I'm usually not even a big instrumental guy, but the mood surrounding this song is just so great. The upbeat and fast-paced nature of the song may not make it the best song for falling asleep to, but that's okay. This is one of the happiest songs I know and it was able to be that without any words, which is impressive in my book. A very underrated song for sure.

Roberta

The first time I listened to this song I thought, "is this song about a prostitute? It can't be." I was wrong, it could be, and apparently it is about a prostitute. But while I am really not a fan of these lyrics, the melody is decent and the song structure is good. It is a very pleasant-sounding song; it does not match the lyrics at all. The majority of the song is pretty good, but the ending is really good. While unwholesome lyrics do not usually prevent me from liking a song (e.g. "Captain Jack," "Centerfold" by J. Geils Band, etc.) I cannot bring myself to add this song to any of my playlists because of the lyrics here.

Entertainer

I like this song, but I don't think it's an outstanding song. I really enjoy the "best years of my life...they cut it down to 3:05" part, but the rest of the song is just pretty good. I don't know what instrument (bagpipes maybe?) makes the really high-pitched sound, but I am a fan of the happy mood it creates. Overall, I'd say "Entertainer" is a pretty good Billy Joel song but not necessarily one of his best.

Last of the Big Time Spenders

I'm really enjoying this album less than I expected to. However, I did enjoy listening to this song. Yes, it's a slower song, but the lyrics are on point and the piano is strong. The highs and lows of the song take some of what could've been with "Streetlife Serenader" and execute it perfectly. While it's not my favorite Billy Joel song, it definitely receives a passing grade as a good song.

I did not give this song the respect it deserves my first time around. Yes it's a simpler song than some of Joel's other stuff, but it is a good song. Not an amazing song, but definitely very solid.

Weekend Song

I just want to know when someone is going to make a "Weekday Song." Thank you for attending my stand-up comedy show, I'll be here all week. Immediately upon hearing this song, I knew where I was going to rank it. The vibes of the melody and instruments are incredibly close to the vibes of "Christie Lee" off of An Innocent Man. This is a good thing, as I like that song a lot. Plus, who doesn't like the weekend? We can never have too many songs about the weekend, because it's awesome. And this song is like the weekend in that way.

I still think this is a decent song, but I don't really play it that often. I think it's a much weaker song than I originally thought it was.

Souvenir

From the first few notes of this song, I half expected it to be an instrumental. This song really defied my expectations in that and that it is also an incredibly short song. I feel as though it's hard to make a judgement on such a short song. How is one supposed to analyze the lyrics when they consist of only 12 lines and 48 words? I think this is a decent short song, but there aren't that many songs that I would rather listen to this in comparison.

The Mexican Connection

I don't know why this song is called "The Mexican Connection," as I don't really hear any Latin American influence in this music. If anything, it sounds more like Schroeder playing the piano in The Peanuts Christmas specials. Of course, the other instruments alter the mood a little bit, which is good. However, I don't think this song is anything special. It's like the rest of the album in that it's not bad, per se, but it's not really all that good.

Turnstiles (1976)

Say Goodbye to Hollywood

Of the 50 or so Billy Joel songs I knew going into this project, I'd say "Say Goodbye to Hollywood" was probably exactly middle of the road in terms of my favorites. While I never have taken the time to break down the lyrics at all, the overall tone of the song is very intriguing. The saxophone pairs so well with the drums, piano, and whatever other weird percussion instrument makes the cranking sound. However, after intently listening to this several times, I am still unsure of whether this is a happy or sad song. Regardless, I'm a big fan of the arrangement.

Really good song I didn't give the respect it deserved before. Maybe not a great song for a casual Billy listener, but I really like it.

Summer, Highland Falls

One of my friends told me that this was her favorite Billy Joel song awhile back, which came as a shock to me, as I had not heard it before. But after listening to this once, I was instantly enthralled with the majestic melody. The lyrics are also superb, penetrating my soul and bringing forth somber feelings that I did not even know I had. All I can really say about this song is that it is a beautiful song; I am honestly not sure how it was not one of Joel's greatest hits. Perhaps it is because it came out on the same album as legendary songs such as "New York State of Mind" and "Miami 2017". In my opinion, "Summer, Highland Falls" deserves as much, if not more respect than these two songs.

All You Wanna Do Is Dance

This song definitely has a unique sound to it. Take away the vocals from this track and I would never guess this was a Billy Joel song, as it sounds more like a reggae track. I don't know what Joel means when he's talking about "being stuck in the 70s" as this song came out in 1976, but I don't care as it sounds good. After listening to this song several times, I've concluded that I do like it, but I think I'll view it in the same light as I view "Kokomo" by The Beach Boys. This is certainly a song that I will add to my playlist when I open up a Hawaiian themed bar or snow cone shop. And in the meantime, I will add this to my regular playlists as it is a very solid song.

New York State of Mind

For the longest time (no pun intended), this song was one of three Billy Joel songs I knew (the other two being "Piano Man" and "Uptown Girl"). While I cannot dispute the fact that this iconic song is a masterpiece, I'm not always in the mood for it. It is an objectively good song, but at the same time, I would almost never classify myself as in a "New York State of Mind." Therefore, I'm going to have to rank this song lower than most Billy Joel fans would ever rank it.

Since writing this, my hatred for NYC has grown substantially. However, my appreciation of this song has increased, as even though it's slow it is a good song.

James

The top comment on the YouTube video for this song was "James is the cousin of Elton John's Daniel," which I thought was funny. But then I listened to the song and thought, "holy crap, this song has the same vibes as "Daniel." This is a very chill, somber song, and I like it a lot. It makes me feel exactly as I feel when listening to "Daniel." I don't know what weird synthy instrument (marimba maybe?) creates the mood of the song, but it works wonders. This is a good song, but I still ask: what is James' last name?

Prelude/Angry Young Man

This is a song that I did not go into this project knowing, surprisingly. My first impression was "holy crap, this would be hard to play on piano, it's so fast." But after listening to it a few times, I realized this song was way more than just an opportunity for pianists to show off. I would definitely qualify my younger self as an angry young man, and while I do not feel that most of the sentiments presented in this song ring true for me personally today, I know there was a time where this song described me well. Aside from the lyrics, the instrumental intro is awesome. I've always enjoyed two-part songs (i.e. "Foreplay/Long Time" by Boston, "Hard to Say I'm Sorry/Get Away" by Chicago), but this mashup hits differently. The prelude is intense and fast, matching the mood and tone of the second half of the song perfectly. Sometimes a radical difference in the song is great, but in this case, it is the similarity that works wonders. This is a great song, and knowing that I didn't know this song makes me an angry young man.

I've Loved These Days

This song is the weakest song on this album by far. It's still an okay song, as the consistent sound and lyrics are very nice and sad. My first impression of this song was one of confusion, as I thought it had all the components of an epic ballad, but it just didn't work for me. I listened to this song several times more, and it never clicked. I don't know why, I want to like it, but I just can't bring myself to. So, I'm going to say that maybe some unknown personal issues are preventing me from rating this song fairly, but at this point I really don't know.

Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway)

I believe this is Stephen Colbert's favorite Billy Joel song, and although I'm not the biggest Colbert fan, I can't blame him. This is a beautiful song in all regards. I don't really know why it's called Miami 2017 considering it's mainly about NYC, but nonetheless I love the lyrics. I do find it really interesting that this song has no real chorus to it, yes "I've seen the lights go out on Broadway" is repeated several times, but each is followed by a different verse. As with a lot of Billy Joel songs, this song starts and ends slow, following a semi-predictable flow. But what makes this song uniquely great is the somber nostalgia that can be felt in every word and note. The second to last verse has tangible power to it and really drives home the feeling that you, the listener, have also seen the metaphorical lights go out on Broadway.

