Top 10 songs of 1989

My favorites.

1. Rockin' in the Free World- Neil Young
2. Running Down a Dream- Tom Petty
3. Armageddon It- Def Leppard
4. Chloe- Mother Love Bone
5. I Won't Back Down- Tom Petty
6. We Didn't Start the Fire- Billy Joel
7. Beds Are Burning- Midnight Oil
8. Free Fallin'- Tom Petty
9. Dirty Blvd- Lou Reed
10.Dr. Feelgood- Motley Crue

Top 35 songs of 1993 (#11-20)

11. Nightswimming- REM
12. She's Too Tough- Def Leppard
13. St. Augustine in Hell- Sting
14. Rape Me- Nirvana
15. Elderly Woman Behind a Counter in a Small Town- Pearl Jam
16. The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonight- REM
17. Find the River- REM
18. Desert Song- Def Leppard
19. River of Dreams- Billy Joel
20. Don't Tear Me Up- Mick Jagger

Billy Joel: Uptown Girl (1983)

Today, Uptown Girl is one of Billy Joel's signature songs. In 1983, it did not perform as well as his previous single. He wrote the song about Elle Macpherson, but it became associated with Christie Brinkley. Brinkley appeared in the video and eventually married Joel.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCuMWrfXG4E

The Rolling Stones: Mother's Little Helper (1966)

Apparently, valium use skyrocketed amongst housewives in the mid-sixties. The Stones took this from the headlines to write "Mother's Little Helper" about a woman that can't take life's stress any longer. She's older, has to care for kids, make dinner, run the house, and no one appreciates that she "gets tired." Billy Joel incorporates this theme into his video for "We Didn't Start The Fire" in 1989.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfGYSHy1jQs

Billy Joel: Big Shot (1979)

“Big Shot” is about a woman that has quite a night. She wakes up the next morning and is told she “sure did put on a show!” Joel later claimed the song was about himself as he was big stuffing it.  In 2010, he said the song was written after dinner with Mick and Bianca Jagger and was imagined to be Mick singing to Bianca.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEea624OBzM

Clive Davis: Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2000

Rock Hall Bio: http://www.rockhall.org/inductees/clive-davis/bio/

Davis is an important record executive that helped sign many of rock’s biggest acts.

A partial list of acts Davis’ brought to the public:

Janis Joplin

Santana

Bruce Springsteen

Billy Joel

Chicago

Pink Floyd

Earth, Wind, and Fire

Alicia Keys

Kelly Clarkson

He also won several Grammys as a producer.

 

 

Billy Joel: Rock n Roll Hall of Fame part 3

Part 3

Joel ended the 80s on top.

We Didn’t Start the Fire (1989):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFTLKWw542g

I Go To Extremes (1990):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xgjtm4_M20

All Shook Up (1992):

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvauA34dIJc

The River of Dreams (1993):

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSq4B_zHqPM

Joel divorced Brinkley in 1994 and quit writing. He did continue touring. Also, he began a series of Face-to-Face tours with Elton John.

 At the 911 Concert (2001):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ylxw-nG5VWI

Christmas in Fallujah (2007):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vm2aqyXL7YE

Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Concert w/ Bruce Springsteen (2009):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhUD1cwg9kk

Hurricane Sandy Relief (2012):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOy8sloWBGg

 

 

Billy Joel: Rock n Roll Hall of Fame part 2

Official Site:

http://www.billyjoel.com/

Joel’s success continued into the 80s. However, some critics considered his music too soft, so he responded…

It’s Still Rock n Roll To Me (1980):

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eAQa4MOGkE

Don’t Ask Me Why (1980):

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NVABxCrTJ0

Allentown (1983):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHnJp0oyOxs

Tell Her About It (1983):

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0pM5dm--yQ

He married Christie Brinkley…

 Uptown Girl (1983):

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCuMWrfXG4E

The Longest Time (1984):

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_XgQhMPeEQ

With help from the Mythbusters Adam Savage…

 You’re Only Human (1985):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhxjNYvJbgM

A Matter of Trust (1986):

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKhE-2tOaE0

Billy Joel Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Class of 1999 part 1

Rock Hall Bio: http://rockhall.com/inductees/billy-joel/

Billy Joel was born in the Bronx in 1949. His father was a concert pianist. Joel did not graduate high school because he was helping his family make ends meet. He finally decided if he was not going to Columbia University, he would go to Columbia Records.

