Billy Joel recently became the only non-classical musician to have his portrait unveiled at Steinway Hall, home to the piano maker Steinway & Sons. Except for Elton John, there probably is not another pop musicians as associated with the piano as Joel. So it is a fitting tribute.
One of my favorite Billy Joel songs is “Miami 2017,” and in the following video, Billy Joel explains the inspiration behind the song. “Miami 2017” originally appeared on The Stranger (1977), and a live version later appeared on Joel’s collection of lesser-known previously released tracks, Songs in the Attic (1981).
Near the end of the video below, Joel plays a part of the song. But in the beginning, Joel describes his reaction to the federal government’s refusal to bail out a defaulting New York City in 1975. Then, he explains that his song’s title evokes a retired New Yorker living in Florida in the year 2017 telling what he had witnessed.
If that gave you a taste for hearing the entire song, check out this video of Billy Joel singing the song as part of his 2008 performances that closed down Shea Stadium before the stadium was reduced to a pile of rubble. Hence, the lyric change at around the 2:40 mark, “The Mets can play / One more game in Shea,” before sinking Manhattan out at sea.
What is your favorite Billy Joel song? Leave your two cents in the comments.
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