Living now in Nashville, where Broadway St is the downtown street, this song has taken new meaning for me. Very good song still.

The Stranger (1977)

Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)

This has always been one of my favorite Billy Joel songs. The lyrics are awesome and tell a great story, but the music behind them is what really carries this song. The central notes of this song are incredibly recognizable, and incredibly catchy. The echoes of Joel's voice at key parts of this song really add to the vibes of the song. A lot of people hate on the motorcycle engine at the end of the song, but I don't mind it. This is a great song for driving around and a great song to sing with a group. Also, I'm a big proponent of whistling (this comes into play a lot in The Stranger), and this song is quite easy to whistle. All in all, this is one of Joel's most all-around enjoyable songs.

The Stranger

Like I previously said, I'm a big whistler. So, I think you can assume how I feel about the start and end of this song. Really, there are so few songs in existence that have a whistling solo, so I really appreciate the chance to show off my talents. As soon as the intro ends, the opening bassline is super hype. This is one song that really makes me wish I was musically talented and could sing, play piano, guitar, or drums, as all of these instruments work so well together. While I don't necessarily think the outro is necessary, per se, I relish the opportunity for prescribed whistling. Regardless, I think this is one of Joel's most underrated songs. But, at the same time, I recognize that it is one of the weaker songs on this album (which is more of a testament to the album than anything else) and therefore wasn't a smash hit.

Just the Way You Are

As crazy as it sounds for someone in my demographic, I really like this song. While I would not necessarily describe myself as a romantic, I feel as though this song brings out the romantic in me. I can surprisingly relate to not wanting "clever conversation" and just wanting to spend time with someone. But aside from the sappy lyrics, the music just makes you feel good. The saxophone accents the main rhythm so well, and whatever weird synthy instrument is present really completes the feel. As a whole, this is a very good song that makes me feel very happy. Also screw Bruno Mars for writing a song with the same name as this one.

Scenes from an Italian Restaurant

Alright, I'm just gonna say it. I believe this is Billy Joel's best song. As a disclaimer, I still have yet to listen to all of his works, but I have a hard time believing something could top the epic nature of this song. I didn't grow up in the era or the part of the country that this song takes place in, yet it is still incredibly pertinent today. Everyone has their version of the Italian Restaurant, Brenda and Eddy, etc. Everyone's lost contact with old friends, watched their peers grow up, had their own life circumstances been changed, etc. Even without the lyrics, the mood of each part of the song is apparent through the fervor of the piano and other instruments. This song is the complete package, you've got crazy piano and saxophone parts, great drum riffs, a jazzy undertone, and of course, great whistleability. The musical highs and lows work in conjunction to create a masterpiece of a song. There's a reason that this is one of Billy Joel's favorite Billy Joel songs, as it is almost definitely his magnum opus. I am so thankful that Joel has made a habit of performing this song at his concerts, as hearing him play it live was honestly worth the whole price of the ticket.

Vienna

Hands down this is one of Billy Joel's best, most beautiful songs. Not only musically, with the soothing piano, but also lyrically. There are very few Billy Joel songs that I fundamentally agree with and would classify as having a "good message," but this is one of them. The beautiful melody and vocals create a wonderful song with a consistent tone and clear takeaway. I've never been to Vienna, but if it's anything like this song I would love it. I don't really have anything else to say; it's hard to put into words how good this song makes me feel.

Only the Good Die Young

While I am personally not Catholic, I would partially agree with plenty of Catholics who are alarmed by the message behind this song. I tend to disagree with Joel in my personal beliefs, and I think that having this cavalier, borderline hedonistic attitude towards life is not necessarily good. But I don't think many young people are basing their morality or worldview off of Billy Joel songs, especially not in today's age, so I don't see any harm in this song. Taking away the potentially problematic message, this is an outstanding song. It's one of those that everyone knows and loves, making it a fun sing-along song. But that's not all it has going for it. The piano, drums, clapping, and other instruments create an up-tempo masterpiece. Joel's vocals are properly utilized throughout the song, and the "didn't give you quite enough information," "all that I could give you was a reputation," etc. high parts are incredibly hype. All in all, a great song, the very definition of a "bop."

She's Always a Woman

This song took awhile to grow on me. I used to view it as a generic brand "Just the Way You Are" but somewhere along the way I realized that is not the case. While I definitely enjoy "Just the Way You Are" more, I still greatly enjoy this song. The chill piano accents the alarming words and fast guitar to create an atmosphere devoid of logic. Breaking down the lyrics, by all standards it seems the logical thing to do is to not pursue this woman, yet the narrator does so anyway. It's a good thing that I have absolutely zero experience with these emotions; I would never put myself through that repeatedly over the course of several years. This song hypothetically (remember, I definitely don't know what this is like) captures the emotions associated with such actions, but even aside from the lyrics it is a solid song.

Turns out, the hypothetical situation I referred to above turned out pretty well for me in the last two years. Turns out the girl that was "Always a Woman" to me that I was referring to drastically changed from the last time I had tried to pursue her and now we're getting married. Thank you Billy Joel (not really) for encouraging me to keep going after a woman I maybe on paper shouldn't have.

Get it Right the First Time

Billy Joel really follows up "She's Always a Woman," a super relatable song, with another super relatable song of "Get it Right the First Time." Joel's lyrics hit hard this song, with lines such as "I'm not much good at conversation," "I don't know how to say those first few words," and "let me pull myself together." I have not been told this as those around me are too nice, but I feel like I struggle with first impressions. I definitely give off big shady vibes and I sometimes really suck at making small talk or holding a simple conversation. This is especially true with women but also true with my male peers. Disregarding the ouch time from the lyrics, this is a fun, happy song. The guitar and repetitive drum riff create a groovy beat and the "la, la, la" drives home the upbeat effect. In totality, a very underrated song.

Everybody Has a Dream

This may be the weakest song on The Stranger, yet it is still a solid song. It's slow, but rouses intense feelings inside of the listener. The piano is nothing crazy, the drums and guitar are nothing crazy, but the chorus of voices and Joel's apparent passion paired with the truth of the lyrics is powerful. While the two pieces of art are drastically different, I sort of view this song as similar to Langston Hughes' Harlem (the "dream deferred" poem.) While I'm not sure the reprise from "The Stranger" is necessary at the end of this song, I do enjoy the closure it brings to this epic album. (And I relish the additional opportunity to whistle.)

Big Shot (1978)

Big Shot

This song is pure, unadulterated rock and roll. This is one of Billy Joel's best windows-down roll up songs/songs that make me feel like a man. The guitar, piano, and jazz accents create a sound that all angry young men can relate to. While it never feels good to be able to relate to the big shot that Joel sings of, I know what it's like to feel regret over being a big shot. "You had to open up your mouth" is one of his single most relatable lines. The vocals throughout this song are amazing, perfectly capturing the anger and exposure that comes with talking about being a big shot. The mocking tone of voice that Joel takes halfway through the song, while weird at first, enhances the song greatly. In terms of ways to start an album, this song is one of the best, and sets the bar high for the rest of 52nd Street.

Honesty

This is one song that I first heard live. I immediately was enthralled with everything about the song. The heartfelt lyrics and singing, the intense drums and piano, everything about this song makes it a masterpiece. Firstly, it is very relatable (although I can't "find a pretty face to tell me pretty lies" as I'm not rich) as honesty is something I greatly value from friends, family, and anyone I have any sort of relationship with. Everyone knows how hard honesty is, Joel included. This is also another prime example of how to pair lyrics with the general sound of a song. Even though this song doesn't really have the jazzy undertones that is present in the rest of the album, it still is one of my personal favorites.

