WILLIAM
“BILLY”
JOEL
THE
PIANO MAN
A look at his life, achievements, and music.
History
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Birth date: May 9, 1949
Parents: Howard and Rosalind Joel (later divorced)
Born in Bronx, New York
Raised in Hicksville, New York on Long Island
Started learning and playing music at a very young
age—mainly classical
Musical Influences
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The Beatles
Ray Charles
Paul McCartney
Rolling Stones
BIGGEST
INFLUENCE WAS
THE BEATLES
Personal Influences
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Experiences with depression/suicide
-attempted twice in his life (age
20-25)
Personal relationships
-married three times
-Daughter Alexa Ray
His upbringing in Long Island, New
York
-wrote many songs about the city
and state
Albums Released
Recorded mainly with Columbia
Records.
Recorded/released 19 albums.
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Piano Man (1973)
Street Life Serenade (1974)
Turnstiles (1976)
The Stranger (1977)
52nd Street (1978)
Glass Houses (1979)
Songs in the Attic-Live (1981)
The Nylon Curtain (1982)
An Innocent Man (1983) Cold Spring
Harbor-rerelease (1983)
Greatest Hits Volume I and II (1983)
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The Bridge (1985)
Kohuept-Live Concert in Russia
(1987)
Storm Front (1988)
River of Dreams (1991)
Greatest Hits Volume III (1986)
Billy Joel 2000 years Millennium
Concert (1999)
Opus 1-10 Fantasies and DelusionsMusic for Solo Piano (2001)
All My Life (2007)
Innovative Albums
Top 10 on the Billboard Charts:
-The Stranger
-52nd Street
-Glass Houses
-Songs in the Attic
-Nylon Curtain
-An Innocent Man
-River of Dreams
 Number 1 position:
-52nd Street
-Glass Houses
-River of Dreams
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Kohuept, live album recorded in the Soviet Union
Songs in the Attic and Nylon Curtain tie him with
The Beatles
Awards
Grammys:
-Record of the Year
-Album of the Year
-Song of the Year
-Best Male Vocalist (two times)
-Grammy Legend Award
Cashbox:
-Best New Male Vocalist
AMA:
-Album of the Year
People’s Choice Award:
-Favorite Male Pop Performer
Songwriters Hall of Fame
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Music Cares Person
Other Notable Accomplishments
Performed with
Artists:
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-Sting
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-Paul McCartney
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-Cindy Lauper
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-Steve Winwood
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-Ray Charles
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-Don Henley
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-Elton John
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Produced Broadway
Musical “Movin’ Out”
Voice in and musical
artist of Disney’s
“Oliver and Company”
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Composition History
In this
presentation
we will look at
the history of
the following
works:
-Piano Man
-New York
State of Mind
-Lullaby
(Goodnight
my Angel)
-You’re Only
Human
(Second Wind)
It’s hard to just pick
15 minutes worth…
• Joel has many songs
worth knowing!
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Piano Man
Influences: experiences working in a piano bar
in L.A.
•Album: Piano Man
•Musicians: Joel and his band
•Produced by: Columbia Records
*First single to reach the Top 20 on the Billboard
Charts (1973)
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New York State of Mind
Influence: love for his home state and city
Album: Turnstiles
Musicians: Him and his band
Produced by: Columbia Records
*Most known performances are those performed
in New York.
Lullaby (Goodnight My Angel)
Influences: Daughter Alexa
Ray
Album: River of Dreams
(1991)
Produced by: Columbia
Records
Musicians: Joel and band
plus orchestra instruments
*Wanted a song dedicated
to her to help her through
life when he isn’t there
anymore
You’re Only Human (Second Wind)
Influence: Personal struggles with depression
and attempted suicide during his twenties
Album: Greatest Hits Volume I and II
Produced by: Columbia Records
Musicians: Joel and his band
Listening Guide Section
In this
presentation
we will
discuss the
music of the
following
songs:
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We will focus on:
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-Piano Man
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-New York
State of Mind
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-Lullaby
(Goodnight
my Angel)
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Form
Melody
Harmony
Rhythm
Dynamics
Timbre
Texture
Piano Man
The form is in the classic form
of most popular songs:
-Introduction
-Verses
-Chorus
-Bridge
0:00—Song starts
3:41—Chorus
-Texture: Piano and harmonica
4:11—Verse 4 starts
(very simple/bar-like)
-Different dynamics than in
*Instruments also make up the melody,
previous verses
harmony, dynamics, rhythm, and timbre. 4:57—Chorus
0:30—Verse 1 starts
-Much bigger dynamics than previous
-Vocals join along with the bass,
-Texture becomes more simple towards
accordion, and drum set making up all
the end when bass and drum leave and
attributes of musical form
the piano, harmonica, and accordion
1:26—Chorus begins
take over the texture, timbre, melody,
harmony, and rhythm.
1:56—Verse 2 starts (same as verse 1 except
with different lyrics)
5:38—Song ends
2:43—Verse 3 starts (same as verse 1 and 2)
3:26—Bridge/Piano Solo
-Instead of having lyrics in the
bridge like a lot of songs do, the bridge
focuses on the piano.
New York State
of Mind
Form is unique! Consists of:
Verses
Bridge
Instrumental
NO CHORUS
0:00—Introduction begins: All
carried by the saxophone
aspects are made up just the 3:54– Bridge (repeated): Melody
piano (1 whole minute of piano) carried by vocals changes
0:56—Verse 1: Vocals come in
slightly
taking over the melody
4:30—Verse 4 (lyrics to verse 3):
1:33—Verse 2: Violins and
Changes are bigger emphasis
saxophone join in adding to the on beats and vocal melody
texture and timbre.
5:06– Coda: Line from first verse
2:10—Bridge:Rhythm continues
“I’m just taking a greyhound…”
being sustained by the drum
is repeated bringing the listener
set.
back to the beginning—
2:43—Verse 3: Same as verse 1 and familiarity.
2 (besides lyrics)
6:05—Song ends
3:19—Instrumental: Melody is
Lullaby
(Goodnight My Angel)
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0:00—Introduction: Texture
consists of the violins and •
piano on the harmony with
the piano playing the
melody while keeping the
rhythm *Very soothing (like
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a lullaby)
0:13 Verse 1 Begins: Piano
and vocals make up the
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timbre.
1:01 Verse 2 Begins: “…like
a boat out on the ocean…”
includes the French horn. •
Form is similar to
New York State of Mind—
This form, in my opinion, gives
The song a more serious feeling
(helps portray the message)
Sounds like a boat horn
1:51—Bridge/Instrumental:
the violins and horn play
the harmony; piano plays
most of the melody
2:17—Verse 3:Violins come
in about half way through
to add to the texture
2:56—Verse 3 add-on:
Dynamics decrease as song
gets closer to the end
3:33—Song Ends
References/Bibiography
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BIBLIOGRAPHY/SOURCES:
http://www.thevillager.com/villager_12/billyjoel.html
http://www.billyjoel.com/biography
http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Billy-JoelBiography/B5E6E558FEF8C8D1482568700013A7BC
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005055/bio
http://www.rhapsody.com/search?query=Billy+Joel&searchtype=RhapAlbum&pagestart=25
http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/joel_billy/artist.jhtml#biograph
yEnd
Billy Joel Greatest Hits Volume III The Video; Sony Music Film
Studio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11g5yyd7a7g