One of my favorite artists of all-time just turned 75.
Miley Cyrus? 🤣🤣🤣
No, the piano man himself, Billy Joel.
USA Today decided to put-together a list of his 75 best songs.
(He's written and released 122 total.)
Not sure what criteria they used, but I would love to know.
First thing I noticed: "No Man's Land", "Leningrad", and "Shades of Grey" just barely made the list. 3 really good ones right there.
Then "Lullabye (Goodnight My Angel)" hit #63. WHAT?
"A Matter of Trust" at #60? BOO!
And "Downeaster Alexa" at #54? HUH?
And woefully, neither "We Didn't Start the Fire" nor "Just the Way You Are" nor "An Innocent Man" nor "Stormfront" nor "The Longest Time" nor "All About Soul" nor "Tell Her About It" made the top 40!
In all, only 4 of the top 20 were recorded after 1980!
At #1: "Summer, Highland Falls"
WHAAAAAAT??
A separate list from BILLBOARD has "Piano Man" as #1. I don't agree with that -- although it is the most overplayed Billy Joel tune.
Another list from PASTE MAGAZINE has "Scenes From an Italian Restaurant" at the top.
And so does VULTURE.
Now for me....... if I could have access to only 5 Billy Joel songs for the rest of my earthly life, they'd be (in no particular order):
"River of Dreams"
"It's Still Rock and Roll to Me"
"The Longest Time"
"My Life"
"I Go to Extremes"
Just outside my top 5: "Shades of Grey" and "Tell Her About It"
And you? Comment with your #1, or favorite 3, or top 5.
Grace & Peace & Love to you all -
Matt