This is still a good song, but I don't think it deserves the hype I originally gave it. It's pretty good, but not a great song. However, I won't argue with people who do really like it, nor will I argue with people who hate it. I'm now neutral on the objective greatness of this song (subjectively I still like it).

My Life

When I saw Billy Joel in concert, he opened with this song. I thought that incredibly appropriate as I would say this is the quintessential Billy Joel song. Jazz, pop, and rock and roll all fuse together in this song to create an incredibly fun song. The message behind the lyrics is a little concerning, as I do think people ought to at least consider the advice of those close to them. I'm a fan of individualism for sure but maybe not this extreme of it. Don't get me wrong, there are certainly some good messages within the lyrics. But hey, I'm not going to tell Billy Joel how to live his life/write his awesome songs. As a whole, this is an A1 song.

Zanzibar

This is an incredibly average Billy Joel song. The chorus is great, the sound is groovy, the verses are solid, but there is no real wow factor. I do like that the song title starts with "Z" as I have no other songs in my music library that fit that. The Pete Rose part of this song is interesting considering his gambling and such that caused Joel to amend the lyrics to "Rose he knows he'll never reach the hall of fame" when performing this song live. But, to quote Eric Andre, "I don't give a s--- about baseball!" And this song has a little too much baseball imagery in it for me personally.

Bad song. "Zanzibar" sucks. My bad for earlier describing it as average.

Stiletto

This song is the embodiment of the underrated Billy Joel song. I had a friend who would rant and rave about Zanzibar but had never heard this song, which is just plain sad. The song starts with the sort of noire saxophone, transitions into fast tempo jazz piano, and kicks off into pretty hype singing and a more regular piano/drum part. The greatness of the song continues as it cuts into a brief piano solo, then extended jazz part, then the fast piano of the intro. The lyrics aren't super relatable or anything, but they are simple and easy to sing. This great whistling song is very highly rated in my book.

Rosalinda's Eyes

I did sort of know this song coming into this project, and I was never a big fan of it. But listening to it more, it began to grow on me. It's got a groovy beat, and Joel's voice works surprisingly well with the Latin music sound. And of course, I respect the paying homage to your mother aspect and other meanings behind the song. I am convinced of two things now: Joel's voice can work with almost any subgenre of pop/rock, and people in the YouTube comment sections are delusional. I have now seen several videos where people say that such and such a song is "the best Billy Joel song." In some cases, that's arguable, but I do not think that is the case for this song. It's a good song, one that I underappreciated, but it's not his best work.

Half a Mile Away

While "Stiletto" is by all of my definitions an underrated Billy Joel song, "Half a Mile Away" blows it out of the water. Jazz and rock mesh so perfectly in this song, much like "Big Shot" and "My Life." Really, the main difference I see between this and "My Life" is that this song is considerably less well known. Both songs are some of Joel's best work, and are some of the best feel good, windows down songs. I only have one complaint with this song, and it's that everyone looks at me funny when I say it's one of my favorite Billy Joel songs.

Until the Night

First off, I'm not sure I like this deeper voiced Billy Joel. But like "Rosalinda's Eyes," this is another song that I did not initially like, but revisiting it changed my perspective. While this is definitely not designed to be a billboard chart topper (for various reasons), it is a beautiful ballad and a great song. It's epic, it's powerful, it's an all-around solid song. However, it's not one that I'd include in a playlist for casual Billy Joel fans, as it definitely is a more refined sound and an acquired taste.

This IS an incredible song. I was wrong before to be confused about it, as now I can clearly see (and hear) that this is one of Joel's best songs ever. The more you listen to it, the more incredible it gets. While it's no "Scenes", it belongs in the conversation as one of his very best songs. Criminally underrated.

52nd Street

This song is even more pure jazz than "Stiletto." That's not a bad thing, as this is a very good song. The funky bassline combines with the light piano and bluesy vocals to form a song that would be a hit in any jazz club past or present. But at the same time, there's nothing too special about this song, it's solid, but that's it.

Glass Houses (1980)

You May Be Right

This song is a bop. Talk about a great way to open up an album; "You May Be Right" sets the tone as one of pure rock and roll. The lyrics are fun, the guitar and drums are fun, the sound effects are fun, it's just a fun song. I would compare this song closely to "Big Shot" as both songs have similar vibes. The guitar solo that transitions into a saxophone solo is amazing; it's great to whistle and then shout out the words. And of course, the phrase "you may be right" comes up a fair amount in daily life and every time I hear it I want to listen to this song. I may not be a motorcyclist, party crasher, or lunatic, but this song makes me feel like I am a part of any or all of those demographics. This song really is a complete package, and is one of Joel's best songs for sure.

Sometimes a Fantasy

This song screams 1980. That isn't necessarily a bad thing, as a plurality of the songs in my music library are from the 80s. The melody is light and upbeat, which I'm a big fan of, but the lyrics are a little rough in the same way as "Roberta." But, at the same time, this is a better song musically than "Roberta," and therefore the lyrics are given more leeway. This song is also a good example of a healthy amount of synth (i.e. not like half of The Nylon Curtain). Despite the questionable lyrics, this is still a solid song.

Now that I know the lyrics to this song well and what it's about, I don't really listen to this song that often. As I've strived for increased purity in my life in general, I found myself not ever listening to this song.

Don't Ask Me Why

I originally learned this song when I was making a playlist of song's with "Can't" or "Don't" in the title for a quiz game (which can be found here) I originally did not think much of this song as I thought it was solid but that's it. But the more I listened to it, to more I fell in love with the unique sound. The song starts off with mentioning a "French café" and I cannot help but picture this song taking place in Paris or Barcelona or another European city just on account of the instruments used. On the whole, a very underrated song.

It's Still Rock and Roll to Me

My only complaint about this song is that it's too short. The lyrics are fun to sing and easy to learn. The beat is simple and easy to follow. The sound is crisp and catchy. But what really makes this song great is the pseudo chorus part of "It doesn't matter what they say in the papers..." Unfortunately, this super hype part of the song only lasts 15 seconds. The good news is it picks back up in the second half of the song for slightly longer with an instrumental part that is great for whistling. This is a really good song, but if the hype parts were longer/more integral to the song it would be a great song.

All for Leyna

I was worried that this song would be too synth heavy given the intro, but my worries proved unfounded in this case. The guitar is strong, and when paired with the synth and piano creates a harsh sound that pairs well with Joel's vocals. The beat is nice, and the chorus of this song is great. However, the song as a whole is mediocre at best. It's got its good parts, and perhaps it will grow on me over time, but after listening to it many times I'm not completely sold.

This song after two years has not grown on me, but it also hasn't shrunk (probably not a proper statement) on me.

I Don't Want to Be Alone

The intro of this song led me to believe this would be a more jazzy, slower, 52nd Street-esque song. I was half right, for while this song definitely sounds more like the previous album, it has the distinctly Glass Houses sound after the brief intro. This song acts as a perfect bridge between 1978 Billy Joel and 1980 Billy Joel musically. As for the lyrics, I was really hoping they were not about a prostitute or some other negative message, for I really liked the song. (I was desperately hoping this was not another "Sometimes a Fantasy" situation.) A quick Google search thankfully confirmed that the lyrics are fairly innocuous. I can now say without fear of incredible ridicule (or more than I usually endure) that I do find the lyrics semi-relatable. But even aside from the lyrics, the brief saxophone solos are great, and the piano-driven melody is incredible. This is a very good song.