He began making music in 1965 and released records with his band. Joel finally recorded solo and hit it big in the early 70s.

Piano Man (1973):

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxEPV4kolz0

The Entertainer (1975):

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozDSk9XUkrc

Just The Way You Are (1977):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPiK_yGG8ag

Movin’ Out (1977):

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UBpt1dya60

Only the Good Die Young (1977):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhjNm20XbXw

My Life (1978):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3JFEfdK_Ls

Big Shot (1979):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEea624OBzM

 Honesty (1979):

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7R3GtAnO66o

Billy Joel: It's Still Rock n Roll to Me (1980)

Billy Joel responded to music critics and record execs begging him to change with the times. He wrote "It's Still Rock n Roll to Me" as his own cynical critique of the business. They wanted him to change and he basically said he will remain popular based on his merits as opposed to copying New Wave, Punk, or Funk. The song does incorporate the New Wave sound as a contrast to its message. It reached #1 in 1980.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eAQa4MOGkE

Billy Joel: Moving Out (Anthony's Song) (1977)

Billy Joel chides people for rejecting their blue collar roots in favor of the middle class. In his view, it will only lead to a "heart attack." The character is disgusted with those around him and seems to have either given up or believes upward mobility a futile endeavor.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UBpt1dya60

Billy Joel: Don't Ask Me Why (1980)

"Don't Ask Me Why" sounds like it belongs on earlier Billy Joel albums. It is softer than other tracks he recorded around 1980. He also includes some Latin piano in the bridge.

Best Line: All your life you had to stand in line. Still you're standing on your feet.

Studio:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVUUoN87Y5o

Live:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHJyu9beA7Q&feature=related

805. You May Be Right by Billy Joel (1980)

Billy Joel hit #7 on the charts with "You May Be Right." The song opens with the sound of breaking glass which matched the album cover featuring Joel with a rock in his hand outside a glass house. This was meant as a message to his critics. People in glass houses...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9S4NU-f6x6Q

854. The Stranger by Billy Joel (1977)

"The Stranger" is Billy Joel's examination of the human pysche. In particular, the stranger represents desire and other primal instincts which is held under control by force of will. The song opens and closes with the whistling which probably represents the primative reminding the superego of its existence. To me, the whistling sounds rather lonely.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jI2BnzF1860

862. Allentown by Billy Joel (1982)

In "Allentown," Billy Joel tackles the decline of Industrial America. The old rust belt helped build America, the middle class, and won World War II. In return for their efforts, these areas have been left behind. The process began in the seventies and hit America hard by the early eighties. After a short rebound in some areas, it began anew. This song is as pertinent today as it was in 1982...perhaps even more so...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHnJp0oyOxs

944. Pressure by Billy Joel (1982)

The song deals with the pressures of everyday life. It's a song all of us can identify with. The Piano Man uses a synthesizer to replicate a manic feeling. Interestingly, if "Pressure" was in another key, it'd be a polka.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iyv905Q2omU&ob=av2e

RS Mag Top 500 Songs #421-430

421. Young Blood: The Coasters- This was their first big hit. The vocals sound a bit advanced for the period. IMO the Coasters have had better songs.

422. I Can't Help Myself: The Four Tops- The second Four Tops hit.

423. The Boys of Summer: Don Henley- Lost youth and lost love make good song material. Henley tweaked his seventies Eagles sound a bit and added a haunting guitar. This reminds me of 1984-85.

424. Juicy: The Notorious BIG- Jan Wenner probably figured he needed a token Biggie Smalls song, so he tossed in this.

425. Fuck tha Police: NWA- Is this ghetto reporting or just guys trying to make a buck? Either way, it was a milestone for hip hop as the genre moved away from Run DMC.

426. Suite: Judy Blue Eyes: Crosby, Stills, & Nash- This is one of my least favorite songs ever. However, the three vocal harmonies were revolutionary.

427. Nuthin' But a G Thang: Dr. Dre- Another milestone for hip hop. Reminds me of 1993!

428. It's Your Thing: The Isley Brothers- It's about freedom...and has since ended up in commercials and television shows galore.

429. Piano Man: Billy Joel- Getting hip deep into iconic songs now.

430. Blue Suede Shoes: Elvis- Total awesomeness.