Sleeping with the Television On

My first impression of this song was incredibly positive. But the more I listened to it, the more I realized I was underselling this song. It's not just a good song, it's a great song. The mood of the song is hard to determine as it sits somewhere between sadness and euphoria, but this is a good thing. The vocals pair so perfectly with the drums and guitar to create this limbo-esque mood. The keyboard solo near the end is also straight up awesome. I'm not sure about the meaning behind 100% of the lyrics, but I can definitely relate to "I really wish I was less of a thinking man, and more a fool who's not afraid of rejection" and other great lines. I'm surprised I had never heard of this song going into this project, as I would think this should have been a smash hit.

C'etait Toi (You Were the One)

I'm not a super big fan of the French (but I recognize that they get more flak for being cowards than they deserve), but I must admit, they have a beautiful language. English, as good and popular of a language as it is, does not sound nearly as poetic as French. The melody of this song is just as relatively poetic and Joel's voice sounds even more pleasant in French. I really enjoy the marimba or xylophone or whatever the percussion instrument is that accompanies the piano and drums. Who knows, maybe I'll eventually learn French from listening to this song enough times.

Close to the Borderline

I could tell the first time I heard this song that it was going to be a rock song. What I did not expect was a rocking 80s song with early 2000s punk rock lyrics. Regardless, I do really like the sound of this song, and the semblance of a chorus is good. The verses are rocking, a little edgy lyrically, but nonetheless solid. I don't really have any other strong opinions about this song, it's pretty good but I don't think it's as good as the rest of the album.

Through the Long Night

My prediction for this song based on the rest of the album and the song title was that this would be a slow song to close out this album. I was correct, as this song sounded like a Cold Spring Harbor track for the first minute of it. It picks up a little halfway through, which I'm a supporter of. This is a good song, but I think it's the weakest track on the album. However, given the very upbeat nature of the rest of the album, perhaps it was best to end the album with this slower song.

The Nylon Curtain (1982)

Allentown

No joke, the first time I heard this song I was in Allentown, PA. I was initially interested in the song for the memes, but as I listened, I really grew to like this song. The train sound effects at the start and end of the song really add to the immersion in this rust belt coal town. As someone who grew up surrounded by the crumbling infrastructure and empty factories of the rust belt, I relate to this song on a level that I don't for most Billy Joel songs. Of course, I am not a blue-collar worker and while my high school never taught me about "iron and coal, chromium, steel," I never needed it. The melody behind these lyrics is somewhat simple and repetitive, but that helps set the tone of the song for sure. Talking with others, I know that their first impressions aren't always the greatest of this song, but it's grown to be a song that several people I know love as much as I do.

Laura

If I didn't know any better, I would've thought this was a Beatles song upon listening to it for the first time. My other first impression was slight shock at Joel's use of the F-bomb. After some more time listening to this song, I still retained the Beatles vibes. I like the guitar and drums for sure, but the whole song is just mediocre in my mind. In almost all cases I would rather listen to the classic Billy Joel over The Beatles, so this song is not very highly ranked among other Billy Joel songs for me.

Pressure

Let me start off by saying I love the phrase "Peter Pan advice." I like the lyrics to this song a lot as they are pretty fun, and somewhat relatable. But at the same time, I have been known to crack under pressure and am not always the biggest fan of feeling pressure. Also, I hate baseball. The iconic synth of this song is fun as I always picture Davy Jones hammering away at his organ playing it, but I don't know how objectively good it is. I'd rate this song as an average Billy Joel song, I don't think it's his best work but I do enjoy it most days.

So while my thoughts on this song haven't changed, I will comment that the Amazon Prime series "The Boys" (which I do NOT recommend as it's awful and I regret watching it) used this song in a really cool way. It also used a lot of other Billy Joel songs in cool ways (such as "You're Only Human" especially) which was good and bad. It was bad because I like to gatekeep Billy Joel. But good because Billy Joel got some new fans.

Goodnight Saigon

One grievance I have against this song is that the intro is too long. It starts off with 50 seconds of helicopter blades, which is nice for setting the scene but not practical for playing this song on the public aux cord. The mood of the song is somber, which is definitely appropriate for reminiscing on the Vietnam War. The chorus of this song is incredibly powerful, and complements the dark and dismal verses well. The pauses in the music corresponding with the loud piano and drums drive home the feeling of fleeting comradery that Joel probably wanted to portray. While this song is not a party song or joyful tune to show your friends, it is certainly a masterpiece worthy of respect.

She's Right on Time

Billy Joel once said this was his second favorite song, which initially came as a surprise to me as I had never heard of it. After listening to this song once, I was even more puzzled. I listened to this song several more times and I just did not hear anything that wowed me. The guitar is nice and the piano is nice, and the background drums sound good. In this song Billy Joel sounds more like Bruce Springsteen than I think he does in any other song. Perhaps this song would grow on me over time, but after several times of listening to it all I've concluded is that this is a good song, not a great one.

A Room of Our Own

I'm a big cards player, so I am a big fan of the opening lyrics of this song. Otherwise, I'm not super drawn to the rest of the lyrics of this song. But I am drawn to the upbeat melody and overall sound of this song. The piano/synth works incredibly well with the drums and underlying guitar in creating a happy atmosphere, even though the lyrics aren't particularly optimistic. After several times listening to this song, I'm still not convinced it's a top-tier Billy Joel song, but it is solid.

Surprises

Speaking of surprises, dang Joel's voice gets high in this song. I must say, the more I listen to this album, the more I appreciate the throwback nature of An Innocent Man. While the synth works for some songs (e.g. "Pressure," "A Room of Our Own"), I'm not in love with it here. It just feels as though Joel was trying too hard to adapt to the 80s. But I do like the other parts of this song. It's a decent song for sure, with a great chorus and several good parts, but as a whole I'm not super fond of it.

Scandinavian Skies

I've got a decent appreciation for Scandinavia as my grandmother immigrated to the United States from Finland. But this song blatantly disregards Finland as being a core part of Scandinavia (also R.I.P. Denmark for being left out too). I don't know why Joel chose to focus on Germany and The Netherlands instead, but I don't like it. But even aside from the lyrics, I just don't think this is a good song. Joel's voice doesn't sound like I know he's capable of. The melody is lame and the synth is bad. And Joel should've mentioned Finland. Sorry to the readers for this relatively vindictive and not 100% objective review.

Where's the Orchestra

The Nylon Curtain is by no means my favorite album of Joel's, and this song is no exception. However, I do like this song more than some of the other songs on this album. I really like the piano and how it works with the saxophone, but the overall pacing I'm not a fan of. The lyrics aren't particularly moving to me, as I feel you have to do if you write a slow song. In my mind this is exactly how you don't conclude an album, as this song definitely disappointed me.

An Innocent Man (1983)

Easy Money

"Easy Money" is a phrase that I used to say a lot, so I was very excited to hear this song for the first time. My excitement was rewarded, as this is a quality song. I liked it a lot the first time I heard it, and the more I listened to it the more I liked it. The sound is jazzy; it sounds like this song could easily fit on 52nd Street. But at the same time, Joel's progression into the 80s is clear, as the pop/rock chart topper sound is present as well. While the whole song is solid, the last 30 seconds are especially strong, driving home the carefree vibes.

An Innocent Man

This is a thematically different sounding song than a lot of Billy Joel songs. In actuality, most of the songs on this album have drastically different vibes. In this case, different is not a bad thing, as this is a solid song. I don't really have strong feelings about this song, though. I like it and I like the low-key melody and vocal flow, but otherwise I'm ambivalent towards the lyrics and other aspects of the song.

The Longest Time

I absolutely love this song. However, this song kills my self-esteem. Don't worry, it's nothing about this song that is bad, it's just that I cannot snap and sing at the same time. So therefore, whenever I'm singing this song in a group setting (as it's designed for), I have to relegate myself to being one of the background snappers/vocal noise makers instead of one of the main singers, and that sucks relative to what it could be. Regardless, it's still super fun to participate in an acapella group style singing of this song with friends. Not only that, but the phrase "the longest time" does come up occasionally in casual conversation, striking up happiness when someone inevitably starts singing this song. While I can't, for obvious reasons, say that the musical instruments present in this song are played well, I can say that the vocals are on point. The lyrics are simple and fun; this is a top-tier Billy Joel song.

This Night

This is another song that I did not know going into this project. But I am sensing a pattern that Joel likes to sing about the night for some reason. And again, this is another drastically different sounding song compared to most of Joel's other works. I'm really liking the musical variation found in this album. I'm not a big slow dancer myself, but this song really makes me want to learn how. The basic beat is soothing and continues throughout the song, but the second half of the song transforms the melody into something even better. The 50s style is complete with an epic saxophone solo, background voices, and piano accompaniment. All in all, this is a great song.

Tell Her About It

Now this is a Billy Joel song that I wholeheartedly agree with. I have had relationships not work out in the past for many reasons, but my lack of verbalizing emotions definitely was a factor. I normally don't take advice from Billy Joel but his advice here is very sound. But even aside from that, this song is an absolute banger. The upbeat horns, percussion, guitar, and everything else works in harmony to create a song that was almost guaranteed to climb to the top of the 1983 billboard charts.

Uptown Girl

I believe this review may be my hottest take overall. Don't get me wrong, I like "Uptown Girl." I think it's a good song and it's a fun song to sing with friends (since everyone knows the lyrics). But, and this is a big "but," I don't think it deserves the hype. And by "hype" I mean being remembered as one of Billy Joel's best songs. Yes, it's fun and upbeat, it's got a catchy tune and simple lyrics, it's kind of relatable (not really), and everybody knows it, but I just am not a huge fan. It's not like I can point out anything I really dislike about this song, but I just like so many other Billy Joel songs more. If anything, I'm not trashing on this song, I'm just saying that there is a good portion of Joel's discography that's better. I would say I'm sorry if I offended anyone, but I'm not.

In reading my previous review of "Uptown Girl" I was horrified. I apologize to all my readers for pulling my punches. "Uptown Girl" is the worst Billy Joel song to become popular and I hate it. I gave it far too much respect before, as it is NOT a good song. People hear it and think "oh, that's what Billy Joel is about" when that could not be further from the truth. I hate this song.

Careless Talk

Each song I listen to from this album heightens my appreciation for Joel's diversity of sound. This is another prime example of a song that does not sound like it came out in the 1980s. And while the 80s are my favorite decade for music (so far), I am a big fan of this album's throwback to the sounds of the past. I am therefore also a big fan of this song and its sound. The melody, the vocals, everything is on point. I am actually inspired now to make a playlist called "Smooth Billy" for my next date. And while I love the song "Careless Whisper" by George Michael as much as the next straight guy, I much more prefer the better vibes from this song.

Christie Lee

Even before listening to this song for the first time, I had my preconceptions. Considering the name of the song is that of Billy Joel's once wife, I expected this to be a love song of sorts. I was not expecting a song that has some of the same energy as "Old Time Rock and Roll" by Bob Seger. I was also not expecting the kind of goofy lyrics about a girl just wanting a man for his saxophone skills. Regardless, I like this song a lot. The piano is upbeat and rocking, the guitar and drums create an up-tempo feel. It's a different song, but it's good for sure.

Leave a Tender Moment Alone

This song has very similar vibes to "This Night," which isn't a bad thing. But the first time I heard it and mentally processed the lyrics, I felt personally attacked. I have had (still have) a problem with killing serious moments with girls with humor. Since experience has proved the advice from "Tell Her About It" to be correct, I am going to trust Billy Joel's advice here as well. I will try in the future to not "tell the girl a comical line to keep the conversation light." But even aside from these painful relatable lyrics, this is a very solid song.

Keeping the Faith

I like this song and its chill vibes. I can't relate to the lyrics very well (for various reasons) but the feel of the song transcends the lyrics. The drums, piano, and whatever brass instrument is present create a powerful atmosphere of nostalgia. This is also perhaps one of Joel's best vocal performances in general. But relative to the rest of his songs, this is not one of my favorites. However, I will recognize that this is a great way to end an album, especially an album full of much bigger hits.

The Bridge (1986)

Running on Ice

First off, running on ice is incredibly fun and quite the adrenaline rush. The almost hurried beat of this song creates a similar feeling of tension musically. The chorus is a little less stressful, which is a nice break in the tension. I'm a big fan of thematically appropriate songs, but I don't usually want to feel tense when listening to music. The parts of this song that aren't super aggressive are really good, but my heart rate increases too much in the other parts to warrant a high ranking of this song.

This is the Time

I have known what the album cover of this album looks like for a period of several years, but in doing this review I finally realized what it was a picture of, and I feel like an idiot. I always thought it was the shadow of some oblique rectangular prism on some generic blue background. Now I realize that it's a stupid bridge (who would've thought?). This realization really distracted me the first time I listened to this song, so I had to go back and listen a few more times before I could tell if it was good or bad. After listening to it more, I concluded that it is good. That is all.

A Matter of Trust

I wasn't a big fan of this song the first time I heard it, but every single time after that I was a big fan. Now, any time I hear the opening "One, two, one, two, three, four" I'm excited as I know a stellar song is starting. The guitar that creates the beat is good, but Joel throws in a great accompanying second guitar, piano, and drums. I don't really know about the lyrics; I've never really examined them deeply. However, I don't see any problems with them at first glance, which is good enough for me. All in all, this is an extremely solid song.

Modern Woman

People who say Billy Joel can't rock obviously haven't heard this song (as well as some other obvious ones like "Big Shot" and "You May Be Right"). This song is certainly a fun song in terms of its tone. However, I don't know how incredibly well it's aged. I don't have a big problem with the lyrics, they're just a little different in connotation 30+ years later. But implications aside, the lyrics are pretty good. "Rock and roll just used to be for kicks and nowadays it's politics and after 1986..." is just an objectively great set of lines. Combine these fun lyrics with the upbeat drums, guitar, and intermittent synth, and you're left with a great song.

Baby Grand

Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney in "Say Say Say," Carlos Santana and Rob Thomas from Matchbox Twenty in "Smooth," Queen and David Bowie in "Under Pressure," Carlos Santana and Chad Kroeger from Nickelback in "Into the Night," these are some of the best musical collaborations of all time. But one song that is glaringly absent from this list is Billy Joel and Ray Charles' "Baby Grand." This song is smooth (not like the 1999 Grammy Award winning hit previously mentioned) and enjoyable with its jazz club vibes. Ray Charles is a legendary musician, and his voice works so well in contrast to Joel's. While the lyrics are not super relatable to me, a non-piano player, they still hold a captivating power. Joel has made remarks that this is not his favorite album, but I believe this should be one of his favorite songs.

Big Man on Mulberry Street

This song has parts that I really like as well as parts that I'm not particularly fond of. I actually enjoy the James Bond-style horns more than I probably should. I like the overall melody and sound of the song, but I don't know if it's the length of the song or what, but I'm just overall not that fond of it. I can't point a finger on why, but I get similar vibes to "Running on Ice" at points, which I don't like.

Temptation

I feel as though this song is pretty similar to "She's Always a Woman" in terms of lyrical themes. However, I don't think this song is as good as "She's Always a Woman." The mood of this song is also a little different. This more somber tune is almost the second phase of getting into a relationship where you should know better. But aside from the painfully relatable lyrics, the piano pairs very well with the guitar and jazz undertones. While this song is not a particularly remarkable song, it is still a good song and middle of the road for this album.

Code of Silence

When I saw that this song was a collaboration between Billy Joel and Cyndi Lauper, I was a little perplexed, as I had no idea what this song would sound like. This song somehow sounds exactly as I would expect a Billy Joel-Cyndi Lauper collab to sound like. As I am with a lot of other Billy Joel songs, I am a much bigger fan of the second half of this song compared to the first. All the instruments mesh well together, especially the piano and the drums. The distinct styles of Lauper and Joel are both apparent here, but they work together surprisingly well. I never was the biggest Cyndi Lauper guy ("Girls Just Want to Have Fun" and "Time After Time" were her only songs I knew), but I do like this song a good amount.

Getting Closer

I like the lyrics of this song and their overall positive message. I was not super drawn to the melody or overall sound of this song the first time I heard it, but the more I listened to it, the more I realized this is a solid song. The upbeat sound matches the lyrics really well, and the piano is actually really strong here, especially when paired with the guitar and drums. I don't know why Billy Joel isn't a huge fan of this album, as I think the vast majority of the songs are solid. Maybe relative to his other albums it's not anything special, but I like it for sure.

Storm Front (1989)

That's Not Her Style

I really enjoy the Western movie soundtrack style at the beginning of this song. I also really enjoy the chorus of this song as well. One thing I found slightly ironic about this song is that this song is not really in typical Billy Joel style. It's definitely more standard late 80s rock than most of his other songs (kind of like a Bon Jovi song almost). This isn't a bad thing, as I do think this is a good song. It still does retain a Billy Joel twist with his vocals, obviously, but the piano part at the start particularly clicks well. This is a good way to start an album.

We Didn't Start the Fire

This is a pretty polarizing song. On one hand, you've got most die-hard Billy Joel fans recognizing that it is by no means one of his best songs. On the flip side, a lot of casual fans/non-Billy Joel fans greatly enjoy this song. I am actually somewhere in the middle of this debate. I actually can recite the lyrics to this song from memory (weird flex, but okay) so I do enjoy when this song comes on. The song is also great for learning about history. But, at the same time, relative to all of his other songs, this has some of the shallowest lyrics. It is also perhaps the biggest meme song of Joel's discography. While this song should not be reflective of Joel's work as a whole, it does serve as a bridge (no pun intended) for many people to hear about Billy Joel in the first place. All these factors work together to create a song that is by Billy Joel's standard mediocre at best. But at the same time, it does not deserve the hate it receives.

I like this song and I'm no longer ashamed to admit it. It's one of my favorites of Billy Joel's as it's just a fun bop. You've got to know the lyrics for it to be really fun, though.

The Downeaster Alexa

This song has caused me much inner turmoil as I try to rank it. Sometimes I am really in the mood for this song and the seafaring lyrics and vibes really work for me. Other times I immediately skip this song as I just don't want to listen to it. I really don't know how good of a song this is. The beat rolls like the pitch and turn of a ship, and Joel sings like a sailor (minus the stereotypical foul language), making this song very thematically consistent. I think this is another case of a song that is objectively solid but personally I don't prefer it.

I Go to Extremes

Now this is music. This song is a prime example of rock piano. The drums and guitar work well together, but the piano is what makes this song great. The piano solo near the end is incredibly epic, and watching Joel play it live was one of the hypest moments of that year for me. Not only is this an instrumentally great song, but the lyrics are very relatable. While I am usually a pretty even-keeled guy in terms of temperament, the concept of going to extremes in other areas of my life is incredibly relevant. This song was probably my favorite song from this album going into this project, and it's hard for me to see a different song surpassing it.

Shameless

I see why Garth Brooks made a cover of this song—this song was built to be a country song. However, I think Joel was afraid to go all out on the country style, resulting in a song that's pretty good for sure, but not great. And this is coming from a guy that is not a fan of country music. The music is great, especially in the second half of this song, and the vocals are solid throughout, it's just that I don't think Joel's voice is meant for this song. It really pains me to admit this, but I think I like the Garth Brooks cover better, and I can see why it performed better on the charts. Don't get me wrong, the Billy Joel version is solid, it's just not all it could be.

Storm Front

Despite this being the title track of the album, I had never heard it before. The first time I heard it, I was caught by surprise by the chorus. Based on the first minute, I did not expect the incredibly upbeat and figuratively loud chorus. An Innocent Man was supposed to be Billy Joel's album of unique sounding songs, but Storm Front spans rock, country, and now R&B with this song. I have not looked that much into the lyrics of this song, but while the seafaring themes of "The Downeaster Alexa" are still present, the vibes are completely different. This song makes me feel good; it's a pretty good song.

Leningrad

Now this the epitome of epic Joel. While the song may be long and therefore not ideal for radio play, that does not change the fact that it is a great song. The tale it tells is one of acceptance and humanity, a good message for sure. The piano, while relatively simple, is full of emotion and power. Mixing that with the drums and dramatic chorus singing, you are left with quite the powerful song. This song requires no further justification for my ranking of it, one listen is all it takes to realize that this belongs on the same level as "Goodnight Saigon."

State of Grace

Based on the intro to this song, I expected a slow solo piano song. I did not expect the guitar for sure. I'll admit, my initial impression of this song was not great. But even the first time I listened to it, as the song went on, I grew to like it more. I don't really know why, but something about the middle part of this song is enthralling. The more I listened to it, the more "All About Soul" vibes I got, and I really like that song (see my review later). There's something about the somber yet upbeat sound of this song that really connects to me, even if the lyrics are not particularly moving. But in this case, this song is strong lyrically as well. This song is definitely going to be a personal hit on my "Sad Boi Hour" playlist, but it's also a good song for other occasions.

When in Rome

I don't know why, but based on the title of this song I expected it to be a slow song. I definitely did not expect the upbeat, jazzy song that this is. I also did not expect the song to flow as well as it does, with slower and faster parts, saxophone solos, and choir voices. Also, "when in Rome..." is a fairly common expression, and I look forward to breaking out this song the next appropriate scenario where this phrase is used. Even aside from that, this is a very good, underrated song.

And So It Goes

I did not know this song, but I had been told many times that this is a great song. However, the first few times I listened to this song I really did not like it. I recognized that the piano and Joel's voice combined to make a soulful ballad, but for some reason the sound just did not click for me. But after some time away from this song, I decided I should give it another shot, and sure enough, I saw (or rather, heard) the error of my ways. This is a top-tier Billy Joel song for sure, but to fully appreciate it you must give it your undivided attention, otherwise it is merely a mid-tier Billy Joel song.

After sitting with this song for awhile, I have begun to really appreciate it. While it is slow and simple, it is a fantastic song. I did not respect it my first time around.

River of Dreams (1993)

No Man's Land

This is some relatively heavy rock and roll. I always thought that River of Dreams was a softer album, but this is anything but soft rock. I have no problem with that, as I am a fan of some stronger rock, I just didn't expect Billy Joel to go this hard. At the time I first heard this song, I was over 120 songs into my review, and this song was the hardest rock yet. The lyrics here are unique and match the sound of the music incredibly well. A bunch of Biblical imagery/quotes are used here, and I don't know why but it seems to fit the mood of the song. But even aside from the lyrics, this is perhaps the purest rock song of Joel's entire discography. I'm actually a little upset in knowing that this song is definitely going to complicate things in my top-tier Billy Joel song rankings, as that is definitely where this belongs.

The Great Wall of China

I'm ¼ Chinese, so I was excited to listen to this song for the first time. As soon as I heard this for the first time I thought, "what a weird song." The Humpty-Dumpty and buffet references really puzzled me, but I still was inexplicably drawn to this song. This, like "No Man's Land" is one of Joel's most unadulterated rock and roll songs for sure. Also, I really like how the album cover for River of Dreams has a drawing of The Great Wall of China and a no man's land on it. I assume the rest of the song titles will be equally represented, and I'm a big fan of that. I don't really know where and how to rank this song; all I know is it is very good.

Blonde Over Blue

I have a very complicated relationship with Billy Joel's use of synth. In the case of this song, I'm not a fan. I'm also not a particularly big fan of Joel's vocals in this song. They just don't really work in my mind. I listened to this song multiple times and I never really liked it. I just don't think it's a very good song, plain and simple.

A Minor Variation

I am also not sold on this song. It's definitely a funkier, more R&B song, which I don't have a problem with. However, I think it just lacks a wow factor, or a really groovy beat at the minimum. It's a more solid song than "Blonde Over Blue" but it's just not working for me.

Shades of Grey

After listening to this song many times, I was still unsure if I liked it or not. On one hand, it's not similar to 50 Shades of Grey, which is a very good thing. It is pretty rocking, with good guitar and drums. But on the other hand, I don't think it's anything special. I'm figuring that if after so many times listening to it, I'm still unsure if it's all that good, it's probably not that good. I don't think this is a bad song, but it's not my favorite on this album for sure.

All About Soul

I never was a huge fan of this song, until about a year ago. I don't know what changed, but suddenly my eyes were opened to how great of a song this is. Yes, this is a slower song, but it has the wow factor that I've referred to throughout my review. It's hard to pinpoint exact moments with this wow factor, but any of Joel's high parts are incredibly powerful (e.g. 5:15 into the song). The vocals are not the only thing that makes this song great, though. The music is incredibly captivating. This is a top-tier Billy Joel song for sure.

Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel)

The title of this song is appropriate. This is a lullaby, but I don't know why it is spelled the way it is. This is a nice song, and it's nice that Joel wrote this for his daughter. However, I don't really want to really listen to this song as a 20-year-old man. Maybe if I have kids one day this song will have more meaning or I will enjoy singing it more, but right now it is not a particularly high-ranking song, even though it is not bad, per se.

River of Dreams

This is a song I knew growing up, but I never knew it was a Billy Joel song. Like "We Didn't Start the Fire," this song has become sort of a meme in many circles. However, I don't think it deserves to be treated as such, as this is actually a great song. I don't understand all of the lyrics, but I feel as though I understand on a metaphysical level what Joel was trying to convey through this song. I may not be able to relate to all of the lyrics (as I would classify myself as a "spiritual man" and I no longer struggle with insomnia), but I still like the overall vibes. The use of the chorus behind Joel's voice creates a comforting mood, and his high parts make the song even more fun. The piano and drums work together to create a cohesive sound that makes the listener feel good. This song has a rare trait to it in that I enjoy listening to it no matter how I'm feeling. All in all, a very good Billy Joel song.

Two Thousand Years

Based off the intro, I expected this to be a slow song. I also did not expect this song to be as good as it is. The piano and drums are soulful, and the song has the same gravitas as a few other Billy Joel epics (e.g. "Goodnight Saigon," "Miami 2017"). Joel's vocals here are showcased to the fullest of his 1993 abilities, creating a powerful yet beautiful song. While River of Dreams may not be Joel's best album, it has some surprisingly stellar songs, this one included.

Famous Last Words

I think it quite apropos that the last song on Billy Joel's last real album is called "Famous Last Words." I also think it appropriate that a song called "Famous Last Words" is a good song. Unfortunately, this was not a particularly famous song, even though it is good enough to warrant being a hit. Honestly, this is a good way to end and album, and a good way to end a career.

Fantasies and Delusions (2001)

Opus 3. Reverie

This is going to be my longest review out of this whole album because I must get a few things out there. First of all, I have never been a big classical music guy; I'll admit I have no ear for it. I honestly have no clue of how to compare the songs of this album to each other, let alone any Billy Joel song from a different album. So, just a head's up, this album will be the weakest part of my rankings by far. I'm probably going to end up lumping all these songs together at the bottom of the rankings, but that doesn't mean they're bad songs. I just have no idea if they're good or not. Honestly, I debated including this album at all as Joel isn't even the one playing these songs. But he wrote it, it's part of his works, and therefore I am including it.

This is the first song I've listened to on this album so I have no idea how relatively good or bad it is at this point. My whole review of this album will be relative, but I'm not going to go back and rewrite any of these reviews, as listening to this album once through will be enough for me. This is a nice song, and that's all I can say at this point. But I would still rather listen to any other Billy Joel song from his other albums.

Opus 2. Waltz #1

I really don't even know what "opus" means, so that's an invitation to take anything I say here with a grain of salt. This song is a little more upbeat than the first, maybe that's because it's a waltz but I don't know. I like the more upbeat ending of this song, but it's still not anything I'd listen to in a normal setting.

Opus 7. Aria

This song is really long. I can handle long songs (Exhibit A: "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant") but classical music is hard for me. Also, I have no idea why the opus numbers are not in chronological order. I am slightly bothered by this but I assume there's a reason for this that I am too uncultured to understand. About the 8-minute mark there's some cool piano but I really don't know.

Opus 6. Invention in C Minor

Finally, a really short song. Also, it's fast paced so I like it way more than the others. I think I actually like this song better than a few of Joel's other songs. However, I can't provide justification because of my lack of classical musical experience.

Opus 1. Soliloquy

The more I listen to this album the more I realize how lame classical music is. You have 10 minutes of slow crap and then 15 seconds of hype piano at the end. I really am fed up of listening to this album and I'm not even halfway done.

Opus 8. Suite for Piano I

It was impossible to stay interested in this song. So immensely boring. I am really running out of motivation to listen to the rest of this album.

Opus 8. Suite for Piano II

Okay this was a little better than the first part but still blows. I hate classical music.

Opus 8. Suite for Piano III

Finally, some good freaking music. Much better than the first two parts of this song. I'm putting this in the same boat as "Opus 6."

Opus 5. Waltz #2

I'm liking the waltzes (that's a word I never thought I'd type out) a lot better than all the other opuses (not sure if that's the plural form there). But I still don't like this kind of music. Give me jazz, give me bad 80s rap or spoken word music, give me hippie folk bs, I don't really care. I just cannot handle any more of this classical crap.

Opus 9. Waltz #3

Nice and short, much better.

Opus 4. Fantasy

I must say, classical music is designed to soothe or relax a lot of the time. But this album just makes me feel so tense I don't like it. I just want my pop/rock Billy Joel back.

Opus 10. Air

This last song is short and I like that. Kind of sounds a lot like "And So It Goes" at parts. Well, here are my concluding thoughts about this album: it's probably pretty good in a classical sense. However, I hate it. I am used to the Billy Joel from his other albums, and I must say I like that Billy Joel better. I mean no offense to those who like this stuff, but it's just not my cup of tea if you couldn't tell.

Other Songs

A Hard Day's Night

I like The Beatles as much as the next guy. I like this song, and I enjoy Billy Joel's cover of it. But, when I listen to covers, I'm usually looking for something that transforms the song. I certainly like how Joel's cover is more modern and rocking than the original, but I don't think it's that fundamentally different than The Beatles version. So while I do like this version of the song, I think I'll stick with the original.

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

I definitely like the original version of this song better than the original "A Hard Day's Night." Listening to a video of Elton John performing this song in 2000 made me really appreciate how preserved Billy Joel's voice is relative to Elton John. Regardless, I do like Joel's cover of this song a lot. It is a little more unique than his cover of "A Hard Day's Night," but my criticisms and conclusions remain the same.

Hey Girl

I did not know the Freddie Scott version of this song or the Billy Joel cover coming into this project. I can appreciate the musical strengths of this song, but it's just not my cup of tea. I do like Joel's cover better than the original, but I'm not sure I would choose to listen to this song over many other Billy Joel songs. I do really like the saxophone solos, but this song just isn't for me.

You're Only Human

This may be the best non-traditional-album song of Billy Joel's. First off, it's another rare example of a song of his with an objectively good message. The beat almost bounces, with upbeat synth and other instruments occasionally cutting in. But the musical accompaniment stands second in importance to the lyrics of this song. The anti-suicide message present in this song is great and takes a different angle than most messages of that kind. It also means a lot as Billy Joel once attempted suicide but was able to bounce back from it ("if I hadn't been there myself" he says in the song). This has a very good message and is a very good song as a whole.

The Night is Still Young

I was never as big of a fan of this song as I was "You're Only Human," but I still like this song. I think it is a good song that could've fit in really well on Turnstiles. I'm not a huge fan of the pacing of the song in general, but at the same time, it really works with the lyrics and the overall mood of the song. I don't think this is an outstanding song, but it is without a doubt a quality one.

Elvis Presley Boulevard

This might be just a weird personal thing, but I really enjoy when songs reference other songs. Therefore, I really enjoy a lot of parts of this song. However, I am not particularly fond of this song on the whole. I do not know what there is to not like about this song, but it just doesn't resonate with me for some reason. Perhaps it's because I did not grow up listening to Elvis that much. Don't get me wrong, I think this song is better than almost all of Joel's covers (including his Elvis covers) but just compared to his album tracks I do not rate it that highly.

To Make You Feel My Love

After reading the Wikipedia article for this song, I am really confused how this song came to be. Apparently, this is a cover of a Bob Dylan song, but Billy Joel released his version a month before Dylan did. I'm not disputing this, as this definitely sounds like it should be a Bob Dylan song (I have not heard Dylan's "original" version). But put the confusing timeline aside and this is a pretty solid song. I already wrote about my opinions about Bob Dylan's voice (see my review of "The Times They Are A-Changing") so I won't beat that dead horse any more. Joel definitely transforms this song and makes it his own, as I think one should in doing a cover. However, this song is just not my cup of tea thematically. So while it's definitely better than most of Joel's other covers, I still don't think it's amazing.

Light as the Breeze

The only Leonard Cohen song I knew going into this project was, you guessed it, "Hallelujah." Since this is a cover, I'm not going to critique or praise the lyrics. But I don't know, I don't usually feel uncomfortable listing to Billy Joel (with a few exceptions). However, I feel a little unclean listening to these lyrics. As good of a song as this is musically (and it is a strong song in terms of the piano and other instruments), the lyrics are really taking away from my enjoyment here.

I'll Cry Instead

I didn't realize Billy Joel covered so many Beatles songs. I also thought I was a pretty average Beatles fan, but I had never heard the original version of this song before. However, after listening to Joel's version, I feel as though I do not have to hear the original to know what it sounds like. Billy Joel transforms his own voice to fit the Beatles vibes, which is nice. I'm sure he also added the piano parts. However, I don't think this cover is anything spectacular.

House of Blue Light

I was surprised at how good of a song this was. I immediately went back to the original and looked up several other covers, and while I really like the Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen version, I honestly believe the Billy Joel version was actually the best one that I heard. Even though this is a very old song, Joel puts a more modern twist on it while retaining some of the 40s/50s charm. This might be my favorite cover of Joel's, and this might be heresy, but I think it is better than a lot of his original songs actually.

Nobody Knows but Me

I knew the song "Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen," but I did not know this song. After listening to this song, I can confidently say that the two songs are completely different. This is a fun, upbeat song that was written for kids for sure, but is still enjoyable to adults. It's just a wholesome song about imaginary friends, I can't really criticize anything about it.

After listening to this song for awhile, I've found stuff to criticize about it. 1) It's annoying.

Heartbreak Hotel

Let me start off by saying I think the original version of this song is inferior to the original "All Shook Up." But in the case of the Billy Joel versions, he transforms the song more in "Heartbreak Hotel." The blues aspect of this song is much stronger in Joel's version, as it seems he put his own twist on the cover. While I may think "All Shook Up" is an overall better song, I am going to rank "Heartbreak Hotel" higher than it as it uniquely a Billy Joel song instead of just an Elvis cover.

In a Sentimental Mood

Well, I very rarely get in a sentimental mood, so this song would very rarely be something I listen to. It's certainly a romantic song; I won't dispute that. However, it's just not something I would choose to listen to as it's a little too lacking in musical substance for me. To explain: I can listen to songs like "Just the Way You Are" because of the musical substance (i.e. the saxophone solos), but this song's essence is that it's romantic, which isn't really all that good for me.

You Picked a Real Bad Time

This is a pretty funky song for sure. It's definitely got it's redeeming qualities, but overall I'm not a huge fan. I don't really feel passionate one way or another about this song. I like the ending a lot, but I'm not a big fan of the deeper vocals.

All Shook Up

Upon listening to this song for the first time, I was immediately all shook up at how much Joel made his voice sound like Elvis Presley's. Honestly, there is not really any tangible difference between this version and the original. I like the original, I like this version, but this is nothing special compared to the rest of Joel's songs.

Where Were You (On Our Wedding Day)?

Based on the title of this song, I expected this to be a sad, slow ballad. I did not expect the rocking, upbeat song that this is. I went back and listened to the original version of this song, and I like them both. I don't think Joel really transformed this song all that much, but I really like this version of the song nonetheless. Also, I must say, the events described in this song are quite the nightmare were they to happen in real life.

Don't Worry Baby

I had actually not heard the original version of this song, and I'm as much of a Beach Boys fan as the next guy. I listened to the original and I must say, I like the lyrics and feel of the song very much. Then I listened to the Joel version, where he transforms it an appropriate amount. I think this is a beautiful song, and the best cover that I've heard out of Billy Joel so far. (I have only reviewed five covers at this point.)

When You Wish Upon a Star

I never had strong feelings about this song. On one hand, it's pretty soothing. On the other hand, it's so associated with American consumerism that I'm not super fond of it. I like Joel's version of this song and I think it's good. The ending really makes the song, but it's still not anything revolutionary.

All My Life

It's fitting that this is the last Billy Joel song for me to hear in my review process. It's also fitting that this is Billy Joel's last real song he's released—it's quite the recording swan song. You can hear the raw emotion in the vocals and piano. It's not super relatable to the young man that I am, but I can see as I grow older this song taking on new meaning. The ending of this song is epic; you can tell that this Joel's last song in his mind. While it's not exactly my cup of tea, I can respect the musical greatness in this song.

Christmas in Fallujah

I like Christmas music; I don't like politics. However, this is a pretty solid song musically. I don't want to make a judgement about the lyrics as I really don't give a crap who's wrong and who's right in regards to the Iraq War. But I must say that I like Cass Dillon's voice a lot more with the sound of the music than Billy Joel. Joel never was a good punk rocker, and this is kind of a punk rock song, and a pretty good one at that. But I can tell that this was not written for Joel's voice, even though he still does it a good amount of justice.

Back in the U.S.S.R.

I'm as much of a fan of The Beatles as much as the next guy, but this was far from my favorite song of theirs. I also usually prefer the studio version of songs over the live version. Both of these factors contribute to my general dislike of this cover by Billy Joel. I think if I was Russian and I heard Joel perform this song live I would've loved it, but I'm not a communist and I was not alive in 1987. Therefore, this is one of my least favorite Billy Joel songs.

The Times They Are A-Changing

This may be a hot take, but I don't really like Bob Dylan's voice. But his voice works very well with the original version of this song. I get that performing this song in 1987 Russia is quite topical and appropriate, but I don't really like Billy Joel's version of this song. I do believe wholeheartedly that Joel's voice is better than Dylan's, but not in the case of this song.